Swaroopathil Nairs were one of the high ranking subcastes belonging to the Nair community in Kerala. This subcaste is found only in Travancore, where they are mostly warriors, major military castes of kerala, also involved in administrative duties in the Travancore Kingdom. They are mostly warriors of the Illam Nair landlords of Travancore.[1]
In Malabar, two related subcastes, Akathu Charna Nairs and Purathu Charna Nairs are treated as equivalent to Swaroopathil Nairs in caste hierarchy, they are popularly known as Charna Nairs. They were known by different subgroups, including Bharicha Menon, Akathu-Charna Nair, Akathu-Charna Menon, Purathu-Charna Nair, Purathu-Charna Menon, and Pattola Menon (scribes), etc.[2][3] Among them, Bharicha Menon enjoyed the highest status. They were mostly engaged in administrative duties in Malabar, and also a section of them were landlords.[3][1][4][5] The Menon surname is also associated with the Kiriyathil Nair caste.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b The Internal Structure of the Nair Caste C. J. Fuller
- ^ Coomar, Palash Chandra (1987). Polyandry in India: Demographic, Economic, Social, Religious, and Psychological Concomitants of Plural Marriages in Women. Gian Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-212-0105-6.
- ^ a b Fawcett, F. (1 February 2004). Nâyars of Malabar. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-0171-0.
- ^ Education, Kerala (India) Department of; Menon, A. Sreedhara (1962). Kerala District Gazetteers: Cannanore. Superintendent of Government Presses.
- ^ General, India Office of the Registrar (1965). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.