Ezhava

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Ezhava or Thiyya is the name of a prominent Hindu caste from India's southern state of Kerala. They are also found amongst the Malayalee diaspora around the world. Ezhavas form the majority of the Hindus and about 29% of the total population of the state.

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[edit] Myths and Theories of Origin

The origin of the word Ezhava is hotly disputed. According to one theory, the etymology of the word Ezhava is 'people of Ezham', Ezham(Eelam) being an ancient Tamil name for Sri Lanka. One of the theories that is supported by the Vadakkan Paattu (Northern Ballad) of the legendary Thiyya warrior Aaromal Chekavar. Legend has it that his family were the descendants of one of the seven warriors sent to Kerala by the Sri Lankan king .

[edit] Indigenous origin

Current linguistic research indicates that the word Eelam or Eezham[thiyyar or dweepar might have derived from dweep means island again pointing srilanka.] is derived from archaic Tamil word iiZham for Toddy. As such Eezhavas most probably are an indigenous and not immigrant community. Iram or Ira in kannada also means Toddy. The community engaged in this toddy shapping are called Idigas name resembling to Ezhava. They are also called Deevaru pointing fact that they are also from a Dweep meaning island.

There is also belief that the word Eezham is old name of Srilanka and ezhavas also came from srilanka.

Ezhava is the name of a caste (religious sub-group) in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Sociologically, Ezhava caste has never found a place in the four-tier caste system of the Hindu community. Speculations of Buddhist origin and / or migration from the Sri lanka could be sought as the reasoning behind this.

Today Ezhavas make up a major community in Kerala, comprising of about 29% of its population. Until the end of Royal rule, Ezhavas were considered a backward community, because of their position outside the Hindu four-fold caste hierarchy and their unwillingness to cater to the needs of the upper caste Brahmins and royalty. Sree Narayana Guru, the greatest social reformer that Kerala has seen, was primarily responsible for the uplift of the Ezhava community.

The origin of the word Ezhava is often disputed. The most plausible explanation is that it means "people from Ezham (Sri Lanka)".

Although, traditionally agriculturists, many Ezhavas were notable as Ayurvedic physicians, warriors and traders. In fact the translation of Ashtanga Hridaya (Sanskrit Ayurvedic text) to Malayalam was done by none other than an Ezhava physician, Kayikkara Govindan Vaidyar.

[edit] Buddhist roots

Another popular theory is based on the belief that Kerala was predominantly Buddhist at the beginning of the Christian Era. The votaries of this theory claim that the legend of Onam marks the conversion of Buddhist Kerala to Hinduism. This theory posits that Ezhavas are the descendants of those Buddhists who refused to convert to Hinduism. They were systematically dispossessed of their status and wealth, until they reached the penury we find them in at the beginning of the last century. The vestiges of Buddhism that existed in Ezhava religious practice and still persist in some temple rituals support this view.

[edit] Occupations (Martial, Ayurvedic & Labourer Background)

Ezhavas underwent much discrimination in the past(especially by Nayars (Shudras of Kerala), and Namboothiris), and were often forced into laborous tasks .However there were Ezhavas who were businessmen (vaishya profession) and other Ezhavas who practiced Ayurveda, which was a brahminical duty. A sect of Ezhavas practiced Kalaripayattu, like the other Kshatriyas of Kerala. Due lack of documentation not much information is available now. The Cheerappanchira Tharavad (Muhamma, Alapuzha) who used to safe guard Pandalam and Valiya Mundakkal tharavadu of eastern kollam who were in the Army Travancore kingdom need mention, so the Alummoottil Tharavad , an aristocratic Ezhava family hailing from the central Travancore. During the 17th and 18th century this Tharavad was responsible for supplying infantry and light cavalry for the army of the Maharaja of Kayamkulam and Travancore. Link [1]

The Lekshana Panicker family of kollam ditrict(Bordering alappuzha) were masters kalaripayattu and were trainers for the army of Maadathumkoor kingdom (present Mavelikkara).

It is said that till the period of Veluthambi Dalava, around 50% of the soldiers of Thiruvithamkoor kings were chekavars. It was Veluthambi, who had dismissed all the chekavars and converted the team to "Nair Pattalam". Also the british had a Thiyya regiment in Malabar.

A small section of Ezhavas and Thiyyas were toppy tappers. This was mainly for preparing Ayurvedic medicines and serving the Ezhava/Thiyya Soldiers. But the so called SAVARNAs has generalized the entire community as toddy tappers to degrade their status in the society.

Ezhavas were also good at Kaithari. We can also see many lawyers from this community even in the early 20th C.

[edit] List of famous Ezhavas Tharavads

Ezhava Tharavads

[edit] Surnames

Now-a-days Ezhavas do not normally use any distinct surnames. However surnames like Panicker, Ashan, Channar, Vaidyar fairly common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are still sporadically used. In olden days the Ezhavas with exceptional martial skills were conferred the Surname "Chekavar" Or "Chekoan", A Gladiator sect.

[edit] Relationship With Nadar Caste

Nadar caste is a Tamil speaking caste found in the state of Tamil nadu and south of Trivandrum district of Kerala , engaged in Toddy tapping, ayuvedic and liquor business. Nadar caste in Trivandrum district has now accepted malayalam (with strong Tamil influence) as their mother tongue. In alappey district ezhavas earlier used called as channars. Interestingly nadars are also called chanars in some parts of south tamil nadu.Also, ezhava or similar identity caste are not much found in tamil nadu but is strong in all other three south Indian states. The toddy tapping community of Andhra says they are descendants of nadars of tamil nadu but called themselves as Edigas or Dheyaramakkalu, name resembling to ezhava or thiyya of Kerala.

In South Travancore, Ezhava women wore PAMPATAM (ear ornaments)just like their cousins Nadar women of nadar caste.(Though In north and central Travancore the earring of Ezhava women was the 'ATTUKKAM SAMKHU CHAKKARAM' and 'ATTIMINNU' was the neck ornament.)

A lot research needed to establish the relationship between these two communities.

[edit] Different Names

The same caste in Kerala have following names(as per the OBC list of central govt) Ezhava,Izhavan,Ishavan,Ezhavan,Ezhuva,Izhuva,Ishuva,Izhuvan,Ishuvan,Ezhuvan,Izhava,Izhavan, Ishavan,Illuva,Illuvan,Irava,Iruva,Thiyyan,Thiyya,Tiyan,Tiya,billva,bilava,bilva,thiyabillava, Illuvan,Illuvar,Illathar,idiga,ediga

[edit] Sri Narayana Guru

Narayana Guru (1856-1928), who was born into a religious Ezhava family, was a great sage and social reformer of India. He transformed the social face of Kerala. He founded the SNDP Yogam, a social movement in Kerala for uplifting the community.

Main article: Narayana Guru

[edit] Ezhavas today

Due to their hard-work and sheer determination, Ezhavas are today fast improving, spiritual, gaining strength economically, culturally and politically, having largely overcome the discrimination and

[edit] List of famous Ezhavas

List of famous Ezhavas

[edit] References

  • ↑ The Decline of Nayar Dominance by Robin Jeffrey

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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