Kelakam
Grama Panchayat

The history of Kelakam village is deeply intertwined with the neighboring panchayats of Kottiyoor and Kanichar. Archaeological relics, including ancient iron bridges, culverts, and caves, indicate human habitation here centuries ago, dating back to the military campaigns of Tipu Sultan. Following these campaigns, the depopulated region reverted to dense forest before coming under the rule of the Kottayam (Malabar Kottayam) dynasty. The royal house entrusted the administration of this land to the Manathana Nair ancestral family on behalf of the Kottiyoor Thricherumanu Devaswom.

Around 1802, during his revolt against the British forces, Pazhassi Raja encamped in these regions alongside his Kurichya warriors. After being driven out, he retreated to Wayanad via the Palchuram mountain pass and was subsequently killed in battle against the British in 1805.

Throughout British rule, post-independence, and until the formation of Kerala State in 1956, this territory remained under the Madras State administration. Kelakam was historically part of the Kappad desam within the Manathana amsom of Kottayam Taluk in Kozhikode District. In 1950, Manathana amsom was designated as Manathana Panchayat.

Originally inhabited primarily by indigenous tribal communities—namely the Paniyas and Kurichyas—organized agrarian migration into the area began around 1939. The initial wave retreated due to severe outbreaks of malaria; however, migration resumed aggressively in 1944, driven by the widespread socio-economic distress of World War II.

As settlers cleared timber and engaged in forest coupe auctions, the Forest Department invoked the Madras Preservation of Private Forests (M.P.F.) Act. Special police contingents were deployed to camp in the region, subjecting settlers to physical assaults, harassment, and criminal charges to force evictions. Settlers resisted, refusing to surrender lands they had acquired and cultivated through jenmam outright purchases, marupattam leaseholds, verbal contracts (vakkalchaathu), or direct clearing, especially after establishing schools, places of worship, and post offices.

This resistance culminated in the historic Kottiyoor Agitation (Kottiyoor Samaram). A 16-member central action committee was formed from various parts of Kottiyoor to coordinate protests and, if necessary, paralyze administrative offices. B. Wellington led a state-wide protest march (foot rally) to Thiruvananthapuram, joined by 29 leaders including P.K. Vasu, A.T. Scaria, Abdul Rahman Ravuthar, and Vellara Pananthanam Krishnankutty. Veteran political leaders such as A.K. Gopalan (A.K.G.) and N.E. Balaram supported the march and visited Kottiyoor repeatedly to sustain the agitation.

When local governance bodies were instituted in 1950, the present-day Kelakam was part of Manathana Panchayat, with E. Narayanan Nambiar serving as its first president via an open show-of-hands election. Later, following secret-ballot elections, a newly elected board took office on December 20, 1963, with Georgekutty Mukkadan as president. Today, the panchayat is home to around 15 Christian churches, 4 Hindu temples, and 3 mosques.