Caste system in Kerala

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The region of Kerala in India became the caste society very late. One of the last South Indian societies to become agrarian, the communities kept most of their tribal markers intact bringing them to mainstream. These traditional matrilineal communities became endogamous units based on their occupations during medieval period (12th to 15th century).

Contents

[edit] The development

It is believed that after the fall of Chera empire in 12th century Namboothiris became influential and controlled the land. Now they were the Naduvazhis. The Vedic Namboothiris also introduced caste rules in the society. This medieval period also saw emergence of caste called Nair from the traditional soldiers, toddy tappers, artisans and temple workers who also worked as soldiers. This caste, initially the tenants of Brahmins, became influential on its own and later became Naduvazhis. This temple centred Naduvazhi system was instrumental in the enforcement of caste rules.

[edit] Features

[edit] Touch

Accounts of pollution by touch differ. According to one account, a Pardesa Brahman(Iyer,Iyengar,Saraswat),Nayar who are otherwise Savarna must not touch a Numboothiri Brahmin;whereas a Tiyan(Avarna) must keep himself at the distance of thirty-six steps from the Brahmin, and a Pulayan(Dalit) ninety-six paces. A Tiyan must keep twelve steps away from a Nayar and some other castes though can approach a Tiyan must not touch him.

[edit] Social/religious privileges

  • Ezhavas were not allowed to construct houses with more than one storey. In presence of Brahmin the so-called lower castes could only refer to their houses in unflattering terms like "dung-heaps".
  • Ezhavas were not allowed to carry umbrellas, to wear shoes or gold ornaments, to milk cows or even to use the ordinary language of the country.
  • Male members of all castes, except Brahmins, were forbidden to cover upper part of their body. Females, in the castes below Nairs, had to follow this rule.
  • In South Malabar Tiyans were not allowed to cremate their dead.
  • Brahmins were either exempted or punished leniently for the crimes they committed.

[edit] Mannappedi/Pulappedi

Mannappedi or Pulappedi was a custom which existed until 17th century. An upper caste woman could lose her caste if any male from the castes like Pulayan, Parayan or Mannan happened to see her or threw a stone or stick to her. Then she would be expelled from the caste and had to move with the "low caste" person or that particular person could claim her [1]. This would apply especially on the night of a specific day that fell in the month of Karkatakam (roughly corresponding to the dates 15 July to 15 August) in the Gregorian calendar [2]. Given the social and economic status of lower caste people of that era, it is believed that this practice could not be perpetuated without social sanction, and definitely not without the connivance and/or tacit support of the men of upper castes. Thus, the men folk used this in the garb of a custom to stifle the freedom or rights of women belonging to upper castes such as Nairs [3]. Another view of the practice is that it was a route provided by tradition to the oppressed Pulayan class for registering their intentions of revenge as a symbolic act [4]. The practice was abolished by the then Kerala Varma in 1696 [5] after which he had to face the ire of the royal servants (Pandarathu Kuruppus) [6].

[edit] The classification of castes

In old Kerala society the castes were classified as Brahmins, Shudras and Panchamas. However, for practical purposes, sections of Shudras were declared Savarna and all other Shudras and Panchamas were declared Avarna. Even non-Hindus were considered Panchama in old days. Many native rulers claimed Kshatriyahood, probably, with the help of Tulu Brahmins who migrated or invited to Kerala during medieval times.

[edit] Savarna Jatis (Classified Castes)

[Intermediate caste (Antarala Jati) between Brahmins and Kshatriyas]

(Thampan,Kartha,Valiathan,Unnithan,Thampi,etc.)[Intermediate caste (Antarala Jati) between Kshatriyas and Lower caste Nairs)

    • Other Nair Subcastes like Kurup,Panicker,etc.(FORWARD CASTE)
  • Vaishyas
    • Vanikas Vaisya (OBC)
    • Paradesi Vaishyas (Migrant Vaishyas) (Chettiars) OR Vaisya Chetty (OBC)
  • Shudras
    • Fallen Nairs having Shudra status(half nair or one fourth nair etc.)(OBC)
    • Ezhuthachans are teaching community,they have their sub-caste members in brahmins and kshatriyas(OBC)

===Avarna Jatis (Out-castes)=== (all OBC)

  • Kamallans
  • Ezhavas
  • Pulayan
  • Kaniyan
  • Kuruman
  • Malayan
  • Mannan
  • Paniyan
  • Kadar
  • Parayan

[edit] Acceptance

The caste system had its legitimacy in the positive responses to many of its institutions by the non-Brahmins.

  • Many a rulers initiated themselves to Kshatriyahood.
  • Sambandams with Brahmins was generally held in high esteem.
  • It was also observed that community members who were respected in the society thought and preached to their fellow castemen, the respect for Brahmins, even when the fear of reprisals for any caste dessent had totally vanished from society (in the early 20th century). Such an overawed mentality was probably very common in previous centuries.

[edit] Opposition

The opposition to caste system took various forms. While some castes refused the position of their community or refused to accept higher position of other community. In other cases, many individuals completely disagreed with caste divisions.

[edit] Religious symbols

The most abused castes (now known as scheduled castes) showed their opposition to the system by creating and worshipping new spirits for the persons who suffered due to caste atrocities in North Malabar.

[edit] Artisans

Artisans (known as Kammalan in Kerala), in all South India, paradoxically, fought for a higher position in the caste system. According to John Fryer, who vistited India in 1670, the members of Kammalan caste held themselves equal to Brahmins and disputed the higher position of Brahmins. The weavers and goldsmiths in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh created their own priest systems.

[edit] Social reformers

Ayyankali, Chattampi Swamikal and Narayana Guru were few social reformes who fought against the inhuman and disgraceful practices that their respective communities subjected to.

[edit] Rulers

Kerala Varma, a Southern ruler, voiced against the caste system incurring the wrath of his royal servants(Kurups).

[edit] Caste System among Muslims

Muslims in Kerala are categorized into what have been called castes, despite Islam's egalitarian tenets.

[edit] Caste System among Christians

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[edit] See also

[edit] References

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