Malappuram panchayats seek Calicut University help to trace their history

KOZHIKODE: Two grama panchayats in Malappuram have sought the help of Calicut University to trace their history and create a comprehensive record of it. The history department of the varsity will soon start explorations at Thrikkalangod and Porur panchayats to find their history starting from the time of human settlements. The department will help the civic bodies to preserve the monuments, record the video and audio of the interviews with the old people from the area, conduct workshop for the stakeholders and also awareness campaigns among the public about the importance of the preservation of the history.

Calicut University history department head Dr P. Sivadasan said that the university would help the panchayats to collect reso-urces for creating a museum which can be used as a research centre for further studies. “Community extension programmes are important for a university to maintain a healthy relationship with the public to which the university is associated. It is part of the public life and we cannot isolate ourselves as a separate entity. The UGC is also encouraging rese-arches which benefit the common man and this tie-up with panchayats is a step forward in that direction,” he said.

The letters, photographs, articles etc from the panchayats will be preserved and digitised with the help of the university. “At present, the only data available about the panchayat is the one which was prepared during Janakeeyasoothranam, which was not a proper research work following methodology. Many students are visiting our offices asking for the history of the panchayat but we have nothing authentic to show them. That’s why we decided to approach the university to help us,” added Mr M. Mujeeb Rahman, welfare standing committee chairman of Porur panchayat.