Aikya Vilasam is the ancestral house that Haji Padiath Manappat Hydrose alias Bava Haji (died on 11. 04. 1921) built for his eldest son, Manappat Kunhu Mohamed in 1918.
The latter half of 19th and the early decades of the 20th century saw Kodungallur immersed in feuds among the Muslim feudal landlords that made peaceful life almost impossible to the common man, as he found himself dragged into the violence unwillingly. It was into this chaotic and violent Muslim community of Kodungallur that Manappat Kunhumohamed, popularly known as Manappadan daringly stepped in with an olive branch.
With the whole-hearted support of his friends, Sheik Mahin Hamadani, Namburimadathil Seethi Mohamed, KM Moulavi, EK Maulavi, Karukapadath Puthanveettil Kunhumohamed, Padiath Manappat Kochumoideen and others, Manappadan played a pivotal role in forming a non-partisan organization called "Nikshpaksha Sangham" in January 1922 at Eriyad. Within a short span of six months, the "Sangham" was able to bring the feuding Muslim landlords to the table and peace was established.
The success of "Nikshpaksha Sangham” was instrumental in forming a much more coherent and wider organization called "Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangham". On 24th April 1923, Aikya Sangham was inaugurated at Eriyad, Kodungallur with Kottapurath Namboorimadathil Seethi Mohamed and Manappat Kunhumohamed as the founding President and Secretary respectively, while Puthanveettil Kunhumohamed was the Treasurer. Manappadan was the Secretary of Aikya Sangham throughout its existence. The venerable scholar, Vakkom Abdul Kadir Maulavi, presided over this historical first meeting of Kerala Muslim Aikya Sangham.
Most of the official meetings of Aikya Sangham were conducted in this house. Aikya Vilasam was the center of activity for the Aikya Sangham and played a pivotal role during the 12 years of its existence. Aikya Vilasam has played host to many important personalities from politics to theatres, arts and big names from many fields. The great philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer Sri Narayana Guru, had visited this house in 1926 along with his friend Alayil Vijayan.
During the early 30’s Manappadan was also a leader in the forefront of peasants’ movement, along with his close friend, KM Ibrahim. The open letter called ‘Rekhta Lekha’ he wrote to the king of Cochin, lead to his arrest and imprisonment charged under treason. He also represented the Kodungallur constituency in the first Cochin Legislative Assembly of 1924.
Aikya Sangham was the first Muslim organization to address the backwardness of the Muslim community of Kerala. They started schools, modernized Madrassa education, and promoted secular education, female literacy & women empowerment. They also vehemently opposed the exploiting clergy.
As part of religious reform, Manappadan started Agriculture, poultry and goat farming and also a Bakery. Matchbox and candle manufacturing units were opened for creating jobs for the empowerment of the community.It is interesting to note that Manappadan never focused on the Muslim community, but for the larger Eriyad as a whole. In 1920, Manappadan started a primary school named Srivalsam School with the aim to provide good education to the children of Eriyad village; The study materials were supplied to all students irrespective of religion and gender. It is to be noted that probably Srivilasam School may be the first school in Kerala to give free mid-day meals to the students.
In 1946, the Srivilasam school was handed over to the Govt of Kochi with a request to convert the school to High school and also to rename the school as Kerala Varma High School after his close friend, Kerala Varma Thampuran.
Aikya Sangham lasted till around 1937 and intervened in every aspect of the social life of Kerala Muslims. It had a long-lasting effect and was instrumental in creating the present-day Muslim society of Kerala, which is the most literate and politically stable among Indian Muslims and, Aikya Vilasam played a key role as the abode of all activities.
Aikya vilasam continues to be an arena for social changes. It plays host to conferences of various reformist movements in Islam even to this day.
Upon the death of Manappat Kunhu Mohamed Haji in 1959, Aikya vilasam was inherited by his eldest son PK Abdul Kadir. He was also a social activist and political leader who represented Kodungallur in Travancore Cochin Assembly in 1954 and Kodungallur Legislative Assembly in 1961 . He was politically assassinated on 17th September 1971. During this period, Aikya vilasam was a center of hectic political activities.
The then Chief Minister R Shankar visited Aikya vilasam in 1977. Political maverick PT Chacko , a close friend of PK Abdul Kadir was a frequent visitor to Aikya vilasam. After PK Abdul Kadir’s demise, Aikya vilasam was inherited by his son Dr PA Mohamed Sayeed Manappat, a general Laproscopic surgeon practicing in Kodungallur. True to his legacy, he is also a socially committed individual who is also the President of the Cheraman Juma Masjid the first masjid in the Indian sub-continent established in Circa 7th century.