Chakkala Nair

Last updated

Chakkala Nair
Regions with significant populations
Kerala
Languages
Malayalam
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Nairs

Chakkala Nair, also known as Vattakkat Nair, [1] and Vaniya Nair [2] is one of the intermediate subcastes [3] [4] [5] of the Nair community. They are distributed throughout Kerala. In Travancore, they are known as Chakkala, while in Cochin and Malabar they are Vattakattu [6] and In the extreme north of Malabar they are called Vaniya [7] [8]

Vattakattu Nairs [9] are now indistinguishable from other Nair subcastes through alliances with other Nair communities and is treated as part of the mainstream Nair community by the government of Kerala [10] [11]

It was the duty of Peru Vaniyan Nambiars; a section among Vaniya nairs in Kurumbranad to present the Kurumbranad Raja with oil on the occasion of his formal installation [12]

According to eminent scholars Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan was born in a Chakkala Nair family of Thrikkandiyoor Amsam in Vettathunadu [13]

Chakkala Kaali Nair also known as Kunchirakottu kaaliyan [14] [15] a close associate of Iravikkutti Pillai and a warrior who was made famous by ballads of Venad belonged to Chakkala Nair caste. [16] [17]

See also

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The Nambudiri, also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Namboothiri and Nampūtiri, are a Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala, India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal elite. Headed by the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal Samrāṭ, the Nambudiris were the highest ranking caste in Kerala. They owned a large portion of the land in the region of Malabar, and together with the Nair monarchs, the Nambudiris formed the landed aristocracy known as the Jenmimar, until the Kerala Land Reforms starting in 1957. Naturalized Tulu Brahmins who took up Nambudiri customary ways are known as Embranthiri Brahmins.

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In 1896, the government of Madras passed the Malabar Marriage Act in response to the recommendations of the Malabar Marriage Commission of 1891. This allowed members of any caste practising marumakkatayam (matriliny) in Malabar to register a sambandham as a marriage. It was permissive rather than restrictive law: whether or not a relationship was registered was entirely the decision of the people involved in that relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezhava</span> Hindu community of Kerala, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiryathil Nair</span> Sub-caste

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Madampi(equivalent to Lord in English) is an aristocratic title given to the uppermost subdivisions of Nairs in Kerala, by the Maharajahs of Travancore and Cochin. Usually, it was given in addition to the Pillai title. Madampis served as Jenmis or landlords during the pre-independence era. Their power was severely reduced after the Communist government passed the Land Reforms Ordinance. The title Madampi was also used in Cochin, to denote the 71 Nayar chiefs who ruled under the Maharajah of Cochin. A few Nambuthiri landlord families, most notable of whom being those in Vanjipuzha and Makilanjeri, were also given the Madampi title. In Cochin, the Madampis had their own armies, but seldom numbered more than 100. Their power was only a little bit higher than that of the Desavazhis. Madampis supplied chieftains along with soldiers in times of war to the King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pillai (Kerala title)</span> Noble title in Kerala, India

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Pallichan Nair is an intermediate Malayali caste who had adopted Nair surname and thus classified under Nairs seen predominantly in Malabar and Cochin areas. They are found in Travancore in very low numbers. They are the palanquin / pallak bearers for the ruling dynasties, at some places for the Janmi Namboothiris and Nair chieftains. Vaniya Nairs, Pallichan Nairs, and Maniyani Nairs are Theyyam worshippers and they have their own shrines for their Theyyams.

The Maniyani Nair is a nair sub-caste and Malayalam speaking Yadava community, native to Kerala state of South India. They are mainly distributed in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayanad districts. Their traditional occupation is tending cattle and cultivation.They keep the Nair surname.

References

  1. Menon, Krishnat P. Padmanabha (1984). History of Kerala: A History of Kerala Written in the Form of Notes on Visscher's Letters from Malabar. Asian Educational Services. p. 194. ISBN   978-81-206-0167-3.
  2. Singh, Kumar Suresh (2002). People of India: Kerala (3 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. p. 299. ISBN   978-81-85938-99-8.
  3. Pallichan and Vattakad were treated as an intermediate class of Shudras because there was neither inter-dining nor inter-marriage between the members of these subdivisions and the high caste Shudras-Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7. p. 19.
  4. Coomar, Palash Chandra (1987). Polyandry in India: Demographic, Economic, Social, Religious, and Psychological Concomitants of Plural Marriages in Women. Gian Publishing House. ISBN   978-81-212-0105-6.
  5. Institutions, Kerala (India) Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational (1966). Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965. p. 141.
  6. Fuller, Christopher J. (1975). "The Internal Structure of the Nayar Caste". Journal of Anthropological Research. 31 (4): 283–312. doi:10.1086/jar.31.4.3629883. JSTOR   3629883. S2CID   163592798.
  7. "ANTHROPOLOGY NAYARS OF MALABAR (WITH ELEVEN PLATES)" (PDF). MADRAS GOVERNMENT MUSEUM Bulletin. 11 (3): 203.
  8. Singh, Kumar Suresh (2002). People of India: Kerala (3 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. p. 299. ISBN   978-81-85938-99-8.
  9. Institutions, Kerala (India) Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational (1966). Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965. p. 141.
  10. Kerala government gazette official forward caste list www.collegeguru.in/doc/fc-list-kerala.pdf
  11. Institutions, Kerala (India) Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational (1966). Report of the Commission for Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions, Kerala, 1965. p. 141.
  12. Thurston, Edgar; Rangachari, K. (1909). Castes and tribes of southern India. University of California Libraries. Madras : Government Press. p. 306.
  13. Tarakan, Ke Eṃ (1990). A Brief Survey of Malayalam Literature: History of Literature. K.M. Tharakan. p. 26.
  14. "Prithviraj's next is titled Kaaliyan - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  15. Paramēśvarayyar, Uḷḷūr Es (1979). ഉള്ളൂരിന്റെ പ്രബന്ധങ്ങൾ [Chakkala kali nair got rewarded by maharaja for his heroic act.] (in Malayalam). Kēraḷa Sarvakalāśāla. p. 90.
  16. മലയാള സാഹിത്യചരിത്രം [Kunchirakotu chakkala kali nair a dear friend , who comes to take the mutilated head of Iravikutty Pillai, who was betrayed and killed by Senanayaka of Thirumala Nayakkan ramayya] (in Malayalam). Gurunāthan Pr̲int̲ing & Pabḷikkēṣans. 1971. p. 95.
  17. "Kannatiyanporu Purushadeviyamappattu: Thekkan Pattukal (Malayalam) | Exotic India Art". www.exoticindiaart.com (The ballad of Kaniyamkulam poru is about Chakkala kali nair a close associate of iravi kutti pillai .). Retrieved 8 May 2022.