Vaikom

Vaikom വൈക്കം വ്യാഘ്രപാദപുരം
Town
Post Box used in Travancore region. Found near Vaikom head post office
Vaikom Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 9°46′0″N 76°24′0″E / 9.76667°N 76.40000°ECoordinates: 9°46′0″N 76°24′0″E / 9.76667°N 76.40000°E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kottayam
Taluk	Vaikom
Government
• Type	Municipal Council
• Chairman	Anil Biswas (CPI(M))
• Municipal Council	Vaikom Municipal Council
Area
• Total	8.73 km^2 (3.37 sq mi)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	23,234
• Density	2,700/km^2 (6,900/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code	04829
Vehicle registration	KL 36/KL 67
Nearest city	Kochi

Vaikom is a capital town of Vaikom Taluk, situated in the North-West of Kottayam district in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. Vaikom is the oldest township in Kottayam district, and among the oldest in South India.

The Vaikom Shiva Temple, known as Thekkan Kashi [Southern Kashi], is the heart of the town, and is remarkable for the Vaikom Ashtami celebrations during November. It is notable as the venue of the Vaikom Agitation for achieving for the lower castes the right to walk on the roads surrounding the temple.

Vaikom is administered by a Municipality and is the seat of a Munsiff's court (among the oldest to be established in the Kingdom of Travancore). Vaikom assembly constituency is reserved for Dalits and is part of Kottayam parliamentary constituency.^[2]

History

Vaikom Satyagraha Memorial Vaikom

Vaikom was believed to be a part of a kingdom called Venmalanadu in the past. When Venmalanadu was split into Vadakkumkoor and Thekkumkoor, it became part of Vadakkumkoor dynasty. Later in 1742, it became part of Travancore when the then Maharajah of Travancore, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, annexed Vadakkumkoor to his kingdom. ^[3]

Vaikom gained its fame on national level during Vaikom Satyagraha.

Economy

The traditional economy has been based on coconut and rice crops, and fishing; more recently, crops like nutmeg, black pepper, and latex have also been introduced. Tourism and software are also pursued as means to livelihood. Hindustan Newsprint Limited is situated in Velloor near Vaikom.

Demographics

As per 2001 census,^[4] Vaikom has a population of about 22637(Male:10955 and Female:11682). This region has a literacy rate of 92% (Male: 97%; Female: 90%). Population density of the region is 2496 per square km.

As per 2011 census,^[5] The Vaikom Municipality has population of 23,234 of which 11,304 are males while 11,930 are females . Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 1807 which is 7.78 % of total population of Vaikom (M). In Vaikom Municipality, Female Sex Ratio is of 1055 against state average of 1084. Moreover Child Sex Ratio in Vaikom is around 960 compared to Kerala state average of 964. Literacy rate of Vaikom city is 96.84 % higher than state average of 94.00 %. In Vaikom, Male literacy is around 98.30 % while female literacy rate is 95.47 %.

Notable people

• Janaki Ramachandran
• Mamooty
• Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
• Vaikom Chandrasekharan Nair
• Vaikom Vijayalakshmi
• Justice K G Balakrishnan
• Mons Joseph
• Vaikom Viswan
• N N Pillai
• N. Mohanan
• Janardhanan (actor)
• chembil ashokan^[6][7]
• Mar Sebastian Adayantharath
• AJ John
• Thomas Unniyadan
• P. K. Biju
• Cherian K. Cherian
• M. K. Kamalam
• Mar Abraham Kattumana

Boat Jetty and KTDC Restaurant along Vembanadu Lake

References

1. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=677767
2. "Delimitation Commission of India - Kerala and Order No.55" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
3. "Vaikom, General Information". Kerala. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
4. "Vaikom, General Information". Kerala. Government of Kerala. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
5. "Vaikom, census2011 information". Kerala. Retrieved 2015-09-24.
6. Violin (film)
7. http://beta.mangalam.com/women/personality/287480

External links