Kundara

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Kundara
Kundara
Satellite Town
Coordinates: 8°59′48.84″N76°52′19.56″E / 8.9969000°N 76.8721000°E / 8.9969000; 76.8721000
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Kerala
District Kollam
Government
 • Type Panchayati Raj (India)
 • BodyKollam Municipal Corporation Kilikollur zone , Kundara Grama Panchayat , Perinad Grama Panchayat, Elampalloor Grama Panchayat, Kottamkara Grama Panchayat
Area
 • Total11.07 km2 (4.27 sq mi)
Elevation
37 m (121 ft)
Population
 (2011) [1]
 • Total14,651
 • Density1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
691501
Telephone code+91 (0)474
ISO 3166 code IN-KL
Vehicle registration KL-02
Nearest city Kollam (13 km)
Sex ratio 1096 ♂/♀
Literacy93.999%
Civic agencyKundara Panchayat
Climate Am/Aw (Köppen)
Avg. annual temperature27.2 °C (81.0 °F)
Avg. summer temperature35 °C (95 °F)
Avg. winter temperature24.4 °C (75.9 °F)

Kundara is a satellite town in Kerala and is part of the Kollam Metropolitan Area, India. [2] Kundara is situated at the eastern end of Kollam city. Kundara is significant for its historic involvement in the Indian independence movement. [3]

Contents

Kundara was once the industrial hub of Southern Kerala, which was the home to prominent industrial companies including Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company, The Aluminium Industries Limited, Kundara(commonly known as ALIND), The Kerala Ceramics Limited and the Lakshmi Starch company. Many of these companies have closed down or turned into sick industries. Kundara is attempting to revive this industrial tradition and glory of bygone era now by developing Technopark Kollam and The Kerala Ceramics Limited. [4] [5] [6]

Kundara is also famous for backwater fishing since it is located on the shores of Kanjiracode Lake, a branch of Ashtamudi Lake. This lake recently received Marine Stewardship council recognition for sustainable fishing. [7]

History

Kundara has a prominent place in the history of Kerala and the independence struggle of India. The place witnessed the historic Kundara proclamation made by then Dalava of Travancore, Velu Thampi Dalawa on 1809 January 11. [8]

Kundara Proclamation

Velu Thambi Dalawa, the Prime Minister/Diwan (Dalava) to King Balarama Varma of Travancore in present-day Kerala was one of the earliest opponents of British rule. Velu Thampi dalawa in January 1809 made a proclamation known as the Kundara Proclamation. It was an open call to arms, exhorting the common people to rise up against the British and to overthrow them. There was a massive response to his rallying call. Dalawa had to commit suicide on exile later at Mannadi near Adoor. [9]

In the year 2007, the then Education Minister of Kerala, Shri. M A Baby, unveiled the 'Kundara Vilambaram' memorial at Ellampallor from where the proclamation was made two centuries ago. [10]

The memorial of Kundara Proclamation near Elamballoor, Kundara Kundara Vilambaram Memorial.jpg
The memorial of Kundara Proclamation near Elamballoor, Kundara

Industrial history

Since early days Kundara developed as a market place for trade due to 21 feet wide Quilon Sengotta Road that connected Travancore to Madras Presidency and proximity to water transport through Ashtamudi Lake. In 1904 the Kollam-Sengottai rail line opened up through Kundara. This development facilitated ease of transportation of man, machine and raw material for industrial production to Kollam through rail line from Madras.

In the 1920s Cashew industry boomed in and around Kollam. This gave the first taste of modern industry to Kundara and adjoining areas.

Kundara had abundant reserves of China-clay the key raw material for Ceramic and Porcelain. In 1937 during reign of Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma the clay processing industry was started in Kundara. In the 1960s this developed into The Kerala Ceramics Limited. [11]

The backbone of modern industrialisation of Kundara was setting up of a 66kV Electrical substation at Kundara on 3 May 1940 which complemented the Pallivasal project, the first hydroelectric project in Kerala. [12] This was part of the network of first eight substations established in Travancore between Thrissur and Trivandrum in order to transmit hydroelectricity generated to households towns and industries. The Kundara substation was later upgraded to 220kV capacity and today it is vital in providing electricity to Kollam City and Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line of Southern Railways.

The power of availability of cheap hydroelectricity in Kundara then was such that, it prompted the famous Nobel Laureate, C. V. Raman and his close associate, P. Krishnamurti to set up the first ever unit of their newly formed company, Travancore Chemical & Manufacturing Company Ltd (TCM Ltd) at Kundara in 1943. [13] The unit produced Potassium chlorate an ingredient used in Safety match. [14] This unit once existed near Elampalloor Masjid on present day NH 183 and today it no longer exist

The setting up of substation also helped start Aluminium Industry in Kundara. On the invitation of C. P. Ramaswami Iyer the Diwan of travancore, on 2 January 1946, Seshasayee Brothers Group of Madras started the famous ALIND, Kundara. [15] The company was pioneers in aluminium electrical cable manufacturing in the region and has manufactured cables more than 1 crore km in length. The company slipped into crisis in the late 1980s due to labour issues and poor management. [16] [17]

The industrial prowess of Kundara lead to establishment of Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company unit in Kundara for manufacturing train lighting alternator in 1964. [18]

After two lost decades the industrial sector in Kundara received a renewed attention since the early 2010s. The setting up of Technopark Kollam at Kundara in February 2011 and renewed emphasis on revival of ALIND KEL and Kerala Ceramics since 2016 are currently happening. [19]

Kallumala Samaram

Kallumala Samaram a historic event in Renaissance in Kerala also took place in Perinad near Kundara.

Demographics

Religion in Kundara [20]
ReligionPercentage
Hinduism
 
63%
Islam
 
18%
Christianity
 
18%
Others
 
1%
Distribution of religions
†Includes Not Stated, Sikhs (<0.01%), Buddhists (<0.01%).

As of the 2011 Census of India, [21] Kundara is a census town in Kollam District in the state of Kerala with a total population of 33,959. The population of children aged 0–6 is 3243, representing 9.55% of the total population of Kundara. The female sex ratio is 1096 per 1000 males, against state average of 1084 and the child sex ratio is 993 females per 1000 males, compared to the Kerala state average of 964. Kundara's literacy rate is 93.99%, lower than the state average of 95%. The male literacy is 96.42% and the female literacy rate is 91.80%.

Politics

Kundara is one among the 11 legislative assembly constituencies in the district of Kollam. P. C. Vishnunadh is the current elected member from Kundara constituency.

Transport

Railways

Kundara, Kilikollur, Kundara East and Chandanattop are the railway stations in Kundara town. In Kerala it is very rare to have more than one railway station in a town. [22] [23] These stations are part of the Kollam–Sengottai branch line.

Kundara Railway Station (KUV) Kundara Railway.jpg
Kundara Railway Station (KUV)

Roadways

The National Highway 744 (India) and National Highway 183 (India) connect the city of Kollam with places in Tamil Nadu such as Madurai and Theni, pass through Kundara.

The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport which is 67 km by road.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travancore</span> Kingdom in southern India from 1729 to 1949

The Kingdom of Travancore, also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor or later as Travancore State, was kingdom that lasted from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At its zenith, the kingdom covered most of the south of modern-day Kerala and the southernmost part of modern-day Tamil Nadu with the Thachudaya Kaimal's enclave of Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple in the neighbouring Kingdom of Cochin. However Tangasseri area of Kollam city and Anchuthengu near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram were parts of British India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam</span> City in Kerala, India

Kollam, is an ancient seaport and the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and is 71 kilometers northwest of the state capital, Thiruvanathapuram (Trivandrum). Kollam is one of India's oldest continuously inhabited cities, with evidence of habitation stretching back to the megalithic; the city has also been a maritime entrepôt millennia, the earliest attestation of which dates back to the Phoenicians and Romans. It is the southern gateway to the Backwaters of Kerala, and is known for its cashew processing, coir manufacturing, and tourism industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam district</span> District in Kerala, India

Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake. The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and land on the east bank of the river is East Kallada and that on the west bank is West Kallada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velu Thampi Dalawa</span> Diwan of Travancore

Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi ofThalakulam (1765–1809) was the Dalawa or Prime Minister of the Indian kingdom of Travancore between 1802 and 1809 during the reign of Bala Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. He is best known for being one of the earliest individuals to rebel against the British East India Company's authority in India.

The Thiruvananthapuram - Shoranur canal is a historic canal in India, from Trivandrum to Shoranur. It was one of the most arterial transportation mode in erstwhile Travancore princely state. Most of the trade, commerce and freight traffic in Travancore used to happen through this canal. The canal used to pass through rice bowl of the state, Kuttanad, centre of Coir trade i.e. Alappuzha, centre of Cashew business, Kollam, Changanassery market, strategic Thevally, Kayamkulam, Varkala etc. and used to connect Thiruvithamkoor with Cochin State and Malabar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perumpuzha</span> Town in Kerala, India

Perumpuzha is a small suburban town in Kollam district of Kerala, India.The junction is the meeting place of Kottiyam-Kundara & Kollam-Veliyam roads. Distance from Kollam city is about 16 km. Near to the town junction there is a market called Perumpuzha market. Assisi Attornment Hospital is just one or two minutes walk from the junction. A three-minute walk from junction towards north, a cashew factory is there. Previously it was under the Dalmia Management. The local name for the company was 'Sayippinte Company'. But now it is under CAPEX.

Elampalloor is an urban village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala and is a part of Kollam Metropolitan Area, India. It is 12 km away from Kollam city, 23 km away from Paravur and 13 km away from Kottarakkara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perinad</span> Village in Kerala, India

Perinad is a village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. As of 2001 India census, Perinad had a population of 32,864 with 16,032 males and 16,832 females.

Mannadi is a village in Kadampanad grama panchayat at Adoor Taluk, Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandanathope</span> Town in Kerala, India

Chandanathope is a town located in Kollam district, Kerala. It lies 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Paravur town and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Kollam city centre on the Kollam–Thirumangalam National Highway 744. In Malayalam, the name denotes a place with sandalwood plantations. It is also known for cashew processing and its exports two major cashew exporters of Kollam namely VLC Cashews and MARK has their facilities in the town.

Kanjiracode in Kundara lies on the banks of the Kanjiracodu Kayal of Kollam district in Kerala, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keralapuram</span> Town in Kerala, India

Keralapuram is an suburban area in Kollam District of Kerala, India and a part of Kollam City. Keralapuram is famous for numerous cashew factories in the region. It is split into Kottamkara Panchayath and Perinad Panchayath by the National Highway. In Kerala state legislative assembly elections, Keralapuram votes for Kundara Assembly constituency.

The Travancore rebellion against the British East India Company was led by the prime ministers of the Indian states of Travancore and Cochin in 1808–09 with support from Sikhs ruling Punjab.

<i>Veluthambi Dalawa</i> (film) Malayalam film

Veluthampi Dalawa is a 1962 Malayalam-language historical drama film based on the life of Velu Thampi Dalawa, the Dewan of Travancore during the first decade of 19th century, was one of the first to rebel against the British East India Company's supremacy. The film, directed by G. Viswanath and written by Jagathy N. K. Achary was shot in Newton Studios. Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair, Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair, Prem Nawas, Adoor Bhasi, G. K. Pillai, Ragini, Ambika Sukumaran and Sukumari portrayed prominent roles. The dances were choreographed by Chinni and Sampath along with Kalamandalam Madhavan. The film was a box office success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kundara railway station</span> Railway station in Kerala, India

Kundara railway station is an NSG–6 category Indian railway station in Madurai railway division of Southern Railway zone, serving the city of Kollam. It serves Kundara, located in Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala. The station is one among the four railway stations serving the city of Kollam. Other railway stations in the city are Kollam Junction railway station,Kilikollur railway station and Eravipuram railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Quilon</span>

The Battle of Quilon was fought on 15 January 1809 at Cantonment Maidan in Quilon, an important port city and business hub on the southwest coast of India. The conflict involved troops of the Indian kingdom of Travancore, led by the then Dewan of Travancore, Velu Thampi Dalawa, and a detachment of the British East India Company under Colonel Chalmers. The battle lasted for only six hours and is closely associated with the social and political history of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Kollam</span>

Kollam or Quilon is an old seaport and a city on the Laccadive Sea coast in Kerala, India, on Ashtamudi Lake. The city remains notable as the ancient commercial capital of Kerala and the southwestern Indian coast, in addition to its fame as the "Cashew Capital of the World". The Kollam Municipal Corporation has the second largest budget in Kerala in terms of revenue and expenditure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Kollam</span>

Transport in Kollam includes various modes of road, rail and water transportation in the city and its suburbs. State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses, private buses, Indian Railways, state-owned Kerala State Water Transport Department boats & ferry, taxis and auto rickshaws are serving the city of Kollam. The city had a strong commercial reputation since the days of the Phoenicians and Romans. Ibn Battuta mentioned Kollam Port as one of the five Indian ports he had seen during the course of his twenty-four year travels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kerala Ceramics Limited</span> Indian ceramics products manufacturing company

The Kerala Ceramics Limited is a fully owned Government of Kerala ceramics products manufacturing company, situated at Kundara in Kollam city, India. The company produce earthenware and spray dried coating grade as well as filler grade Kaolin for paint, paper manufacturing industries.

Technopark, Kollam is an industrial park in Kundara, Kollam, It is a satellite park of Technopark that is situated 63 km away from the Trivandrum Campus. This is the first district level IT Park established in Kerala. The Technopark Kollam is situated in44.47 acres (18.00 ha) of land beside Kanjiracode Lake. This park is developed as a Special Economic Zone.

References

  1. ↑ "കൊല്ലം ജില്ലയിലെ ഗ്രാമ പഞ്ചായത്തുകളുടെ അടിസ്ഥാന വിവരങ്ങള്‍ | Deparyment of Panchayats". Dop.lsgkerala.gov.in. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  2. ↑ "Thrikadavur becomes part of Kollam city". The Hindu. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Rajeev, Sharat Sunder (16 October 2015). "The unsung artist". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "17 PSUs in Kerala register operational profit as 13 clock net profit". The New Indian Express. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "Kollam Urban Region". Census 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kollam city population Census". census2011.co.in. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Kerala's Ashtamudi lake gets recognition for sustainable clam fishing". The Hindu. 7 November 2014. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Rajeev, Sharat Sunder (6 May 2016). "Home of the brave". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "'The Sword of Liberty': Freedom fighter Velu Thambi Dalawa's story in film". The News Minute. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Velu Thampi Dalawa memorial remains neglected". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  11. ↑ Staff Reporter (21 September 2020). "Renovated facilities for Kerala Ceramics". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Pereira, Ignatius (3 May 2015). "Kundara substation reaches a milestone". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange)". www.bseindia.com. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "C.V.Raman's gift to Kochi". The Hindu. 15 April 2002. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  15. ↑ Nainar, Nahla (5 August 2016). "Switching on innovation". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  16. ↑ "Alind, the comeback kid". Deccan Chronicle . Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Sunny days again for Kundara Alind? - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  18. ↑ Staff Reporter (29 May 2018). "Kollam industries to look up soon". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Kollam Technopark inauguration on February 15". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  20. ↑ "Kundara/Elamballoor Town Census 2011 data". Census2011. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "Elampalloor City Population Census 2011 - Kerala". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Kundara East Railway Station". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  23. ↑ "Kundara Railway Station". India Rail Info. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
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