Elavumthitta - 2009 - Centenary Year of The Market

Centenary Year of The Market

'Elavumthitta Market clebrated its centenary year in 2009. In the year of 1909 Mooloor S Padmanabha Panicker Who was a member of 'Sreemoolam Prajasabha' had established the Elavumthitta market in the 2 acres (8,100 m2) of land near the Elavumthitta Junction. He named the market as "Sreemoolam Rajagopalavilasam".

The name of Elavumthitta is synonymous with Mooloor S padmanabha Panicker. For People out side Elavumthitta, Mooloor was only a great poet of his time. He was more than that, fought with the so called elite groups of writers of his time, who thought that they were the sole custodian of literature. Initially they even mocked at his literary works and questioned his right to do such exercise, openly quoting the cast he belonged. That was enough to raise the sleeping lion –the literary genius in mooloor. Armed with his mighty pen and charged with the divine blessings of Sree Narayana Guru, he fought alone- it can be compared only with the legendary Abhimau the warrior of mahabharat who was trapped and slain by the veteran warriors. Here it was different, though he was cornered and attacked by the conservative veterans of letters, Mooloor could come out of every fight victorious, and in the end his rivalries made peace with him. The poetic mind could, not only write beautiful poems of his time; being a visionary, he saw that Elavumthitta is lagging behind in every social need of that time. Be it in education, or in infrastructures, like roads or in marketing facilities for the agricultural produce- the place was famous for- needed immediate attention. His proximity with the rulers of Travancore made the tough task one by one in to reality.

In 1914 he was nominated to 'Sreemulam Prajasabha' by the Maharaja of Travancore. Fourteen years he was in that position and made dramatic changes in the society. His plea in the assembly for social justice to everyone in the society irrespective one's caste and creed was heard throughout Kerala. When there was taboo for members belonging to certain caste walking on public road or entering temples, Mooloor made schools to educate them, made temples for them to worship, and made public roads for every one's use.

He was the main architect for shaping the Elavumthitta market. Most of the important roads in Kozhechery Taluk were made under his leadership. He founded more than 20 educational institutions in Elavumthitta and other parts of Kerala.

He expired in 1931 at the age of 62 leaving behind a great void, difficult to fill by another one. In 1989 Govt. of Kerala built a memorial at the place he lived in his last days, barely 3 km away from the Elavumthitta market junction. The memorial and its serene surrounding remind one, what a great soul was lived there once.

The place is a pilgrim centre for many literary luminaries . In every year on the vijayadasmiday hundreds of parents bring their children to get initiated in to the world of letters here. Locally the ritual is called 'Ezhuthiniruth'.

The objective of the memorial is to familiarize the present generation with the rich social as well as literary contribution of the poet and keep his memory alive. Few years ago in an interview for the police department, one board member asked an aspiring candidate --

"Well gentleman, your bio-data says you are a native of Elavumthitta . I understand Mooloor the great poet was from there. Now tell us something about him".

It is sad that our young man had to admit his ignorance. The young man should know that a man named Mooloor S Padmanabha Panicker was instrumental in making Elavumthitta with the facilities he enjoys now. Let our youngsters grow with the memories of the great people like Mooloor.