ABOUT
NAIRS
Nair
soldier,an old picture
Nairs are the Malayalee warriors (Kshathriyas) of Kerala.
They are the owners of this land.
(Shabdatharavali)
Nair -
Hindu Caste of the Indian State of Kerala. Before the
British conquest i.e. 1792, the region contained small
feudal Kingdoms in each of which the royal and noble
lineages, the militia and most land managers were drawn
from Nairs and related caste. During British rule,
Nairs became prominent in position, Government Service,
Medicine, Education and Law.”
(Encylopedia Britanica)
Nair - A people of Malabar coast of India that
are probably Dravidians with Aryan admixture
(Oxford
Dictionary)
|
Nair
is the name of a Hindu caste in the Southern Indian state
of Kerala. Nairs are an integral part of Kerala's culture
and have a long and illustrious history. Nairs are a warrior
class (a martial nobility). They are similar to the samurai
of Japan. The word Nair is either derived from the Sanskrit
word Nayaka (leader) or Naga (snakes, which the Nairs worshipped).
The Nair class name also encompasses Menon, Panicker, Kurup,
Pillai, Unni, Unnithan, Kartha, Thampan, Kaimal, Nayanar,
Thampi, and Nambiar.
(Wickipedia)
Nairs are not a caste, but a race with its numerous sub-castes and
surnames. Nairs can be found in all walks of life. They are
aware of their cultural traditions and history and form an
integral and active part of Kerala society.(Wickiepedia)
Nairs are the savarna hindus who constituted the warriors, landed
gentry and yeoman of Kerala. Nayars are the largest and most
important section of the society of Kerala. They were the
lords of the country and guardian of public weal. (Robin
Jeffrri – The Decline of Nair Dominance)
Traditionally
a martial people, the Nairs have made history in Kerala.
Today they are more distinguished as bureaucrats, writers,
artists, administrators and diplomats. They are the only
matrilineal community in the country. (Religions
and Community of India - Chopra. P.N. (Ed) 1982)
The
word ‘Nair’ means one who leads, a leader, a guardian,
a teacher or a father.(Nair
Samudayathinte Ithihasm – Pattom G.Ramachandran Nair)Nair
is not a caste, but a society of the Dravidian culture. (Nair
Samudayathinte Ithihasm – Pattom G.Ramachandran Nair)
For more information about NAIRS please visit following links also
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF7-p3mCrZg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VnfAwJWa0Q&index=16&list=PLCnnh4Qj2cyq-JsRjsHZMHMAVfjoyMhEb
