History: Where do we fit (2)

During the 14^th and 15^th Centuries B. C. the Zamorins  (Samuthiris or the Nediyirippu Swaroopam) extended their authority to whole of Malabar area. Villages in our area (up to the Enamakkal Lake) appear to have been formed the most secure boarder (at the south) of the Zamorin’s Kingdom for a long time.

Under the Zamorins a feudal set up was evolved out between political administration, religious activities and temple centered Ara and Tura political power structure. Zamorins implementation of all types of ruling factors was based on temple set up. The largest administrative unit called Cherikkal is an almost equivalent to the present-day taluk. Cherikkals were subdi­vided into  Desom, Tara, Angadi etc. for maintaining the revenue system, toll collections, local law and order, village army system (Lokar) and village treasuries (Ara). There were Koymas, Talakkappu nayar, Patanayar and numerous other officials to collect tolls, revenue and to look after law and order. All these official duties were distributed to a large number of aristocratic families living far and wide in the kingdom. These families with the right to collect revenue, maintain local army men, look after law and order and administer the temples enabled them to centralize money, land, control of religious activities and customs to themselves. 

History: Where do we fit (1)

Padoor lies in the immediate vicinity of some of the earliest known historical points in the state.

The ancient sea port of Kodungallur (see note 1 below) is not far.

The important port of the yesteryears, Chettuwai, which played a crucial role in trade and had been of strategically vital for the Zamorin’s Kingdom is barely few kilometers away down through the Chettuwai River.

As we all know, there is very limited information available about the ancient period of Kerala history. This is because there is hardly any written record left behind our ancestors. Many of the facts passed as history are words of mouth, myths or speculations; not enough evidence ever found to prove them. 

There are geologists who believed that Kerala was formed by some seismic activity, gradually or suddenly. Some researchers say that the Arabian Sea once extended as far inland as the Kalladikkodan mountain ranges. Geological changes resulted in recession of the sea, leaving dry large tracts of land. 

About the underlying areas of Padoor, the seismic or environment changes appear to bear particular relevance. There is an argument that a part of Chavakkad Taluk had been under the sea prior to the flood of 1341 and these parts of land were formed as a result a geographical drift following the 1341 nature’s event.