Ezhuthu Kalari

Ezhuthu Kalari, a Malayalam term refers to the old traditional village schools in Kerala .^[1] These institutions were the major centers for initiating elementary education. Most of the children in the past had to attended these centres for learning 3Rs . It had been known by other names as well , such as Ezhuthu pally or Asan Kalari or Pallikkoodam.^[2] Ezhuthu Kalari were believed to be evolved from the ancient traditions of Gurukula system of schooling . Teachers of these schools were addressed by the name Asan or Ezhuthu Asan ^[3] Their female counter parts as Asaatti . Generally Ganaka or Kaniyar people were the teachers of Ezhuthu Kalari, They had been engaged in this profession as a traditional avocation, ever since the period of sangaham age. But for the last two centuries, it was not an uncommon finding that learned members of many other castes ( Nair, Ezhava, Christian ) had also been taken up the role of teachers in such schools.

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