HISTORY

Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words Pathanam and Thitta which mean an array of houses on the river side. This district was formed on 1'st November 1982 in the interest of the fastening process of development. It is presumed that the regions presently under the district were formerly under the Pandalam reign which had connections with the Pandya Kingdom. Pathanamthitta now includes portions of the east while Kollam,Alappuzha and Idukki districts.Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Ranni, Konni and Kozhencherry are some of the important places taken from Kollam district, where as Thiruvalla and Mallappally are the major places taken from Alappuzha district.
                    The district can be proud of its rich contribution to the struggle for freedom.When Mahatma Gandhi visited  Travancore in 1937,he asked his follower Khadar Das T.P. Gopala Pillai to spread the message of Khadi and Charka. Inspired by Gandhiji he founded the 'Mahatma Khadi Ashram' at Elanthoor 1941.He launched a scheme for mobilizing funds for khadi activities known as 'ek paise fund'in order to ensure the participation of the whole people in the khadi movement.
         There was strong protest in Travancore against the British in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1921.In 1922, a student's strike was held which instilled a lot of spirit and enthusiasm among the freedom fighters. During the same period, Congress leaders like Ponnara Sreedhar and K. Kumar, the participants from Kerala in the flag satyagraha at Nagapur were arrested and beatenup by the police. The contribution of Lanthoor K.Kumar, Thadiyal Raghavan Pillai, Pandalam KP and N.G. Chacko to the National Movement have much significance in the history of freedom struggle.

       Thiruvalla taluk in Pathanamthitta during the period from 9th to 12th century was a part of Nantuzhainad which was then later combined with Odanad and then to Thekkumkur. During this time, the district has flourished in areas of culture and literature. Pathanamthitta district was earlier under the Pandalam rule that had some connection with the Pandya kingdom. In 1820, Pandalam was joined with the Travancore and so the area came under the administration of Travancore.
            Some of the famous freedom fighters from Pathanamthitta include Shri.K.E. Maman and Shri.K.A.Mathew. Pathanamthitta was formed as a separate district in 1982.