Madampi (Nair title)

Last updated

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. [1] 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. [2] The title Madampi was also used in Cochin, to denote the 71 Nayar chiefs who ruled under the Maharajah of Cochin. [3] A few Nambuthiri landlord families, most notable of whom being those in Vanjipuzha and Makilanjeri, were also given the Madampi title. [4] 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. [5] Madampis supplied chieftains along with soldiers in times of war to the King. [6]

This title is equivalent to others such as Eshmanan, Eman and Mannadiyar which were used in Cochin and Malabar areas. Other titles used by the Nairs include Kurup, Pillai, Valiathan, Kaimal, Thampi, Chempakaraman, Unnithan, Nambiar, Panicker, Nayanar, Kartha and Menon.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travancore</span> Kingdom in southern India from 1729 to 1949

The Kingdom of Travancore, also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor or later as Travancore State, was an Indian kingdom that lasted from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At its zenith, the kingdom covered most of the south of modern-day Kerala and the southernmost part of modern-day Tamil Nadu with the Thachudaya Kaimal's enclave of Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam temple in the neighbouring Kingdom of Cochin. However Tangasseri area of Kollam city and Anchuthengu near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram were parts of British India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malayalam literature</span> Literary traditions of the Malayali people of India

Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary texts written in Malayalam, a South-Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala. The first travelogue in any Indian language is the Malayalam Varthamanappusthakam, written by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar in 1785. Malayalam literature has been presented with 6 Jnanapith awards, the second-most for any Dravidian language and the third-highest for any Indian language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma</span> Last ruling Maharajah of Travancore from 1924–1949

Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991. His reign is known for several notable reforms that have indelible impact on the society and culture of Kerala.

Pillai or Pillay, meaning "Child of King" (Prince) or "Child", is a surname found among the Malayalam and Tamil-speaking people of India and Sri Lanka.

Paliath Achan or Paliyath Achan is the name given to the male members of the Paliam royal family, a Nair/Menon chieftain family from the Indian state of Kerala who were elevated to the status of royalty by the Rajah of Kingdom of Cochin (Kerala), since the family figured prominently in the history of the region.

Venad was a medieval kingdom lying between the Western Ghat mountains and the Arabian Sea on the south-western tip of India with its headquarters at the port city of Kollam/Quilon. It was one of the major principalities of Kerala, along with kingdoms of Kannur (Kolathunadu), Kozhikode (Nediyiruppu), and Kochi (Perumpadappu) in medieval and early modern period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thampi and Thankachi</span> Surnames used for certain royal family members of erstwhile Travancore kingdom

The Thampis and Kochammas are the sons and daughters of the maharajahs of Travancore and their consorts belonging to Samanthan Nair caste

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dharma Raja</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1758–1798

Rama Varma I often referred to as Dharma Raja, was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore". During his reign Dharma Raja not only retained all the territories his predecessor had gained but administered the kingdom with success. He was addressed as Dharma Raja on account of his strict adherence to Dharma Sastra, the Hindu principles of justice by providing asylum to thousands of Hindus and Christians fleeing Malabar during the Mysorean conquest of Malabar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velu Thampi Dalawa</span> Diwan of Travancore

Velayudhan Chempakaraman Thampi ofThalakulam (1765–1809) was the Dalawa or Prime Minister of the Indian kingdom of Travancore between 1802 and 1809 during the reign of Bala Rama Varma Kulasekhara Perumal. He is best known for being one of the earliest individuals to rebel against the British East India Company's authority in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayilyam Thirunal</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1860–1880

Sir Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma IVGCSI CIE (1832–1880) reigned as Maharaja of Travancore from 1860 to 1880. His reign was highly successful, with Travancore, gaining the appellation of "model state of India", with such celebrated administrators as Raja Sir T. Madhava Rao and Sir A. Seshayya Sastri serving him as Diwans.

Kaimal is an aristocratic title that was historically given to various chiefs from the Nair caste during the feudal period of what is now the Indian state of Kerala. It was the title awarded to notable and distinguished Samanthan Nair families. It was one of the highest Hindu caste in Kerala during those period. Various families have used the title, including the Kaimals of Koratti, Angi and Koddachery.

Jenmi or Janmi, plural Jenmimar, is the Malayalam term used to refer to the landed aristocracy of Kerala who traditionally held their lands as absolute and allodial owners, with such lands known as Jenmom or Janmam. They formed the landowning nobility as well as the landed gentry of the region in colonial times, and the majority of the estates and feudal properties were owned by this community. They predominantly belonged to the Nambudiri and Nair castes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naduvazhi</span>

Naduvazhi were feudatory princes who ruled over microstates that are now administrative parts of Kerala, India. They constituted the aristocratic class within the Hindu caste system and were either kings themselves or nobility in the service of the kings of Kerala.

Eshmanan is a term used in Kerala to refer to a feudal landlord. The term means "lord" in Old Malayalam and referred to Chemb azhi nambi or Nambiars and other Samanthan Nair and Kiriyathil Nair caste members who occupied the position of rulers and chieftains. Some of the Nambiar landlords, such as Chengazhi Nambiar Kalliat Eshmanan and Koodali Eshmanan were among the largest landowners in pre-independence Kerala. Other terms for a Nayar feudal landlord, included Nayanar.

<i>Madampi</i> 2008 Indian film

Madampi is a 2008 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film written and directed by B. Unnikrishnan. It stars Mohanlal, Ajmal Ameer, Siddique, Kavya Madhavan and Mallika Kapoor. The film was released on 4 July 2008. It received positive reviews from critics and was a box office success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travancore royal family</span> Ruling family of travancore

The Travancore royal family was the ruling house of the Kingdom of Travancore.The Travancore royal family signed a treaty with the British in 1788, thereby adopting British dominance. Later, in 1805, they revised the treaty, leading to a diminution of royal authority and the loss of political independence for Travancore. They had to give up their ruling rights over the common people in 1949 when Travancore were forced to merge with Independent India and their political pension privileges were abolished in 1971.

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

Pillai, meaning Prince, is a title of nobility which can either refer to a ruling chief, members of the nobility, or junior princes of the royal family historically ranked immediately below the king. The oldest lineages of Pillais include not only Kshatriyas but also brahmins who took up the sword. From the early modern period, the title also came to be bestowed upon Savarna subjects by the King of Travancore for services military or political, most of whom were of Nair origin.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannar Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple</span> Hindu temple in Kerala, India

Mannar Thrikkuratti Mahadeva Temple an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva is situated on the banks of the Pampa river at Mannar of Alappuzha in Kerala state in India. The presiding deity of the temple is Shiva, located in main sanctum sanatorium, facing East. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol. The temple is one of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala. It is believed that the mammoth temple compound wall was built by a troupe of Bhootas of Lord Paramasiva in one night. The temple was built by King Maandhatha of Ishyaku Dynasty (Sooryavamsam).

T Madhava Menon is a former civil servant in the Indian Administrative Service who has held various posts including that of District Collector, Palakkad, Director of Administration, Central PWD, New Delhi, Custodian, Vested (Nationalised) Forests, Kerala, Director of Tribal Welfare, Kerala and Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University. After retirement, he was associated with the People of India Project and was the Co-Editor of the volumes related to Kerala. He is a Senior Fellow of International School of Dravidian Linguistics where he edited a three volume Encyclopaedia on Dravidian Tribes. He also edited a two-volume Handbook of Kerala. He is also a member of the Governing Council of Attappady Hill Areas Development Society.

References

  1. Menon, T. Madhava; Linguistics, International School of Dravidian (2000). A handbook of Kerala. International School of Dravidian Linguistics. pp. 139, 170. ISBN   978-81-85692-27-2.
  2. The Spirituality of Basic Ecclesial Communities in the Socio-Religious Context of Trivandrum/Kerala, India By Selvister Ponnumuthan p.146
  3. A handbook of Kerala, Volume 1 By T. Madhava Menon, International School of Dravidian Linguistics p.139
  4. The Indian economic and social history review, Volume 28 By Delhi School of Economics p.312
  5. Marriage and the family in Kerala: with special reference to matrilineal castes By Joseph Puthenkalam p.10
  6. Kerala district gazetteers, Volume 10 By A. Sreedhara Menon p.108