History
Social History
While there is a view that this principality came to be known as "Vettom"—meaning "light of the land"—because it was the region where the Malayalam script, art, and culture originated, it remains unclear whether this is the actual historical basis for the name or merely a figure of speech. The historically significant Kingdom of Vettom was ruled by the Vettom dynasty under the suzerainty of the Zamorin. The Vettath Royal Dynasty became extinct upon the death of its last heir on May 24, 1973. The royal palace was situated near the present-day Vettathukavu Devi Temple; the temple is said to have been the King's family shrine. It was the King of Vettath who introduced new reforms to the art form of Kathakali. This region also bore witness to the military campaigns of Tipu Sultan. The roads constructed by Tipu to facilitate the movement of his artillery during his military campaigns are still known today as "Tipu Sultan Roads." Additionally, it is said that the narrow, winding paths of Vettathunad helped thwart invasions from neighboring princely states. The family roots of Mohammed Abdurahiman Sahib—a figure who struck fear into the British army—lie in the Kootayi region. The people of Vettam also stood steadfast in the struggles against British rule. The reverberations of the 1921 Malabar Rebellion and the Khilafat Movement—integral parts of the Indian freedom struggle—were felt in this region as well. It is said that British troops and auxiliary forces frequently moved towards Ponnani via the Tirur-Ponnani River and towards Tanur via the Conolly Canal. The local people played a pivotal role in that uprising. Many residents were at the forefront of the Khilafat movement. Kunhannan Kambyar—hailing from Mangalam and a native of Vettom Karattukadavu—served as the Ponnani Taluk Secretary of the Khilafat movement. Furthermore, the contribution of ₹2,50,000 (two lakh fifty thousand) to the Indian National Army (INA) fund by K.C. Abdurahiman Kutty—a native of Vettom and a businessman in Burma who maintained a close relationship with Netaji and actively collaborated with the INA—stands as an outstanding example of patriotism. The first unit of the Indian National Congress movement was formed in the Kootayi region. Although Chekkumarakkathu Kunhippu Sahib provided the initial leadership, it was P. Ali Akbar Sahib who later became the driving force behind transforming the Congress into a mass movement. The first branch of the Muslim League in Malabar was also established in Kootayi in 1936.