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Kochi (കൊച്ചി)
Cochin
— city —
Kochi (കൊച്ചി)
Country India
State Kerala
District(s) Ernakulam
Order)
Population 564,589[1] (2001)
• Metro • 1,355,406[2] (2001)
Literacy 94.3%
Area 94.88 km2
(37 sq mi)
Climate Am (Köppen)
• 2,743 mm (108 in)
• Precipitation
Codes[show]
Website www.corporationofcochin.org
Kochi entered a period of economic growth after 2000, leading to a spurt in the city's
development. A growing centre of shipping industries,international
trade, tourism and information technology, Kochi is one of the fastest growing second-tier
metros in India. Like other large cities in the developing world, Kochi continues to struggle
with urbanisation problems such as traffic congestion and environmental degradation.
Contents
[hide]
1 Toponymy
2 History
3 Geography and
climate
4 Civic
administration
5 Economy
6 Transport
7 Demographics
8 Culture
9 Education
10 Media
11 Notes
12 References
13 External links
[edit]Toponymy
Theories regarding the etymology of the name "Kochi" are disputed.[5] One suggests that the
city's modern name is derived from theMalayalam word koch azhi, meaning 'small lagoon'.
Another version mentions the name as derivative of the Sanskrit word Go shree which means
'prosperous with cows'. Certain ancient texts refer to the city Balapuri (Sanskrit for 'small town'),
which became Cochin in course of time.[6]
According to some accounts, traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan gave
Cochin the name of their homeland. Yet another theory is that Kochi is derived from the
wordKaci meaning 'harbour'.[5] Accounts by Italian explorers Nicolo Conti (15th century), and Fra
Paoline in the 17th century say that it was called Kochchi, named after the river connecting
thebackwaters to the sea.
After the arrival of the Portuguese, and later the British, the name Cochin stuck as the official
appellation. The city reverted to a closer anglicisation of its original Malayalam name, Kochi, in
1996. However, it is still widely referred to as Cochin, with the city corporation retaining its name
as Corporation of Cochin.
[edit]History
Kochi was the centre of Indian spice trade for many centuries, and was known to
the Yavanas (Greeks) as well as Romans, Jews, Arabs, and Chinese since ancient times.
[8]
Kochi rose to significance as a trading centre after the port at Kodungallur (Cranganore) was
destroyed by massive flooding of the river Periyar in 1341.[9] The earliest documented
references to Kochi occur in books written byChinese voyager Ma Huan during his visit to Kochi
in the 15th century as part of Admiral Zheng He's treasure fleet.[10] There are also references to
Kochi in accounts written by Italian traveller Niccolò Da Conti, who visited Kochi in 1440.[11]
According to many historians, the Kingdom of Kochi came into existence in 1102, after the fall of
the Kulasekhara Empire.[12] The King of Kochi had authority over the region encompassing the
present city of Kochi and adjoining areas. The reign was hereditary, and the family that ruled
over Kochi was known as the Perumpadappu Swaroopam or Kuru swaroopam in the local
vernacular. The mainland Kochi remained the capital of the princely state since the eighteenth
century. However, during much of this time, the kingdom was under foreign rule, and the King
often only had titular privileges.
Fort Kochi in Kochi was the first European colonial settlement in India. From 1503 to 1663, Fort
Kochi was ruled by Portugal. This Portuguese period was a harrowing time for the Jews living in
the region, as the Inquisition was active in Portuguese India. Kochi hosted the grave of Vasco
da Gama, the first European explorer to set sail for India, who was buried at St. Francis
Church until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539.[13] The Portuguese rule was followed
by that of the Dutch, who had allied with the Zamorins to conquer Kochi. By 1773,
the Mysore KingHyder Ali extended his conquest in the Malabar region to Kochi forcing it to
become a tributary of Mysore. The hereditary Prime Ministership of Kochi held by the Paliath
Achans ended during this period.
Towards the early 20th century, trade at the port had increased substantially, and the need to
develop the port was greatly felt. Harbour engineer Robert Bristow was brought to Kochi in 1920
under the direction of Lord Willingdon, then the Governor of Madras. In a span of 21 years, he
transformed Kochi as one of the safest harbours in the peninsula, where ships berthed
alongside the newly reclaimed inner harbour equipped with a long array of steam cranes.[15][16]
In 1947, when India gained independence from the British colonial rule, Cochin was the
first princely state to join the Indian Union willingly.[17]In 1949, Travancore-Cochin state came
into being with the merger of Cochin and Travancore. The King of Travancore was
the Rajpramukh of theTravancore-Cochin Union from 1949 to 1956. Travancore-Cochin, was in
turn merged with the Malabar district of the Madras State. Finally, theGovernment of
India's States Reorganisation Act (1956) inaugurated a new state — Kerala — incorporating
Travancore-Cochin (excluding the four southern Taluks which were merged with Tamil
Nadu), Malabar District, and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara.[18] On 9 July 1960,
theMattancherry council passed a resolution—which was forwarded to the government—
requesting the formation of a municipal corporation by combining the existing municipalities
of Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, and Ernakulam. The government appointed a commission to study
the feasibility of the suggested merger. Based on its report, the Kerala Legislative
Assembly approved the corporation's formation. On 1 November 1967, exactly eleven years
since the establishment of the state of Kerala, the corporation of Cochin came into existence.
The merger leading to the establishment of the corporation, was between
the municipalities of Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi, along with that of theWillingdon
Island, four panchayats (Palluruthy, Vennala, Vyttila and Edappally), and the small islands
of Gundu and Ramanthuruth.
Kochi is located on the southwest coast of India at 9°58′N 76°13′E, spanning an area of
94.88 square kilometres (36.63 sq mi). The city is situated at the northern end of a peninsula,
about 19 kilometres (12 mi) long and less than one mile (1.6 km) wide. To the west lies the
Arabian Sea, and to the east are estuaries drained by perennial rivers originating in the Western
Ghats. Much of Kochi lies at sea level, with a coastline of 48 km.[20]
The current metropolitan limits of Kochi include the mainland Ernakulam, Fort Kochi, the
suburbs of Edapally, Kalamassery and Kakkanad to the northeast; Tripunithura to the
southeast; and a group of islands closely scattered in the Vembanad Lake. Most of these
islands are very small, varying in extent from six square kilometre to less than a square
kilometre (1,500 to less than 250 acres).
Under the Köppen climate classification, Kochi features a Tropical monsoon climate. Kochi's
proximity to the equator along with its coastal location results in little seasonal temperature
variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between 20 to
35 °C (68–95 °F) with the record high being 34 °C (96 °F), and record low 17 °C (63 °F).[22] From
June through September, the south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains as Kochi lies on the
windward side of the Western Ghats. From October to December, Kochi receives lighter (yet
significant) rain from the northeast monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual
rainfall is 274 cm (108 in),[23] with an annual average of 132 rainy days.
[edit]Civic administration
Kochi City officials
Mayor Mercy Williams
Deputy Mayor C. K. Manisankar
Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham
[edit]Economy
Kochi is unofficially referred as the economic capital of Kerala by volume of trade; though, unlike
other leading South Indian cities, Kochi has been slow to industrialise.[19][27] In recent years the
city has witnessed heavy investment, thus making it one of the fastest-growing second-tier
metro cities in India.[28][29] Sales tax income generated in the Kochi metropolitan area contributes
heavily to state revenue.[30] The economy of the city can be classified as a business economy
with emphasis on the service sector.[31] Major business sectors include gold and textile
retailing, seafood and spices exports, information technology (IT), tourism, health services,
banking, shipbuilding, and the fishing industry. The economy is mostly dependent on trade and
retail activities.[32] Kochi was ranked one of the hardest Indian cities in which to start a business
in 2009.[33] As in most of Kerala, remittances from non-resident Indians (NRI)s is a major source
of income.[34]
Eloor, situated 17 kilometres (10.5 mi) north of the city, is the largest industrial belt in Kerala,
with more than 250 industries manufacturing a range of products
including chemical and petrochemical products, pesticides, rare earth
elements, rubber processing chemicals, fertilisers,zinc and chromium compounds,
and leather products.[35]
Kochi is the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command, the primary training centre of the
Indian Navy.[36] The Cochin Shipyard, which was the largest shipbuilding facility in India till 2008,
contributes to the economy of the city.[37][38] The Cochin fishing harbour at Thoppumpady is a
major fishing port in the state and supplies fish to local and export markets. To further tap the
potential of the all-season deep-water harbour at Kochi, an international cruise terminal and
several marinas are being constructed.[39][40]
The Cochin shipyard
Exports and allied activities are also important contributors to the city's economy. The Cochin
Portcurrently handles export and import of container cargo at its terminal at Willingdon Island. A
new international container transshipment terminal is being commissioned at Vallarpadam,
which is expected to be a major transshipment port in India.[41][42][43][44] Kochi's historical reliance
on trade continues into modern times, as the city is a major exporter of spices and is home to
the International Pepper Exchange, where black pepper is globally traded. The Spices Board of
India is also headquartered in Kochi.
[edit]Transport
Since it is one of the safe harbours in Indian Ocean, Kochi ranks among India's major seaports.
[48]
The port, administered by a statutory autonomous body known as the Cochin Port Trust,
offers facilities for bunkering, handling cargo and passenger ships and storage accommodation.
It also operates passenger ships to Colombo and Lakshadweep. Boat services operated
by Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation, the State Water Transport Department,
and of private ownership are available from various boat jetties in the city. Thejunkar ferry for
the transshipment of vehicles and passengers between the islands are operated between
Ernakulam and Vypin, and between Vypin and Fort Kochi. However, with the construction of
the Goshree bridges (which links Kochi's islands), ferry transport has become less essential.
There is no intra-city rail transport system in Kochi. The inter-city rail transport system in the city
is administered by the Southern Railway Zone of the Indian Railways. There are two main
railway stations—the Ernakulam Junction and the Ernakulam Town (locally known as the 'South'
and 'North' railway stations respectively). The railway line connecting these two stations cuts the
city longitudinally in two, with two narrow bridges connecting the two halves.Cochin Harbour
Terminus located in the Wellington island is the third railway station in the city,though it is closed
down temporarily.
[edit]Demographics
An antique shop featuringJewish remnants of Kochi
With a city population of 564,589 As of 2001, Kochi city ranks first among cities in Kerala, in the
population density with 5950 per km2.[citation needed]As of 2009, Kochi had a metropolitan area
population of 1,541,175.[2] Scheduled castes and tribes comprise 14% of the city's population.
The female-to-male ratio is 1,024:1,000, significantly higher than the all-India average of
933:1,000. Kochi's literacy rate is 94%. The female literacy rate lags that of males by 1.1%,
amongst the lowest such gaps in India.[citation needed]
The majority of residents are Malayalis; however, there are significant ethnic minority
communities including Tamils, Gujaratis, Jews, Sikkimese, Anglo-Indians, Konkanis,
and Tuluvas. Malayalam is the main language of communication and medium of instruction,
although English is more commonly used in business circles. Tamil and Hindi are widely
understood—albeit rarely spoken.
A Jain temple in Mattancherry
Like other fast-growing cities in the developing world, Kochi suffers from
major urbanisation problems, poor sanitation, and unemployment. The city ranks lowest among
Indian cities in terms of house-cost and availability, urban household crowding and household
incomes.[52]
The city registered an increase of 9.7 percentage points in its unemployment rate from 14.8% in
1998 to 24.5% in 2003.[53] Shortage of potable water is a major concern in the city.[54] The
situation is aggravated by the threat posed by pollution in industrial areas.[55] The city also has a
growing slum-dwelling population.[56] The government has plans to make the city slum-free by
2016.[57] According to the National Crime Records Bureau, Kochi has one of highest rates
of crime in India—498.6, against the national average of 287.3.[58] According to the 2009
statistics, the crime rate in Kochi is very high and the city holds the fourth position in the number
of recorded crimes in India.[59] [60]
[edit]Culture
As a result of successive waves of migration over the course of several centuries, the
population of the city is a mix of people from all parts of Kerala and most of India. The pan-
Indian nature is highlighted by the substantial presence of various ethnic communities from
different parts of the country.[61]
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi is one of the large multi-use stadiums in India
The residents of Kochi are known as Kochiites; they are an important part of the South Indian
culture. However, the city's culture is rapidly evolving with Kochiites generally becoming more
cosmopolitan in their outlook.[29] The people are also increasingly fashion-conscious, often
deviating from the traditional Kerala wear to western clothing.[32]
Kochi was home to some of the most influential figures in Malayalam literature,
including Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Kesari Balakrishna Pillai, G. Sankara Kurup,
and Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon. Prominent social reformers such as Sahodaran
Ayyappan and Pandit Karuppanalso are from Kochi.
The Maharajas of Kochi (then Cochin) were scholars who knew the epics and encouraged the
arts. The paintings at the Hill Palace and theDutch Palace are testimony to their love for arts.
[edit]Education
SCMS Group of Institutions, one of the autonomous higher education schools in the City.
Schools and colleges in the city are either run by the government or by private trusts and
individuals. The schools are each affiliated with either the Indian Certificate of Secondary
Education(ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the Kerala State
Education Board. English is the medium of instruction in most private schools; though
government run schools offer both English and Malayalam. Some prominent schools in the
area, which are well known nationally, include Vidyodaya school, Thevakkal, Choice School,
and Bhavans Vidya Mandir.After completing their secondary education, which involves ten
years of schooling, students typically enrol at Higher Secondary School in one of the three
streams—Arts, Commerce or Science. Upon completing the required coursework, the student
can enroll in general or professional degree programmes.
The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is situated in the city. Most of the
colleges offering tertiary education are affiliated either with the Mahatma Gandhi University or
the Cochin University. Other national educational institutes include the Central Institute of
Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training, the National University of Advanced Legal Studies,
the National Institute of Oceanography and theCentral Marine Fisheries Research Institute. The
city is also home to two medical colleges - The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and
Research Center, Elamakkara (Which offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in
medicine, dentistry and nursing) and the Co-operative Medical College, Kalamassery.
[edit]Media
Major Malayalam newspapers published in Kochi include Malayala
Manorama, Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, Deshabhimani, Deepika, Kerala
Kaumudi and Veekshanam. Popular English newspapers include The Hindu, The New Indian
Express and The Pioneer. A number of evening papers are also published from the city.
[66]
Newspapers in other regional languages like Hindi, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu are also
available.
Being the seat of the Cochin Stock Exchange, a number of financial publications are also
published in the city. These include The Economic Times, Business Line, The Business
Standard and The Financial Express. Prominent magazines and religious publications like
the Sathyadeepam, The Week and Vanitha are also published from the city. Television stations
in Kochi include Asianet Cable Vision, Indiavision, Kairali TV, Jeevan TV, Amrita TV,
and Manorama News. Satellite television services are available through Doordarshan Direct
Plus,Dish TV, Sun Direct DTH and Tata Sky. There are five FM radio stations in Kochi, of which
two are operated by the All India Radio.[67] Private satellite radios such as WorldSpace, are also
available. There are over ten cinema halls that screen movies in Malayalam, Tamil, English and
Hindi. A film festival, known as the Cochin International Film Festival (CIFF), is held in the city
every year.