Extract from Nilgiris Gazetter by W.Francis 1908 (page
369)
Nambolakod:- About 5 1/2
miles north-west of Gudalur and the chief place in the amsam of the same
name. Its temple to Betarayasvami (or
Betaikarsvmi) is of some local
repute. The old fort from which it gets
its name is now overgrown with lantana.
It was formerly the residence of the Valunnavar referred to in the account of Devala on P.367.
Official papers say that it was one time the whole amsam belonged to certain ‘Malayarans’ who, being unable to defend themselves from
devastating hands of free-booters,
sought the protection of Kurumbarnad Raja, who at last agreed to send his son Valunnavar to
rule over them on consideration of seven granaries as his private property. About 1826 the place was held by one
Kelukutty Valunnavar, who (if not actually half-witted, as was freely alleged)
was so unfitted for his position that he fell into great financial straits.
Certain land alleged to be to be his Janmam property was sold in 1836
by order of Wyanaad district
munisif and this afterwards passed to the Nilambur Thirumalpad. The next year the Tirumulpad obtained the
assignment of all the rest of the Valunnavr`s property, but the deed did not convey any Janmam right . Kelukutty died in 1844 leaving a sister named Subadra
and her son. They were living at the
time at Muttil near Gudalur, on the charity of the frequenters of the temple, and there is much evidence to show that, like
her brother, she was of unsound
mind. The Tirumulpad however soon
afterwards induced her and her son to move to Nilambur, where the latter died in 1845. In 1853 the Tirumulpad obtained from Subadra
a deed making over her janam rights in Nambalakod amsam. She died in 1872. At the enquiry held in 1884-85 into escheats
in the Wynaad, Government after much discussion decided not to call in question
the Tirumulpad`s claim to janmam rights throughout the amsam. The Mudumalai forest
had been previously {in 1863) leased from him for 99 years.
//
True Extract//
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