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Kollam district

Kollam district (Malayalam: [kolːɐm] (listen)), (formerly Quilon district) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake (Ashtamudi Lake). The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and the east side land of river is East Kallada and the west side land is West Kallada.

Kollam District
Quilon District
From top: Paravur estuary, Light house and clock tower in Kollam city, 13 Ring bridge of Thenmala, Check dam across Kallada river
Nickname: 
Cashew capital of the world
Kollam district
Location in Kerala
Coordinates: 8°48′N 76°36′E / 8.8°N 76.6°E / 8.8; 76.6Coordinates: 8°48′N 76°36′E / 8.8°N 76.6°E / 8.8; 76.6
CountryIndia
StateKerala
HeadquartersKollam
Government
 • CollectorAfsana Perween IAS[1]
 • City Police CommissionerNarayanan T IPS
 • Rural Superintendent of PoliceHarisankar IPS
Area
 • Total2,491 km2 (962 sq mi)
 • Rank6th
Population
 (2011)
 • Total2,635,375
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration
  • KL-02 Kollam
  • KL-23 Karunagappally
  • KL-24 Kottarakkara
  • KL-25 Punalur
  • KL-61 Kunnathur
  • KL-80 Pathanapuram
  • KL-82 Chadayamangalam
HDI (2005) 0.787[2] ( High)
Sex ratio1113 /
Literacy93.77%[3]
Websitewww.kollam.gov.in, www.kollam.nic.in

Overview

Kallada Boat race is one of the famous festival events of the district. Even though it is a competition between two land sides of the river, many boat clubs from various places, even beyond the district participate in the event. Kollam is the capital of Kerala's cashew industry. Plains, mountains, lakes, lagoons, and backwaters, forests, farmland and rivers make up the topography of the district. The area had trading relationships with Phoenicia and Ancient Rome.[citation needed]

Climate

Kollam
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
24
 
 
32
22
 
 
31
 
 
33
23
 
 
78
 
 
33
24
 
 
160
 
 
33
25
 
 
247
 
 
33
25
 
 
459
 
 
30
24
 
 
409
 
 
30
23
 
 
259
 
 
30
23
 
 
211
 
 
31
24
 
 
333
 
 
31
24
 
 
231
 
 
31
23
 
 
65
 
 
32
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Govt. of Kerala
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1
 
 
90
72
 
 
1.2
 
 
91
73
 
 
3.1
 
 
91
75
 
 
6.3
 
 
91
77
 
 
9.7
 
 
91
77
 
 
18
 
 
86
75
 
 
16
 
 
86
73
 
 
10
 
 
86
73
 
 
8.3
 
 
88
75
 
 
13
 
 
88
75
 
 
9.1
 
 
88
73
 
 
2.6
 
 
90
73
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

Kollam's temperature is almost steady throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Summer usually runs from March until May; the monsoon begins by June and ends by September. Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around 2,700 millimetres (110 in).

It receives both southwest and northeast monsoons. Winter is from November to February; the temperature is moderately cool, ranging from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.[4]

Climate data for Kollam (Quilon)[4]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 32
(90)
33
(91)
33
(91)
33
(91)
33
(91)
30
(86)
30
(86)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
32
(90)
33
(91)
Average low °C (°F) 22
(72)
23
(73)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(75)
23
(73)
23
(73)
22
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 24.4
(0.96)
30.9
(1.22)
77.7
(3.06)
159.5
(6.28)
246.9
(9.72)
458.8
(18.06)
408.9
(16.10)
258.9
(10.19)
211.2
(8.31)
332.5
(13.09)
230.8
(9.09)
65.4
(2.57)
2,700
(106.30)
Source 1: [5]
Source 2: [6]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901406,013—    
1911465,684+1.38%
1921552,333+1.72%
1931698,041+2.37%
1941856,585+2.07%
19511,110,362+2.63%
19611,461,103+2.78%
19711,839,265+2.33%
19812,175,339+1.69%
19912,407,566+1.02%
20012,585,208+0.71%
20112,635,375+0.19%
source:[7]

According to the 2011 census Kollam district has a population of 2,635,375,[8] roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait[9] or the US state of Nevada.[10] This gives it a ranking of 155th in India (out of a total of 640 districts).[8] The district has a population density of 1,056 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,740/sq mi) .[8] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 1.72 percent.[8] Kollam has a sex ratio of 1113 females for every 1000 males. The total literacy rate of Kollam district was 94.09%. The male literacy rate was 96.09% and the female literacy rate was 92.31% in Kollam district. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 12.46% and 0.41% of the population respectively.[8]

Languages of Kollam district (2011)[11]

  Malayalam (99.10%)
  Others (0.90%)

Malayalam is the predominant language, spoken by 99.10% of the population. Small minorities of Tamil speakers live in urban areas.[11]

Urban structure

The Kollam Urban Agglomeration (UA) is the 6th most populous UA in the state. Kollam is placed 49th in the list of most populous urban agglomerations in India. The total urban population of the entire district is 1,187,158.[3] The metropolitan area of Kollam includes Adichanalloor, Adinad, Ayanivelikulangara, Chavara, Elampalloor, Eravipuram (part), Karunagappally, Kollam, Valakom, Kundara, Kulasekharapuram, Mayyanad, Meenad, Nedumpana, Neendakara, Oachira, Panayam, Panmana, Paravur, Perinad, Poothakkulam, Thazhuthala, Thodiyoor, Thrikkadavoor, Thrikkaruva, Thrikkovilvattom, and Vadakkumthala.[12]

Religion

Religions in Kollam district (2011)[13]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
64.42%
Islam
19.30%
Christianity
16.00%
Other or not stated
0.28%

Hinduism (64.42%) is practised by majority of the people in Kollam district of which Nair (32%) and Ezhava (30.5%) are the largest sub groups. Islam(19.3%) is the second largest religion. Kollam is the only district in Southern Kerala where Muslims outnumber Christians. Despite this Kollam has a significant Christian population too (16%) among this the Latin Catholics (36.7%) and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Christians (34.24%) form the majority. The Marthoma Church from 19.06% of the Christians in the district.[13]

Major cities & towns

 
 
Largest cities or towns in Kollam district of Kerala (Indian state)
Rank Taluk Pop.
 
Kollam*
 
Punalur
1 Kollam* Kollam 397,419  
Chavara
 
Mayyanad
2 Punalur Punalur 46,702
3 Chavara Karunagappally 42,655
4 Mayyanad Kollam 40,039
5 Paravur Kollam 37,245
6 Kundara Kollam 33,959
7 Kottarakkara Kottarakkara 29,788
8 Ochira Karunagappally 28,412
9 Chathannoor Kollam 28,029
10 Karunagappally Karunagapally 25,336

*In 2015, the area of Kollam City Corporation increased by merging Thrikkadavoor panchayath.

Administration

 
Lighthouse, Thangasseri, Kollam

The history of the district's administration can be traced back to 1835, when the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam. When Travancore and Cochin were combined into Travancore-Cochin, Kollam was one of the three revenue divisions. When the state of Kerala was formed in 1957, half portion of Chenkotta taluk was merged with the state of Madras. Later in 1957, the Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Mavelikara, Karthikapalli, Chengannur and Thiruvalla taluks (formerly in Kollam district) were united to form the new district of Alappuzha. In 1983, Pathanamthitta taluk and Adoor taluk and seven villages of Kunnathur taluk were removed from Kollam district to form the new Pathanamthitta district.[15][better source needed]

Assembly representatives

No. Constituency
(Kollam city area)
Elected
Representative
Political
Party
Political
Front
1 Kollam Mukesh CPI(M) LDF
2 Chavara Dr Sujith Vijayan Pillai CMP(A) LDF
3 Eravipuram M. Noushad CPI(M) LDF
4 Karunagappally C. R Mahesh INC UDF
5 Kunnathur Kovoor Kunjumon RSP(L) LDF
6 Kottarakkara K. N Balagopal CPI(M) LDF
7 Pathanapuram K. B. Ganesh Kumar KC(B) LDF
8 Punalur P.S.Supal CPI LDF
9 Chadayamangalam C. Chinjurani CPI LDF
10 Kundara P. C Vishnunadh INC UDF
11 Chathannoor G. S. Jayalal CPI LDF
Source: Elections.in[16]

Police administration

Police administration in Kollam is divided into two districts: urban and rural. The City Police is headed by a City Police Commissioner, an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer with the rank of SP; its headquarters is at Kollam. The rural police is headed by the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP), with its headquarters at Kottarakkara. Both heads report to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Thiruvananthapuram Range (Kerala).

The Kollam City Police is divided into three subdivisions, each under an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP): Karunagappally, Kollam and Chathannoor. Each subdivision is divided into circles, headed by the Circle Inspector of Police. Each circle is divided into a number of police stations, headed by a Sub-Inspector of Police. The Kollam Rural Police District is divided into two subdivisions, each under an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)/ Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP): Kottarakkara and Punalur. There are a total of 29 police stations, in 13 circles. Kollam city traffic is controlled by the City Traffic Police, with a Traffic Police Station located near the Asramam Ground. Kerala's first coastal police station was established in Neendakara, Kollam.[17]

The first police museum in India-The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum has a large collection of police artefacts and rare photographs. The museum has a room dedicated to officers martyred in the line of duty.[17] The forensic section has a large collection of photographs. The museum is located at the Kollam East Police Station.

Revenue Divisions{RDO}

Administratively Kollam District is composed of two Revenue Divisions, viz Kollam and Punalur with three Taluks each under them.

1) Kollam
  • Kollam taluk
  • Karunagapally taluk
  • Kunnathur taluk

2) Punalur

  • Punalur taluk
  • Pathanapuram taluk
  • Kottarakkara taluk

Taluks

 
Talukwise map of Kollam district

Kollam is administratively divided into 6 taluks. They are Kollam, Karunagappally, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Punalur and Pathanapuram, which are subdivided into 104 villages. The tahsildar is the revenue official in charge of each taluk.

Taluk Headquarters
Kollam Taluk Kollam
Karunagappally Taluk Karunagappally
Kunnathur Taluk Sasthamkotta
Kottarakkara Taluk Kottarakkara
Punalur Taluk Punalur
Pathanapuram Taluk Pathanapuram

Municipalities

 
Corporations & Municipalities in Kollam district

There are four municipalities in Kollam District. Punalur, Paravur, Karunagappally and Kottarakkara are the municipalities. There is a long-standing demand for upgrading Pathanapuram & Anchal panchayaths into municipal status.

Lok Sabha constituencies

Kollam district has three Lok Sabha (lower house) constituencies. They include the Chavara, Kundara, Eravipuram, Kollam, Chathannoor, Chadayamangalam and Punalur assembly constituencies. While the Kunnathur, Kottarakkara and Pathanapuram constituencies are in the Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency, the Karunagapally assembly constituency is in the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency.

Transportation

Road

Kollam is connected by bus and train service.[18][19] It is also connected to neighbouring states by bus service operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Indian Railways.[18][19] These are the KSRTC Depots & Sub Depots & Operating Centres (OC) in the district:

The district is connected to other parts of Kerala and India through the National Highways – NH 66 (earlier NH 47), NH 183 (earlier NH 220), NH 744 (earlier NH 208). The state highway - Main Central Road (MC Road) and Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Muvattupuzha Main Eastern Highway — connects Kollam with other districts. Intrastate road transportation is served by the KSRTC, Tamil Nadu State Transport and Karnataka State Transport Companies. KSRTC Interstate bus service operates from the Kollam and Kottarakkara KSRTC bus stations. Kollam zone of KSRTC is now the second most revenue generating zone in Kerala.[20]

Rail

Kollam Junction railway station (QLN) is the one and only rail head in the district. A total of 128 short & long-distance services (including weekly) and 10 services of MEMU are running through Kollam Junction railway station. A most modern MEMU maintenance shed is working in the railway station premises of Kollam city. In addition to that, there are some other major railway stations in the district namely Punalur (PUU), Karunagappalli (KPY), Paravur (PVU), Sasthamkotta (STKT), Kottarakara (KKZ) and Kundara (KUV). The district has a good railway network, with 25 stations and about 132 kilometres (82 mi) of track. Kollam district boasts the record of having most numbers of railway stations in the state.[21]

Trains from here connect the city of Kollam to major cities of India, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Indore, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Madurai, Vizag, Jammu, Howrah, Guwahati, Madgaon, Itarsi, Hubli, Ahmedabad, Kanyakumari, Gwalior, Nagpur, Pune, Kota, Bhubaneswar, Gorakhpur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Amritsar, Vijayawada, Coimbatore, Chandigarh and Mangalore. There are also passenger services running in KollamThiruvananthapuram, Kollam–Ernakulam and Kollam–Punalur routes.[24]

Water

 
Kollam-Dalavapuram boat service

The district is having a fairly good network of waterways. The State Water Transport Department operates boat services to West Kallada, Munroe Island and Alappuzha. Double decker luxury boats run between Kollam and Allepey daily. Luxury boats, operated by Government and private owners, operate from the main boat jetty during the tourist season. The west coast canal system, which starts from Thiruvananthapuram in the south and ends at Kanhangad in the north, passes through Paravur, the city of Kollam and Karunagappally taluk. The Thiruvananthapuram-Shornur canal, which forms a part of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hosdurg system, runs a distance of about 62 km. The other canal systems include the Paravur Kayal, Kollam Canal and Chavara canal.[25][26] The waterways are popular attractions and scenic tourist destinations in the area. The Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) has an operating centre near the KSRTC bus stand.[27][28] Tourists may hire motorised country boats and houseboats with amenities (Kettavulam in Malayalam) to cruise along the waterways.[29]

Cashew industry

The cashew industry is centralised in this district. Kollam is approved by the central government as a "centre of cashew industry". Most workers in this industry are women; among them, a majority comes from the poorer sections of the society. There are several cashew-processing units in the district. The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd., a Government of Kerala undertaking, has its headquarters in Kollam and serves as a model agency for the cashew-processing industry. The corporation has 30 cashew factories and employs more than 20,000 workers. Another government organisation in this field is CAPEX, which is part of the cooperative sector and has 10 cashew factories.[30][failed verification] Coir production, handloom industry, clay and wood-based industries contribute to the industrial health of the region.[31]

Forests and wildlife

According to the Government of Kerala estimates 81,438 hectares (314.43 sq mi) of land is under forest cover, mainly in the eastern portion of the district (including the Thenmala, Punalur, and a portion of the Achencoil forest divisions). The Thenmala Range, Aryankavu Range, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary comprise the Thenmala division and the Achencoil, Kallar, and Kanayar Ranges make up the Achencoil division. The Pathanapuram and Anchal Ranges constitute the Punalur division.

The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, 66 kilometres (41 mi) from Kollam, is situated on the southern part of the Western Ghats (8°50' and 8°55'N; 77°5'and 77°15'E) in the Punalur taluk of the district.[32] The name "Shenduruny" is derived from the name of a tree species locally called "Shenkuruny" or "Chenkuruny" (Gluta travancorica), a tree mainly found in this area. An artificial lake of about 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) has developed following the construction of a dam across the Kallada River. Remnants of Stone Age culture from a large cave situated at the northwestern part of the Shenduruny River were excavated from this sanctuary.[32] These remains belong to the Mesolithic period.

This tropical rain forest has a wide variety of wildlife, and some endangered species are found here. Species found in the sanctuary include tiger, bonnet and lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langur, gaur (or Indian bison), sambar deer, muntjac (or barking deer), Indian spotted chevrotain (or mouse deer), wild boar, Indian elephant and different species of squirrels, such as the Indian giant and Indian palm squirrels.[32]

Fishing

The western portion of Kollam is bordered by the Laccadive Sea. Kollam's coastline is 37.3 kilometres (23.2 mi), 6.3 percent of Kerala's total coastline. Neendakara and Sakthikulangara are important fishing villages. There are an estimated 26 villages whose livelihood depends entirely on fishing. Cheriazheekkal, Alappad, Pandarathuruthu, Puthenthura, Neendakara, Thangasseri, Eravipuram and Paravoor are among the prominent fishing villages.[33] One-third of Kerala's fish production (including 60 percent of its prawn catch) is contributed by Kollam, whose average fish production is estimated at 5,275 tonnes. Nearly 3,000 mechanised boats operate out of its fishing harbour.[33]

Tourism

 
Tourism in Munroe Island
 
Thirteen-ring bridge, Punalur
 
Thenmala Dam

Jadayu earth centre, Palaruvi Falls, Thenmala (forests and reservoir), the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Ashtamudi (backwater) and beaches at Kollam, Thirumullavaram and Thangassery are scenic areas.

Ashramam Tourist Village is a well-known tourist destination in Kollam city; the tourist village is located on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake. Ashramam is a hub of tourism activities in Kollam, and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) office is located within the village.

The Asramam Maidan (Ashramam ground), adjacent to the tourist village, is the largest open space within a Kerala municipal corporation. It is used for events, sports, as a helipad, for Kollam Pooram and by driving schools. It covers over 60 acres (24 ha) in an oval.

 
Kottarakkara Palace

The first community tourism program in the state is being established on the Munroethuruth islands. Backwater tourism is an activity enjoyed in Kollam; Ashtamudi Lake, Paravur, Munroe Island, and Alumkadavu are the main backwater destinations. Accommodation is in resorts and on houseboats.

Thenmala, located 66 kilometres (41 mi) east of Kollam, is the first ecotourism project in India and run by the Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society.[34][35][36]

Kollam was the seat of the Desinganad kings. Kottarakara is well known as the place where a new version of the classical dance form of Kathakali was conceived. It was also the capital of the Elayidath Swaroopam. Kundara is known for the 1812 proclamation against the British by Velu Thampi Dalawa.[31]

Alappad village, located on the seashore, was impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Varkala Beach (also known as Papanasham) is 26 kilometres (16 mi) south of Kollam. The Duriyodana Temple is in Kunnathur Taluk. The Sakthikulangara Dharma Sastha Temple-Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple is known for its Utsavam in the month of Makaram (between mid-January and mid-February).

Polachira, in Chirakkara Gramapanchayat, is a sightseeing destination. The Anathavalam is near here where one can see domestic elephants, touch and ride them. Mannathippara is at Polachira, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Chathannoor. Sasthamcotta Lake, about 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Kollam, is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala and a domestic tourist destination.[37] Jetayu Para, a large boulder, is located in Chadayamangalam; it is named for a mythical character in the Ramayana. It is believed that Jatayu fell here, after his failed attempt to stop Ravana.[37][38]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kollam District - Who's who".
  2. ^ "Kerala | UNDP in India". UNDP.
  3. ^ a b (PDF). ecostat.kerala.gov.in. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b Covt of kerala website, kollam page 26 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ . Archived from the original on 18 January 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  6. ^ . Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  7. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  8. ^ a b c d e "District Census Hand Book - Kollam" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  9. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. . Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Kuwait 2,595,62
  10. ^ . U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Nevada 2,700,551
  11. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Kerala". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  12. ^ "Kollam city population Census". census2011.co.in. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Religion – Kerala, Districts and Sub-districts". Census of India 2011. Office of the Registrar General.
  14. ^ "DISTRICT CENSUS HANDBOOK, KOLLAM" (PDF). Census India. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  15. ^ Administration page of quilon.com
  16. ^ "Kerala Assembly Election - 2016". Elections.in. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  17. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  18. ^ a b Southern Railway 14 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ a b KSRTC official website
  20. ^ Kollam KSRTC Zone
  21. ^ a b Kollam railway information
  22. ^ "56331/ Punalur–Kollam Passenger". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  23. ^ "66309/ Ernakulam–Kollam MEMU". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Kollam Junction railway station". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  25. ^ "In true Travancore tradition". Express TravelWorld. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  26. ^ . Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  27. ^ "Transport - Kollam Corporation". Kollam Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  28. ^ . KSWTD. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  29. ^ "Jhankar Service Opened - The New Indian Express". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  30. ^ "The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd | KSCDC".
  31. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  32. ^ a b c . Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  33. ^ a b Kerala matsyafed 26 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  34. ^ Thenmala Ecotourism website
  35. ^
  36. ^ . Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  37. ^ a b tourism page of Kollam official website 5 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  38. ^ t.

Further reading

  • U. Sivaraman Nair (1952), 1951 Census Handbook- Quilon District (PDF), Trivandrum: Travancore-Cochin Government Press
  • M. K. Devassy (1965), 1961 Census Handbook- Quilon District (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands
  • Government of India (2014–15), District Census Handbook - Kollam (Part-A) 2011 (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala
  • Government of India (2014–15), District Census Handbook - Kollam (Part-B) 2011 (PDF), Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala

External links

  • Official website
  • Official tourism website

kollam, district, this, article, about, district, kerala, other, uses, kollam, disambiguation, this, article, possibly, contains, original, research, please, improve, verifying, claims, made, adding, inline, citations, statements, consisting, only, original, r. This article is about the district in Kerala For other uses see Kollam disambiguation This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed October 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Kollam district Malayalam kolːɐm listen formerly Quilon district is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala India The district has a cross section of Kerala s natural attributes it is endowed with a long coastline a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake Ashtamudi Lake The district has many water bodies Kallada River is one among them and the east side land of river is East Kallada and the west side land is West Kallada Kollam District Quilon DistrictDistrictFrom top Paravur estuary Light house and clock tower in Kollam city 13 Ring bridge of Thenmala Check dam across Kallada riverNickname Cashew capital of the worldKollam districtLocation in KeralaCoordinates 8 48 N 76 36 E 8 8 N 76 6 E 8 8 76 6 Coordinates 8 48 N 76 36 E 8 8 N 76 6 E 8 8 76 6CountryIndiaStateKeralaHeadquartersKollamGovernment CollectorAfsana Perween IAS 1 City Police CommissionerNarayanan T IPS Rural Superintendent of PoliceHarisankar IPSArea Total2 491 km2 962 sq mi Rank6thPopulation 2011 Total2 635 375 Density1 100 km2 2 700 sq mi Languages OfficialMalayalam EnglishTime zoneUTC 5 30 IST Vehicle registrationKL 02 Kollam KL 23 Karunagappally KL 24 Kottarakkara KL 25 Punalur KL 61 Kunnathur KL 80 Pathanapuram KL 82 ChadayamangalamHDI 2005 0 787 2 High Sex ratio1113 Literacy93 77 3 Websitewww wbr kollam wbr gov wbr in www wbr kollam wbr nic wbr in Contents 1 Overview 2 Climate 3 Demographics 3 1 Urban structure 4 Religion 5 Major cities amp towns 6 Administration 6 1 Assembly representatives 6 2 Police administration 7 Revenue Divisions RDO 7 1 Taluks 7 2 Municipalities 8 Lok Sabha constituencies 9 Transportation 9 1 Road 9 2 Rail 9 3 Water 10 Cashew industry 11 Forests and wildlife 12 Fishing 13 Tourism 14 See also 15 References 16 Further reading 17 External linksOverview EditKallada Boat race is one of the famous festival events of the district Even though it is a competition between two land sides of the river many boat clubs from various places even beyond the district participate in the event Kollam is the capital of Kerala s cashew industry Plains mountains lakes lagoons and backwaters forests farmland and rivers make up the topography of the district The area had trading relationships with Phoenicia and Ancient Rome citation needed Climate EditKollamClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 24 32 22 31 33 23 78 33 24 160 33 25 247 33 25 459 30 24 409 30 23 259 30 23 211 31 24 333 31 24 231 31 23 65 32 23Average max and min temperatures in CPrecipitation totals in mmSource Govt of KeralaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 90 72 1 2 91 73 3 1 91 75 6 3 91 77 9 7 91 77 18 86 75 16 86 73 10 86 73 8 3 88 75 13 88 75 9 1 88 73 2 6 90 73Average max and min temperatures in FPrecipitation totals in inchesKollam s temperature is almost steady throughout the year The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius Summer usually runs from March until May the monsoon begins by June and ends by September Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around 2 700 millimetres 110 in It receives both southwest and northeast monsoons Winter is from November to February the temperature is moderately cool ranging from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius 4 Climate data for Kollam Quilon 4 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearAverage high C F 32 90 33 91 33 91 33 91 33 91 30 86 30 86 30 86 31 88 31 88 31 88 32 90 33 91 Average low C F 22 72 23 73 24 75 25 77 25 77 24 75 23 73 23 73 24 75 24 75 23 73 23 73 22 72 Average precipitation mm inches 24 4 0 96 30 9 1 22 77 7 3 06 159 5 6 28 246 9 9 72 458 8 18 06 408 9 16 10 258 9 10 19 211 2 8 31 332 5 13 09 230 8 9 09 65 4 2 57 2 700 106 30 Source 1 5 Source 2 6 Demographics EditHistorical populationYearPop p a 1901406 013 1911465 684 1 38 1921552 333 1 72 1931698 041 2 37 1941856 585 2 07 19511 110 362 2 63 19611 461 103 2 78 19711 839 265 2 33 19812 175 339 1 69 19912 407 566 1 02 20012 585 208 0 71 20112 635 375 0 19 source 7 According to the 2011 census Kollam district has a population of 2 635 375 8 roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait 9 or the US state of Nevada 10 This gives it a ranking of 155th in India out of a total of 640 districts 8 The district has a population density of 1 056 inhabitants per square kilometre 2 740 sq mi 8 Its population growth rate over the decade 2001 2011 was 1 72 percent 8 Kollam has a sex ratio of 1113 females for every 1000 males The total literacy rate of Kollam district was 94 09 The male literacy rate was 96 09 and the female literacy rate was 92 31 in Kollam district Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 12 46 and 0 41 of the population respectively 8 Languages of Kollam district 2011 11 Malayalam 99 10 Others 0 90 Malayalam is the predominant language spoken by 99 10 of the population Small minorities of Tamil speakers live in urban areas 11 Urban structure Edit The Kollam Urban Agglomeration UA is the 6th most populous UA in the state Kollam is placed 49th in the list of most populous urban agglomerations in India The total urban population of the entire district is 1 187 158 3 The metropolitan area of Kollam includes Adichanalloor Adinad Ayanivelikulangara Chavara Elampalloor Eravipuram part Karunagappally Kollam Valakom Kundara Kulasekharapuram Mayyanad Meenad Nedumpana Neendakara Oachira Panayam Panmana Paravur Perinad Poothakkulam Thazhuthala Thodiyoor Thrikkadavoor Thrikkaruva Thrikkovilvattom and Vadakkumthala 12 Religion EditReligions in Kollam district 2011 13 Religion PercentHinduism 64 42 Islam 19 30 Christianity 16 00 Other or not stated 0 28 Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple in Kollam Hinduism 64 42 is practised by majority of the people in Kollam district of which Nair 32 and Ezhava 30 5 are the largest sub groups Islam 19 3 is the second largest religion Kollam is the only district in Southern Kerala where Muslims outnumber Christians Despite this Kollam has a significant Christian population too 16 among this the Latin Catholics 36 7 and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Christians 34 24 form the majority The Marthoma Church from 19 06 of the Christians in the district 13 Major cities amp towns Edit Largest cities or towns in Kollam district of Kerala Indian state 14 Rank Taluk Pop Kollam Punalur 1 Kollam Kollam 397 419 Chavara Mayyanad2 Punalur Punalur 46 7023 Chavara Karunagappally 42 6554 Mayyanad Kollam 40 0395 Paravur Kollam 37 2456 Kundara Kollam 33 9597 Kottarakkara Kottarakkara 29 7888 Ochira Karunagappally 28 4129 Chathannoor Kollam 28 02910 Karunagappally Karunagapally 25 336 In 2015 the area of Kollam City Corporation increased by merging Thrikkadavoor panchayath Administration EditMain article Administration of Kollam district Lighthouse Thangasseri Kollam The history of the district s administration can be traced back to 1835 when the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam When Travancore and Cochin were combined into Travancore Cochin Kollam was one of the three revenue divisions When the state of Kerala was formed in 1957 half portion of Chenkotta taluk was merged with the state of Madras Later in 1957 the Cherthala Ambalapuzha Mavelikara Karthikapalli Chengannur and Thiruvalla taluks formerly in Kollam district were united to form the new district of Alappuzha In 1983 Pathanamthitta taluk and Adoor taluk and seven villages of Kunnathur taluk were removed from Kollam district to form the new Pathanamthitta district 15 better source needed Assembly representatives Edit No Constituency Kollam city area Elected Representative Political Party Political Front1 Kollam Mukesh CPI M LDF2 Chavara Dr Sujith Vijayan Pillai CMP A LDF3 Eravipuram M Noushad CPI M LDF4 Karunagappally C R Mahesh INC UDF5 Kunnathur Kovoor Kunjumon RSP L LDF6 Kottarakkara K N Balagopal CPI M LDF7 Pathanapuram K B Ganesh Kumar KC B LDF8 Punalur P S Supal CPI LDF9 Chadayamangalam C Chinjurani CPI LDF10 Kundara P C Vishnunadh INC UDF11 Chathannoor G S Jayalal CPI LDFSource Elections in 16 Police administration Edit Police administration in Kollam is divided into two districts urban and rural The City Police is headed by a City Police Commissioner an IPS Indian Police Service officer with the rank of SP its headquarters is at Kollam The rural police is headed by the Rural Superintendent of Police SP with its headquarters at Kottarakkara Both heads report to the Inspector General of Police IGP Thiruvananthapuram Range Kerala The Kollam City Police is divided into three subdivisions each under an Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Karunagappally Kollam and Chathannoor Each subdivision is divided into circles headed by the Circle Inspector of Police Each circle is divided into a number of police stations headed by a Sub Inspector of Police The Kollam Rural Police District is divided into two subdivisions each under an Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Deputy Superintendent of Police DySP Kottarakkara and Punalur There are a total of 29 police stations in 13 circles Kollam city traffic is controlled by the City Traffic Police with a Traffic Police Station located near the Asramam Ground Kerala s first coastal police station was established in Neendakara Kollam 17 The first police museum in India The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum has a large collection of police artefacts and rare photographs The museum has a room dedicated to officers martyred in the line of duty 17 The forensic section has a large collection of photographs The museum is located at the Kollam East Police Station Revenue Divisions RDO EditAdministratively Kollam District is composed of two Revenue Divisions viz Kollam and Punalur with three Taluks each under them 1 Kollam Kollam taluk Karunagapally taluk Kunnathur taluk2 Punalur Punalur taluk Pathanapuram taluk Kottarakkara taluk Taluks Edit Talukwise map of Kollam district Kollam is administratively divided into 6 taluks They are Kollam Karunagappally Kunnathur Kottarakkara Punalur and Pathanapuram which are subdivided into 104 villages The tahsildar is the revenue official in charge of each taluk Taluk HeadquartersKollam Taluk KollamKarunagappally Taluk KarunagappallyKunnathur Taluk SasthamkottaKottarakkara Taluk KottarakkaraPunalur Taluk PunalurPathanapuram Taluk PathanapuramMunicipalities Edit Corporations amp Municipalities in Kollam district There are four municipalities in Kollam District Punalur Paravur Karunagappally and Kottarakkara are the municipalities There is a long standing demand for upgrading Pathanapuram amp Anchal panchayaths into municipal status Lok Sabha constituencies EditMain article Kollam Lok Sabha constituency Kollam district has three Lok Sabha lower house constituencies They include the Chavara Kundara Eravipuram Kollam Chathannoor Chadayamangalam and Punalur assembly constituencies While the Kunnathur Kottarakkara and Pathanapuram constituencies are in the Mavelikara Lok Sabha constituency the Karunagapally assembly constituency is in the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency Transportation Edit View of Kollam KSRTC Bus Station from Ashtamudi Lake Road Edit Kollam is connected by bus and train service 18 19 It is also connected to neighbouring states by bus service operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation KSRTC and Indian Railways 18 19 These are the KSRTC Depots amp Sub Depots amp Operating Centres OC in the district Kollam KSRTC Bus Station Kollam Chathannoor Karunagappally Ochira Punalur Kottarakkara Chadayamangalam Pathanapuram Sasthamkotta Aryankavu OS Kulathupuzha OS The district is connected to other parts of Kerala and India through the National Highways NH 66 earlier NH 47 NH 183 earlier NH 220 NH 744 earlier NH 208 The state highway Main Central Road MC Road and Punalur Pathanamthitta Muvattupuzha Main Eastern Highway connects Kollam with other districts Intrastate road transportation is served by the KSRTC Tamil Nadu State Transport and Karnataka State Transport Companies KSRTC Interstate bus service operates from the Kollam and Kottarakkara KSRTC bus stations Kollam zone of KSRTC is now the second most revenue generating zone in Kerala 20 Rail Edit Entrance of Kollam Junction railway station Paravur railway station Kollam Junction railway station QLN is the one and only rail head in the district A total of 128 short amp long distance services including weekly and 10 services of MEMU are running through Kollam Junction railway station A most modern MEMU maintenance shed is working in the railway station premises of Kollam city In addition to that there are some other major railway stations in the district namely Punalur PUU Karunagappalli KPY Paravur PVU Sasthamkotta STKT Kottarakara KKZ and Kundara KUV The district has a good railway network with 25 stations and about 132 kilometres 82 mi of track Kollam district boasts the record of having most numbers of railway stations in the state 21 Railway stations in Kollam District Ochira Karunagapalli SasthamkottaMunrothuruthu Perinad Kollam JunctionEravipuram Mayyanad ParavurKilikollur Chandanathoppe KundaraKundara East Ezhukone KottarakkaraKuri Avaneeswaram PunalurEdamon Ottakkal ThenmalaKazhuthurutty Edappalayam Aryankavu 21 22 23 Trains from here connect the city of Kollam to major cities of India including New Delhi Bangalore Chennai Indore Bhopal Hyderabad Thiruvananthapuram Mumbai Madurai Vizag Jammu Howrah Guwahati Madgaon Itarsi Hubli Ahmedabad Kanyakumari Gwalior Nagpur Pune Kota Bhubaneswar Gorakhpur Kochi Kozhikode Amritsar Vijayawada Coimbatore Chandigarh and Mangalore There are also passenger services running in Kollam Thiruvananthapuram Kollam Ernakulam and Kollam Punalur routes 24 Water Edit Kollam Dalavapuram boat service The district is having a fairly good network of waterways The State Water Transport Department operates boat services to West Kallada Munroe Island and Alappuzha Double decker luxury boats run between Kollam and Allepey daily Luxury boats operated by Government and private owners operate from the main boat jetty during the tourist season The west coast canal system which starts from Thiruvananthapuram in the south and ends at Kanhangad in the north passes through Paravur the city of Kollam and Karunagappally taluk The Thiruvananthapuram Shornur canal which forms a part of the Thiruvananthapuram Hosdurg system runs a distance of about 62 km The other canal systems include the Paravur Kayal Kollam Canal and Chavara canal 25 26 The waterways are popular attractions and scenic tourist destinations in the area The Kerala State Water Transport Department KSWTD has an operating centre near the KSRTC bus stand 27 28 Tourists may hire motorised country boats and houseboats with amenities Kettavulam in Malayalam to cruise along the waterways 29 Cashew industry EditSee also Cashew business in Kollam and List of cashew companies based in Kollam The cashew industry is centralised in this district Kollam is approved by the central government as a centre of cashew industry Most workers in this industry are women among them a majority comes from the poorer sections of the society There are several cashew processing units in the district The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd a Government of Kerala undertaking has its headquarters in Kollam and serves as a model agency for the cashew processing industry The corporation has 30 cashew factories and employs more than 20 000 workers Another government organisation in this field is CAPEX which is part of the cooperative sector and has 10 cashew factories 30 failed verification Coir production handloom industry clay and wood based industries contribute to the industrial health of the region 31 Forests and wildlife EditAccording to the Government of Kerala estimates 81 438 hectares 314 43 sq mi of land is under forest cover mainly in the eastern portion of the district including the Thenmala Punalur and a portion of the Achencoil forest divisions The Thenmala Range Aryankavu Range and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary comprise the Thenmala division and the Achencoil Kallar and Kanayar Ranges make up the Achencoil division The Pathanapuram and Anchal Ranges constitute the Punalur division The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary 66 kilometres 41 mi from Kollam is situated on the southern part of the Western Ghats 8 50 and 8 55 N 77 5 and 77 15 E in the Punalur taluk of the district 32 The name Shenduruny is derived from the name of a tree species locally called Shenkuruny or Chenkuruny Gluta travancorica a tree mainly found in this area An artificial lake of about 26 square kilometres 10 sq mi has developed following the construction of a dam across the Kallada River Remnants of Stone Age culture from a large cave situated at the northwestern part of the Shenduruny River were excavated from this sanctuary 32 These remains belong to the Mesolithic period This tropical rain forest has a wide variety of wildlife and some endangered species are found here Species found in the sanctuary include tiger bonnet and lion tailed macaques Nilgiri langur gaur or Indian bison sambar deer muntjac or barking deer Indian spotted chevrotain or mouse deer wild boar Indian elephant and different species of squirrels such as the Indian giant and Indian palm squirrels 32 Fishing EditThe western portion of Kollam is bordered by the Laccadive Sea Kollam s coastline is 37 3 kilometres 23 2 mi 6 3 percent of Kerala s total coastline Neendakara and Sakthikulangara are important fishing villages There are an estimated 26 villages whose livelihood depends entirely on fishing Cheriazheekkal Alappad Pandarathuruthu Puthenthura Neendakara Thangasseri Eravipuram and Paravoor are among the prominent fishing villages 33 One third of Kerala s fish production including 60 percent of its prawn catch is contributed by Kollam whose average fish production is estimated at 5 275 tonnes Nearly 3 000 mechanised boats operate out of its fishing harbour 33 Tourism Edit Tourism in Munroe Island Thirteen ring bridge Punalur Thenmala Dam Thekkumbhagam bridge Paravur Jadayu earth centre Palaruvi Falls Thenmala forests and reservoir the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Ashtamudi backwater and beaches at Kollam Thirumullavaram and Thangassery are scenic areas Ashramam Tourist Village is a well known tourist destination in Kollam city the tourist village is located on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake Ashramam is a hub of tourism activities in Kollam and the District Tourism Promotion Council DTPC office is located within the village The Asramam Maidan Ashramam ground adjacent to the tourist village is the largest open space within a Kerala municipal corporation It is used for events sports as a helipad for Kollam Pooram and by driving schools It covers over 60 acres 24 ha in an oval Kottarakkara Palace Suspension bridge at Thenmala The first community tourism program in the state is being established on the Munroethuruth islands Backwater tourism is an activity enjoyed in Kollam Ashtamudi Lake Paravur Munroe Island and Alumkadavu are the main backwater destinations Accommodation is in resorts and on houseboats Thenmala located 66 kilometres 41 mi east of Kollam is the first ecotourism project in India and run by the Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society 34 35 36 Kollam was the seat of the Desinganad kings Kottarakara is well known as the place where a new version of the classical dance form of Kathakali was conceived It was also the capital of the Elayidath Swaroopam Kundara is known for the 1812 proclamation against the British by Velu Thampi Dalawa 31 Alappad village located on the seashore was impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami Varkala Beach also known as Papanasham is 26 kilometres 16 mi south of Kollam The Duriyodana Temple is in Kunnathur Taluk The Sakthikulangara Dharma Sastha Temple Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple is known for its Utsavam in the month of Makaram between mid January and mid February Polachira in Chirakkara Gramapanchayat is a sightseeing destination The Anathavalam is near here where one can see domestic elephants touch and ride them Mannathippara is at Polachira 4 kilometres 2 5 mi south of Chathannoor Sasthamcotta Lake about 19 kilometres 12 mi from Kollam is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala and a domestic tourist destination 37 Jetayu Para a large boulder is located in Chadayamangalam it is named for a mythical character in the Ramayana It is believed that Jatayu fell here after his failed attempt to stop Ravana 37 38 See also EditKollam Kollam Junction Railway Station Kollam MEMU Shed Kollam Port Kureeppally Asramam Maidan Malumel Fatima Mata National College Punalur Punalur Railway Station Punalur Suspension Bridge Karunagappalli railway station Paravur Paravur Railway Station Educational Institutions in Kollam District Kollam Beach Paravur Kayal Thazhathu Kulakkada Valacode Nadakkal President s Trophy Boat Race Kollam pooram List of Sree Narayana Institutions List of Hindu temples in Kerala Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon University of Kerala Protected areas of KeralaReferences Edit Kollam District Who s who Kerala UNDP in India UNDP a b Kollam District Level Statistics 2011 PDF ecostat kerala gov in 2012 Archived from the original PDF on 2 January 2014 Retrieved 1 January 2014 a b Covt of kerala website kollam page Archived 26 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine Official Web Portal of Government of Kerala Archived from the original on 18 January 2006 Retrieved 8 March 2010 MSN Weather Archived from the original on 9 October 2009 Retrieved 8 March 2010 Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901 a b c d e District Census Hand Book Kollam PDF Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India 2011 US Directorate of Intelligence Country Comparison Population Archived from the original on 13 June 2007 Retrieved 1 October 2011 Kuwait 2 595 62 2010 Resident Population Data U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on 19 October 2013 Retrieved 30 September 2011 Nevada 2 700 551 a b Table C 16 Population by Mother Tongue Kerala censusindia gov in Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Kollam city population Census census2011 co in Retrieved 16 December 2013 a b Religion Kerala Districts and Sub districts Census of India 2011 Office of the Registrar General DISTRICT CENSUS HANDBOOK KOLLAM PDF Census India Retrieved 16 August 2019 Administration page of quilon com Kerala Assembly Election 2016 Elections in Retrieved 15 January 2020 a b kollam police official website Archived from the original on 11 January 2016 Retrieved 23 June 2011 a b Southern Railway Archived 14 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine a b KSRTC official website Kollam KSRTC Zone a b Kollam railway information 56331 Punalur Kollam Passenger India Rail Info Retrieved 10 November 2016 66309 Ernakulam Kollam MEMU India Rail Info Retrieved 10 November 2016 Kollam Junction railway station India Rail Info Retrieved 10 November 2016 In true Travancore tradition Express TravelWorld Retrieved 10 November 2016 Kollam Canal Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 Retrieved 10 November 2016 Transport Kollam Corporation Kollam Municipal Corporation Retrieved 10 November 2016 Important places enroute KSWTD KSWTD Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 10 November 2016 Jhankar Service Opened The New Indian Express The New Indian Express Retrieved 10 November 2016 The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd KSCDC a b Ebook and Manual Reference Archived from the original on 6 May 2019 Retrieved 19 February 2020 a b c kera prd site Archived from the original on 26 June 2014 Retrieved 5 March 2010 a b Kerala matsyafed Archived 26 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine Thenmala Ecotourism website Thenmala Ecotourism news Hindu Daily Thenmala Ecotourism news Hindu Daily Archived from the original on 6 June 2011 Retrieved 22 February 2010 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link a b tourism page of Kollam official website Archived 5 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine Jatayu para article from Hindu Daily t Further reading EditU Sivaraman Nair 1952 1951 Census Handbook Quilon District PDF Trivandrum Travancore Cochin Government Press M K Devassy 1965 1961 Census Handbook Quilon District PDF Directorate of Census Operations Kerala and The Union Territory of Laccadive Minicoy and Amindivi Islands Government of India 2014 15 District Census Handbook Kollam Part A 2011 PDF Directorate of Census Operations Kerala Government of India 2014 15 District Census Handbook Kollam Part B 2011 PDF Directorate of Census Operations KeralaExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kollam district Official website Official tourism website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kollam district amp oldid 1126398859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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