History
MUTTIL GRAMA PANCHAYAT
A historical exploration through the passage of time
Ancient History and Culture
History records that the soldiers of the Kottayam Raja and others intercepted the military advance of Tipu Sultan—the ruler of Mysore—at Parakkal, and that the Kottayam Raja's forces were defeated in the ensuing clash. It is said that, following this event, non-tribal inhabitants vacated the area.
The carved granite stones found on most hills in this region indicate that there was human habitation here centuries ago and that they lived on small hilltops. The antiquity of the Muttil Temple, along with Kolpara and Kariyathanpara on Muttil Hill, Svargamkunnu in Vazhavatta, Cheepramkunnu, Karinkannikunnu, and Vilakkuthookikunnu and Pathramangakunnu in Pariyaram, still stand today as historical remnants of a destroyed ancient culture.
It was during the British colonial period that this area once again became a thriving human settlement, following the disappearance of families due to natural disasters or other causes.
History of Migration and Social Advancement
Following the 1921 Malabar Rebellion, people from various communities migrated here en masse from Ernad, Valluvanad, and Palakkad taluks in search of a peaceful livelihood. Subsequently, around 1942, when farmers arrived from the Travancore-Cochin region seeking a secure life, this fertile land was transformed into agricultural soil. The unity and hard work of people with diverse beliefs created a harmonious new culture here.
The mass eviction of settlers in the Vazhavatta region by the Madras government in 1953 and the landslide on Muttil Hill in 1962—which destroyed the homes and crops of numerous families—were tragedies that shook the panchayat.
With the implementation of the Kerala Land Reforms Act, ownership rights were granted to farmers and tenancy rights to hut-dwellers. This ensured a minimum wage for workers, accelerating the overall progress of the region.
Prominent Personalities: Renowned citizen and one of the founders of the Wayanad Muslim Orphanage, K.P. Muhammad Haji (K.P. Haji), who was at the forefront of resolving the issues of common people, and Mr. Madhura Vazhavatta, a former Member of the Legislative Assembly and tribal welfare worker, are proud personalities of this land.
Panchayat Formation and Administrative System
During the early period when there were only five panchayats in the Wayanad region, areas including Muttil were under the direct administration of the Malabar District Board. The Muttil Panchayat came into existence in 1956.
In the early days, the President and members were elected by convening a general meeting of voters aged 21 and above. Since the Panchayat President of that time held the status of 'Village Magistrate,' many disputes were resolved through the village court. Initially, there were only two employees, including a bill collector-cum-clerk and a peon. The first board meeting was held at the President's residence in Kakkavayal.
The total revenue at that time was merely 13,000 rupees annually. Building tax, trade license fees, and vehicle taxes for bullock carts and bicycles were the primary sources of income. The initial major responsibilities of the panchayat included repairing the Parakkal-Pariyaram, Parakkal Muttil-Kakkavayal, Trikkaipatta, and Kakkavayal-Vazhavatta roads, constructing wooden bridges over rivers, and lighting kerosene street lamps.
The Agricultural Sector and the Economy
According to the 1921 British Settlement Register, ragi (finger millet), paddy, little millet, black pepper, native coffee, tobacco, and plantains were the primary crops cultivated here. In the 1940s, the majority of the agricultural land was under the ownership of the Thekke Kovilakam (South Palace) and other prominent landlords.
After 1945, settlers arriving from Central Travancore and Malabar cleared the forests and cultivated Karthan paddy, tapioca, and lemongrass. Later, coffee, black pepper, areca nut, and rubber became widespread. Topographically, 70% of the panchayat consists of dry land and 30% of paddy fields. Clay, red soil, laterite soil, sandy soil, and hilly black soil are the major soil types found here. The fact that nearly 422 tonnes of paddy were collected as levy from the panchayat around 1965 stands as proof of its past agricultural prosperity.
History of Education
In the early days, Welfare L.P. School—the predecessor of Kakkavayal Gov. High School—and Mandad Gov. L.P. School were functioning under the District Board. The region had to wait until the formation of Kerala (Keralapiravi) for an Upper Primary school to become a reality in Muttil.
It was after 1957 that the Vazhavatta, Muttil, and Panangkandi schools were upgraded to U.P. schools. A major leap in secondary education occurred with the establishment of the Wayanad Muslim Orphanage High School in 1968. Later, in the 1980s, the Kakkavayal and Panangkandi schools were upgraded to High Schools.