History of Grama Panchayat
Adichanalloor is a Grama Panchayat in the Kollam district that comprises the villages of Adichanalloor and Thazhuthala. The land of 'Adichan', which instilled fear and wonder in the people, later became 'Adichan's Nalla Ooru' (the good village of Adichan). Adichanalloor is also the homeland of the legendary wrestler and warrior, Ithikkara Pakki. The proximity of the Ithikkara River, which stretches from Kattachal in the east to Pathayakkodi in the west, along with the water wealth of its tributary, the Pallikkal River, which joins the Ithikkara region in the middle of Panayam, and the fertility of the riverbanks are nature's bountiful gifts for the prosperous growth of paddy and coconut cultivation.
Kottiyam was one of the most prominent trade hubs between Attingal and Kollam in Travancore. Following the special instructions of the Maharaja, a Vazhiyambalam (rest house/wayfarer's inn) was constructed at Kottiyam for travelers to rest, which was later named the Kottiyam Ambalam. This entire historically significant region is situated within the Adichanalloor Panchayat.
In 1953, the first elected Panchayat Committee under adult franchise came into power. Adv. Kottiyam Sadashivan was the first President, and he served continuously in this position for 23 years. Belonging to the Ithikkara Block of Kollam district, the Adichanalloor Grama Panchayat spans an area of 19.85 sq. km. Situated north of the Ithikkara River, this panchayat is bordered by Pooyappally to the east, Nedumbana to the northeast, Thrikkovilvattam to the northwest, Mayyanad to the west, and Chathannoor to the south.
Before the Adichanalloor Panchayat took its current form, a Gramodharna Sangham (Village Upliftment Society) was started. In 1946, a meeting was held under the presidency of the Travancore Panchayat Director (Pichumani Iyer). From the gathering, a committee was formed consisting of Messrs Melakkal Madhavan Pillai, Kodikkakathu Gopinathan Pillai, Mangattu Arjunan, Kunnummel Meeran Kunju, Koikkalazhikathu Parameswaran Pillai, storyteller (Kathikan) O. Yohannan, and P.K. Sreekumari. Melakkal M. Madhavan Pillai was elected as the President. To manage the office and other administrative affairs, M.K. Vijayan was appointed as the Secretary and O. Unni as the Peon.
The brilliant and historic agitation led by M.K. Karthikeyan later served as a catalyst for building up the agricultural laborers' movement across the entire panchayat. It redefined the landlord-tenant relationship and ultimately paved the way for the government's historic Agrarian Relations Bill of 1957 to be presented and passed into law in the Legislative Assembly.