Chemanchery
Grama Panchayat

History
Sociohistorical background
This land stretching between the Arabian Sea in the west and Elathur River in the east was formerly known as Payyanad. The main occupations were fishing, farming and salting. Inscriptions inscribed on two sacrificial stones in the Narasimha Parthadasarathi temple at Travancore throw light on the social structure from 962 AD onwards. These inscriptions record the offerings of Naduvana Bhaskara Ravi Perumal. As in other settlement centers in Kerala at that time, the growth of temple-centered agricultural society can be read through the inscriptions in Payyanadan region. Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese sailor, landed at Kappad in this panchayat on 20 May 1498. Thus Kappad Kadappu took its place in the historical records. Arabs and Chinese came here for trade purposes. But the purpose of the parangis was different. They tried for political conquest through trade. The fighters of this panchayat were already there in Munpachanti against the foreign dictatorship. Since the Salt Satyagraha era of the 1930s, the seeds of the anti-white movement had begun to take root in this soil. The newspaper Swatantra Bharatam was a newspaper that printed rants against foreign tyranny and published only once or twice a week. The kalaris here were ancient learning centers where knowledge and martial arts were imparted. All the art forms that existed in the region centuries ago had a religious rite of passage. Art forms such as Theyam, Koolikett, Chappakett, Vellari, Kaikottikali, Oppana and Dafmut are examples of this. The old educational centers used to be natezhut mosques. Many of the existing schools in this panchayat are modern institutions built on the foundation stone of old Nathezhuthu Pallikoots and Authupura. As it is a land lying between the sea and the river, the topography here is generally not hilly. But 70% of the land area of ​​the panchayat is located at an elevation of 8 meters to 4 meters above sea level. Historical records bear testimony to the fact that the Chemanjari region, which looks like a peninsula between the Arabian Sea in the west and the Elathur River in the southeast, had a tradition of more than two thousand years in agriculture. The slave laborers who were bought from Valliyur Kavi, the family members and the slave laborers worked together in the fields and fields. Cashew nuts that came here with the arrival of parangis later took their place on top of the hill. In the same places coconut and gourd occupied the main position.
Industrial history
Handloom was a cottage industry among the Shalia community in Pookadu and Travangoor streets of the panchayat. The yarn needed to weave the clothes was brought and woven on looms and looms. The diggers were called Kakuzhithari. Its remnants can still be seen on Pookadu street. From here, the main products that were produced were the cloth called the cloth of the fourteen. There was also a cottage industry where copra and sesame seeds were pounded to produce enough oil for the entire family in the area. There were presses in different parts of the panchayat to extract oil from fish by using the fish stocks that were readily available on the sea shores. Mats, vatti, panamba and taduk were widely made in the panchayat using kaitayola. This was the clan occupation of the Scheduled Castes. The coir industry was a widespread industry in the southern part of the Panchayat in the Velamam and Kappad areas. Another clan occupation in this panchayat was slaughtering. They used to manufacture agricultural tools for those engaged in agricultural work. They also made martial arts weapons for temples and kalaris, traditional locks and keys that rivaled even modern lockers. Coir industry is one of the sectors in which most women were employed in the panchayat.
Transport history
Bamboo and logs for commercial purposes were taken to Kalla through Terapankekatti Korapuzha. Agricultural products such as copra, chutti, pepper, and saffron were taken to the town and essential goods were brought there through this waterway. Arabs and Chinese anchored at Kappad port even before the arrival of Vasco da Gama for trade. Arabs and Chinese used to send spices from Wayanad to their homeland from this port. Before motor vehicles became widespread, the people here depended on water transport through the Korapuzha river. Long distance boat service from Korapuzha to Parasshinikadav and short distance boat service from Elathur to Sattathakadav.