Students compile their own history

MALAPPURAM:  The attempts of the Plus-Two students of GHSS Mankad, Pallippuram, to know more about their native villages have resulted in a three-volume book, ‘Nattakam’, which tells the history of Koottilangadi and Anakkayam panchayats. The students, who took up the challenge as part of their project work, were helped by their Malayalam teacher, Pramod Irumbuzhi.“The name of the book indicates the concept: a journey into the interior of a place. The students have gathered every possible detail about the two panchayats they are living in,” Pramod said.The details include the reason for the place name, important places, persons and major offices, with the map of each place and pictures depicting their culture. The book also comprises environment matters, information on agriculture and employment and a timeline of development in the village.The students gathered majority of the information from older people in the area. They also depended on records in Village Offices. ‘Nattakam’ has more than 1,500 pages. Two volumes are dedicated to the Koottilangadi panchayat while one volume contains the history of Anakkayam panchayat.