Ezhava - Revision history

172.71.182.160: Minor edits. Chekavars are Thiyyas not Ezhavas. Chekavars had function to settle duels

2026-04-05T11:35:41Z

Minor edits. Chekavars are Thiyyas not Ezhavas. Chekavars had function to settle duels

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:05, 5 April 2026
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	===Martial traditions===		===Martial traditions===
	Some ~~Ezhava~~ served in army of local chieftains and local rulers such as of [[Kadathanad]] and [[Kurumbranad]] of Kerala~~, who were privileged in the pre-colonial period to have their own private armies.~~<ref>{{cite book \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=A6MfPh-9DiEC&pg=PA25 \| page = 20 \| title = On life and times of George Joseph, 1887–1938, a Syrian Christian nationalist from Kerala \| author = Joseph, George Gheverghese \| publisher = Orient Longman \| year = 2003 \| access-date = 2007-12-09 \| isbn=978-81-250-2495-8}}</ref>		Some Thiyyas served in army of local chieftains and local rulers such as of [[Kadathanad]] and [[Kurumbranad]] of Kerala<ref>{{cite book \| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=A6MfPh-9DiEC&pg=PA25 \| page = 20 \| title = On life and times of George Joseph, 1887–1938, a Syrian Christian nationalist from Kerala \| author = Joseph, George Gheverghese \| publisher = Orient Longman \| year = 2003 \| access-date = 2007-12-09 \| isbn=978-81-250-2495-8}}</ref>

	====Chekavar====		====Chekavar====
	A subgroup of the ~~Ezhavas considered themselves to be warriors~~ and became known as the Chekavars. The ''[[Vadakkan Pattukal]]'' ballads describe Chekavars as forming the militia of local chieftains and kings but the title was also given to experts of Kalari Payattu.<ref name = "chek1002">{{cite book \|first=Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan \|last=Pillai \|title=Studies in Kerala History \|publisher=National Book Stall \|location=Kottayam \|year=1970 \|pages=111, 151–154}}</ref>		Although a caste ambiguous title initially, a subgroup of the Thiyyas learned martial arts like Kalaripayattu and became known as the Chekavars. The ''[[Vadakkan Pattukal]]'' ballads describe Chekavars as forming a small part of the militia of local chieftains and kings but the title was also given to experts of Kalari Payattu.<ref name = "chek1002">{{cite book \|first=Elamkulam P. N. Kunjan \|last=Pillai \|title=Studies in Kerala History \|publisher=National Book Stall \|location=Kottayam \|year=1970 \|pages=111, 151–154}}</ref>. However according to historical mentions and evidence, until the colonial era , the Thiyya Chekavars were only called for angams (duels) to be settled between smaller Nair tharavads who did not want to send their own members.

	===Medicine and traditional toxicology===		===Medicine and traditional toxicology===

104.23.170.16: Minor edits

2026-04-05T11:29:23Z

Minor edits

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	}}		}}

	The '''Ezhavas''' ({{IPA-ml\|iːɻɐʋɐ}}) are a community with origins in the region of India presently known as [[Kerala]], where in the 2010s they constituted about 23% of the population and were reported to be the largest [[Hindu]] community.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/caste-based-organisations-nss-sndp-form-hindu-grand-alliance-in-kerala-115305-2012-09-05\|title=Caste-based organisations NSS, SNDP form Hindu Grand Alliance in Kerala\|first=M. G. \|last=Radhakrishnan\|date= 5 September 2012\|work=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/guess-whos-after-the-hindu-vote-in-kerala-hint-its-not-the-bjp-2619712.html\|title=Guess who's after the Hindu vote in Kerala? (Hint: It's not BJP)\|work=Firstpost}}</ref> They are also known as ''Ilhava'', ''Irava'', ''Izhava'' and ''Erava'' in the south of the region; as ''Chovas'', ''Chokons'' and ''Chogons'' in [[Central Travancore]]; and as ''Thiyyar'', ''Tiyyas'' and ''Theeyas'' in the [[Malabar region]].<ref name="Nossiter1982p30"/><ref>{{cite book \|title=Society in India: Continuity and change \|first=David Goodman \|last=Mandelbaum \|author-link=David G. Mandelbaum \|publisher=University of California Press \|year=1970 \|isbn=9780520016231 \|page=[https://archive.org/details/societyinindia01mand/page/502 502] \|quote=Another strong caste association, but one formed at a different social level and cemented by religious appeal, is that of the Iravas of Kerala, who are also known as Ezhavas or Tiyyas and make up more than 40 per cent of Kerala Hindus \|url=https://archive.org/details/societyinindia01mand/page/502 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|title=Matrilineal Kinship \|editor1-first=David Murray \|editor1-last=Schneider \|editor2-first=E. Kathleen \|editor2-last=Gough \|chapter=Tiyyar: North Kerala \|first=E. Kathleen \|last=Gough \|author-link=Kathleen Gough \|page=405 \|year=1961 \|publisher=University of California Press \|isbn=978-0-520-02529-5 \|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lfdvTbfilYAC&pg=PA312 \|quote=Throughout Kerala the Tiyyars (called Iravas in parts of Cochin and Travancore) ... }}</ref> Some are also known as ''Thandan'', which has caused administrative difficulties due to the presence of a distinct caste of [[Thandan]] in the same region.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayItems.asp?id=SET20021221042249&eTitle=Think+Piece&rLink=0 \|title=Ezhavas: Their many dimensions \|publisher=Newindpress.com \|first=K. K. \|last=Kusuman \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104931/http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayItems.asp?id=SET20021221042249&eTitle=Think+Piece&rLink=0 \|archive-date=2007-09-29}}</ref><ref name="stdg">{{cite web \|url=http://164.100.24.208/ls/CommitteeR/Social/20threport.pdf \|title=Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (2006-2007) \|page=13}}</ref> The ~~Malabar Ezhava~~<ref name="Smith1976pp31-32">[[#Smith1976\|Pullapilly (1976)]] pp. 31–32</ref> group have claimed a higher ranking in the Hindu caste system than do the ~~others~~, although from the perspective of the [[Colonial India\|colonial]] and subsequent administrations they were treated as being of similar rank.<ref name="Nossiter1982p30">[[#Nossiter1982\|Nossiter (1982)]] p. 30</ref><ref name="Kodoth2001p350">{{cite journal \|title=Courting Legitimacy or Delegitimizing Custom? Sexuality, Sambandham and Marriage Reform in Late Nineteenth-Century Malabar \|first=Praveena \|last=Kodoth \|journal=Modern Asian Studies \|volume=35 \|issue=2 \|date=May 2001 \|page=350 \|jstor=313121 \|doi=10.1017/s0026749x01002037 \|pmid=18481401 \|s2cid=7910533 }}</ref>		The '''Ezhavas''' ({{IPA-ml\|iːɻɐʋɐ}}) are a community with origins in the region of India presently known as [[Kerala]], where in the 2010s they constituted about 23% of the population and were reported to be the largest [[Hindu]] community in modern day Kerala.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/caste-based-organisations-nss-sndp-form-hindu-grand-alliance-in-kerala-115305-2012-09-05\|title=Caste-based organisations NSS, SNDP form Hindu Grand Alliance in Kerala\|first=M. G. \|last=Radhakrishnan\|date= 5 September 2012\|work=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/guess-whos-after-the-hindu-vote-in-kerala-hint-its-not-the-bjp-2619712.html\|title=Guess who's after the Hindu vote in Kerala? (Hint: It's not BJP)\|work=Firstpost}}</ref> They are also known as ''Ilhava'', ''Irava'', ''Izhava'' and ''Erava'' in the south of the region; as ''Chovas'', ''Chokons'' and ''Chogons'' in [[Central Travancore]]; and as ''Thiyyar'', ''Tiyyas'' and ''Theeyas'' in the [[Malabar region]].<ref name="Nossiter1982p30"/><ref>{{cite book \|title=Society in India: Continuity and change \|first=David Goodman \|last=Mandelbaum \|author-link=David G. Mandelbaum \|publisher=University of California Press \|year=1970 \|isbn=9780520016231 \|page=[https://archive.org/details/societyinindia01mand/page/502 502] \|quote=Another strong caste association, but one formed at a different social level and cemented by religious appeal, is that of the Iravas of Kerala, who are also known as Ezhavas or Tiyyas and make up more than 40 per cent of Kerala Hindus \|url=https://archive.org/details/societyinindia01mand/page/502 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book \|title=Matrilineal Kinship \|editor1-first=David Murray \|editor1-last=Schneider \|editor2-first=E. Kathleen \|editor2-last=Gough \|chapter=Tiyyar: North Kerala \|first=E. Kathleen \|last=Gough \|author-link=Kathleen Gough \|page=405 \|year=1961 \|publisher=University of California Press \|isbn=978-0-520-02529-5 \|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lfdvTbfilYAC&pg=PA312 \|quote=Throughout Kerala the Tiyyars (called Iravas in parts of Cochin and Travancore) ... }}</ref> Some are also known as ''Thandan'', which has caused administrative difficulties due to the presence of a distinct caste of [[Thandan]] in the same region.<ref>{{cite news \|url=http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayItems.asp?id=SET20021221042249&eTitle=Think+Piece&rLink=0 \|title=Ezhavas: Their many dimensions \|publisher=Newindpress.com \|first=K. K. \|last=Kusuman \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104931/http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayItems.asp?id=SET20021221042249&eTitle=Think+Piece&rLink=0 \|archive-date=2007-09-29}}</ref><ref name="stdg">{{cite web \|url=http://164.100.24.208/ls/CommitteeR/Social/20threport.pdf \|title=Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (2006-2007) \|page=13}}</ref> The Thiyyas<ref name="Smith1976pp31-32">[[#Smith1976\|Pullapilly (1976)]] pp. 31–32</ref> group have claimed a higher ranking in the Hindu caste system than do the Ezhavas, although from the perspective of the [[Colonial India\|colonial]] and subsequent administrations they were treated as being of similar rank.<ref name="Nossiter1982p30">[[#Nossiter1982\|Nossiter (1982)]] p. 30</ref><ref name="Kodoth2001p350">{{cite journal \|title=Courting Legitimacy or Delegitimizing Custom? Sexuality, Sambandham and Marriage Reform in Late Nineteenth-Century Malabar \|first=Praveena \|last=Kodoth \|journal=Modern Asian Studies \|volume=35 \|issue=2 \|date=May 2001 \|page=350 \|jstor=313121 \|doi=10.1017/s0026749x01002037 \|pmid=18481401 \|s2cid=7910533 }}</ref>

	~~Ezhava~~ dynasties such as the [[Mannanar]] existed in Kerala.<ref name="Smith1976pp31-32"/> British formed the [[Thiyyar Regiment]] in Malabar during the colonial rule.<ref>L.K.A.Iyer, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=XGSuAwWHa0kC The Mysore Tribes and caste]''. Vol.III, A Mittal Publish. Page.279, Google Books</ref><ref> Nagendra k.r.singh ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Xcpa_T-7oVQC Global Encyclopedia of the South India Dalit's Ethnography]'' (2006) page.230, Google Books</ref><ref>L.Krishna Anandha Krishna Iyer(Divan Bahadur) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hOyqKkYi6McC The Cochin Tribes and Caste]'' Vol.1. Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1962. Page. 278, Google Books</ref><ref> {{Cite book\|last=Iyer\|first=L. K. Anantha Krishna\|url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7757\|title=The Cochin tribes and castes vol.I\|date=1909\|publisher=Higginbotham, Madras}}</ref> There were lesser known Thiyya regiments and Thiyyar Pattalam formed by the French and British governments in Mahe and Thalassery.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=P.R\|first=Nisha\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=My8DEAAAQBAJ\|title=Jumbos and Jumping Devils: A Social History of Indian Circus\|date=2020-06-12\|publisher=Oxford University Press\|isbn=978-0-19-099207-1\|language=en}}</ref> The British deployed the unit in various military operations.<ref> {{Cite book\|last=M.D\|first=N. C. SHYAMALAN\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wYWVBQAAQBAJ\|title=North Africa To North Malabar: AN ANCESTRAL JOURNEY\|publisher=Notion Press\|isbn=978-93-83416-64-6\|language=en}}</ref>		Thiyya dynasties such as the [[Mannanar]] existed in Kerala.<ref name="Smith1976pp31-32"/> British formed the [[Thiyyar Regiment]] in Malabar during the colonial rule.<ref>L.K.A.Iyer, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=XGSuAwWHa0kC The Mysore Tribes and caste]''. Vol.III, A Mittal Publish. Page.279, Google Books</ref><ref> Nagendra k.r.singh ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Xcpa_T-7oVQC Global Encyclopedia of the South India Dalit's Ethnography]'' (2006) page.230, Google Books</ref><ref>L.Krishna Anandha Krishna Iyer(Divan Bahadur) ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=hOyqKkYi6McC The Cochin Tribes and Caste]'' Vol.1. Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1962. Page. 278, Google Books</ref><ref> {{Cite book\|last=Iyer\|first=L. K. Anantha Krishna\|url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.7757\|title=The Cochin tribes and castes vol.I\|date=1909\|publisher=Higginbotham, Madras}}</ref> There were lesser known Thiyya regiments and Thiyyar Pattalam formed by the French and British governments in Mahe and Thalassery.<ref>{{Cite book\|last=P.R\|first=Nisha\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=My8DEAAAQBAJ\|title=Jumbos and Jumping Devils: A Social History of Indian Circus\|date=2020-06-12\|publisher=Oxford University Press\|isbn=978-0-19-099207-1\|language=en}}</ref> The British deployed the unit in various military operations.<ref> {{Cite book\|last=M.D\|first=N. C. SHYAMALAN\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wYWVBQAAQBAJ\|title=North Africa To North Malabar: AN ANCESTRAL JOURNEY\|publisher=Notion Press\|isbn=978-93-83416-64-6\|language=en}}</ref>

	==History==		==History==

104.23.170.17: Relied on contemporary sources to explain about origin of Ezhavas as a caste and their social divergence from other Avarna people

2026-04-05T11:22:29Z

Relied on contemporary sources to explain about origin of Ezhavas as a caste and their social divergence from other Avarna people

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:52, 5 April 2026
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	{{Blockquote\|: erukatur eelakutumpikan polalaiyan "Polalaiyan, (resident of) Erukatur, the husbandman (householder) from Eelam." .<ref name="Schalk">{{Cite book \| last=Schalk \| first=Peter \| contribution=Robert Caldwell's Derivation īlam<sīhala: A Critical Assessment \| editor-last=Chevillard \| editor-first=Jean-Luc \| title=South-Indian Horizons: Felicitation Volume for François Gros on the occasion of his 70th birthday \| place=Pondichéry \| publisher=Institut Français de Pondichéry \| isbn=978-2-85539-630-9 \| pages=347–364 \| year=2004 }}.</ref>}}		{{Blockquote\|: erukatur eelakutumpikan polalaiyan "Polalaiyan, (resident of) Erukatur, the husbandman (householder) from Eelam." .<ref name="Schalk">{{Cite book \| last=Schalk \| first=Peter \| contribution=Robert Caldwell's Derivation īlam<sīhala: A Critical Assessment \| editor-last=Chevillard \| editor-first=Jean-Luc \| title=South-Indian Horizons: Felicitation Volume for François Gros on the occasion of his 70th birthday \| place=Pondichéry \| publisher=Institut Français de Pondichéry \| isbn=978-2-85539-630-9 \| pages=347–364 \| year=2004 }}.</ref>}}

	The Sangam literature ''[[Paṭṭiṉappālai]]'', mentions ''Eelattu-unavu'' (food from Eelam). One of the prominent Sangam Tamil poets is known as [[Eelattu Poothanthevanar]] meaning Poothan-thevan (proper name) hailing from ''Eelam''. ([[Akanaṉūṟu]]: 88, 231, 307; [[Kuṟuntokai]]: 189, 360, 343; [[Naṟṟiṇai]]: 88, 366).<ref>{{Cite book\|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot\|last=Lal\|first=Mohan\|date=1992\|publisher=Sahitya Akademi\|isbn=9788126012213\|pages=4155\|language=en}}</ref> The Tamil inscriptions from the [[Pallava]] & [[Chola]] period dating from 9th century CE link the word with toddy, toddy tapper's quarters (''Eelat-cheri''), tax on toddy tapping (''Eelap-poodchi''), a class of toddy tappers (''Eelath-chanran''). Eelavar is a caste of toddy tappers found in the southern parts of [[Kerala]].<ref name=":0" /> ''Eela-kaasu'' and ''Eela-karung-kaasu'' are refers to coinages found in the [[Chola dynasty\|Chola]] inscriptions of [[Parantaka I]].<ref>{{Cite book\|title=Politics of Tamil Nationalism in Sri Lanka\|last=Sivarajah\|first=Ambalavanar\|date=1996\|publisher=South Asian Publishers\|isbn=9788170031956\|pages=122\|language=en}}</ref>		The Sangam literature ''[[Paṭṭiṉappālai]]'', mentions ''Eelattu-unavu'' (food from Eelam). One of the prominent Sangam Tamil poets is known as [[Eelattu Poothanthevanar]] meaning Poothan-thevan (proper name) hailing from ''Eelam''. ([[Akanaṉūṟu]]: 88, 231, 307; [[Kuṟuntokai]]: 189, 360, 343; [[Naṟṟiṇai]]: 88, 366).<ref>{{Cite book\|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot\|last=Lal\|first=Mohan\|date=1992\|publisher=Sahitya Akademi\|isbn=9788126012213\|pages=4155\|language=en}}</ref> The Tamil inscriptions from the [[Pallava]] & [[Chola]] period dating from 9th century CE link the word with toddy, toddy tapper's quarters (''Eelat-cheri''), tax on toddy tapping (''Eelap-poodchi''), a class of toddy tappers (''Eelath-chanran''). Eelavar is a caste of toddy tappers found in the southern parts of [[Kerala]].<ref name=":0" /> ''Eela-kaasu'' and ''Eela-karung-kaasu'' are refers to coinages found in the [[Chola dynasty\|Chola]] inscriptions of [[Parantaka I]].<ref>{{Cite book\|title=Politics of Tamil Nationalism in Sri Lanka\|last=Sivarajah\|first=Ambalavanar\|date=1996\|publisher=South Asian Publishers\|isbn=9788170031956\|pages=122\|language=en}}</ref> However it is to be noticed that Ezhava as a caste had not been formed yet. Eelam means modern day Northern Ceylon / Srilanka. And Eela also has the etymological meaning of toddy.

	===Legend===		===Legend===

	There are [[myth of origin\|myths of origin]] for the Ezhava. According to some [[Malayalam]] folk songs like [[Vadakkan Pattukal]]<ref>{{cite journal \|last1=Bright \|first1=William \|title=Review of Dialect Survey of Malayalam (Ezhava-Tiiya) \|journal=Language \|date=1978 \|volume=54 \|issue=1 \|pages=249 \|doi=10.2307/413041 \|jstor=413041 }}</ref> {{which\|date=April 2020}} and legend, the Ezhavas were the progeny of four bachelors that the king of [[Sri Lanka\|Ceylon]] (Sri Lanka) sent to what is now [[Kerala]] at the request of the [[Chera dynasty\|Chera]] king Bhaskara Ravi Varma, in the 1st century CE. These men were sent, ostensibly, to set up [[coconut]] farming in the region.<ref>[[#Smith1976\|Pullapilly (1976)]] pp. 25–26</ref> Another version of the story says that the king sent eight martial families at the request of a Chera king to quell a civil war that had erupted against him.<ref>{{cite book\|last=G.\|first=Rajendran\|title=The Ezhava community and Kerala politics\|date=1974\|publisher=Kerala Academy of Political Science\|oclc=898909945}}{{page needed\|date=February 2022}}</ref>		There are [[myth of origin\|myths of origin]] for the Ezhava. According to some [[Malayalam]] folk songs like [[Vadakkan Pattukal]]<ref>{{cite journal \|last1=Bright \|first1=William \|title=Review of Dialect Survey of Malayalam (Ezhava-Tiiya) \|journal=Language \|date=1978 \|volume=54 \|issue=1 \|pages=249 \|doi=10.2307/413041 \|jstor=413041 }}</ref> {{which\|date=April 2020}} and legend, the Ezhavas were the progeny of four bachelors that the king of [[Sri Lanka\|Ceylon]] (Sri Lanka) sent to what is now [[Kerala]] at the request of the [[Chera dynasty\|Chera]] king Bhaskara Ravi Varma, in the 1st century CE. These men were sent, ostensibly, to set up [[coconut]] farming in the region.<ref>[[#Smith1976\|Pullapilly (1976)]] pp. 25–26</ref>

	===Social and religious divergence===		===Social and religious divergence===
	~~It has been suggested that the~~ Ezhavas ~~may share~~ a ~~common heritage with the [[Nair]]~~ caste~~. This theory is based on similarities between numerous of the customs adopted~~ by the two groups, particularly with regard to marking various significant life stages such as childbirth and death, as well as their matrilineal practices and martial history. Oral history, folk songs and other old writings indicate that the Thiyyas were at some point in the past members of the armed forces serving various kings, including the [[Zamorin]]s of [[Kozhikode\|Calicut]] and ~~the rulers of the [[Kingdom of Cochin]]~~. ~~[[Cyriac Pullapilly]] has said~~ that ~~only a common parentage can explain some of these issues.<ref name="Smith1976pp26-30">[[#Smith1976\|Pullapilly (1976)]] pp. 26–30</ref>~~		The first mention of Ezhavas as a caste comes from a 14th century mention by Italian seafarers and traveler Ludovico de Varthema. He mentioned that

	~~A theory has been proposed for the origins~~ of ~~the [[Caste system in Kerala\|caste system in the Kerala region]] based on the actions~~ of the ~~Aryan [[Jain]]~~s ~~introducing such distinctions prior to the 8th-century AD~~. ~~This argues that the Jains needed protection~~ when they ~~arrived~~ in the ~~area~~ and ~~recruited local sympathizers to provide it. These people were then~~ distinguished from ~~others in the local population by their occupation as protectors~~, ~~with the others all being classed~~ as ~~out-caste. Pullapilly describes that this meant~~ they "..~~. were given~~ ''~~kshatriya~~'' ~~functions~~, ~~but only~~ ''~~shudra~~'~~' status. Thus originated the Nairs." The Ezhavas~~, ~~not being among the group protecting the Jains~~, ~~became out~~-~~castes.~~<ref ~~name="Smith1976pp26-30"/~~> ~~[[File:A Pretty Thiiyar Girl ,19th century British Photograph.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1\|left\|A Thiyan girl, 1898]]~~		"''The women of these two classes of people, that is, the Poliari and Hirava, suckle their children for about three months, and then they feed them upon cow's milk or goat's milk. And when they have crammed them, without washing either their faces or their bodies, they throw them into the sand, in which they remain covered up from the morning until the evening, and as they are more black than any other colour, they cannot be distinguished from little buffalos or little bears; so that they appear misshapen things, and it seems as though they were fed by the devil. Their mothers give them food again in the evening. These people are the most agile leapers and runners in the world''"<ref>Pg No 171''', [https://archive.org/details/travelsofludovic00vartrich/page/170/mode/1up The travels of Ludovico di Varthema in Egypt, Syria, Arabia Deserta and Arabia Felix, in Persia, India, and Ethiopia, A.D. 1503 to 1508]''' by Varthema, Lodovico de, 15th cent; Jones, John Winter, 1805-1881; Badger, George Percy, 1815-1888</ref>

	~~An alternate theory states that the system was introduced by the [[Nambudiri]] Brahmins~~. ~~Although Brahmin influences had existed in the area since at least the 1st~~ century ~~CE, there was a large influx from around the 8th century when~~ they ~~acted as priests, counsellors and ministers to invading Aryan princes. At the time of their arrival the non-aboriginal local population~~ had ~~been converted~~ to ~~Buddhism by missionaries who had come~~ from ~~the north~~ of India and from Ceylon. The Brahmins used their symbiotic relationship with the invading forces to assert their beliefs and position. Buddhist temples and monasteries were either destroyed or taken over for use in Hindu practices, thus undermining the ability of the Buddhists to propagate their beliefs.~~<ref name="Smith1976pp26-30"/>~~		Ezhavas were noted as a people similar to Pulayas in apperance and lifestyle. Therefore during 14th century Ezhavas and Pulayas were still not completely separated castes although they had started to socially diverge as evident from adoption of different caste name.

	The ~~Buddhist tradition~~ of the Ezhavas~~, and the refusal to give it up, pushed them~~ to ~~an outcaste role within the greater Brahminic society.~~<ref ~~name="Smith1976pp26-30"~~/><ref>~~{{cite book \| url=~~https://books.google.~~com~~/books?id=~~A6MfPh-9DiEC~~&pg=~~PA25 \| page~~=~~18 \| title~~=~~On life and times of George Joseph, 1887–1938, a Syrian Christian nationalist from Kerala \| last~~=~~Joseph \|first~~=~~George Gheverghese \| publisher~~=~~Orient Longman \| year~~=~~2003 \| access-date~~=~~2007-12-09 \| isbn~~=~~978-81-250-2495-8}}~~</ref> ~~This tradition is still evident~~ as ~~Ezhavas show greater interest~~ in the ~~moral~~, ~~non-ritualistic~~, and ~~non-dogmatic aspects of the religion rather than the theological~~.~~<ref name="Smith1976pp26-30"/>~~		The divergence of Ezhavas from the agrarian Pulayas may have occured when more and more Ezhavas over time adopted toddy related proffesions rather than subsisting solely on manual labour or agrarian work.

			Another reason may be that Ezhavas submitted to Savarna hegemony via customs like Adhyaratri Avakasham<ref>Kadathanadan Nombarangal by Bhaskaran Manantheri</ref><ref>Pg No 71, [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=FkVnEQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=social+mobility+in+kerala&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&ovdme=1&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=social%20mobility%20in%20kerala&f=false Social Mobility in Kerala by Filippo Osella]</ref>, Pulayas resisted these advances (as documented in traditional Pulaya folklore).

			Eventually in colonial era due to good relationships with the British, Ezhavas in Malabar gained upper hand in public office employment, and thus rising above all Avarnas including Vishwakarma/Viswabrahmins in colonial era records .

	==Past occupations==		==Past occupations==

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2023-07-24T06:14:34Z

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	{{Short description\|Hindu community of Kerala, India}}		{{Short description\|Hindu community of Kerala, India}}
	~~{{pp-protected\|reason=Long term and persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing\|disruptive editing]]. See protection log. This has been going on for years.; requested at [[WP:RfPP]]\|small=yes}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}
	{{use Indian English\|date=December 2017}}		{{use Indian English\|date=December 2017}}

Ajay Kumar: Added new article

2023-07-23T14:40:45Z

Added new article

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← Older revision		Revision as of 11:44, 24 July 2023
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	{{Short description\|Hindu community of Kerala, India}}		{{Short description\|Hindu community of Kerala, India}}
	~~{{pp-protected\|reason=Long term and persistent [[WP:Disruptive editing\|disruptive editing]]. See protection log. This has been going on for years.; requested at [[WP:RfPP]]\|small=yes}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}
	{{use Indian English\|date=December 2017}}		{{use Indian English\|date=December 2017}}