OBCs of Kerala
1. Agasa
District: Kasaragod Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Agasa are also known as ‘Madivala’, which means a person who cleans clothes. In some parts, they are also known as ‘Rajaka’. The Agasa’ are distributed in the Kasaragod district of Kerala and in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. The language spoken at home is Tulu and with outsiders they use Malayalam, Kannada and Tulu.
2. Ambalakkaran
District: Tiruchirappalli, Puthukkottai and Tanjore Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Ambalakkaran were very often confused with Kallans as sometimes this term also denoted the designation of village headman Maravan and Kallan and settlements. Ambalakkarans are cultivators and village watchmen - Muttiriyans, Mutracas, Uralis, Vealiyans and Vettuvans. A section of Ambalakkaran used the caste title ‘Pillai’ but others were reffered to as Ambalakkaran, Mutiriyan or Servaigaran. The Ambalakkarans are mainly found in Tiruchirappalli, Puthukkottai and Tanjore districts.
3. Anglo Indian
District: Kollam, Eranakulam, Trivandrum, Kochi and Alappuzha Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Anglos Indian were called by various names, viz 1) Eurasian 2) Feringhee 3) Chattakkar 4) Luso Indians. The concentrations of the Anglo Indian in Kerala are in Kollam and Eranakulam districts. The other areas of their distribution in Kerala are Trivandrum, Kochi and Alappuzha districts. They used to be clannish, enjoying their reserved employment opportunities in the railways, etc. Some of them are among the earliest and best known dentists in the state.
1 4. Aremahrati
District: Kasaragod Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Also known as Arya Maratta or Maratta, the community resides in Kasaragod district and in areas adjacent to Karanataka. Their mother tongue is Marathi, but they are conversant in Kannada and Malayalam. They are a landowning community and equate themselves in the social scale with other non-brahmin landowners of the locality, eg: Bunt and Ballal. Many of them are educated in various professions or serve in the Indian Army.
5. Boyan
District: Malabar Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Malampuzha and Kozhinjampara of Settlements: Palakkad and Chittoor talukas Population*:
The Boyan have migrated from Coimbatore and Udumalapettai of Tamil Nadu to Kerala in search of work. According to Thurston, the Boyan are also called Odde. They are also titled as Nayakan or Naickan. They live in Malampuzha and Kozhinjampara of Palakkad and Chittoor talukas. The languages used with family are Tamil and Telugu. With others they use Tamil and Malayalam. The Boyan are tank diggers, well sinkers, road makers and work as mason in the construction of buildings and dams. They are very hard working and their hereditary occupation is stone cutting, stone lifting, etc. They also carry stones from the quarries and sell them. They are landless.
6. Chakravar
District: Trivandrum, Kollam Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Neyyattinkara and Nedumangad Settlements: talukas of Trivandrum district Population*:
The Chakravar are also called as Sakravar, Kavathi and Chakamar. Locally, they are known as Kavathi and Ambittan because of their traditional occupation as barber. They catered to the Nadar. They also practiced indigenous medicine and their women were village midwives. The Sakravar are of Tamil origin and their concentration is in Tamil Nadu (Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts). The Chakravar’s reside in the Neyyattinkara and Nedumangad talukes of Trivandrum district and in some parts of Kollam adjoining Tamil Nadu. Recent immigration from Tamil Nadu also has taken place. The population lives mainly in Kulathur and Karodu villages of
2 Neyyattinkara taluka. They use Tamil and Malayalam languages. Land is an important natural resource, and is individual owned by members of the community.
7. Ganjam Reddis
District: Malabar district, Kollam and towns of Trivandrum, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Reddiar of Kerala are believed to have migrated from Tamil Nadu some 120 years back. They have three sub-groups (Ahodhya, Ganjam & Kota). Their major concentration is in Kollam and also distributed in major business towns of Kerala, Trivandrum, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad. Their population figure in Kerala is not known. With other communities they use Tamil and Malayalam, with in kin group they use Telugu. The main source of income is trade and commercial activities. Individuals own commercial and business establishments while some of them have entered private service and others have taken up self-employment.
8. Kammara
District: Except Malabar District Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Kammaras are the blacksmith section of the Telugu Kammalas, whose services are in great demand by the cultivator, whose agricultural implements have to be made, and constantly repaired. The Kammaras are adept at smelting iron and making implements out of it. The name Baitakammara meaning outside blacksmiths is applied to Kamsala blacksmiths, who occupy a lowly position, and work in the open air or outside a village. A section of the artisan communities working with wood, stone, metals like iron and gold are recognized by the generic term Kamsala in Andhra Pradesh.
9. Kanisu
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
3 Kanisu are known by different names in different regions of Kerala, such as Kaniyar or Ballerayya, in northern areas, the Panikar in Central Malabar, the Ganaks or Ganika in Cochin area the Kani or Kaniyan or Kanisan in Travancore area. Thier traditional occupation is astrology but today they engage in almost every profession.
10. Kannadiyans
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
A Kannada speaking community of Tamil Nadu, the Kannadiyans are mostly found in the former north, and south Arcots and Chingleput districts of Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka they are called Gaulis. Though they claim that military service was their former occupation, they are now cattle breeders and cultivators. Some of them are traders in the southern regions of the state of Tamil Nadu. Their main occupation is the manufacture of curd and butter from the milk of cow and buffalo, which they sell in the towns and cities. They do not even touch sheep or goat.
11. Kavudiyaru No Data
12. Kavuthiyan
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Kavuthiyan are known by several synonyms. Presently they are distributed in all the districts with the concentration in the Malabar region. They distinguish themselves from the Izhavathi who are barbers for the Izhava (in Cochin and Travancore). The Kavuthiyan, act as barbers for the Thiyya of Malabar region. They speak Malayalam. Land is the main natural resource of the Kavuthiyan. It is controlled by individual proprietorship. There are land owning and landless people in the community. In addition they also earn as barbers and are engaged in business, have government jobs or are self- employed.
13. Kerala mudalis
District: Mainly Malabar Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements:
4 Population*:
The title Mudali is used chiefly by the offspring of Deva-dasi’s (dancing- girls), Kaikolans, and Vellalas. The Vellalas generally, take the title Mudali in the northern, and Pillai in the southern districts of Kerala. To some Vellalas, Mudali is considered a discourtesy, as it is also the title of weavers. Mudali is also used as a title by some Jains, Gadabas, Occhans, Pallis or Vanniyans and Panisavans. Some Pattanavans style themselves as Varunakula Mudali.
14. Koteyar
District: Kasargod Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Koteyar inhabit Kasargod district and the adjoining areas of Karnataka. They are also called Kotegara / Kotegar, Sharegara / Sharagar, Servgar, Keteyara / Koteyavara, Rama Kshathriya, Rama Raja Kshathriyan, Kotekshathriya and Motri. The Koteyar’s main natural resource is land. A few have their own land. They are engaged cultivation, private and government jobs or as agricultural labourers. Their traditional occupation was connected with forts. They speak Kannada.
15. Krishnanvaka
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The caste name literally means belonging to Krishna, but probably means nothing more than belonging to the pastoral class; they speak Malayalam and Tamil. They were also known as Krishnavakakkar and most were landowners. Presently, many remain cultivators and diary farmers.
16. Kudumbis
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Kudumbi also known as Kudubi, claim to have migrated to Kerala from Karnataka, years ago for reasons unknown to them. They speak a separate language called Kudubi, which has Konkani and Malayalam influences within the kin group. Kudumbi are a landless community. ‘Aval Idikyunnadu, the
5 traditional occupation of pounding paddy is being largely given up. Some of them are now schoolteachers and others are employed in miscellaneous occupations.
17. Kumbarans
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
A community of potters originally from Andhra Pradesh, the are also known as Kummara, Kumbhar. They supply the ceremonial Ariveni pots for weddings in the houses of the Kammas, Kapus, Velamas etc. The traditional occupation of the Kumbarans is making pots, bricks, tiles, and selling them. Some of them have now taken to agriculture in addition to their traditional occupation.
18. Kusavan
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Kusavan includes Kulala, Kulala Nair. Presently Andhuru Nair is distributed in Kozhikode and Kannur district. The language used is Malayalam. Andhuru Nair are landless people even though land is the main natural resource. They manufacture earthen pots, and tiles. The number of them engaged in cultivation, and govt. service as daily wage casual labourers, is increasing.
19. Latin Catholics
District: Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Latin Catholics are generally found along the coastal areas and many are fishermen going out to sea. The outstanding feature of the community organization is the parish church. Every Latin Catholic is a member of one or another. They were mainly distributed in Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kollam.
6
20. Madivala
District: Kasargod Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Madivaqla is also known in the names of ‘Agasa’, which means a person cleans clothes. In some parts they are known as ‘Rajaka’. They were distributed in the Kasargod district of Kerala and in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. The language spoken at home is Tulu, with outsiders they use Malayalam, Kannada, Tulu.
21. Malayan
District: Except Malabar District - Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram districts mainly Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Malayan are distributed in the Malabar region comprising Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram districts. Their mother tongue is Malayalam. The major natural economic resource of the Malayan is land. They are mainly landless. Traditionally, they were exorcists, spirit dancers and mendicants. Their primary occupation at present is agricultural labour. Some of them are employed in government or private services, while a few of them own petty business. Animal husbandry, midwifery, non-skilled wage and casual labour are their secondary occupations. The Theyyam, Thira and exorcism of the Malayan have art and craft traditions associated with them.
22. Malayekandi
District: Except Malabar District Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Malayekandi are also known as Maloikudi and Maleru. They are spread through the Dakshina Kannada and Chikmagalur districts of Karnataka, with a small number (598 persons as per the 1981 Census) living Kasaragod district. Though the mother tongue of most of them is Tulu, those who have settled in Kerala speak Malayalam. They were traditionally hunters and gatherers, and used to prefer the thickets to parts of the wilderness. Today, they subsist
7 mainly by collection of minor forest produce, and as agricultural labour. They also make and sell bamboo mats and baskets. Some families engage in horticulture in the marginal lands surrounding their houses.
23. Mappila
District: Kozhikod, Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram and Palakkad Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The community is spelt differently such as Mappaila, Mappilla denotes the Muhemmadans in the region of Kerala Malabar or the Syrian Christian, or the Jews, who were known as Jonka, Nasrani and Judomoplans, respectively. They reside in the districts of Kozhikode, Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram and Palakkad. They speak Malayalam. Land is the Mappila’s economic resource, and is individually controlled and owned. They are traditionally engaged in trade, business, agriculture and service as well, and continue to practice these occupations.
24. Marati
District: Mainly Kasaragod district but also other parts of Kerala except Malabar district Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Marati are also called Maratha or Marathi. They speak Marati, Telugu and use Kannada script within the family, but can also speak Kannada, Malayalam and Tulu and use the Malayalam script. The community resides mainly in Kasaragod district of Kerala as well as in other states. Land is the Marati’s major economic resource, which is controlled by individuals. The primary occupation of the community is agriculture. Some of them are also engaged in animal husbandry, business, government and private services. There are many agricultural or daily wage labourers among them. A few of them are also engaged in basketry and carpentry.
25. Maravar
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
8 A community considered in former times as a criminal tribe, Marava, are mostly found in the Madurai and Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts on the coast from Kanyakumari to Ramanathapuram. The Zamindars of Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and a few minor Zamindars in the Tirunelveli district belong to this community.
Generally the persons who functioned as the ‘Kaval’ (police) personnel in the villages invariably belonged to the community of ‘Maravas’. Some members of this community had also functioned as poligars or feudal chiefs under the ‘Nayaks’ of Madurai, Tiruchi and Tanjavur, though most of the poligars were the Telugu speaking persons. Brave and active, though capricious the members of this community were adequate to safeguard villages, particularly those that were mainly inhabited by peaceful cultivators. When no central authority capable of maintaining law and orders in villages existed, the Maravas were entrusted with the duty of protecting the villagers, their houses, and crops from theft and robbery.
The Maravas constituted nearly the whole of the village police though they were also the thieves and robbers at times. The community still has individuals working as policemen and detectives, as well as those who engage in theft.
26. Maruthuvar
District: Kozhikode and Kannur Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Maruthuvar probably got the name from ‘Marunthu’, a Tamil word for medicine. They were traditionally medicine men and surgeons serving the kings and their soldiers according to the people’s traditions. They were mainly distributed in Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Their population is concentrated in Tamil Nadu. Maruthuvar were also traditional barbers and midwifes - though both professions are now on the decline. They are mainly landless community.
27. Muslim
District: Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Trissur Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Mukkuvar Muslim are the fishermen of the Malabar coast. They mainly found in the coastal areas of erstwhile Malabar region, namely Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Trissur. Their main income comes from fishing
9 in the sea, and they employ members of their own community as labour for fishing expeditions. This landless community follows Islam.
28. Nadars
District: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Palakkad Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Nadar, also called Channar or Channars, are a numerically dominant community in the southern most Taluks Chirayankizhu, Neyyattinkara and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Two major subgroups of Nadars are Hindu Nadars and Christian Nadars. The Nadars reside in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Idukki and Palakkad districts of Kerala. They use Tamil and Malayalam with in the community and outsiders. Land is the main economic resource of the Nadar, which is controlled by individual proprietors. They are mainly a landowning community but there are many who have very little land, toddy taping, and gur, palm Jaggery making from limited toddy are the means of livelihood for many of them. Traditionally, some of them also practiced traditional Ayurvedic medicine, which emphasized on messages at nerve centres and martial art of Kerala. Agriculture, animal husbandry, basket making, mat weaving and masonry are important subsidiary occupations.
29. Nayakan
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The word ‘Nayakan’ means a leader or chief. Naik, Naickan, Naicker, Nayak or Nayakkan has been returned, at recent times of census, by the Tamil Pallis, Irula, and Vedans and also by various Telugu and canarage classes. It is noted by Mr Talboys Wheeler that, in the city of Madras in former days, police duties were entrusted to a Hindu official, known as the Pedda Naik or elder chief who kept a staff of peons and was bound to make good all stolen articles that were not recovered.
30. Odans
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
10 The Odan also known as Otan are inhabitants of Thrissur and Palakkad districts. According to Iyer (1981), the Otans are a class of potters who were originally Tamil Sudras. The language spoken within the family is Tamil and with others Malayalam. The script used is Malayalam. Land is the main resource of the Otan, which is controlled by individuals. Earlier, their traditional occupation was pottery but now very few Odan continue in this profession. They are landless and work mainly as agricultural labourers, masons and daily wage labourers in construction work. Rise in the numbers working as agricultural and casual labourers has been recorded.
31. Pandithars
District: Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Pandithar are also called Ambattan, Pranopahari. Some of them have titles such as Pandithar. The community migrated from Tamil Nadu. Tamil is their mother tongue. Now they use Malayalam among themselves and with others. They are mainly distributed in Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Traditionally Pandithars were barbers to the Kshatriyas and Brahmans and had a close association with these communities on the basis of the service given. Their economy is mainly centred on this occupation. In the past, some practiced as country doctors or as quacks. The community is mainly landless. Some of them have taken government and private employment.
32. Panniyar No Data
33. Pattariyas
District: Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Trissur Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Pattariya are distributed in Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Trissur districts. The term Pattariya is Peruvannan (Varanavar) derived from Pattusalia meaning silk weavers. The title of the community is Pillai. According to them, the community migrated to Kerala from Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. They speak Malayalam. The Patariya are a land owning community with ownership being individual in nature. The traditional occupation of the community is silk weaving. Presently, they are engaged in cotton weaving and agriculture. They weave towel or lungies, thoorthu, mund, kaili, etc. Some of them work as daily wage labourers in the cooperative
11 weaving societies. They are also engaged in trading, business; take up government employment or private service and work as labourers.
34. Peruvannan (Varanavar)
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Peruvannan are gifted artistes specializing in the presentation of deities in the famed Theyyam performances. They were not considered as a polluting caste and were endogemens. They have been residing for so long in Kerala that they have adopted Malayalam as their mother tongue and with only those individuals residing in the border areas being conversant in Tamil.
35. Pulluvan
District: Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Trissur, Malappuram, Palakkad and Kannu Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Pulluvan is a small community belonging to the OEC in Kerala. The Pulluvan are distributed mainly in Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Trissur, Malappuram, Palakkad and Kannur districts of Kerala. There are only very limited number of Pulluvan households in each districts. Malayalam is their mother tongue. The Pulluvan are economically backward. Exceptfor a few families, they do not own landed property and live in small thatched houses build on the wastelands of landlords or in Purampokku. They earn their livelihood by their traditional occupation of singing Pulluvanpattu. The Pulluvan are specialised in the art of drawing Sarppakkalam. They use traditional musical instruments such as a Pulluvakkudam, which consists of an earthenware pot with its bottom removed and fully covered with leather except the mouth. Some of the Pulluvan have taken up white-collar jobs like teaching or run small businesses.
36. Rajapur
District: Kasargod Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
12 They say that they have migrated from Rajapura taluka, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra and they are also called Rajapuri or Rajapura. In Kerala they inhabit Kasargod and also in the coastal districts of Karnataka state. They speak a mixture of Konkani and Marathi with family and kin. The script used is Kannada or Malayalam. With others they speak Marathi, Kannada, Tulu, Konkani or Malayalam. Land is the main natural economic resource of the Rajapur, which is owned and controlled by individuals. Thurston (1975) writes that the ‘Rajpuris’ are a Konkani speaking caste of traders and cultivators of south Canara. The Rajapura of Kerala are cultivators. The community are a mixture of landholding and landless people. Generally they grow paddy, pepper, etc. Besides agriculture they are also engaged in business, private or government jobs, and as industrial labourers.
37. Reddiars
District: Except Malabar district Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Reddiars of Kerala are believed to have migrated from Tamil Nadu some 120 years back. They have three subgroups- Ahodhya, Gannjam and Kota. The Reddiar’s major concentration is in Kollam and also distributed in major business towns of Kerala- Trivandrum, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad. The dialect spoken within kin group is colloquial Telugu and the script used is Tamil. The languages and scripts used with other communities are Tamil and Malayalam. The Reddiar’s source of income is trade and commercial activities. The resources owned by them are commercial and business establishments. Some of them have entered private service and others are self-employed. They have been successful in establishing themselves as traders of textiles, oil, jewellers, bankers and in a few places as hoteliers.
38. S.C Converted to Christianity No Data
39. S.I.U.C No Data - excluding Nadars specified to items 44
40. Saliyas
District: Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kottayam Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
13 The Saliyan were previously known as Chaliyan. Recenlty, a preference to be known as Pattaraya in the erstwhile Cochin state began within the community. The Saliyas of Cochin affix Pillai to their names. They are said to be the immigrants from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The Saliyans of erstwhile Cochin and Malabar region are completely Malayalised and and they speak Malayalam. They are distributed in Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts of Kerala. Land is the Saliyan’s main natural resource. Most of them possess some amount of land. Weaving is their traditional occupation, and from this there has been a shift to various other occupations such as agriculture, business, white-collar jobs, and self- employment.
41. Senai Thalavar
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Their synonyms are Elavaniar, Kodikkal Pillaimar, Kumbakaran, Senaikudayan, Kodikkal, Kodikkar, or Kodikkalakaran, meaning betel vine man. This is the occupational name of a sub-division of Vellalas, and Labbai Muhammadans who cultivate the betel vine. Kodikkal is further a sub-division of the Shanans, who derive the name from Kodi, a flag, and five flag bearer as its significance. Kodikkal Pillamar is a synonymous of the Senaikudaiyans, indicating Pillamars who cultivate the betel vine.
42. Sourashtras
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
In the manual of Madura district, the Patnulkarans are described as a caste of Surat silk weavers, whose ancestors were invited to settle in Madura either by one of the earlier Nayakkan kings, or by invitation from Tirumala Naik. The community has thriven so well that they now form by far the most numerous of all the castes resident in the town of Madura. They are very skillful and industrious workmen and many of them have become very wealthy. The Patnulkarans delight to call themselves Saurashtra Brahmans, though the Tamils consider them to be a low caste. Like the Brahmans they wear sacred thread, and add on to their names such titles as Iyangar, Iyer, Rao and so on. They follow the Hindu religion.
14
43. Thachar No Data
44. Tholkollas
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Tholkollans or Tolans (skin people) are leather workers and dyers, and also gymnasts and teachers of gymnastics. They are also called Vattikurup, Chayakurup and Vilkurup. Their title is Kurup. The Tholkollans were originally blacksmiths by caste, but abandoned their hereditary trade for leather works and Mappilas chiefly employed them.
45. Thottian
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Thurston spelled this community as Thottian. In the districts other than Madura and Tinnevelly, the name Thottiyan is applied by the Tamil-speaking castes to the Jogis who are beggars and pig breeders.
46. Vaduvans
District: Palakkad Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The term Vadukan means bondsman or a northerner and is a term used generally to the to a Telugu speaking individual. The Vadukan of Palakkad are however not of Telugu origin; infact, their history is obscure. They are traditionally tenants of the Akathethara and other princely families of Chittoor and Palakkad. Transportation of goods by pack bullocks and bullock carts, before the improvement in road transport systems, was one of their traditional occupations. Their synonym is Vadukan. The Vadugan’s distribution is localised in Palakkad in the areas of Kuthanoor, Naduvathoor, Chittoor, Ambat, Puthussery, Vadasseri, Alathoor, Puvally, Kadukamkunnu and Akathethara where their estimated total population is between sixty and eighty thousand. They speak the Vadukan dialect among themselves and write using the Malayalam script within kin group. Both Tamil and Malayalam languages
15 are spoken with outsiders. Land is the main economic resource of the Vadukan which is controlled individually. A majority of them are landowners, with agriculture being the primary occupation along with animal husbandry.
47. Vakkalinga
District: Kasaragod Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Part of a large community in the Karnataka state, there are a few Vakkalinga families living in the Kasargode district. Though they retain Kannada as the mother tongue, they are conversant if not bilingual in Malayalam. Traditionally owners and cultivators of land, they are also now hold, jobs in private establishments, government sector and own business. Some survive as manual workers. They engaged Shivalli Brahmins as priests.
48. Vanian
District: Trivandrum, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Palakkad Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The community members identify themselves as Vanika Vaisya. They are refered to as Vaniyan. The Vaniyan are also known as Chakkan. They affix Chettiyar to their names. The word Vaniyan signifies trade and trade in oil as well as its manufacture, and it is the traditional occupation of the Vaniyan. The community resides mainly in Trivandrum, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Palakkad districts of Kerala. They speak Malayalam. The main economic resource for the Vaniyan community is land but only a few families have large land holdings. Most of them are now engaged in agriculture, white-collar jobs, business and industry with only a few continuing to run oil mills.
49. Vaniar No Data
50. Veerasaivas
District: Trivandrum, Kollam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements:
16 Population*:
The Veerasaiva community is scattered all over Kerala. The main concentrations are in Trivandrum, Kollam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur districts. Traditional occupations such as mendicants, musicians, papad makers, confectionery, garland makers, priests and ritual performers are still practiced by a majority of the community. They are mainly landless though some individuals may be landholders under certain settlement rights. Their subsidiary occupations include animal husbandry, industrial labour, self- employment, government employment and private service.
51. Velaans
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
Their synonyms are Anthooran, Kosavan, Kumbara, Vela, Kusavan, Kuyavan. The Veelan are traditionally potters in Kerala. They use wheels to make pots. Malayalam is used for communication. They were found all over the southern parts of the state.
52. Veluthedathu Nair
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Veluthedathu Nair are also known as Veluthedan or Veluttedan. They use the title Nair. They reside in almost every district of Kerala. They speak Malayalam. Most of them are leaving their traditional occupation of washing clothes and consider it a disgrace to be known by this occupation.
53. Vilakkithala Nair
District: Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
They are the professional village barbers, and shave Nayar and all castes above them. Their customs with regard to marriages, inheritance and religion are similar to those of the Nair. A few families of these people can found in every village and their services are employed for all ceremonial and other occasions. Occupationally, a few remain in the traditional niche. Educated
17 members of the community secure jobs in government and private sector. However, many members also work as casual labourers. Some are engaged in business. Those who remain barbers open saloons, where they serve all customers regardless of caste.
54. Vishavan
District: Malabar, Idukki Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Vishavan, a small group of people, are known to their neighbours as Malankudi (Mala=hill, and kudi=hut) or people living in the huts on the hills. Their main concentration is in the Talumkandan settlement of Idamalayar forest range, which comes under the Adimali block of Idukki District. Traditionally they are engaged in shifting cultivation of paddy on the hill slopes, hunting and gathering. Today, they engage in very minimal hunting. Gathering is a subsidiary occupation that includes forest labour, the collection of reed and bamboo and other forest labour activities.
55. Yadavas
District: Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayanad Taluka: Villages or Gram Panchayats or Settlements: Population*:
The Yadava are also known as Erumanar, Maniyani, and Gosangi. A few community members use the title Nayudu. They speak Malayalam. They are mainly distributed in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasaragod and Wayanad districts. Land is the Yadava’s natural resource and is controlled by individual owners. They are the mixture of landowning and landless people though their traditional occupation is tending cattle and selling milk. Beside settled cultivation, community members are also engaged in government services.
Note: * Population as per KILA Survey 2008 ** Literacy as per KILA Survey 2008 # Census 2001 / 2011
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