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Thandan
Thandan or Thandayan is the name given to the headman of the Thiyyar people, who reside in the Indian State of Kerala.[1][2] Thandan is the hereditary headman of a Thiyyar tara (village) and is a Thiyyar by caste. He is appointed by the senior Rani of the Zamorin's family or by a local Raja in territories outside the Zamorin's jurisdiction.[3]Thandan becomes the Jenmi of the dhesam or dhesavazhi.[4]
Status[edit]
Malabar was the most commonly-used title to represent the highest privilege among the Thiyyar of the Malabar area. The most notable Thiyyar of the Malabars received the title as Thandan for their service to the state either in the administration of Malabar district.[5] The Thandan, the privileged Thiyyar-Karanavar in a Dhesam has to carry out the instructions of the politically powerful. He was powerful enough to rule the caste people in his area. In Malabar, the smallest political unit is known as Thara. The head of the Thara is known as Tharayil Karanavar, "The one who got privilege from the king."[6]
They are designated as Other Backward Classes by the Government of Kerala as per anthropological studies conducted by the Kerala Institute of Research, Training, and Development Studies.[7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1998). India's Communities: H - M. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
- ↑ Greece), Peter (Prince of (1963). A Study of Polyandry. Mouton.
- ↑ Thurston, Edgar; Rangachari, K. (1909). Castes and tribes of southern India. University of California Libraries. Madras : Government Press. p. 12.
- ↑ Kerala (India) (1962). Kerala District Gazetteers: Mapappuram. Superintendent of Government Presses. p. 66.
- ↑ Journal of Kerala Studies. University of Kerala. 2009. p. 203, 205.
- ↑ Journal of Kerala Studies. University of Kerala. 2009. p. 205.
- ↑ "Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (2006-2007)" (PDF). p. 13.