Edava
| Edava ഇടവ Edava | |
|---|---|
| village | |
  Edava   Edava Location in Kerala, India | |
| Coordinates: 8°46′02″N 76°41′24″E / 8.7671°N 76.6901°ECoordinates: 8°46′02″N 76°41′24″E / 8.7671°N 76.6901°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Government | |
| • Body | Gram panchayat |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 48,054 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 695311 |
| Telephone code | 0470 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-16 |
| Nearest city | Varkala |
| Literacy | 98.97% |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Attingal |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Varkala |
Edava (Malayalam: ഇടവ) is a coastal village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. Edava is located near the tourist spot Varkala.
History
Edava was the frontier of the erstwhile Province of Travancore: Venad. This village is on the northwest boundary of Thiruvananthapuram district adjacent to the Arabian Sea and situated between two municipalities, Varkala to the south and Paravur to the north. The railway line between Trivandrum and Kollam passes through this village. Edava may be the only village in Kerala with two railway stations: Edava and Kappil. There is a road (TA Majeed Road) connecting Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Edava has witnessed important historical events in Kerala. Historical references show that during the rule of Queen Umayamma one `Mughal Sardar' attacked Venad in the year 1680. His reign extended from the South of Thovala to Edava.
In the year 1726, Queen of Attingal gave permission to the British East Indian Company to build a Pandakasaala (warehouse) near what is now called Vettakkada, close to the Arabian Sea. But even before the setting up of this Pandakasaala, Denmark traders had constructed a trading hub over there. K P Padmanabha Menon, in his seminal work, Kerala History, has quoted English army captain Alexander Hamilton as saying that during the first leg of 18th century: "Here on the beach side, Denmark traders have a small warehouse with coconut-thatched roof. It is in a dilapidated condition. Their trading, likewise, is nominal." This location at Vettakkada is still named Paandiyala, a worn-out usage of Paandakasaala, which is the Malayalam for warehouse.
The first printing press in the erstwhile Travancore, or perhaps in Kerala, with facility to print in Arabic script, was established in Edava in 1936. It was called Coronation Memorial Press and was situated at what is now called Press Mukku. Its establishment coincided with the coronation ceremony of Travancore King. Orders for books, in Arabic, used to come from even far-flung places such as the present-day Pakistan.
Edava's secular credentials are impeccable and sublime, with Hindus and Muslims living in harmony without making any ripples in the placid social waters of this pristine village. There is no wonder because the village is just a microcosm of a larger Kerala. Edavites love to wake up to devotional songs from temples and call for prayers from mosques. The villagers, cutting across religious believes, give in to the colorful charms of all the major temple festivals in the village, without providing any room for nefarious elements to disturb this glorious tradition. Of particular mention is the festival at Palakkav Temple, a prominent village temple situated on the Varkala-Paravoor road, which is celebrated by all the villagers cutting across religious lines with gaiety and fervor. Murthaba - a delicious dish of minced meat and vegetables, sold by make-shift traders during the Palakkav temple fest within the vicinity of the temple - stands as a delectable testimony to the secular credentials of this village. This dish was introduced to Edava by those Muslim expatriates who had traveled to countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. in the 18th and 19th century in search of livelihood. The Murthaba, sold here, is a slight variation of Murtabak from either Indonesia or Malaysia. The Palakkav temple festival remains incomplete without this dish, which has almost come to symbolize the festival that runs for many days.
Edava is the proud birthplace of late T A. Majeed, who was the PWD Minister in the first Communist Ministry of 1957. Majeed continues to be cherished by old-timers and youngsters alike within the Communist party for his impeccable credentials and unblemished political career.
Geography
Edava boasts of beautiful beaches and serene backwaters. The bucolic beauty of the village provides an ethereal and other-worldly experience to discerning tourists as well as people from the neighbouring villages. The much-celebrated estuary that links Edava-Nadayara lake to the Arabian sea here is another major attraction, which adds to the rustic beauty of this village. During the monsoon season, water gushes out of the lake and reaches the sea; people from surrounding villages come to watch this natural phenomenon. There is a blue lagoon - with the sea and backwaters running parallel with the road in the middle.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census, Edava had a population of 26,903, with 12,292 males and 14,611 females.
While some people eke out a living through fishing, a majority of Edavites migrate to the Middle East countries in search of jobs, and a few find their livelihood in private sector. Edava has had a tradition of its people migrating to countries like Singapore and Malaysia in the 18th and 19th century and this trend still continues even today, though to the Gulf region.
Transportation
The main road of Edava is TA Majeed Road, which connects Varkala to Paravur through Edava.
Edava has two railway stations, one at Edava and the other at Kappil. Edava may be probably the only village in Kerala with two railway stations. The railway line which connects Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam passes through Edava.
The nearest main railway station is Varkala Railway Station which is having stops for almost 90% trains and it is the most important station between Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station and Kollam Junction railway station. Varkala Railway Station is just 3 km away from Edava.
The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 55 km from Edava.
Lakes
Edava Nadayara lake and canal
Like other kerala villages, Edava also have schooling facilities in Government as well as private sectors. Unfortunately there is no educational facilities available in Edava after schools.
Major Schools in Edava is as follows:- 1. M.R Mohammed Kunju Memorial Higher Secondary School 2. Kappil Government High School 3. Government Upper Primary School 4. Lekshmi Vilason Upper Primary School.
and many other primary schools.
Apart from this some private schools are available in Edava, but those schools lacks good teaching staffs.
Prominent people
- Late T A Majeed, PWD Minister in the EMS ministry, 1957, the first democratically elected Communist government in the world.
- Late Thakiyudeen Wahid, Founder-Chairman of the now-defunct East West Airlines, the first private airline company to have touched the Indian skies.
- Late M R Mohammed Kunju (M.R), social reformer who upon the advise of Vakkom Maulavi went on to found schools like GMUPS Vettakkada and Edava Muslim High School.
- Edava Basheer (Playback singer)
- G. K. Pillai, movie actor
- Late Edava Jamal, poet and literary figure
- Thaha, Malayalam film director