Chirala

చీరాల Chirala
—  town  —
చీరాల Chirala Location of చీరాల Chirala in Andhra Pradesh and India
Coordinates	15°49′N 80°21′E / 15.82°N 80.35°E / 15.82; 80.35Coordinates: 15°49′N 80°21′E / 15.82°N 80.35°E / 15.82; 80.35
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District(s)	Prakasam
Population	212,333 (2009[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 4 metres (13 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 523 155, 523 156, 523157 • Telephone • +08594

Chirala  pronunciation (help·info) (Telugu: చీరాల) is a large town, mandal and a municipality located in Prakasam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.

It has a population of 85,460 (agglomeration 166,877) (2001 census). It used to be a Taluk of Guntur District, and later became part of then formed Prakasam District. The town is situated at a distance of 100 km south of Vijayawada. The name has been derived from its ancient age name Ksheera Puri ("Here the sea looks as white as milk"). This town is the major hub for textile business in the district of Prakasam. Because of its wide textile business it is also called Mini-Bombay, Chinna Bombai. There are some nice beaches and a few resorts with all the world class facilities.

The Indian Air Force has an air-base called Suryalanka near to Bapatla, very near to Chirala. Chirala is the major commercial centre between Tenali and Ongole and lies on the main railway line between Chennai and Kolkata. There are also many small town such as Vetapalem surrounding Chirala.

History

Chirala, which has earned a unique place in the history of the freedom struggle, which completed its 400 years on April 27, 2004, corresponding with the Telugu calendar `Visakha Sudha Saptami.'

The foundation for present-day Chirala was laid in 1604 AD by two Yadavas, Minchala Papaiah and Minchala Peraiah. The town was carved out of Sudhanagaram, original name of Patha Chirala, that was granted to Chirala Anantharaju by Goparaju Ramanna, Minister of the Kakatiya king, Ganapati Deva, during Saka 1067 (1145 AD) as mentioned in the records obtained from the Madras Oriental Library. His descendant, Chirala Venkata Krishnudu, leased out the present Chirala area to the Yadavas for raising a new township. Thus, present-day Chirala was born on Visakha Sudha Saptami of Viswavasu Vatsaram, corresponding to 1604 AD.

In the new township, a Venugopalaswamy temple was constructed in 1619 and that of Malleswaraswamy in 1620, while that of Gangamma was built a little later. As the temples did not have any chariots, Chirala Ramanna Panthulu built two chariots for the two temples towards the middle of the 19th century. Now a lot of temples have come up.

With the advent of a railway station on the Madras-Calcutta-New Delhi main line, Chirala developed commercially with its population reaching a little over one lakh, while Patha Chirala, which once traded through the ancient port of Motupalli, shrunk to become an obscure village with a population of just 5,000.

Anuguraju of the Hyheya dynasty, who ruled over Palnadu, visited Patha Chirala along with his entourage that included the famous socio-religious reformer, Brahma Naidu, during the twelth century and left behind the idol of Chennakesava Swamy, his family deity with his consorts and weapons, used by Palnadu warriors. The ancient Adikesavaswamy temple, originally built by the Cholas during the eleventh century, and now in a dilapidated condition, is being rebuilt by Sri Arulananda Swamy, head of Sri Lalithananda Ashram of Vodarevu, near here.

Chirala, which was regarded as a health resort by Britishers, got a medical facility as early as in 1906 with the opening of the Edward VII Coronation Memorial Hospital. Dr. Mary Baer, an American, also opened the Dr. Baer Missionary Hospital in 1912 when Chirala and its neighbouring villages did not have medical facilities except at Guntur.

The Europeans also started a tobacco curing factory of the ITC in 1923, opening job opportunities to labourers. More than 6,000 labourers used to work till the operations were mechanised. Known as the hub of the handloom industry, Chirala provides employment at least to 25,000 to 30,000 artisans. There is export market for the special quality of handloom cloth produced in this area. A co-operative spinning mill also was started in 1959.

Handloom Industry

The Chirala formally known as "KSHIRAPURI" is situated on Bay of Bengal is renamed as CHIRALA (CHIRA means saree). The Chirala town well connected to the main railway line and NH 5 road line (Kolkatta to Chennai). And also there is airline service form Gannavaram (Vijayawada) is far from 110 km. The Chirala area handloom industry is famous since time immemorial for producing variety of fabrics which brought name and fame to the nation as well as to this area. Even before the Industrial revolution taken place in the west, the rural artisan weaver of this area had done marvelous work of producing 7 yards of sari in a match box, which speaks of highest excellence in the art of weaving, unmatched skill and talent of handloom weaver of this area.

During the 13th century the Italian traveler Marco Polo visited this area and mentions about the flourishing handloom weaving and exhibition of skills of the weaver in production of finer varieties, reveals the historic evidence about attaining the peak of excellence in weaving skills. In 1920 a group of weavers have formed a handloom weavers Co-Operative Society. During 1952 a Co-operative spinning mill has been inaugurated by Sri Javaharlal Nehru and runs for about 50 years. Though this area is famous for its production of traditional varieties zari saris and dhoties which has limited for local market. During 1973 the exportable variety known as the "Real Madras hand Kerchiefs" is being manufactured with art silk and zari (metallic thread glittering like gold) on jacquard looms and exported to African countries. The introduction of this exportable variety and its popularity in the weavers of this area had not only improved the living conditions of the weaver but also contributing in earning foreign exchange to the nation. Because of its attractive and glittering design and texture, the cloth is attracting the consumers in foreign countries. The "Real Madras Hand Kerchiefs" variety is also being manufactured in the countries like Bangladesh and China. The quality of the fabric being produced in this area will not give any odd smell to the cloth because of the climate and water used during the process of dyeing. Where as the cloth is produced at Bangladesh and China is not like at this area (Chirala). This variety has run for one and half decade and it comes down. Even now there are about 1000 looms working for this variety and about Rs. 10 crores of stocks are being exported from Chennai. Later they have shifted to lungies, hand kerchiefs, saris, dress material etc. There are about some hundreds of weavers who young and dynamic weavers are shifted to hand paint and spray paint work on saris from the year 1983 on wards for about fifteen years and earned about Rs.6000 to 8000 per month and from last six years the embroidery work is going on and providing some alternate work for those who not interested to continue as weaver. These are also earning about Rs. 4000 to 6000 per month. The saris being supplied by local traders for painting and embroidering work. The embroidered / painted saris are sold at local and also with in the state of other places. And also there is cashew cottage industry which providing work for few hundreds of women during the cashew crop season.

Generally in Chirala cluster the type loom used is fly shuttle loom and this may be equipped additionally with barrel dobby, lattice dobby and jacquard according to the variety of the fabric woven by the weaver. The barrel dobby is used to produce small design with 24 threads of extra warp design on border or at desired place of the fabrics, like dhoties, saris, shirtings and dress material cloth. The lattice dobby is used to produce designs with 48 threads of extra warp design on saris and dress materials. The Jacquard is used to weave designs with extra warp or extra weft or both depending on the fabric requirement. For the weaving of plain fabric the fly shuttle loom alone is enough, no additional attachment like dobby or jacquard is required.

There are about sixty thousand handloom weaver population at Chirala and presently twenty to twenty five thousand weavers are active. These 20 to 25 thousand weavers are working on about 18000 looms. In addition there are fifteen yarn traders, 25 to 30 dyers, 6 designers and card makers using cad system, 50 to 70 hand work designers and card makers and 50 to 100 of other ancillary providers. The annual turn of this cluster is estimated around 100 to 120 crores. The weavers are located in two mandals and of Prakasam district. They are Chirala and Vetapalem mandals. Almost all the weavers belong to the Padmashalia, Devanga and Pattusali of the weavers' community.This deepak from pondicherry

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[1] Chirala had a population of 85,455. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Chirala has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 71% and female literacy of 58%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

In the year 2008 Chirala population is approximately 2 lakhs^{[citation needed]}.

Assembly Constituency

Chirala is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. There are 1,80,481 registered voters in Chirala constituency in 1999 elections.

List of Elected Members:^[2]

• 1951, 1955 and 1967 - Pragada Kotaiah
• 1962 - Jagarlamudi Laxminarayana Chowdary
• 1972 - Guddanti Kotaiah
• 1978 - Mutte Venkateswarlu
• 1983 - Chimata Sambu
• 1985 - Sajja Chandramouli
• 1989 - Konijeti Rosaiah
• 1994 - Paleti Rama Rao
• 1999 - Paleti Rama Rao
• 2004 - Konijeti Rosaiah
• 2009 - Amanchi Krishna Mohan

Sri Rosaiah Governor of Tamil Nadu, served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for a brief period of 14 months and held the portfolios for Finance, Planning, Small Savings, Lotteries and Legislative Affairs, Govt of AP. He is one of the senior most members of the legislative assembly and is widely recognized as an excellent orator, financial expert and has a record of presenting the state budget for the highest number of times (16 times, including 7 times in a row) by an individual.

Constituency: Chirala

Municipal Chairpersons of Chirala Municipality

• 1.Tulabandu Venkatappaiah
• 2.Bonigala Ashok kumar
• 3.mrs.andekasthuri bai (2000–2005)
• 4. Mrs. Shyamala Kumari

References

1. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
2. ^ Election Commission of India. APAssembly results.1978-2004

External links

• Information About Chirala
• www.mychirala.com
• Chirala.info-Information, Tourism, Business, News
• http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/27/stories/2004042705320500.htm
• http://www.arulananda.org/ashram.htm