Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

opening of a number of ‘Mappila’ schools all over the region. There were already a
number of othupallis for Muslim children, run by various Musaliars, and many of these
othupallis were converted into Mappila schools, or even as ordinary primary schools. So
far there has not been any systematic examination of the growth of the Mappila schools.
Many of the schools seem to have had a precarious existence in the beginning. One of the
informants from Kundoor, a retired school teacher, remembered that, when he came from
Tirurangadi after being appointed ad a teacher in Kundoor School (Naduveettil School) in
the forties. The school, started in 1926, was practically without children, and it required
considerable campaigning and convincing before children could be brought to school.
The story of Peruvallur High School (now higher secondary school) was similar. The
early generation of teachers, mostly non- residents, intervened in the local issues and
politics, settled local disputes, and thus earned the respect of the local people, which was
a crucial inspiration in sending the children to school. The people of Peruvallur fondly
remember Koran master, who played such a role. Another interesting case is the growth
of a school at Palathinkal, which started as an othupalli by Marakkar Musaliar, who had
been arrested in connection with the rebellion. Musaliar taught the children Malayalam
letters and gave them elementary instruction. The othuplli survived by the elementary
instruction had to be discontinued as Musaliar became old and could not carry on with
the task. With the separation of the Othupallis from schools, some of the local people
who received instruction from Musaliar started the elementary school, which has
continued since. Many schools in the area have a similar origin.
The following information compiles the patterns of population, religion and literacy in
Malabar, according to 1931 census (We rely upon the figures regarding Malabar to
present a general pattern within which the people of Tirurangadi were striving)
Table XLIX