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Illathil Nair were an occupational subdivision among Nairs and was predominantly found in the Malabar districts of Kerala, as well as in some parts of Cochin, with a smaller presence in Travancore. [1] They were originally known by different names in the Malabar districts, but more recently, they have come to be referred to as Illathil Nair. The term Illathil refers to the house of a Nambudiri, [2] as they were traditionally engaged in the protection of, and various services for, the Nambudiri Brahmin Illams. [3]
It is purely an occupational subdivision of the Nairs of Malabar districts [4] lifestyle and culture was very similar to the Kiriyathil and Charna Nair castes of Malabar, although they had slightly different roles and duties within the Nair hierarchy. [5] They were primarily found in the South Malabar region, especially in Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode areas where Nambudiri Brahmins were also highly concentrated. [6] [7] [8] Smaller populations of Illathil Nairs are also found in Cochin and parts of Travancore, although in much smaller numbers. They shared similar titles and cultural practices with the Kiriyathil and Charna Nairs. [9] In the caste hierarchy, they were ranked above the Purathu Charna warriors, but just below the Kiriyathil Nair subdivision in Malabar disticts and some parts of cochin. [10]
The Illathil Nairs found in the Malabar districts were different from the Illathu Nairs of Travancore, who were Samantha Naduvazhi, Deshavazhis, or Barons of the Travancore. [11] Illathu, Swaroopathil, Kiriyathil, Charna, Nayanar, Staani and others were distinct subcastes found in different kingdoms or Nadus. Many of these were merged recently for uniform classification purposes. During the British period, they were consolidated with the Illathu Nairs of Travancore due to the similarity in their names. Similarly, Charna Nairs merged with Swaroopathil Nairs, and certain North Malabar clans were integrated with the Kiriyathil Nair caste of south Malabar because of shared titles of Kiriyathil Nairs. [6]