the encyclopedic entry of Devakottai

Devakottai

Devakottai is a town and a municipality in Sivaganga district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Devakottai is one of the biggest cities of the nagarathar community.

History

Devakottai is noted for its literature, shaivite temple buildings, publishing, and politics. The town was important during the Indian independence movement. The municipal court in Devakottai was burned to ground during the Quit India Movement and the town suffered punitive fines and some citizens served prison terms.

Mahatma Gandhi visited Devakottai in 1934 to condole with the death of Poochi, a Dalit, in the movement against untouchability, and held discussions with Dalits and Nattars, who were opposed to Dalits wearing shirts.

In the first half of the 20th century, the temples of Rameswaram, Kalahasti, Kalayar koil, Thiruvengadu, Thiruvadanai, Thirupunavasal, Thiruvanmiyur, thiruvidaimaruthur, thiruchuli, Courtallam, Thievennainallur, Pennagaram (now Pennadam) were all converted to stone structures in whole or part by pious nagarathar families of Devakottai.

Until 1947, Devakottai was admistered by a zamindar. Two of their palaces remain, 'Lakshmi Vilas' on the Vattanam road and 'Swarnavalli Vilas' on the Kuthirai Pathai road. Today Devakottai is a favoured site for movie shootings, mainly because of its palatial bungalows.

Demographics

As of the 2007 India census, Devakottai had a population of approximately 46,000. Males constituted 49% of the population and females 51%. Devakottai has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: the male literacy rate is 85% and the female literacy rate 75%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education

There are two colleges in Devakottai , Sevugan Annamalai Art College and Ananda College, run by the R.C. Diocese of Sivagangai. There are also three women's higher secondary schools, one boys' higher secondary school, and one co-ed higher secondary school. Most of the schools are maintained by Christian trusts, and two by Nagarathar trusts.