Nambiar (Nair subcaste)

Nambiar
Regions with significant populations
Mostly in North Malabar.
Languages
Malayalam
Religion
Hinduism

Nambiār, also known as Nambiyār, is an Indian caste who were historically the feudal landlords and martial community in the North Malabar region of Kerala.[1] In a broader sense, term "Nambiar" is used to cover all those Samanthan Nair clans of North Malabar. The role of Nambiar clans, as Nayars, ranged from a martial nobility, to minor and major landlords, as well as independent rulers (such as Iruvalinad region).[2]

Nambiars traditionally don't engage in marital relationship with other non Samanthan Nair clans of North Malabar such as Vaniya Nair, Poduval Nair, and Maniyani Nair.[3]

Until the early 20th century, Nambiars in North Malabar held a prejudice that they were superior to their counterparts in South Malabar. In earlier days, Nambiar women, like most women of Nair clans of north Malabar, would not marry Nair men of South Malabar.[4][5] The north Malabar Nambiars especially from Kannur region were feudal landlords (see Jenmi), until the Land Reform Ordinance of 1969.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Coward, Harold (1 January 1993). Hindu-Christian Dialogue: Perspectives and Encounters. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 192–. ISBN 978-81-208-1158-4. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  2. ↑ [Malabar Manual, William Logan]
  3. ↑ Gough, E. Kathleen (1961). "Nayars: Central Kerala". In Schneider, David Murray; Gough, E. Kathleen. Matrilineal Kinship. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-02529-5.
  4. ↑ Miller, Eric J. 1954. Caste and Territory in Malabar. American Anthropologists 56(3):410–420
  5. ↑ Miller, Eric J. 1955. Village Structure in North Kerala. In M.N. Srinivas ed. India's Village. Bombay: Media Promoters & Publishers
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