History of Kayalpatnam

Tirulnelveli is a small town in Southern part of Tamil Nadu,India but my parents are from
another small village in Kayalpatnam.Let's see the history of this wonderful place.

Kayalpatnam is a town in the Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, India. It has a long history
dating from about 1250. A famous port during the times of the Pandyan kingdom, it is also a
chief port of Mabar. Kayal is inhabited byMuslims belonging to the Dravidian race, along
with people from the Nadar, Devar, Harijan Adi Dravidian and Christian communities living
in peace. It is believed that the original inhabitants were from Egypt.There are several
references to this trading port in various literary works, notably in the travel
work ofMarco Polo. Kayalpatnam was also an important trade center even
before the arrival of Islam. Five thousand years ago, it was the capital of second
Tamil Sangam, called Kapadapuram. The northern part of Kayal is called
Palaiya Kayal and Punna Kayal. The town has a number of mosques. Prominent
among them are Kutba Periya Palli, Kutba Siru Palli, Al-Jamiul Azhar,
Kaadiriya Kodimara Siru Nainar Palli, Kuruvithurai Palli, Erattai Kolathu Palli,
Appapalli, Maraicar Palli, Kadal Karai Palli (the second mosque in India, first
mosque of the town), Karup-Udaiyar Palli, Kattu Mogudoom Palli, Mogudoom
Palli of Mogudoom street and Yusuf Appa Palli

History :Few doubt today that an ancient city called Kayal (Qail, Quil)
ever existed. It is widely acknowledged by the scholars that a city by that name
did flourish in ancient time as a commercial port - carrying on trading with
countries as far away as Greece and China.There are several references to this
trading port in various literary works, notably in the travel work of Marco Polo.
What is less certain, however, is whether that ancient port is what that exists
today as the bustling town of Kayalpatnam. Several archeological evidences
seem to suggest so, but still some doubts persist.

Why the name 'Kayalpatnam'?In Tamil, the

word Kayal stands for the sea and the adjoining lands. Patnam literally means a
city or town. Hence Kayalpatnam refers to the city adjoining the sea. Few towns
nearby also carry Kayal as part of their name.

Masjids Kayalpatnam has many Masjids. People can pray their

prayers without fails in Masjids nearest for them. It has Masjid for each Streets.
These include:
Al-Jami-ul-Azher
Masjid-ul-Khabeer
Masjid-ul-Sagheer
Masjid-ul-Thayim
Magdoom Palli (Built 1050 years ago)
and much more.
Education:
The town of Kayalpatnam had good philanthropists to promote education
amongst not only in Kayalpatnam, but also in the neighboring towns. Some of
the leading schools and colleges were promoted by the people from the town.
These include:
Islamic Colleges:
Aisha Sideeqa Women's College For Women
Muaskar Rahman Women's Arabic College For Women
Zaviya College
Mahlara College
Arusul Jannah Women's Arabic College, Deevu Street
Institutes of Kayalpatnam
Elkay Higher Secondary School
Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Boys
Muhyiddeen Matriculation Higher Secondary School for Girls
Central Higher Secondary School
Kamalavati Higher Secondary School
Government Girls Higher Secondary School
Zubaida Higher Secondary School For Girls
Thulir Institution For Mentally Disabled Children
Wavoo Wageeha Arts And Science College For Women

Population[edit]
Kayalpatnam has population of 40,588 of which 19,492 are males while 21,096 are females as
per report released by Census India 2011.[2]
Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 4995 which is 12.31% of total population of
Kayalpatnam. Female Sex Ratio is of 1082 against state average of 996. Moreover, Child Sex
Ratio in Kayalpatnam is around 960 compared to Tamil Nadu state average of 943. The literacy
rate of Kayalpatnam town is 92.71% higher than state average of 80.09%. In Kayalpatnam, Male
literacy is around 95.00% while female literacy rate is 90.63%.
For a town of this size, KayalPatnam has multiple sports clubs. There's a United Sports Club that
conducts an All India Football Tournament every year.[3] There's a Red Star Society that is
famous for Badminton tournaments.
Kayalpatnam Municipality has total administration over 9,417 houses which it supplies basic
amenities like water and sewerage. It is also authorized to build roads within Municipality limits
and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.
TIMELINE

December 20, 1998-Kayal on the Web launched on a portal owned by Electric Minds
Community (www.minds.com).
April 1999-The Website was moved to www.freeservers.com, a free webhosting provider.
December 1999-The domain name - kayalpatnam.com- was purchased through Network
Solutions Inc. It then used to cost $70 for two years registration!
September 2000-ayal on the Web went online as a dynamic portal - on a server owned
by Interland Inc in the US. Features like Jumma Bayan Downloads, Internet Radio, Free
Email Service were introduced
November 20, 2000-News service in English was launched. Updated by Master Computer
Academy from Kayalpatnam
December 9, 2000-News service in Tamil was launched. Updated by Master Computer
Academy from Kayalpatnam
May 16, Kayalpatnam.com became part of The Kayal First Trust, a public, charitable trust founded
2006-
in Kayalpatnam

Kayalpattinam Population, Religion, Caste, Working Data Thoothukkudi,

Tamil Nadu - Census 2011
Kayalpattinam is a Municipality city situated in Tiruchendur taluka of Thoothukkudi district. The
Kayalpattinam city is divided into 18 wards for which elections are held every 5 years. As per the
Population Census 2011, there are total 9,417 families residing in the Kayalpattinam city.
The total population of Kayalpattinam is 40,588 out of which 19,492 are males and 21,096
are females thus the Average Sex Ratio of Kayalpattinam is 1,082.
The population of Children of age 0-6 years in Kayalpattinam city is 4995 which is 12% of the
total population. There are 2548 male children and 2447 female children between the age 0-6
years. Thus as per the Census 2011 the Child Sex Ratio of Kayalpattinam is 960 which is
less than Average Sex Ratio (1,082).
As per the Census 2011, the literacy rate of Kayalpattinam is 92.7%. Thus Kayalpattinam
has higher literacy rate compared to 86.2% of Thoothukkudi district. The male literacy rate is
82.6% and the female literacy rate is 80.1% in Kayalpattinam.
Population

40,588
Literacy
 92.7%
Sex Ratio

1,082
Kayalpattinam Municipality has total administration over 9,417 houses to which it supplies basic
amenities like water and sewerage. It is also authorize to build roads within Municipality limits
and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.

Kayalpattinam Municipality
As per the Population Census 2011 data, following are some quick facts about Kayalpattinam
Municipality.

Total Male Female

Children 4,995 2,548 2,447

Literacy 92.7% 82.6% 80.1%

Scheduled Caste 2,991 1,507 1,484

Scheduled Tribe 3 1 2

Illiterate 7,590 3,395 4,195

Caste-wise Population - Kayalpattinam

Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 7.4% while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 0% of total population in
Kayalpattinam.

Total Male Female

Schedule Caste 2,991 1,507 1,484

 Total Male Female

Schedule Tribe 3 1 2

Religion-wise Population - Kayalpattinam

Religion Total Male Female

Hindu 10,689 (26.34%) 5,338 5,351

Muslim 27,293 (67.24%) 12,817 14,476

Christian 2,580 (6.36%) 1,322 1,258

Sikh 1 (0%) 0 1

Buddhist 2 (0%) 1 1

Jain 4 (0.01%) 2 2

Other Religion 0 (0%) 0 0

No Religion Specified 19 (0.05%) 12 7

Literacy Rate - Kayalpattinam

The total literacy rate of Kayalpattinam was 92.71% in 2011 which is greater than
average literacy rate 80.09% of Tamil Nadu. Population-wise, out of total 32,998 literates, males
were 16,097 while females were 16,901. Also the male literacy rate was 95% and the female
literacy rate was 90.63% in Kayalpattinam.
 Kayalpattinam Tamil Nadu

Female 90.63% 73.44%

Male 95% 86.77%

Total 92.71% 80.09%

Sex Ratio - Kayalpattinam

The Sex Ratio of Kayalpattinam is 1,082. Thus per every 1000 men there were 1,082 females in
Kayalpattinam. Also as per Census , the Child Sex Ration was 960 which is less than Average Sex
Ratio ( 1,082 ) of Kayalpattinam.

Child Population - Kayalpattinam

According to Census 2011, there were 4,995 children between age 0 to 6 years in Kayalpattinam.
Out of which 2,548 were male while 2,447 were female.

Working Population - Kayalpattinam

In Kayalpattinam Municipality out of total population, 11,414 were engaged in work activities.
96.1% of workers describe their work as Main Work (Employment or Earning more than 6
Months) while 3.9% were involved in Marginal activity providing livelihood for less than 6
months. Of 11,414 workers engaged in Main Work, 17 were cultivators (owner or co-owner)
while 27 were Agricultural labourer.

Total Male Female

Main Workers 10,967 9,809 1,158

Cultivators 17 11 6
 Total Male Female

Agriculture Labourer 27 22 5

Household Industries 206 83 123

Other Workers 10,717 9,693 1,024

Marginal Workers 447 224 223

Non Working 29,174 9,459 19,715

Kayalpattinam Wards
A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. Kayalpattinam is further
divided into 18 wards where elections are held every 5 years.

# Ward Population Literacy Sex Ratio

1 Ward No - 1 2,796 83.5% 1,019

2 Ward No - 2 1,201 85.4% 1,168

3 Ward No - 3 2,042 85.9% 1,152

4 Ward No - 4 864 84.3% 1,304

5 Ward No - 5 1,256 85.4% 1,383

6 Ward No - 6 1,573 77.8% 1,373

# Ward Population Literacy Sex Ratio

7 Ward No - 7 2,747 78.2% 1,012

8 Ward No - 8 2,531 83.6% 1,015

9 Ward No - 9 1,801 86.6% 1,077

10 Ward No - 10 2,730 82.5% 1,042

11 Ward No - 11 2,154 87.4% 998

12 Ward No - 12 2,581 75.1% 1,085

13 Ward No - 13 2,608 81.5% 1,017

14 Ward No - 14 3,678 76.3% 988

15 Ward No - 15 3,535 74.6% 1,177

16 Ward No - 16 1,583 85.3% 1,217

17 Ward No - 17 2,051 82.9% 1,070

18 Ward No - 18 2,857 82% 1,004

Six species of oysters have been recorded in India. They are Pinctada fucata,
Pinctada margaritifera, Pinctada cheminitzi, Pinctada sugillata, Pinctada
anomioids and Pinctada atropurpure. Among this, Pinctada fucata is the dominant
species,” he added.
Here are 11 facts we know about pearling, thanks to Thalith:

> 4 months and 10 days is how long the divers - all men, would be gone for.

> They would be at sea from mid-May to early September.

> Men were inducted into the pearling business at age 9 - when they had to pry open
oyster shells with knives to get to the pearl. Age 12 onwards, they began to dive.
Around 50, it's time to stop.

> The first 10 days of the new pearling season were the toughest for divers. They'd be
side effects, nausea, sea sickness -attributed to the body getting used to the diving
routine.

> Divers would dive for 12-14 hours, before sunrise, and till sunset.

> The rhythm was dive 5 times, rest once. Repeat.

>Ten metres is how deep on average a diver went.

> All trading was done in Indian Rupees. All units of measurement and scales are in
Hindi.

> Sweet and salty water, the combination is the best environment for oysters. And the
pearls gathered from these oysters are the pearls with the best colour.

>The best pearls are the size of chickpeas. And nobody likes green pearls. They do
exist. But the market value is nowhere close the yellow/white/pink/ grey ones.

> Pearl diving in the Emirates is a tradition that goes back a 1,000 years. Much before
the gulf was known for its oil. Men would be gone for the summer months when the
water wasn't freezing. The women would be left behind, with a designated man to
look after and protect them.

There are locals very much around, who have descended from pearl divers and are
driven to keeping the tradition from dying out. One such person is Major Ali al
Suweidi, president of the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, a non-profit body
that works to protect UAE's marine life. It's quite a sight when Major Ali, walking
around the Ghantoot Reserve near Jebel Ali one minute talking about turtles, shifts to
pearling.

He stops, fishes out a red silk kerchief, unties a knot in the fabric to reveal a glistening
grape-sized yellow pearl. At the eyes-wide-open reaction of an onlooker he laughs,
and explains, "I carry it for luck".

While pearl diving in the UAE has all but completely died out, one of the Emirates -
Ras Al Khaimah - is creating cultured pearls "much better than the ones in Japan",
Kayed said.

Yellow pearls, pink pearls - of all various measurements are on display at the Dubai
Museum and the Saeed Al Maktoum House, both in the Fahidi n=eighbourhood.
There is an extensive explanation at both museums of the procedures and equipment,
the fishing nets, scales, baskets, the copper scoops, and even accessories such as the
320-year old gazelle horn nose clip.

At the Dubai Museum, some facts that leap out of the descriptions. "In 1905" - a sign
says - "the revenue from pearl sales was Rupees One Million. Pearl divers made three
main journeys between the 5th and 9th month each year. Summer was the busiest
time."

Thalith spoke at the Majlis about the peer pressures of pearl diving, too. If one diver
brought in only 20 pearls, and his fellow divers reached say 150 pearls, the captain of
the ship was going to need an explanation.

"At Dubai Creek in the early 20th century there were about 300 pearl diving dhows
with over 7,000 sailors on board. The captain (Al Nokhaza), sailors, divers and
apprentices left to the haunting melodies of the song Al Nahham. When the divers
reached the pearl beds (Al Hiraat), they started work under the burning sun. They
made very deep dives, with only a nose clip, leather finger protectors, a basket made
of rope, a stone weighing about 5kg to pull them down and a rope to raise them to the
surface again. About 50 dives were made a day, each about 3 minutes long. They
earned between 200 and 300 rupees a year."
Thalith said that there was a relationship of trust between the divers, and the man on
the vessel who pulled the diver out of the water.

To minimise "accidents" that might be borne out of debt-related grudges. Basically, a

diver wouldn't want someone he owed money to, to pull him out of the water, for the
fear that, he might let go of a hand.

The museum description ends with this: "50 daily trips in the sea, with all their
associated difficulties made the joy of returning home more precious than the pearls
collected by the captain."