History of Grama Panchayat
History of Local Governance
Prior to the formation of Kerala, this region was part of the South Kanara district in the erstwhile Madras State. In 1625, Shivappa Nayaka of Bednore constructed a fort at Bekal—which had been a key military center during the reign of the Ikkeri kings. Originally part of the Kadamba Kingdom, the region subsequently became part of the Vijayanagara Empire. After the Battle of Talikota in 1565, the King of Bedannur took possession of the fort. Hyder Ali captured it in 1763. Following Tipu's defeat, Bekal Fort came under British control. Kundamkuzhi Fort is located exactly 12 miles away from Bekal Fort. The Bandadukka Fort was located 12 miles away from there. The Cheryakkars, who currently reside in Kundamkuzhi and Bandadukka within this panchayat, are descendants of the Rama Kshatriyas who arrived as commanders for the Ikkeri kings and as guardians of the fort. Over time, their Bedannur culture became part of Bedadukka. Even prior to that, during the period of the Vijayanagara Empire's occupation, this region was already familiar with the cultural interactions of the people of South India. The 'Turkans' who arrived during the military campaigns of Hyder Ali and Tipu also laid the foundations for Muslim culture. Among the Muslims of Bedakam, the 'Turkan' community continues to live on, preserving that legacy.
Socio cultural history
Although the population is religiously comprised of Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, there is a wide variety of sub-sects and associated customs and rituals. Speakers of languages such as Malayalam, Kannada, Urdu, Tulu, Marathi, and Hindustani are still present in the panchayat today. Kannada exerts a strong influence on the usage of Malayalam, particularly in its colloquial forms. Distinct local dialects and linguistic expressions are prevalent among Scheduled communities; while Malayalam is the language spoken by the Malayan and Vannan communities, Tulu is the spoken language among the Kopalan and Mavilan communities. The Marathi language persists among the Brahmins and the Kannada Nayakar community. The history of the local vernacular here offers significant scope for serious research. This region has a past where the caste system was actively maintained and observed, and where lifestyles were structured in accordance with it. The traditional occupation of toddy tapping belonged to the Thiyya community, while cloth weaving was the trade of the Saliyar community; at one time, a prominent weaving community existed here. Although the Maniyani (Yadava) community served as estate managers for landlords, the construction sector—including stonemasonry—was under their control. In the past, the Vaniya community was engaged in the occupation of extracting oil from coconuts. The Vannathans traditionally engaged in the profession of washing clothes. The Malaya community consists of traditional Theyyam performers, as does the Vannan community. The Kopalans are another group of Theyyam performers; this community also crafts the *thalappala*—a symbol of farmers that is widely popular in Malabar. The Mavilars are a prominent Scheduled Caste community. They constituted the workforce employed by the *Janmi* (landlord) for agricultural activities. Members of the Viswakarma community were primarily engaged in carpentry and blacksmithing. The Chetti community consisted of goldsmiths (*Thattans*). A significant percentage of the Vettuvar community belongs to the Scheduled Castes/Tribes. The Naikkars are a tribal community with roots in Karnataka. They also earn their livelihood through agriculture. Although Brahmins reside in various parts of this panchayat, they constitute a minority. Among them are Tulu-speaking Tulu Brahmins, Havyaka Brahmins with roots in Karnataka, and Karhade Brahmins with ties to Maharashtra. Among those who sustain themselves through temple rituals, agriculture, and other activities, there are also *Janmis* (landlords). Those known as *Cheryakkars* were originally Kshatriyas; today, they earn their livelihood through agriculture. The *Bhandaris* were traditionally barbers. The *Marar* community derives its livelihood from temple-related services. The Warrier community is engaged in temple-related professions. The Gowda community comprises the farming and land-owning class of Karnataka; families belonging to this community are also found scattered across the panchayat. The Nair and Nambiar communities were the indigenous inhabitants of the Bandadukka region prior to the influx of migrants. 'Wayanattu Kulavan Theyyam'—the ancestral deity of the Thiyya community—is currently one of the prominent Theyyam performances in this panchayat. It is staged not merely as a Theyyam exclusive to the Thiyya community, but as a grand, popular festival. The classification of the Wayanad Kulavan Theyyam into three—two beyond Nileshwar and one on this side, accompanied by the elder figure known as 'Koran'—symbolizes the uprising of the tenant farmer and, even more significantly, the reverence held for Wayanad Kulavan, which paved the way for that very awakening. The festivals at the Kundamkuzhi Sree Panchalingeshwara Temple—known as 'Dakshinakashi'—and the Velazhi Kaliyattam are the major Hindu festivals. The historically renowned Bandadukka Eniyad Makham Uroos and the Maruthadukkam Makham Uroos are the significant Muslim festivals.
