Pattiveeranpatti

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Pattiveeranpatti had a population of 7744. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Pattiveeranpatti has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 79%. In Pattiveeranpatti, 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History of the village

PattiveeranPatti is one of the oldest Villages in India, with a history dating all the way back to nearly 1500 years. It was part of the ancient Pandyan empire and later on came under the reign of the mighty Chola empire. It became part of the Vijayanagara empire also in the medieval times and after its collapse it came under Madurai Nayaks' rule.

This small village is occupied with full of coffee growers who own the coffee estates, in the Thandikudi hills area which is part of the Palani Hills. By 1860, coffee cultivation in the Western Ghats (Lower Palani Hills range) had gained momentum and the estate owners in Pattiveeranpatti, became pioneers in the development and cultivation of coffee plantations.In addition they also developed banana and orange plantations. Their success in the cultivation of coffee coupled with their entrepreneurship had paved the way for developing Pattiveeranpatti as the perfect trading hub for Coffee, Cardamom,Pepper and other spices. It grew into a prosperous rural town which has many huge heritage bungalows that once belonged to these planters.

The Nadars' Association (in Tamil, Nadar Sangam),under its auspices runs very good Primary,Higher Secondary and Matriculation, schools for boys and girls here. Because of the talented teaching staff,standard of education and discipline maintained in these institutions not only the local boys and girls, but also the students from the surrounding villages within 10 kilo meters radius are in the school rolls.W. P. A. Soundarapandian Nadar a noted social activist of the Self-Respect Movement and also a member in earlier Justice party, belongs to this village. He was from a prominent planter family that owned estates near Kodaikanal. He was also referred to as 'The Uncrowned King of the Nadar Community' in many books about the Self-Respect Movement. Though the Self-Respect movement was started in 1925, the first provincial conference was organised by Periyar at Chengalpet (near Chennai and Kanchipuram) only in February 1929. It was presided over by W. P. A. Soundarapandian Nadar. The justice party is now called the D.M.K. He was so famous in the Justice party and the name "Pondy Bazaar" in Chennai was named after him which is a testimony to his popularity.Even today the name board of Pattiveeranpatti displayed at the beginning of the Panchayath limit proudly proclaims as "Soil of Self-respect". He was also the leader of Nadar Mahajana Sangam for more than 2 decades. He was also instrumental in setting up the co-operative coffee curing works in Pattiveeranpatti. Pondy Bazaar in Chennai is named after W. P. A. Soundarapandian Nadar and there is a statue of him at the heart of the bazaar near famous tea shops.

Educational institutions

Nadar Sundara Vishalakshi Vidhyasala (NSVV) Higher Secondary School is one of the oldest institutions in Tamil Nadu state. The school was started in 1910 after a resolution was passed at the Nadar Mahajanam Conference at Poraiyar adopted a resolution that all Nadar Associations must start a school as education was the only path to prosperity and forward caste mobilization. The first administrator was W.P.A.P.Punnaivannam. In 1936 W. P. A. Soundarapandian Nadar persuaded his childless uncle W.P.Sundara Nadar to donate his coffee plantation and other assets in order to improve the school. W. P. A. Soundarapandian Nadar dedicated his time and efforts in developing the school during the days of the self-respect movement The School which was started in 1910 as a primary school became a Higher Secondary School (10+2) in the year 1978. The schools bear the names of local legends Thiru Sundara Nadar and his wife Vishalakshi Ammal who had donated all their assests for the education of the poor in and around the village.

Presently the Hindu Nadargal Uravinmurai Paribalana Sangam runs a Nursery school, Primary School, NSVVHSS for boys, NSVVHSS for girls and NSVV Matriculation School. Nearly 6,000 students study in these schools. Boarding facility also has been provided to cater to the growing number of children coming from the nearby mountain villages. The principle of "All Religions are equal and mean the same (ELLA MATHAMUM ONDRUTHAAN)" is virtually practised in Pattiveeranpatti.

Religious centres

There are various temples around the village.

1. Karumariyammam Temple
2. Durgai Amman Temple
3. Marriyamman Temple
4. Kali/Bhagavathi temple
5. Pattalamman Temple
6. Saathavu Temple
7. Bhatrakali temple
8. Lord Ayyapan temple
9. Oor Kavallan Swamy Temple
10. Aathi moola Vinayakar Temple
11. Gandhipuram River Side Ganesh and KarrupannaSwamy temple
12. Five muthalamman Temples