Thamarankottai
Thamarankkottai is a village in Pattukkottai taluk in the Thanjavur district, located in the delta of the Kaveri river.[1] Thamarankkottai is the largest village in Thanjavur District. Pattukottai is the nearest town. It is bordered by Mannangadu and Vattakudi Ukkadai to the north; Thuvarankurichi to the west; Palanjur, Narasingapuram, and Soundranayakipuram to the southwest; Paraklakottai to east; Thambikottai to the southeast; and the Bay of Bengal to the south. It is second-most populous among the 32 villages of Musugundan Community. The total area of the village is 21.7 km2. It is divided into two areas: Thamarankkottai North and Thamarankkottai South. Merkukkadu, Keelakukkadu, Rasiangadu are in Thamarankkottai North. Sengapaduthankadu, Manjavayal, Karisakaddu are in Thamarankkottai South.
Thamarankkottai | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Thamarankkottai Location in Tamil Nadu, India  Thamarankkottai Thamarankkottai (India) | |
| Coordinates: 10.43°N 79.32°E | |
| Country |  |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Taluk | Pattukkottai |
| Government | |
| • Village Panchayat President | K K kanagasabai[North] Vadivelu[South] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.7 km2 (8.4 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 1 |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 10,530 |
| • Density | 490/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 614613 |
| Telephone code | 91 4373 |
| Vehicle registration | TN 49 |
| Sex ratio | 1000 M for 1094 F ♂/♀ |
Society
Like other typical rural villages in Tamil Nadu, the majority of the people of Thamarankottai work in agriculture. The society is organized mainly on caste lines. Caste plays a vital role in social life and caste determines people's social status irrespective of their economic status.
Population
According to the latest national census done, Thamarankottai North has 6,031 people (2,872 males and 3,159 females) in 1,460 households across the three hamlets of Keezakadu, Melakkadu, and Rasiangadu. Thamarankottai South has 4,499 people (2,156 males and 2,343 females) in 1,110 households across the four hamlets of Manjavayal, Sengapaduthankadu, Karungulam, Karisakadu, and Mankanangadu.[2]
Agriculture and economy
Agriculture is the mainstay of the village economy. Thamarankottai is situated at the end of the new delta region of Cauvery irrigation scheme. This scheme was introduced in this region during the 1930s through the Cauvery Mettur Project (CMP) canal. Prior to this, agriculture was only rainfed. A rice-based cropping system was predominant with rice – rice – pulse or groundnut sequence, during the Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Summer seasons, respectively. In some spots where tank (lake) irrigation possibility was available rice – rice – rice (three rice crops) sequence was also practiced during Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Summer seasons, respectively.
Irrigated agriculture flourished and brought wealth to the farmers until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Due to the interstate dispute on sharing of Cauvery water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the reach of river water to canals of Tamarankottai became uncertain and if at all reaches it is only unseasonal. Therefore, to keep the mainstay profession moving and lack of expertise to choose alternative ways of generating income via farming, farmers have resorted to deep bore wells for irrigation. However, in the absence of proper plans to recharge groundwater with rainwater, continued use of deep bore wells poses an environmental problem of seawater intrusion into the groundwater and the consequent salinization of soils of the entire village.
In recent times, most gardens and wetlands have been converted into coconut farms. Unlike rice cultivation, coconut provides income year-round and requires less intensive labor. However, due to the rising production costs and volatile pricing in domestic and international markets, the sustainability of income from coconut farms has increasingly become uncertain.
Due to this uncertainty, most youths in Thamarankottai migrate to other countries such as the US, the UK, the UAE, Singapore, and Malaysia in search of employment.
In recent years there has been a lot of interest among women to launch self-help groups supported by State and Central government schemes. Until now the main activity of these groups has been through micro-financing by commercial banks for self-employment and income generation by group effort.
There are few grocery stores and other retail stores in addition to small-time restaurants and tea shops in Thamarankottai.
Education
There are no official statistics available on the literacy rate in Thamarankottai. However, traditionally people in this village have not prioritized education. The situation is changing in recent years, with parents insisting that their children complete college degrees. The following are the educational institutions functioning in Thamarankottai.
- Government Higher Secondary School – Tamil and English medium
- Panchayat Union Primary School, Melakadu – Tamil medium
- Panchayat Union Primary School, Keelakadu – Tamil medium
- Sri Kumaran Teacher Training College, Keelakadu, Thamarankkottai.
- Saraswathi Communication
Religion and temples
The majority of villagers are Hindu, and the village contains numerous temples. Islam and Christianity are minority religions. However, religious hatred has not been known to occur in Thamarankottai, and the families from minority religions live with the majority in harmony.
Sivan Koil
Sivan Koil is the main, largest, and oldest temple in Thamarankottai.[3] Its history has not been properly researched or documented. The fact is that the deity of this Sivan Koil is incidentally the biggest landowner in this village, with more than 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land. This implies that the forefathers of Thamarankottai donated lands in God's name to make the temple sustainable. A fortnight-long festival is celebrated in the Tamil calendar month of Vaikāsi. The festival coincides with Vaikasi Visakam.
Idumban Koil
Idumnban Koil is a temple for Idumban, a great devotee of Lord Muruga and the sage Agastya's greatest disciple (according to Hindu mythology). Idumbam is believed to be a protective god and a guardian of Muruga's temples in Tamil Nadu. This temple was built by the villagers beside Sivan Koil.
On the first Friday of the month of Ādi "Palguda Thiruvizha" is celebrated by the villagers.
Thee Kuthitha Amman Koil
This is a temple in which the main god, Thee Kuthitha Amman, is worshiped in reverence to the woman who chose to die in the funeral pyre of her husband. Even though Sati is not common in this village, this temple commands much respect among local people. Every year on the first Sunday of the month of Cittirai, some people, who have been fasting for the previous forty days, walk through fire to get the blessings of the Amman.[4][5]
Sri Madurai Veeran Kovil
Madurai Veeran Koil,[6] a huge and ancient Neem tree, is worshiped as a family god by some villagers. This tree is located at Thamarankottai west Melakkadu.
Other temples
Arulmigu Murugan temple, Kamatchiamman temple, Veeranar temple, Ayyanar temple, and Pidari Koil are guardian temples situated around the border of the village. There is also a Ganesh temple and Ayyapan temple.
- Veeranar temple: this is one of the famous temples in Thamarankottai. This temple's festival is celebrated every August (ஆகஸ்ட் மாதம்).
Other places
- 24 Hours Primary Health Center of Government of Tamil Nadu, providing free health care to people of the surrounding villages
- Citi Union Bank
- Agricultural Co-Operative Society
- Post office (PIN 614613)
- A TNEB substation
- Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Rice Procurement Center
- Thamarankottai Reserved forest in Thamarankottai South
Local administration and elected representatives
Thamarankottai is a designated Panchayat. Currently, the office of the Leader of the Panchayat is held by Thirumathi. Subathra Rajendran. The post of Thamarankottai's councillor to Pattukottai Panchayat Union Council is currently held by Thirumathi. Achikannu Natarajan.
- Sitting MP for Tanjore Parliament Constituency – K.Parasuram of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam Party[7]
- Sitting MLA for Pattukottai Legislative Constituency – C.V. Sekar of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam Party
References
- Official TN Government Map of Pattukottai Taluk Archived 2009-04-16 at the Wayback Machine. Tnmaps.tn.nic.in. Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
- Indian Government Official Census Data
- Detailed Article on Sivan Koil in Tamil. Thamarankottai.com (2009-02-04). Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
- Pictures of Firewalking. Thamarankottai.com (2009-01-18). Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
- Video of Fire Walking. Thamarankottai.com (2009-04-22). Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
- Madurai veeran temple home page. Kottaigroups-maduraiveeran.blogspot.com (2009-06-18). Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
- Sitting MP for Tanjore Parliament Constituency – K. Parasuram of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam Party
External links
- Thamarankottai website (in Tamil)