Vengad
Grama Panchayat

This panchayat has a glorious history and a rich socio-cultural heritage. The lands within this village panchayat once belonged to the kingdom of Pazhassi Raja. The king’s soldiers fought against the British East India Company in these very regions. Many of the local place names are believed to have originated based on either the presence of particular communities or the geographical features of the area.

For instance:

• Paduvilayi is said to have been named after the Paduvila family who lived there.
• Vengad got its name because the area was once abundant with Venga trees.
• Chapparambu was densely inhabited by members of the Shaliyar community, known for their weaving skills.

The agricultural development of the region dates back to the time of the East India Company. Vengad was renowned for its pepper cultivation. To collect and export this pepper, the Company established a processing center at Ancharakandy, where they also started a spice research plantation. This plantation later became famous as the Ancharakandy Brown Sahib’s Pepper Estate.

The first school in this village was founded by Hermann Gundert, the creator of the first Malayalam dictionary. Before that, education followed the traditional gurukula system. A gurukula at Pathiriad was later transformed into a primary school under the supervision of the Paduvilayi Temple Devaswom authorities.

The ancestral home of O. Chandu Menon, author of Indulekha—the first well-structured novel in Malayalam—was the Mathathil House, located in this panchayat. It is believed that he began writing Indulekha while living there.

Even before the national movement of the 1930s, the region had seen secret and open revolts against foreign domination. During the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930, around 1,300 young people, including teachers, took an active part in protests such as boycotting foreign clothes and picketing liquor shops.

Abu of Ekkott was a notable freedom fighter who became a martyr while serving as a teacher at Otakad School. During World War II, when food shortages gripped the nation, peasant movements here staged strong protests against feudal landlords. They even picketed landlord homes to oppose the inhumane vechukanikkal ceremonies (ritual payments to landlords).

The region also witnessed resistance against untouchability—notably through movements linked to the national struggle. The Keraloor Temple Entry Movement of 1954 was significant, led by K. Bapputti, C. Gopalan, A. Koroth, T. Kuttiraman, and V. Nanu. Among the freedom fighters remembered for their sacrifices are K.O.K. Nambiar and Vazhayil Gopi.

In social reform efforts opposing casteism and feudalism, figures like K.V. Kunhiraman Master and K. Raman Master are particularly remembered.

The panchayat today is home to a harmonious mix of Hindus, Muslims, and a few Christian families. Much of the land once belonged to upper-caste landlords such as Namboothiris and Nambiars, though some backward community members in certain areas did hold tenancy rights. In earlier times, in areas like Paduvilayi and Pathiriad, lower castes were denied even the right to walk along public paths. The national movement, Sri Narayana Guru’s social reforms, and the spread of education eventually ended such injustices.

Recognizing the superior quality of the pepper grown here, the East India Company established a warehouse on the banks of the Ancharakandy River at Vengad to collect and trade pepper and other goods.

In 1962, Vengad became one of the two seed production centers in Kannur district. The locally produced Vengadan cotton dolls (Vengadan paav) gained fame for their exquisite craftsmanship and quality.

Most of the people here belong to economically weaker sections. The panchayat has 20 reading rooms and 38 cultural organizations, of which the Sree Narayana Library is particularly active. People from various religions enthusiastically celebrate their festivals and feasts together.

Major places of worship include:

• Thattari Mosque, the main Muslim place of worship
• Vengad Sree Kurumba Temple and Champad Sree Kurumba Temple, famous for their festivals drawing huge crowds
• Paduvilayi Temple, known for its Thengappadi festival
• Thirumangalam Temple, Keraloor Temple, Parambayi Mosque, Vengad Ganapati Temple, Poyanad Mosque, and Vengad Mosque, among others.