|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
History |
|
|
| |
|
From
Payyannur in North Kerala, they gradually moved south and
occupied the most fertile lands . By the time of the
terminal decline of the Cheras started, it coincided with
the rise of the Brahmins in Kerala. By the 10th century,
they were powerful entity from Gokurnum (North Kerala ) to
the Cape Comorin, divided into 32 Brahmin or 'Namboothiries'
communities. Soon thereafter, the Buddhists and the Jains
had to beat a retreat from the social landscape of Kerala.
These land owning class of Brahmins were well on their way
to great wealth and power. |
 |
|
| |
To make their
sway complete strict segregation between classes of people came
into being. In their practice, the caste system of Kerala found
no equal anywhere else in the country . The edicts even include
what distance a person of lowest caste must keep from the
Brahmins, even considering the shadow of the persons concerned
and avoiding even looking at a Brahmin |
|
|
| |
|
The
Christians who had arrived from the middle East in the 3rd
century AD and the Muslims who arrived in the 8th century
were generally traders and were not involved in this social
segregation and generally kept aloof from the ambit of caste
politics of those days. The Jews who arrived Kerala in the
early years of the Christian era were given privileges to
trade and became an influential part of the melting pot of
Kerala's population.
|
 |
|
|
TOP |
| |
The
Namboothiries also were the landowners ( janmi) of most lands in
Kerala. Lands being leased out to next higher castes for share
cropping, and these in turn would further be leased out to those
lower on the caste hierarchy and to non-Hindus. The lowest
castes of course were only labourers and were traded along with
the land . In such a rigid hierarchy, the all powerful
Namboothiries were the unquestioned rulers. |
|
|
| |
By and by
Kerala entered a phase of feudal chieftains or warlords (naduvazhis).
Some were anointed by the Namboothiries, but most just walked
into a power vacuum existing at the time. Hence, Kerala at the
turn of the 11th century AD had power triangle in the caste
system supported by the Landlords and ruled by the warlords.
This in turn gave rise to instability in the absence of strong
central leadership. Wars and conflicts were common for control
of turf. |
|
|
| |
Ultimately
three war lords emerged with some semblance of authority in
their regions - the Zamorin of Calicut (Samuthiri of Kozhikode)
to the North, Moopins of Perimpadappu (near modern day Kochi) in
the central regions and chieftain of Kollam. |
|
|
|
|
It is also
interesting to note that these kingdoms are centred around
the ancient ports of Kozhikode, Kochi ( a small harbour
appeared in present day Kochi in 1341 after a natural
calamity closed the ancient port of Muziris or Kodungalloor.
The name |
 |
|
|
Kochi comes from
the word kochu thura meaning small port or opening out to the
sea !), and Kollam. |
|
|
|
|
he
combination of caste, feudalism and warfare ultimately took
its toll. The landlords lived in supreme luxury, while the
peasantry toiled to keep them in comfort. The endless feuds
also impoverished the country side. When Kerala was ripe for
the picking.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
This is precisely what the Europeans who found a sea lane to
the fabled land of spices and gold did. There was nothing
anyone could do to stop the next five centuries of colonial
rule !
|
 |
|
|
TOP |
|
|
| |
 |
|
