My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.
You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga.
Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born 'an untouchable in India' teaches you everything you probably want to know about caste. I don't agree with the writer glorifying the violent Maoist movement in Andhra Pradesh but I also understand that her life is different from mine, her situations have been more challenging.
But the reality of life is that we Indians always "judge'' others on the basis of caste.
This is not about Hindus alone, every Indian is obsessed with judging another on the basis of caste. More non-Hindus ask me about my caste than Hindus. Read the matrimonial ads on Indian websites and even in newspapers confirm this shocking reality, not to mention how obsessed we Indians are with 'fair looking' brides.
In the last few months, we have seen things turning worse in Kerala. Remember, the brutal murder of a Dalit named Madhu? His expression still haunts me. It is a mob that beat him to death! A mob that includes people of all religions probably! How dare we talk about God or spirituality when we do not know how to treat a fellow human beings? I wish I knew the answer but I don't know what makes us do these evil things.
Kerala also witnessed an 'honour killing' of a 23 year old boy named Kevin, whose only 'mistake' is that he wanted to marry the girl he loved. News reports say that her family had a problem with Kevin being a 'Dalit Christian.'
In fact, Sujatha Gidla's book refers to how Kerala Christian girls whom she met shunned her though she herself is a Christian:
"We are Brahmin Christians," she was told.
Sujatha Gidla writes, "When I came to America, I met more Kerala Christians...they all told me the same story: they were Brahmins converted by Saint Thomas."
Then the writer asks a pertinent question that led to her own family's history, "So, what is the relation between religion and caste? Between caste and social status? Between social status and wealth? Between wealth and caste?"
Here is what I often face.
In Kerala, as a Malayali who returned from abroad, one of the first things I kept getting asked is, "What is your caste?" Even in North India, I am asked this question. So, as you understand, this is about we 'Indians'. We need to CHANGE! Our mindsets are archaic!
In real life, and this is my experience so far, being a Menon is like being denied every decent right that is available to everyone else in the country. But I have been receiving so much abuse for sharing my experience. My question, dear reader - what does this tell me about YOUR MINDSET if you are so intolerant about another person's views?
My father topped and got entry for both medical and engineering way back when entrance exams were not yet the norm. As always, the seat for medical colleges were prone to manipulation and his merit seat was denied to him because he is a Menon. Not just him, a whole batch of Menon students who had cleared and should have got the medical admission were denied the same in the name of caste! Thankfully, my father filed a case in court and it is the famous lawyer Advocate Shiva Shankara Panicker who argued his case (his son is Justice K Radhakrishnan, SC Judge at present). He won the case and my father got his medical seat on merit. But he had lost an academic year during the litigation process and so did the others. Even now I don't know how much has changed for the Menons.
This unfortunate social phenomenon called caste has further divided Kerala as a caste-ridden, materialistic society that places almost zero emphasis on nurturing human values like compassion and commitment to the unfortunate or vulnerable sections of the society. We have become a state that is obsessed with status symbols more than anything else. This shame is growing with us, destroying all that was good, pure and beautiful about Kerala.
Okay, I am not accusing anybody here, I am just telling you what an ordinary person feels.
Notably, the very last Rajah of Travancore passed a law which allowed those who were socially vilified as "Untouchables" to enter the temples in his realm. This was way back in 1936. Does anyone remember it today? We talk of other social reformers who have now earned the status of gods. I admire them but why is it that the last Rajah of Travancore is never given the same respect? Is it because he is unfortunately of royal birth and lineage? Let's at least start with a balanced view of how casteism is not supported by every Malayali out there. There are many who opposed it right from the start.
Does any history book document the names of those who opposed the caste system in Kerala, way before Independence? I don't think so. And that's exactly why our colonial rulers exploited the faultlines to divide Indians on the lines of caste and community. The fact that we are still squabbling over it tells us one thing - the British succeeded in dividing us.
What are your views on this? I'd be glad to know as long as the discussion is constructive.
Do feel free to read something positive here check out and subscribe to my WEEKLY NEWSLETTER.
Comments
If this were the state of affairs with caste playing a divisive role even in a highly literate state like Kerala, I think it is tiime for good hearted people to join together to fight this menance.
But yes, I too really hate the Caste system...On the whole, I hate the Reservations due castes..Why not give reservations on the basis of their wealth...Being a Nair, myself had hated the system of giving priority to undeserving candidates just because they belonged to the lower caste...haa...
A cousin who got Bank Selection got a job in her hand after almost 2 years, just bcoz the vacancies were filled in the format of 1 Merit, 2 SC, 2 ST, 1OBC and then 1Merit...and so on...so to reach her Merit position of 11, it took 1 year...
I still remember what my aunt told me years back...She travelled in a busy bus and then walked long distance in the hot sun and reached the centre and bought an Application form for Entrance exam for some Rs500...when she stood there all tired and sweating...there came an expensive car and out came the owner all dressed in expensive clothes...Walked straight through and bought a form for Rs 100...He was from the reservation category...
This was told with sarcasm by my aunt...But then, the truth is devastating for many of us...
Gandhiji is one of great people who made a bold attempt to differentiate the two. The Varna system didn't have the evils of the caste system, whereas the caste system is a real evil and a menace to a progressive India and a progressive people.
At the same time, I do respect the views of the Nair community as I belong to it too.
I really thank you for speaking my heart out.My name is Soumya Subramaniam(Half iyer n half Nair)I personally have been going through this dilemma since the day i have moved to Cochin from Goa.I have travelled across india ,been to a lot of places due to my job and have noticed this kind of discrimination only in kerala.I have had some fall-backs in my personal life due to which we shifted to cochin,but unfortunately,the consequences was due to a Ezhawa family.My parents and my relatives are now so much into the caste thing that they have still not realised what i feel and that iam not against any caste.They have searching for an alliance for me but they are particularly searching the same community as we and its really getting hectic as no alliances wants to marry.My situation is such.I just seem to hate the culture here of caste,dowry,gold demands ,iam the only child to my parents but out kerala society does not seem to understand that.I would really like to connect with you.I have my profile in facebook as Soumya Raman Subramaniam,iam also a member of No dowry Society in Facebook.If you would like to join me,please do so.
I don't want to mention that I'm a such and such person from a caste . I'm a Keralite more over I believe that I'm a human being. Just forget about all the discrimination you have faced in your life, because , the future of kerala lies in our hands . As we the youngsters of kerala must understand that above all it must be LOVE that should be prevalent in our hearts . Please never ever discriminate anyone in your life based on anything , the only solution for these problems is to make our land a place without caste . I love kerala as a place where only humans live ...so please work towards that goal...I have a solution for these problems in my head ...Its the promotion of love marriages rather than forced community marriages..thus making it possible to have a place without a fixed caste.
palace records does not use the word nair army.samudiri granda varikal never refer to nair army.the word used is lokar.why would they have not used the word nair pada,if it the usual usage or the pada was actually consists of nairs.they should have used it surely .but the reason is evedent the then army was not consists entirely of nairs.samudhiri letters have also been found.in it also he never used the word nair pada.there also he used the word lokar.the famous naval battles fought during that time was betteen portugeese and naval army of samudhiri led by marakkar .the naval army was mainly consists of mappilas.
there is a place in malappuram near the boarder to kozhikode where kadalundi puzha joins the sea.its name is kottayil.there is a hill near by and a fort.also a palace or kovilakam and a devi temple ,kottayil devi shetram.at the top of the hill a smaller temple also is there.monkeys dominate there.a very large number.the main temple walls are painted with ramayana stories.samduris family members liv...ed in the palace till 1921.at that time samudiris sister was living there.during the mappila lehala ,the mappilas came ,surrounded the palace,closed all the doors from outside,shuting all inside-mainly ladies and set fire to the house.then they left.the people inside cannot find a way to escape nor a way to open the doors.they prayed to kottayil devi.suddenly with trembleing sound,the doors opened and everyone ran outside,thanking to devi.thus they all survived.because of these incidents people have great faith in this temple.
this is a strategical place in terms of military.there is a family named karippara near this place.during samudhiri rule,they were the most trusted family of samudhiri.the military and the administrative responsiblity was entrusted them.the fort cheif was from this family.when army moves to malappuram or to bharatha puzha during mamangam or when samudhiri forces move towards palakkad or kochi,the logistics was controlled from here.ship movemnts can be watched from the near by hill.another family named dharmoth was also held key roles in military in these area.even now karippara family have some privilages in the temple now understaken by samudhiri and malabar devasom.these two families are thiyyas.
many of the thiyya families held key roles in military in samudhiris reign.kolathiri or chiraykyal swaroopam was ruling in kannur and many if not all of their military commanders were ezhava or thiyya.still now ezhava are the majority in kannur.please also note that chaver pada is not a nair army.it could never be.it was a offensive group formed amoung the army ,to fight against the chola rule.
marthandavarma trusted ezhava soilders.its wrong that he as a whole distrusted nairs.actually all pillais were not nairs.it was not a caste name but a title position granded by king. Pillai was a lord postion or title given by the king after a ceremony called thirumukkam pidikkuka .the selected person sits on an elephant and is taken around the city ,followed by other lords and important officers.when this procession reaches the palace ,king receives him and the title of pillai is bestowed to him.he can build a big house in that particular place where his lord ship is given.he shall be known with the title of that place with sufixed with pillai eg kazhakutton pillai,chempazhanthi pillai etc.there is a doubt that ramanamadom pillai is a brahmin.in 1830s even during the british rule a brahmin was given the title of pillai,he was the then devan in travancore. its like a lord or prabhu.bhrahimin,muslims and christian pillais were also given pillai position.similar to pillai the title given in kochin was menon and in kannur it is nambyar. menon title were held by ezhava familes and other castes.as it is now belived as a caste name ,they now dont use it nowadays.these were more an administrative postion than a military position.they were entrusted with the duty to collect the tax from land in that locality.for that a small army was allowed to be kept under them.
During the time of velu thampi naval supreme commander of travancore was a ezhava.he was a friend of veluthampi and fought against british.he is also considered as one of the bravest warriors in kerala.when veluthampi began preparations for a war against british ,a rival group formed which opposed the velutampi.they asked kuthira pakshi ,a famous warrior then ,who was also a good fighter well trained in weapons ,to go and meet naval commander,who was in support of velu thampi.if commander does not joins with the rival group he shall be killed by kuthira pakshi.commander was then in his 50s but was a master in arms.kuthira pakshi asked him to meet in a paddy field .when he came he was asked to leave tampi and join the rival group.but he declined.at last kuthira pakshi drawed sword and attacked the commander.but the older commander slipped aside and cut down the kuthira pakshi.kuthira pakshis death stired a general fear amoung the rivals of thampi.which helped him to organose a fight against british.
the naval commander during velu thampi's time was and is a great warrior and brave personalites of kerala.he was the one who made the plan to attack manrove thuruth.after the defeat of velu thampi ,the commander was taken prisoner and brought before manrove.manrove himself conducted the trial at sankumukkam beach.the prisoner was brought before him and was burried upto neck.the british cheif sat before him in a chair.he asked the prisoner "did u fought agianst british" answer was yes.again "did u killed british men" the middle aged naval commander replied "yes i have killed british men.if possible i shall do it again.they are the invaders."monrove was suprised to hear this reply.he did't expected such a reply.he understood the spirit and braveness of the commander ,understood he fought for his mother country and for freedom.so he pardoned the commander and released him.he eventually went back to his house.
one of the stories about sakthan tampuran ,a reference about the vadakkum nadan guarding brigade is said.it was a ezhava army ,its head was also an ezhava.
in kerala the largest about one third population is ezhavars another caste.many ezhavars were in military service in olden days.not only they were soilders but also were commanders and officers in the armies.varnapalli family was the army chiefs and ministers of kayamkulam kingdom, so was ambanattu panikkar in service of ambalapuzha kingdom,ambantttu family of kollam was another ezhava family in service of kollam or desinganadu principality.Akathayyadi panicker was the cheif army commander of elaidatthu soroopam or kottarakkara kingdom.(Ref: Pathonmpatham noottandile keralam by Bhaskaranunni),Renakeerthy and dharmakeerthi chekavars - Commandor of Marthandavarma. (Ref: Travancore state manual.).ezhavars were largely in the service of cochin kingdom ,sankthan thampuran specialy appointed a ezhava military betallion in the guard of vadakkum nathan temple , commanded by a ezhava officer.in malabar area ezhavar were largely addressed by the name thiyyar and chekavar.chevam means military service in malayalam.those who were soldiers were known as chekavar.as thiyyars were so much in military service that ,it became another caste name of ezhavars.the word chaver pada or suicidal squad was actually derived from the word chekavar.whether it actually existed a question still not answered.
Many after reading this novel tried to read the history accordingly ,doing so they corrupted the real history.as all know kerala people is very caste spirited specially the upper castes and christians.the caste organizations of kerala also tried to make profit from this novel.and thus when the real social history surfaces many people find it difficult to believe and accept.
The author C.V.Raman was a learned man .but at his time travancore state government jobs were mainly given to tamil bhrahmins.new educated malayalees wanted to have jobs in government and they organised and started demanding this need.a memorandum was submitted to king which was signed by thousands demanding appointment of malayalees in administrative jobs of travancore.but it was rejected.later some relaxation was given.many ezhavars awere also signed in that memorandum including Doctor Pulpu ,one of the great reformation personalities of kerala,along with the nairs and others.when government began to accept malayalee youngsters to service,ezhavar and other castes were denied this right.it was like a 100% reservation for the upper class,mainly benefited by nairs.it aroused a new hate and separation between nairs and ezhavars who were now in obc list and were untouchables at the time. but ezhavars were already organised and actively taking part with the reform movements of sndp .nairs and bhrahmins lagged back and were clinging tight to the old customs.many learned persons from upper class including nairs and bhrahmins were actually part of the reform movements and were working even with sndp .eventually removements started in upper class and new organisations were formed.nairs were so few in number.so many small castes , sects and groups joined together and took the umbrella name nairs and formed the organistion named nair service society(nss).after the formation of nss many sects were included in it.eventhough it was a organization meant for the modernization or civilizisation as explained by its leaders at that time ,it eventually became involved in politics after independance and is the most benefited caste organization in kerala.
the mankoyikkal family also existed and their house too is in kanyakumari district of tamilnadu.kanyakumari was part of the travancore kingdom till 1956.they belonged to channar caste.now the channar caste name is not used.the channar caste and nadar caste combined together in 1925 and is now a single caste.they too held high posts in the period of marthanda varma and rama varma.its likely that they were given the title kurup as they trained soldiers.king marthanda varma also formed a title called chempaka raman pillai which was given to the most eminent personnalities who helped in the government.this title was given to these two families.
the word ettuveetil pillamar too was coined by C.V.Raman pillai and got popular in such a way that all, even historians use the same word.but they were not all pillais or anyone of them belonged to caste vellala pillai who now use the surname pillai.these eight houses were very powerful feudal lords and they held influencial posts .ramana madam and pallichal were ministers of attingal soverign of which ramana madom was a bhrahmin family.kulathoor and chempazhanthi were ezhava families.the arms trainer or kalarippayattu teacher of kazhakuttom was an ezhava man named kesava panikker.later he left from kazhakuttom with his diety whom he worshiped to another place called thozhuvancode where he established a temple now known as thozhvancode devi temple.its priests are even today members of his family and those families related to him and also they belonged to ezhava family.there is no bhrahmin priests in that temple.the word used in the old documents for mentioning these people are ettuveetil madampimar and not ettuveetil pillamar.in the document which mention the punishment of these madampis only 4 houses are stated.the reason is that all were not supporters for the eliminations of marthanda varma.because of the popularity of the word ettuveetil pillamar ,through the novel many people thought that all the pillais or nairs were against marthanda varma and it was a fight against nairs and the ruling family and in the fight nairs lost.
Additions and method of changing caste of characters,and alloting caste historical person done by C.V.Raman was later criticized by many others later.but generally that critics literature is not popular among the masses.any way many persons before and after C.V.Raman had done the same thing .alloting castes to 18 siddhars of tamilnadu is one such example ,done by those who transilated their works to malyalayam.this has happened in recent past ,from 70's to till date.many who reads these works only were easily fall to belive that they belonged to that caste or at time of these historic perosns caste system existed and was strong as in later years.even now some new papers knowingly or unknowingly put caste names to persons when they write a feature about historic events.examples can be seen even now in 2012.
but snake worshiping exists in many parts of india and tamilnadu.the people who do this does have relation to nairs nor do they belong to same caste status.many adivasis and aborgins worship snakes ,so do many other people in india.it have no relation a particular caste.moreover snake worship in kerala have some unique features.rituals ,songs,other performance arts associated with this worship was done some particular caste called pulluvar and not nairs.in any part of the worships of snakes at temples or outside nairs had (and have) no role.in some temples bhrahmins do the worship other rituals being done by other castes such as pulluvars,velans ,parayas etc.but this book had great influence and many persons tried hard to put forward a false theory, that nagas ruled india and the nagas of nagaland are related nairs.but nagas of nagaland are people or mangol orgin came there and settled during the 16th century after the fall of mongol empire in china.they dont even have snake worshiping culture. the reality is that there is no race called nagas who had their mainly worshipers of snake.snake worship has many explainations and is a common feature which can be seen in different parts of india.the snake worship is not every where done with same intention or meaning.in kerala it is related rahu and ketu two imaginary planets included in the hindu solar system.it said that rahu eats moon and when it happens solar eclipse occur.to avoid the evil effects of rahu people in kerala perform snake worship.only out of fear and to eliminate bad or difficult experiences in life that people do snake worship and because of any love and respect to snakes.
the customs ,practices and even the houses were built according to these needs.those who were wealthy were able to built bigger houses.these big houses built by the nairs have some specialty.the steps leading to the second floor starts right from the veranda.this was to help those visitors or sambandakars.they dont have to enter the house ,they can easily go to the second floor and enter their favourite woman's room.these type of houses can be seen still in many parts of kerala.the namboothiri houses too have some peculiarity.that part where homas are done doesnot have second floor that was to avoid filling of smoke into the second floor.nairs where the main servants of the namboothiri families without them it was difficult for the bhrahmins to maintain their houses.namoothiris called nairs valyakkar(servents),adiyars(slaved like servants) ,sudras(lowest in varna system) etc.this was also considered by the nairs as a great thing they have pride in telling others that they were the adiyars of that or this mana(house of naboothiri).
Raj
few Ezhavas practiced kalari and some of them served some petty Nair Chiefs and lords but that doesn't make them warriors...
Ettuveetil Pillamrar were nairs same as Mankoyikkal Kurup ( late Singer Kamukara Purushothaman belongs to that family)
Samuthiris hereditary lords were Mangattachan, Dharmothu Panikkar (Thimme Pannikkar) Para nampi, Tinayecheri Elayathu ,Kozikodu Thalachenna Nair, Eranadu Menon etc none of them Ezhavas...lyrist Bhaskarn mash comes from Dharmothu panikkar family ...because of religious things Nairs never participated naval activities so Mappilas were the chief naval force of Samurin... all most all Kerala Kings/lords comes from Nair clan..
Nairs are the first native warriors defeated a European colonial power (Kulachil war against Dutch)....
Kuthrapakshi the hero of war against Tippu was a nair from Vaikkaom....
we can say that all humans are same but in reality it is not..each racial group/castes got their own identity through generation of life style and natural evaluation...it is a fact..Keniyans are great in long distance race..blacks are kings of boxing rings...Japaneses life expectancy more comparing others and they are great in nano technologies...Sherpas are kings of high altitude....Pathans are highly aggressive same in the case of Rajputs and Nairs but the social changes and the collapse of caste based duties that aggressiveness and attitude changed a lot but still visible same like all the dfogs are not same..Alstaion are best in security dogs..bull dogs are very agressive...labradors are excellent swimmers ...Pomerians gud for nothing...our "nadan" dogs are adaptive to any environment...same in the case of humans also....
caste system is part of hindu religious established by vested interests to create division and thereby cement their place in society. it was during under hindu kingdoms it got acceptance...now we are in democratic system where natural resources shall be given equally to all citizens..religion, community, etc. should not play now.
i request all members (so called upper caste) to check your population in kerala. they are just 15 % of population. how can government give all jobs and benefits to these 15% only deny basic human rights to others because they were born as lower caste (again it is not their fault)
what i read from many replies is most of U fantasy about your so called upper caste birth..i feel pity to say, u become upper caste not because u born from mars. this is because the kings and local royal preferred your forefathers to do their menial work. and gradually they got separated from the stratum population...the lower castes...
so u r fighting against ur brothers my dear upper castes. lower castes are about 70% of kerala population, so all u want them to work under 15% backyard in a democratic system.
caste system will be eliminated only if u people (upper castes) co-operate with lower castes and give them a helping hand...not by nursing hatred and venom...
if u just remove ur menon, nair, pillai, kurup, nambiar titles perhaps u can help a egalitarian society based on human values of compassion and caring.
but if u want to still carry upper caste tag (definitely u will get acceptance in private corporate houses) u all perish under the emergence of lower caste people.
all her 3 cousins were living in bangalore.orginally they were from thrissur
When I wrote this post, I let my thoughts and experiences flow. The purpose is neither to support a caste or ridicule a caste. I believe that there is only one caste - the caste of humanity. Nothing is more important than practicing humanity and compassion to all beings, irrespective of which religion, caste or community they belong to. I also believe that I cannot change my caste but I can change my vision and my behavior by treating people with the love and respect they deserve and not by judging them on the basis of caste.
In a nutshell, all I want to say is that I don't believe in any caste system. It's as simple as that.
If the management or the training department of a company belongs to Ezhava, then the Nair employees are outcaste or untouchables there.
Thus the Ezhavas will try to suppress the Nair's skill and let them be like the slaves in the company without any promotion or appraisal.
Belief in God is the tool for running the caste system.
If you people are really wants to come out of caste system, then first remove your sur name from usage. Do not marry in same caste.
Inter caste marriages can help to remove the caste system slowly.
Honestly if you want to get government job for your generations, then marry in lower caste and brand your children as lower caste people (of course you may not get government job, as you are part age old caste system)
Still if you look for same caste marriage then caste system will continue for some more time.
Remove wrong beliefs from you mind. The fours caste like Brahmin, Ksyatria, Vaisya and Sudra are not introduced by Lord Vishnu.
Lord Vishnu created Man.
Man created Caste System.
No hope.
Hi ,
I would like to tell you one thing.
MENON is not at all a caste name it is a job title (meaning is HEAD CLERK), their were many ezhavas who were given with MENON title by the rulers, but their families were not using it now. Only the nair caste using this tail now a days.
Ratheesh jitendra Panicker
I came across this article while searching about the caste system prevalent in Kerala.Although you posted this more than 3 years ago, a lot of what you said still holds true and I agree with most of it, except the part about Chitra Tirunnal. He had made the temple entry proclamation out of compulsion and not of benevolence;
The backward caste were feeling so opressed that that a huge population had threatened to convert to other religion en masse.It has nothing to do with his caste because. I say this because EMS was a namboodiri, yet highly celebrated for his social reforms.
In short religion still fires its gun, its still relevant and still very strong, I feel it will be so.
A simple question did God create man/women OR DID WE CREATE GOD ?
Well look at it this this way by God creating us, I am not sure if we served any purpose to him, but if man had created God and then caste system, it did serve him well.
God the unreachable - yet in us and with us every second, yet we look forward to meeting God, we pray to God, and we look for God at times of problems ? all when we know God is in us, with us !!! IRONIC ?
I feel its a complex multi dimensional equation.
Maybe on of the greatest creation by man, look at it this way no man can now create anything above God, any invention or discovery is all under Gods blessings - means he knew it before, we wish to meet God and look for his blessings for this we travel the length and breadth of the country performing rituals all to satisfy God - all this when we know, we wont be meeting him, yet no disappointment ? a wounder to human psychology.
The best part we all live as per the words of this creation or God.
Now getting back to your point - Maybe caste system had a specific reason to perform and when performed will help the system function properly.
Also caste system is universal, romans had it so did the civilization in peru, cuba, south east asia and many more, so do check on the caste system and maybe you will figure out something.
Anyway i think caste system did not permit job changes .....
Good day to you.
Innocent Day
I am a Keralite based in Mumbai.
All mallus are partial to each other irrespective of religion or caste.
The only question that they ask is nadu evideya.
Jokes apart, i was told by my grandma that i belong to OBC but my dad or i never tried to get a caste certificate as we never required it to reach our goals in life and career,oops btw i am a geophysicist with an oil major based in london and my dad retired as GM @ reliance industries. we never tried for a govt. job to enjoy the benefits of my caste.Me and dad studied in a govt school and higher studies in pvt colleges so never ever had to use our caste name for rise up in society.so all these castes are relevant only if you are after it otherwise it has no significane and am a good example for the same.
The unit of appointment for the purpose of this rule shall be 20, of which two shall be reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and 8 shall be reserved for the other Backward classes and remaining 10 shall be filled on the basis of merit:
Provided that out of every five posts reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, one shall go to Scheduled Tribe candidate and remaining four shall go to Scheduled Caste candidates and in the absence of candidate to fill up the post reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, it shall go to a Scheduled Caste candidate and vice-versa.
Now lets look at caste% in kerala
Ezhavas - 22.9%
Nairs - 14.00%[29]
Pulaya - 4.27%[30]
Brahmins - 1.59%[29]
Hindu Tribals - 1.07%[31]
Cheruman - 0.99%[30]
Kuravar - 0.84%[30]
Other SC - 4.71%[30]
Vishwakarmas - 1.3%[29]
Ambalavasi - 0.2%[29]
vanikavaisya - 0.2%[29]
Dheevaras - 5.00%
Is 10 seats not enough for so Forward caste (hate using the word upper) who constitute only circa 15% of total population in kerala? Looking at breakup above i feel ezhavas(23%) should demand for more reservation in govt jobs and seats,kidding.
So all forward castes fanatics dont feel you are ignored by the government as you are getting fair share as weel.
If u don't have money or political power do not dare to open or mouth!
https://hari008.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/the-thiyyas-of-north-malabar/
for you info gopalan and pv gangadharan are all thiyyas and not ezhavas.we true thiyyas dont care about these guys who join SNDP to help flourish their business.we dont care if we are rich or not but we are proud to call ourselves the most progressive community in kerala .
@swapna...i can understand your feelings that forward communities are discriminated to some extent in jobs but this is happening only since independence say circa 65 years.whereas the so called backward casate people have gone thru this discrimination for ages.I presume you are an educated woman but hard to believe that people like you still believe in caste system though yours was intercastae marriage . do you really need a caste certificate to find a job so how does caste really matter?
I do agree that unfortunately Caste is a reality in kerala but is a malice to our society and country. Instead of criticisng it people like you are trying to glorifiy it .From my perspective youth should disregard caste and should stop discussing about it and eventually will become irrelevant. We criticise our politicians but are we perfect to do that. Growth of AAP is an good example that elections could be won purely based on parties ideology, credentials and wihtout exploiting caste ,religion sentiments.so for god sake please think beyond religion,caste and make a better world for next generation.
@swapna...i am sorry to say this but reading your article i feel that you are a hyprocrite and true caste fanatic.I wonder how you married a thiyya.you are one of those pseudo secular progreeisve people like barkha dutt who say they are progressive but add caste to their names. God save this country.
To me, caste does not matter and never has. And I don't need to prove it to anyone but myself.
The Rajah of Travancore had qualities that other Rajas of that time probably didn't show. By saying a good word about the Rajah, why do you presume I criticised Guruji? Wrong.
But that can not and should not be regarded at being on par with a great guru like Sree Narayana Guru. There is no comparison between the two.
Not in my mind.
The Rajah of Travancore had qualities that other Rajas of that time probably didn't show.
But that can not and should not be regarded at being on par with a great guru like Sree Narayana Guru. There is no comparison between the two.
Not in my mind.
The Rajah of Travancore had qualities that other Rajas of that time probably didn't show.
But that can not and should not be regarded at being on par with a great guru like Sree Narayana Guru. There is no comparison between the two.
Not in my mind.
If u were born in a poor family...what the hell u suposse to say in the public??
Where I live, I come across many people who make fun of Indians because they think we are "backward". I argue with these people and like to re-educate them on the greatness of India. But when I come across comments like this, I'm really saddened to see that this is still a conversation!
Which caste you are does NOT define who you are as a person. And the caste of others does not define them. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!!!
anu
Regards
Vivek Vasudevan
Vellappally Natesan born as one of the 13 children of Late Vellappally Kesavan Muthalaly, of rich Vellappally family who were land-lords of the locality. The family were owning a school and a devi temple at Kanichukulngara. Now Vellappally Natesan is General Secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam and SN Trust) ....the major part of ezhavas in travancore were extremely knowledgeble but this is also true tat some another portion of the ezhava community were poor which is a minor part of it (in the past)!but even many of the poor people from the ezhava community in the past were also highly knowledgeble many had huge sanskrit knowledge in the feudal era there wre many chekavars panickers thandans/channars in the ezhava community in the past and i would like to comment about the educaton and wealth in the modern era in the modern education we provided the first malayali IIT topper dr gagan prathap who was vice chancellor of CUSAT we provided the women IAS officer we provided the first WOMAN minister of kerala and also the second one gowri amma and susheela gopalan we almost provided the first woman chief minister of kerala GOWRI AMMA but the post was cheatingly given to the illiterate uneducated EK NAYYANAR(although i must admit he was a good chief minister) ! the only reason the ezhavas in the past were tagged as lower caste was bcoz they never accepted the supeority of the nambudiris(now the nambudiris are one of the most poorest community of kerala) the ezhavas considered themselves superior to them they were proud of themselves unlike the nairs who were slaves of namboothiri and as mentioned above by some people this is a spineless community which accepted the sexual slavery of the namboothiris.Even today their real character can be seen in the form of sarita nair, latha nair, salu menon etc doing their traditional occupation of sex for money ....we are proud belongs to ezhava/thiyya community which never accepted the sexual slavery of namboothiris and gave birth to genious people such as sri narayan guru, kumaran asan, SK pottakkad,sukumar azikode OV VIJAYAN co karunakaran etc.
yes we have a cast system..thats true but not as BIG as it is in northern part of india.
One thing comes out very clear, in a society or market(corporate) an identity, logo, assurance, breed, clan will come in new forms and there is no escape. Whether you don't like to get attached today with Menon, Ezhava you will be know as engineer, doctor, lawyer, IAS families! the best example I come across are the parsis who have surnames like Pistolwala, Dharuwala, contractor, god knows what not. End of the day you want to stand tall in the society. Remembering an old story title of Bhasheer 'My grandfather had an elephant'! All the best. so the surname is Aanakaran
Some of you called this an article full of nonsense, others used this as an opportunity to call names, abuse others etc. Very few people listened to what is being conveyed.
A question: Why can't we discuss caste without flaring up, calling each other names?
That is the problem we need to solve - you, I and we, the whole nation, we need to do this together.
A discussion on caste is impossible unless you are willing to:
1. Listen to what is being conveyed
2. Revisit your own thoughts, beliefs and prejudices (if any) about caste
3. Change your mindset.
I am ready to listen to your experiences and views but not to abuse.
I reiterate: Love and humanity is all that matters. No one is superior to another in the name of caste, religion, gender or anything else for that matter. I have not said so anywhere in my article because I do not personally believe so.
I am a Menon, a Hindu and a woman - I cannot change any of this but I can change my mindset and choose to be a good human being.
That's all I talked about - Love and humanity.
What did you choose to understand?
All the indigenous Dravdian people were subjugated by the Ahichatra migrants ie Nairs and Nambuthiris.
Prior to Malik Kafurs invasion Kerala was ruled by Tamil Villavar people ie Chera Dynasty, Pandyan Dynasty and Chera-Ai kingdom of Venad.
After 1310 Kerala was given to the Tulu Bunt subgroups such as Nayara Menava, Kuruba and Samantha by Malik Kafur.
Samantha a subgroup of Tulunadus Bunt community became the rulers of Kerala.
Samanthas had the support of Arabs as well as the opportunistic Europeans who came to Kerala. Portuguese used Nair soldiers to promote themselves. Because of the European support the Primitive Naga Samantha rulers and their Nepalese culture survived in Kerala for five hundred years. Otherwise the Samantha would have become history.
The Samantha rulers of Travancore used the Delhi Sulthanate given title Shamsher Jung. Travancore kings were called Mannai Sulthan also. The support of Delhi Sulthanate and European colonial power kept a primitive Nepalese tribe for more than six hundred years.
The Samanthan Nair rulers did not wear dress and barred the indigenous people from covering their upper part of the body too. Most of the Dravidian people were not allowed to walk in the roads by the Northern Aryan-Naga people. Sanskrit and Tulu words were integrated into Malayalam language. The Tamil writing system hitherto used to write Malayalam was replaced by Tigalari script (Tulu Script) of Nairs and Nambuthiris.
Nairs descend from Bunts and not from ancient Tamils. Bunt or Buntary were brought as hereditary slave warriors by Kadamba King Mayura Varma. Bunt subcastes Nayara Menava Kuruba and Samantha became rulers of Kerala but in the earlier period they had been Slaves brought from Ahichatra.
Kerala was given to them by Malik Kafur and not from sage Parasuraman.
Keralas Villavar Tamil rulers of Chera dynasty never mention the legend of Parasuraman. Villavar were indigenous to Kerala.
Ancient Dravidian Villavar culture was destroyed while the Villavar were enslaved.
Nadar Panickar and Channar all descend from the Villavars. Panickar armies supported Chera and Pandyan kingdoms from time immemorial.
The Martial art Kalari Payattu is still practised by Villavar people (It was not brought by Nairs from Ahichatra).
Th most important thing here is to be good human beings. We all bleed red ( not the communist red ;) ) we should all work towards a future where the next generation do not have to think about caste and such nonsense.
PS Swapna: Sree Chithira thirunal is held in high esteem and the temple entry proclamation is to this day considered a very important step in the right direction in our history. Also let me add that it wasn't a decision that came about easily as he had a lot of agitating communities that made it impossible for him not to do it. Not in any way diminishing hat he did.
My suggestion is whoever marry form other tribe (caste) track mother linage as as per hindu believes genetic of the kid to mother relation will be remain and the relation with father will be reduce for each generation after 7th generation no need pitrukaram. father is visitor
The govt they keep on playing the game try to understand that don't try to take us rage on low caste....k think
But this frustration still lingers within me. Glad that I could open up my feelings here.
Muslims also had privileged families like thangals and keyis, but Mappilas who formed the majority were included in the Obc category for reservation by Muslim leaders.
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Why don't we think about the disgrace done to the people in name of lower castes. When we don't have rights to discriminate any living being which we didn't create, then how can a person discriminate another person?
The reservations given to them has wiped only a bit of disgrace done to them and their ancestors. We should have stood in their shoes in order to understand their troubles they had underwent in their past.
We speak so much about their reservations but fail to see the tortures laid on their ancestors by our ancestors centuries together. In what way we will pay back?
It is a shame if we can't understand this.
It is well understood...
I am a Vaniya by caste from Kannur. I am educated at Kottayam and after that a Padre who was a friend of me there tried a job for me in a company making rubber based products of our daily usage and automobile related product.
He was with good intention to help me as he was knowing me very well. But the next day he came and asked me my caste saying their management is very particular about caste, they will take a specific group of christians and Brahmins and Muslims. At least a candidate should be a nair and they need school certificates to see before selecting for interview..
I was feeling very much insulted and outrageous... I am not belonging to any of these groups they prefer..what will happen to their bloody hell business if all the other castes decided not to buy their products...
I am from Hyderabad.I just read your article just wanted to share what I had observed being a upper caste I am a Nambiar and yeah my family belongs to well known Nambiars in payyanur. I remember my grandfather had friends of other caste being from Nambiar family we never had a different view on other caste I have seen Muslims and Christians having lunch at my home and we at there place and u mentioned dowry to be frank I never heard about dowry in our place I just clarified when u criticised our part of place never takes dowry and we never appreciate it.I don't no much about kerala or the caste just i said what i had seen on my vacations to kerala and am proud to say after reading all the above comments my family members are are way better there thoughts and all equal.I am really sorry If I have said anything wrong.
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1. Please read English as it is meant to be read and understood. If you have any difficulty, don't hesitate to ask questions. I can help you with that but the problem is your mindset and your frustration. Frankly, from your laughable statements, it is clear that you either don't understand simple English as expressed on this blog post or you have triggered your own personal biases to label me a bigot. Your frustrations are best rested with you.
2. Define a bigot and have the courage to name yourself. It is easy to shoot at other people in the dark and hide. There is a name for it, you know. I haven't hidden my name or experience - you don't even have the guts to reveal who you are when you criticise me.
3. Sorry to disappoint you again BUT I am not a poor upper caste girl - I am an Indian who is fighting the caste system. READ THIS IN PLAIN ENGLISH AGAIN. You also seem to have a racist problem - I wouldn't use the word ''color'' as carelessly as you do, not in a country like India where we are people of every color and shade. Be more responsible, will you? Park your biases elsewhere.
@VSN, I completely agree with you:)
@Tarun, I get your point. I do not intend to trigger caste sentiments at all.
@PRakash P, I understand how you must have felt. We have all, in different ways, experienced being discriminated on the basis of caste. I feel the pain that you do. I wish it would end.
@Shyam, I do not believe in purity being preserved through the caste system - what truly matters is the goodness of hearts and our actions.
@Shine, It is sad and disturbing that caste based discrimination happens at the workplace. Any form of caste based discrimination is illegal and you should find a way to report it to the concerned authorities if you are unable to tackle it directly.
@Appu, I am so glad that you believe in an equal society where love triumphs. I support your view.
@CricketFreak - Do you even know what you have understood? Please read again. It should help. I am AGAINST CASTE. If this is difficult to understand, I rest my case.
T. Nadu UPPER CASTE NON- BRAHMINS are "wiser" than the Menons,Nairs & Nambiars.TN upper caste Non-Brahms take advantage of common surnames like Mudaliar, Chettiar,etc., & produce bogus certificates & enjoy reservation benefits.
FALSEHOOD alone triumphs IN TAMIL NADU.
Backward Castes' Reservation Benefits are cornered by FORWARD CASTE NON-BRAHMINS by taking advantage of common surnames like Mudaliar, Chettiar, etc & producing bogus certificates.
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