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Kayalpatnam
Municipality in Tamil Nadu, India From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kayalpatnam (also known as Kayal) is a municipality in the Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of 40,588.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2025) |
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History
Kayalpatnam is mentioned in the travel diaries of Marco Polo[1] in 1298 AD. Korkai,[2] Vaguthai, or Kayal was an ancient port in the early Common Era and existed alongside Kollam, another important Pandyan port. While Kollam served the Pandyas on the west coast, Korkai/Kayal on the east coast connected to Ceylon, as well as the pearl fisheries in the Gulf of Mannar. Arab traders from Egypt and Yemen arrived at the port of Korkai (present-day Kayalpatnam), with some later migrating to Adirampattinam. There was strong trading between Kayalpatnam, Adirampattinam, and Kilakarai and this ancient port also traded with Egypt, Rome, and Greece.[3]
The Muslim Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta mentioned Kayalpatnam (which he refers to as Fatan) in his travelogue The Rihla (lit. "Journey"). There also exists a strong cultural connection between Kayalpatnam, Adirampattinam and Kilakarai.
Kayalpatnam has many mosques. One of these mosques is visited by photographer Benoy Behl in his film, A World of Beauty and Grace: Islamic Architecture of India.[4]
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Role In the Indian Independence Movement
Kayalpatnam, a part of Tiruchendur Taluk, was influential in the Indian independence movement. Many patriots from Kayalpatnam participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Individual Satyagraha, and the Quit India Movement.[5]
Toddy shop picketing holds significant historical importance in Kayalpatnam. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi presented a set of Eleven Demands to the British Viceroy, Lord Irwin, addressing key economic and social grievances of the Indian people. These demands included the abolition of the salt tax, reduction of land revenue, and prohibition of intoxicating drinks.[6] Inspired by Gandhi’s call for prohibition, toddy shops operating in Kayalpatnam were picketed.[5]
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Freedom Fighters from Kayalpatnam
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One prominent freedom fighter from Kayalpatnam was L.K. Sheikh Muhammed, popularly known as the 'Kayal Gandhi'[7] for his simple and dedicated life, and his active involvement in various Satyagrahas, including toddy shop picketing.[7] He was widely respected for his unwavering commitment to Gandhian principles. He famously refused to accept the freedom fighters' pension and other benefits offered by the government, insisting that such assistance should be reserved for the truly needy.
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (July 2025) |
Another freedom fighter of Kayalpatnam was R. Venkatrama Mudaliar, the Karnam of Kayalpatnam. He resigned the position as Karnam upon the onset of Civil Disobedience Movement and took part in toddy shop picketing in Kayalpatnam[8][9][10][11] along with L.K Sheik Muhammed and others. For this, Venkatraman was arrested and sentenced under the Prevention of Molestation and Boycotting Ordinance, 1932 (Ordinance V of 1932), and this coupled with his association with the banned Tirunelveli District Congress Committee, led to his prosecution.
Venkatraman was tried by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Tirunelveli in Criminal Case No. 81 of 1932 and, on 28 June 1932, and was sentenced under Section 4 of the Prevention of Molestation and Boycotting Ordinance, 1932 (Ordinance V of 1932) and also under Section 17(1) of the Indian Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908. He was kept at Kokkirakulam sub-jail for four months as an under-trial prisoner and later after getting convicted he was at Tiruchirapalli Central Jail between 1932 and 1933. He was released on May 03, 1933[12][8][13][14][15]. Later, he took part in the 1941 Individual Satyagraha from Tiruchendur.[16][17] He was arrested by the Malabar Special Police (M.S.P) for his active participation in the Quit India Movement during the investigation of Kulasekarapattnam Conspiracy Case in 1942, though he was not a part of the conspiracy where the Assisant Inspector of Salt of Kulasekarapattnam, Mr.Wilfred Loane[15][18] was murdered. He was tortured in prison, where the police kicked him in the stomach with heavy boots [15][18]. In addition to his role in the freedom struggle, R. Venkatrama Mudaliar took part in efforts to bring clean and reliable drinking water to the town of Kayalpattinam [7]. On the midnight of August 15, 1947, Mudaliar hoisted the national flag in Kayalpatnam, signifying the beginning of India’s independence [citation needed].
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Demographics
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According to the 2011 census, Kayalpattinam has a population of 40,588 with a sex-ratio of 1,082 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[19] A total of 4,995 were under the age of six, constituting 2,548 males and 2,447 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 7.37% and .01% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 81.3%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[19] The town had a total of 9,417 households. There were a total of 11,414 workers, comprising 17 cultivators, 27 main agricultural labourers, 206 in-house hold industries, 10,717 other workers, 447 marginal workers, 9 marginal cultivators, 4 marginal agricultural labourers, 30 marginal workers in household industries and 404 other marginal workers.[20] Tamil is the predominant language, spoken by 99.72% of the population.
Islam is the dominant religion in this municipality. According to the religious census of 2011, Kayalpattinam's population consisted of 26.34% Hindus, 67.24% Muslims, 6.36% Christians and 0.01% following other religions.[21]
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Culture
Most Muslims in Kayalpattinam follow the Shafi'i school of thought along with the Qadiriyya and Shadhiliya Tariqa (Sufi order) Qadiriyya tariqa connected to Mahlara, and Shadhiliya tariqa connected to zaviya Faasiyatush shadhiliya Tariqa. The Indian headquarters of this tariqa,[22] Zaviathul Fasiyathus shathulia, is located in Kayalpatnam. There are a few followers of Ahl-e-Hadith also present. There exists a Maqbara of Kazi Syed Alauddin, brother of Kazi Syed Tajuddin, the forefather of Madurai Maqbara Hazrats,[23] and of all the Syeds living in Kazimar Street, Madurai is located here.
The Arwi dialect of Tamil was largely developed in Kayalpatnam.[24]
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Islamic educational institutions
- Al Madrasatul Fasiyyah
- Al Mahlarathul Qadhiriyyah
- Al Madrasatul Hamidhiyya
- Madrasathul Azhar li Thahfeezil Quraanil Kareem
- Da'wathul Huda
- Aroosul Jannah Women's Islamic College
- Ayisha Siddiqua Women's Islamic College
- Al Kulliyathun Nasuhiyya Women's Islamic College
- Muaskarur Rahman Women's Islamic College
- Muaskarur Rahman Hifz College for Women's
References
External links
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