Before criticising K Surendran, let's do a sneak peek into history

NDA candidate K Surendran faced criticism and vile trolls for his poll promise of changing the name of Sulthan Bathery to Ganapathaivattam. Many places, including Prayagraj, were renamed after the NDA government came to power at the Centre. It is the first time in Kerala that a BJP leader had promised to rechristen a place and give back its ancient name.

Albeit the flurry of trolls, memes and criticism, it would be worthy enough if critics crane their necks into the history of the place. Was Surendran’s promise just an election gimmick or does it hold any truth?

And now, while Ganapathivattam is trending, some netizens have unearthed a Facebook post from 2013 from an account named ‘Kshetram’ that has elucidated the history of the place.

Facebook post:

Ganapativattam has found a place in many ancient records. During the invasion period of both Hyder Ali and Tipu, there existed a place called Ganapathivattam, which later got rechristened as Sulthan Bathery.

It is believed that the centuries-old Ganesha temple in the area gifted the eponymous name to the place. This place which was known as a small town was selected by Tipu Suthan to store his armory. Later in the British era, all of Tipu’s armory was confiscated and they named the place as Sultan's Battery meaning Sultan's Armory. Over the years, the subtleties of parlance used by locals helped decorticate the name which turned into Sulthan Bathery.

The small town amid lush green jungle was an important centre of trade during Tipu’s reign.