Ranni
Encyclopedia
Ranni , sometimes spelled Ranny, is one of the 5 Taluk
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....

s in the Pathanamthitta district
Pathanamthitta district
Pathanamthitta district is the youngest district located in the southern part of the state of Kerala, India. The district headquarters is in Pathanamthitta town. The district is surrounded by Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha and Kollam districts. It has a border with the state of Tamil Nadu in the east...

 of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....

, in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. According to the Census of India 2001, the population was 207,782. The taluk headquarters is a small township on both sides of the Pamba River
Pamba River
Pamba River is the third longest river in the South Indian state of Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha and the longest river in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore...

. Ranni is also one of the largest taluks in Kerala. The renowned Hindu temple of Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...

 is in this taluk, situated approximately 66 km from the main town, Ittiappara. Ranni is known for its natural beauty, forests, hills, river and good climate.

Etymology

Ranni is derived from similar word in malayalam which means "Queen" or "Rani". Ranni is known as "The Queen of the Eastern Hill Lands".

History

The history of Ranni can be traced 5000 years back to the early settlement activity of Adi Dravida
Adi Dravida
Adi Dravidar is term used by the state of Tamil Nadu in India to denote Dalits. It means Original natives or indigenous people of Dravida land . The term was coined by Tamil social activist Periyar Ramasami who worked against casteism and division among the people based on castes...

ns around Sabarimala
Sabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...

 and Nilackal. The temple at Sabarimala is thought to be the oldest existing temple in India, dating to around 4000 years. A church at Nilackal is believed to be one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...

 in AD 54.

In the 18th century, Knanaya Christians
Knanaya
The Knanaya also known as Q'nanaya, Q'nai, Kanai, or Thekkumbagar, are endogamous Jews who settled in Kerala, India. Their origins are unclear and are hotly disputed by academic scholars...

 migrated to Ranni and later established the church, St. Thomas Church of Ranni. Large number of Mar Thomites
Mar Thoma Church
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church also known as the Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It has an entirely different identity when compared with other Churches in India. Most Christian churches around the world are divided into...

 also migrated from surrounding areas. In the early 19th century, Dr. Claudius Buchanan
Claudius Buchanan
Claudius Buchanan was a Scottish theologian, an ordained minister of the Church of England, and an extremely 'low church' missionary for the Church Missionary Society....

 visited Ranni and was presented an old hand written Syriac Bible, from Ranni St. Thomas church.

Ranni was a part of Central Travancore
Central Travancore
The Central Travancore, Kerala, consists of the South-Central districts of Kottayam, Alapuzha, Pathanamthitta, and parts of Idukki, and parts of Kollam...

 region before the unification. Until the formation of Pathanamthitta district in 1982, Ranni was a part of Kollam district
Kollam district
-Climate: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...

.

Geography

Ranni is located at 9.38°N 76.81°E. It has an average elevation of 131 m (433 ft) above sea level. The location and elevation is measured around the township. However, towards the east, the elevation is much higher. River Pamba
Pamba River
Pamba River is the third longest river in the South Indian state of Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha and the longest river in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore...

 flows through Ranni. The township is situated on either side of the river. According to the Census of India, Ranni has a total of 1004.61 square kilometres (387.88 sq mi). Out of the total area, 708 square kilometres (273.36 sq mi) or 70% is forest. This forest cover gives Ranni its lush green and scenic beauty.

Climate

Like the rest of the state, Ranni has a wet and maritime tropical climate. The region receives most of the rain from the South-West monsoon from June to August and the North-East monsoon during October and November. Although the summer is from March to May, it receives locally developed thundershowers in May. Due to the higher elevation, the climate is cooler towards the eastern area.

Economy

Business is centered around the market in the main township, Ittiappara situated on the northern side of the river. The economy of Ranni is primarily from agriculture. Ranni is the largest rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...

 producing taluks in Kerala. The hilly terrain, high humidity and good rain makes it suitable for rubber cultivation. Other major crops are cocoa, coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...

, tapioca
Tapioca
Tapioca is a starch extracted Manihot esculenta. This species, native to the Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and most of the West Indies, is now cultivated worldwide and has many names, including cassava, manioc, aipim,...

 and pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...

. NRIs
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...

 are also another major source of income.

Transport

Ranni is largely dependent on private buses. Most of the long route KSRTC
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is the state-run bus company in Kerala, India. It is one of the oldest state run public bus transport services in India.-History:...

 buses ply on the State Highway - 08. The State Highway - 08
Main Eastern Highway
The Main Eastern Highway is the life line of the high range townships of the Travancore region of Kerala state, India. It is also known as Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Thodupuzha-Muvattupuzha Highway. Main Eastern Highway is categorized as State Highway - 08 of Kerala. It is the second longest State...

 (Punalur
Punalur
Punalur is a city situvated near the Tamil Nadu Kerala Border in Kollam district in the southern state of Kerala, India. It is the pioneer in starting industrial revolution in Kerala by establishing Punalur Paper Mills, the first industry in kerala. It is situated in the banks of the river Kallada...

-Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...

-Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...

 Road) connects the town to other major towns. There are no KSRTC bus depots in Ranni. The nearest bus terminus is in Pathanamthitta. Auto rickshaws
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...

 are available and generally hired for short distance (1–3 km) where bus service are non-existent or rare. Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...

 is another preferred mode of transport where the terrain is hilly or rugged.

There are no train services in Ranni. A train service connecting Ranni is one of the long standing demands. Although the Union Government has cleared a proposal in 1995, the project awaits implementation. The nearest railway stations are at Thiruvalla and Chengannur
Chengannur
Chengannur , is a municipal town in Alappuzha district of the state of Kerala in South India. Chengannur is located in the extreme eastern part of Alappuzha district. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on the MC Road. Chengannur is connected to Kollam and Kottayam by NH 220...

.

Trivandrum International Airport and Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport
Cochin International Airport is an international airport located in Nedumbassery, a suburb on the outskirts of the city of Kochi about northeast of downtown Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is the busiest and largest airport in the state of Kerala...

, at Nedumbassery
Nedumbassery
Nedumbassery is a suburb of the city of Kochi situated north of the city and from Thrissur in Kerala, India. The town lies between the two municipalities of Aluva and Angamaly in the Greater Cochin region. It has a population of 28,607 as on 2001, with a sex-ratio of 1012 females to 1000 males...

, Kochi are the airports conveniently used to reach here.

Demographics

As of the census of 2001, Ranni had a population of 207,782 with a density of 207 per square kilometre.The female-to-male ratio is 1063:1000 higher than the state average of 1059:1000 and significantly higher than the national average of 933:1000. There were 50,132 housing units at an average density of 5 per square kilometre. A very low housing density owes to a large reserved forest area. Ranni's literacy rate is 95%.

Although most of the residents are Malayali
Malayali
Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...

s there are some Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...

 and Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...

 settlers. Much of the Tamil polulation are temporary workers who are mainly employed in the construction sector. Ranni still has few settlements of aborigines known as 'adivasis' deep in the forest area.

Ranni's major religions are Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...

, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

, and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and .   : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

. Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

s (Brahmins, Nairs, Ezhavas, Viswakarma, & other SC-ST), Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

s and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

s (Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Knanaya
Knanaya
The Knanaya also known as Q'nanaya, Q'nai, Kanai, or Thekkumbagar, are endogamous Jews who settled in Kerala, India. Their origins are unclear and are hotly disputed by academic scholars...

, Malankara Catholic
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See...

, Church Of South India (CSI), St. Thomas Evangelical Church
St. Thomas Evangelical Church
St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India is an Evangelical, Episcopal denomination based in Kerala, India. It derives from a schism in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1961, and traces its ancestry before then back almost 2,000 years. STECI holds that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant...

, Jacobite
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....

, Marthoma, Indian Brethren
Indian Brethren
The Brethren are a Christian Evangelical premillennial religious movement.The "Brethren" churches or Assemblies are completely independent of each other.Local assemblies are autonomous but are often informally linked with each other....

 and other Pentecostals) live in peace here. This is one of the few places where no communal riots happened even when there were a lot of issues all over India.

Civic administration

Ranni taluk is a part of Pathanamthitta district administration. The taluk headquarters is on the southern side of the river, known as Perumbuzha. Ranni taluk is divided into 11 villages. Villages are the smallest subdivision. The following are the list of villages:
  • Ranni-Angadi
    Angadi
    Angadi is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics:As of the 2001 Census of India, Angadi had a population of 15,873, with 7696 males and 8177 females....

  • Chittar
    Chittar, Kerala
    -Overview:Chittar is a geographically high-range area situated in the south eastern part of Kerala. It is a Panchayat and is included in the Ranni taluk in Pathanamthitta District. It is located 29 km away from Pathanamthitta town at its east. Nearby Panchayats are Seethathodu, Perunad,...

  • Ranni-Pazhavangadi
    Pazhavangadi
    Pazhavangadi is a village in the taluk of Ranni, Pathanamthitta district, in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Pazhavangadi had a population of 21058 with 10270 males and 10788 females....

  • Ranni-Perunad
    Perunad
    Perunad is a village in Pathanamthitta district, located in Kerala state, India Perunad is one of the 11 villages of the Ranni taluk. It is located on the bank of the Kakadu Riiver....

  • Ayroor
    Ayroor
    Ayroor is a village situated on the western part of Ranni Taluk of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala state, India. Formerly, Ayroor was part of Tiruvalla Taluk in Alleppey District and is considered as part of Edanadu in Kerala. The Pamba River flows by the southern side of this scenic village and...

  • Kollamula
    Kollamula
    Kollamula is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. It is one of the 11 villages in Ranni taluk.- Demographics : India census, Kollamula had a population of 22765 with 11171 males and 11594 females....

  • Vadasserikara
  • Athikayam
    Athikkayam
    Athikkayam is a village located in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, India. Athikkayam is one of the 11 villages of the Ranni taluk.- Demographics : India census, Athikkayam had a population of 9607 with 4745 males and 4862 females....

  • Ranni
    Ranni village
    Ranni village is located in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala State, India. Ranni is one of the 11 villages of the Ranni taluk.-Demographics:...

  • Chethakkal
    Chethakkal
    Chethakkal is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Chethakkal had a population of 15781 with 7607 males and 8174 females....

  • Cherukole
    Cherukole
    Cherukole is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Cherukole had a population of 13048 with 6200 males and 6848 females....


  • Education

    Primary, middle and secondary schools are run in all the villages of Ranni taluk. However there are only 7 senior secondary schools covering 6 out of the 11 villages. This is primarily due to the reason that till 1997-98, these were offered as pre-degree courses in colleges. As of 2001, there are 138 primary, 59 middle and 35 secondary schools.

    There are two colleges in Ranni taluk. St. Thomas college, affiliated to the M.G. University
    Mahatma Gandhi University
    Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...

    , is an arts and science college established in 1964. For almost four decades this was the only college in the taluk. In 2005, Caarmel Engineering College, a self financing engineering college was established. This is situated in the Ranni-Perunad division. The Mar Thoma Teachers’ Training College Ranny is a self- financing institution affiliated to the M.G. University
    Mahatma Gandhi University
    Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...

    , and approved by NCTE

    Apart from the schools and colleges, Ranni also has 3 adult literacy centers. These literacy centers or Saksharatha Kendram came as a state effort to attain total literacy.

    Politics

    Ranni assembly constituency is part of Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency)
    Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency)
    Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala state in southern India. It is a newly formed constituency in the Central Travancore region of Kerala for the election of a member of the Lok Sabha...

    . The main two political parties are the Congress
    Indian National Congress
    The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...

     and the CPM
    Communist Party of India (Marxist)
    The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...

     or CPI
    Communist Party of India
    The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...

    . Raju Abraham is the elected representative of Ranni assembly constituency. He successfully contested assembly election in 1996 and has been winning every elections since.

    Media

    There is a local television channel, Citi TV, operational in Ranni. The channel, established in 2002 telecasts news, documentaries, albums and other programs.

    Makayalam Film actor Asif Ali
    Asif Ali
    Asif Ali is an Indian film actor who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his debut in 2009 in the acclaimed film Ritu. And has went on to perform in critical and commercial hits such as Apoorvaragam , Traffic , and Salt N' Pepper .-Early life:Asif Ali was born on 4 February 1986 in Ranni...

     was born on Ranni in 4 February 1986. Later he lives in Thodupuzha
    Thodupuzha
    Thodupuzha is a town and a municipality in Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 35.43 km2. It is 62 km from Ernakulam. Geographical Classification of Thodupuzha Region is Midland or Idanad....

     in Idukki District
    Idukki district
    Idukki district is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district headquarters is located at in Painavu.It is the second least populous district in Kerala, after Wayanad .-Etymology:...

    .

    External links

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