Ilaiyangudi

Ilaiyankudi is located at 9.63°N 78.63°E / 9.63; 78.63.[1] It has an average elevation of 43.6 m (143 ft). The town lies in the southern part of Tamil Nadu state, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Palk Strait. Its nearest city is Paramakudi around 10 Kilometers and Madurai, approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the northwest. The Vaigai river is located approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of the town, flowing in a south-easterly direction towards the Palk Straight. The town is located near the junction of the state roads 29 and 34, linking Paramakudi to the south and Manamadurai, Sivagangai and Kalayarkovil to the north.[2]

Ilaiyangudi is first recorded in the 3rd century BCE. In the 1st century BCE, followers of the Jain faith reached Tamil Nadu.[3] Iconography of Mahavira (the ascetic Jain monk) from this time is found in Ilaiyangudi. for instance, a Mahavira statue is found outside the main Hindu temple. In general, Buddhist iconography is not found in Ilaiyangudi. However, the town's public water tank is called the therar oorani. The similar word thearar is a Tami term for a Buddhist monk.

The Rajendra Chola Eswara Temple, the main Hindu temple in Ilaiyangudi, was built by King Rajendra Chola I (1012 CE – 1044 CE). It may have been a Jain temple converted to a Shivan temple by the king. The Manju Puthur Chettiyars, the Chettiyars of Ilayangudi were a Jain clan who converted to Shaivism. In Ilaiyangudi, there is an edict engraved on stone which dates to the 11th century.

The 63 nayanmars were Hindu saints of Tamil Nadu who were devoted to Shiva. The fourth was Ilayankudi Maranar. He lived in the 12th century CE and as his name suggests, he was born in Ilayangudi.

A Muslim population may have existed in the town in the 7th and 8th centuries CE. They were people who converted from Jainism to Islam. During the rule of the Kalabhra dynasty these people were textile weavers.

However, in the 15th century CE, a larger population of Muslims migrated to Ilaiyangudi from nearby areas.[4] Approximately forty families left more southern regions due to drought and moved north and settled on the outskirts of Ilaiyangudi at Thuraiyan Pacheery where potable water was available. (The area is now located near the main bazaar on Kadai Road.)The Ilaiyangudi Muslims are Rowthers (traditionally Landowners and cavalry people).

At the 2011 Census of India, the population of Ilaiyangudi was 24,767. 12,319 people were female. Males numbered 12,448. There are 990 females for every 1,000 males. Children under six years of age make up 10.73 percent of the population. The literacy rate in the town is 88.94 percent which exceeds the state average of 80.9 percent. 84.33 percent of women are literate. Male literacy is 93.03 percent.[7]

There are 51 villages around Ilayangudi which falls under Ilayangudi town panchayat.

The local governance of Ilaiyangudi is conducted under the Panchayati system. The town is divided into 18 wards. Elections for representatives of the wards are held every five years. The Ilaiyangudi panchayat provides water and sewerage amenities to nearly 6,000 residences and builds roads within the town limits. The services are funded by taxes paid to the panchayat.

Ilaiyyangudi is a center of governance (tehsil) for the town itself, an area of 16.4 km², and for many surrounding villages.

The Ilaiyangudi assembly constituency is part of the Sivaganga Lok Sabha.[9]

In 1965, under a Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, during the election of the 4th Lok Sabha, Ilaiyangudi became the 197th constituency of the Tamil Nadu state legislative assembly.

In 2008, under a Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituency Order, the Ilaiyangudi assembly constituency was merged with Manamadurai.

[10]

Ilayangudi is very famous for Parotta, a Subcontinental layered flatbread made from Maida or Atta. Apart from Parotta, the town also has Biriyani, Fastfood centers and Idly shops, bakeries, Tea shops.

People from Ilaiyangudi have contributed to Tamil literature. However, few works of Ilaiyangudi authors have been preserved as printed works.

Katchi Pillaiyammal was the first published poet of Ilaiyangudi. Her father was Lukman Rowther, a philosopher. Pillaiyammal's main theme was wisdom.

Seeniaabil Rowther wrote Singara Vazhi Lavani about Ilaiyangudi. It was published in 1918 by Sivagangai Sri Kala Press.

Dr.Zahir Hussain College, Ilayangudi . The College is counted among the top-rated Colleges in Tamil Nadu with an excellent academic track record Source: https://www.icbse.com

• Dr. Zakir Hussain College (1970).
• Ilayangudi Higher Secondary School (1914).
• St. Anne's Matric Higher Secondary School, Mallipattinam, Ilayangudi.
• Rahmanniya Elementary School (1914),Ilayangudi.
• Government Girls' High School, Ilayangudi.
• Melapallivasal Girls' Higher Secondary School, Ilayangudi
• INP Matriculation School, Ilayangudi.
• Iqra Matriculation School, Ilayangudi.
• Hamidiyya Higher Secondary School, Salaiyur, Ilayangudi.
• IILM(Ilayangudi Institute of Learning and Monitoring) Elementary School.
• Haji K. K. Ibrahim Ali Higher Secondary School, Pudur, Ilayangudi.
• Muslim Nalvali Abiviruthi School, .
• Al Ameen Buhari Technical Institute,ilayangudi.
• Arabic Madarasa, Pudur Road, Ilayangudi.

• Ilayankudi Maranar, is a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the fourth in the list of 63 Nayanars.
• Allama Karim Gani, academic and independence activist.[11] He was an associate of Subhas Chandra Bose.
• E. A. Siddiq – Indian Agricultural Scientist, Padma Shri recipient
• A. P. Mohamed Ali (born 15 June 1946), officer in the Indian Police Service. He received a doctoral degree in Criminology from University of Madras
• P. N. Abuthalib, Joint Secretary of Indian Union Muslim League. He was an associate of the politician, Muhammad Ismail Sahib.
• Vanjoor M. Peer Mohamed (1914 – 1987), a statesman, administrator, businessman and philanthropist. He provided the Dr. Zakir Hussain College main building and was a trustee of INP Jamath.
• T. K. A. Dewan Mohamed (1938 – 1986), the first Indian Administrative Service officer from Ilaiyangudi. He held the positions in the Government of Tamil Nadu of Collector and Additional Chief Secretary.
• T. K. S. Mohamed Iqbal, a member of the Indian Police Service. Iqbal died on 21 May 1991 in the assassination bombing that killed Rajiv Gandhi.
• Mahendran (filmmaker), one of the greatest film makers of Tamil cinema was Born on ilayangudi .

• Satellite view
• Community website
• Community website