PAST AND PRESENT STRUCTURE OF THE ARAYA COMMUNITY

4.1. INTRODUCTION

The past and present structure of Araya guides to understand the continuity

and change of the Araya fishing community. The pattern of life is changing every

day in the traditional Araya fishing community in accordance with the changing

time. The culture discusses the symbolic meanings of the members in the

community which communicates and understands themselves and also the world

around them. In this sense, cultural transmission is definitely seamless part of

everyday life and takes place through the productive and ritual activities which

characterizes a community’s way of life. In earlier days, the cultural knowledge is

constantly transmitted, acquired, and produced through their daily life. The

Kadakkodi system was the main controller of the ancient Arayans in all regions

since it handled the economic, familial and political matters. Meanwhile the arrival

and influence of new economic political structure, modern education system,

mechanization, relationship with outside world and elements of modernization

reshapes the environment by adding patterns of behavior and use of material

artifacts. The formal education played an inevitable role to frame and form the

Araya’s attitudes and principles. Schools were based on hierarchical setting especially an age-grade system. After the independence, the sketch of traditional communities has greatly been changed through social, economic and industrial development. Today, the Araya people are living in a mid-transformation and development stage. Some old things were ruined or destroyed and the new things germinated and substituted that position. The new social thinking emerged instead of the old beliefs, norms, customs and way of life. Moreover, the strong light of the

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Renaissance occurred in almost all the traditional communities. Particularly, it directed towards the path of development. The study discusses the past and present lifeworld of the Araya community through the social, economic, political, cultural and religious structure of the community. The study mainly reveals the effects of modernization which brought the socio-cultural changes in the Araya community.

The analysis focus on the continuity and change in the community i.e., the past and present structure of the Araya community. This chapter is divided into four parts and the analysis of the each part will be done after describing the data of each one. First part describes social movement of the Araya. It deliberates the progress of Arayas from earlier days and the role of leaders in the Araya community. Second part traces the socio-economic and demographic status of

Araya community and it includes profile of the Araya community. It is necessary to discuss the profile of the respondents and household members to evaluate the demographic and socio-economic condition of the Arayas. Third part analyses the occupational transformation, especially from traditional to modern fishing. The fourth section discusses the social mobility of the Araya community specially, the educational and occupational mobility within three generations. Therefore, this chapter helps to identify the social, economic, religious, cultural and political life of the Araya community. Through an in-depth analysis, it portrays the real picture of the Araya community in the Thrissur district.

4.2. SOCIAL MOVEMENT OF THE ARAYA FISHING COMMUNITY

Social movement means a transformation from the past to existing social system of the Araya community. The study focused on both the existing past social system and ongoing social pattern. The first session aims to discuss the progress of

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Arayas from earlier days. This part helps to validate the historical development of the Araya community. It represents the traditional way of life among Arayas. In earlier days, Arayas had their own beliefs, practices, knowledge and interpretation about their culture. But the life of Arayas is disengaged due the interference of the elements of modernization such as education, fishing technology, mobile, newspaper, wealth, interrelationship with outsiders, etc. It impelled to achieve the modern concepts, ideas, attitudes, consciousness and modern thinking specifically, the modern outlook and style. It identifies the traditional way of fishing and fluctuations of fishing, knowledge, practices, beliefs, methods, mode of fishing to modern, etc. It also pointed to evaluate the method and instruments of fishing from tradition to mechanization. The other part scrutinizes how educational and occupational mobility noticed within the three generations of the Araya community. At the same time it concentrates both the social awareness and social interaction of the Arayas.

4.2.1. Progress of Arayas from earlier days

This section focuses on the historical development of the Araya community. How did the Arayas live in their past days? The aboriginality of the

Araya community has been analyzed with the help of verbal legends. The informant (71 years old, rural area, lower class family) delivered the behavior of the ancient people as heard on his childhood days. The fishermen have gained the social and economic knowledge from their ancestors through verbal communication. The first inhabitants wandered in various places to search for their food. Later on, some of them migrated to the forest and cut down trees to make the conditions favorable to them. Comparatively the people are more refined people

152 than the barbarians (the uncivilized people). They began to think about themselves differently and considered them as better than the barbarians. They initially went to the nearest forest to hunt animals and birds mainly for their food and also used to eat underground vegetables. Some other people found their food from sea.

Initially they picked up seashells and pearls from the sea. Later on, they began fishing. Thus the people who found their food from sea became known as fishermen. Due to the unavailability of the necessary food from the nearest seashore they began to catch fish from the long distance seashores. As time passed, the fishing occupation and techniques evolved a lot. Afterwards they started to catch fish from deep water. Since then, they are known as Arayas. The methodology of the occupation has also changed. They began to use nets and bait for fishing. Later fishing became the The informant shared the living experience in ancient period which was gained from the oral tradition. This knowledge may be not accepted with the logic but they had recognized and made it as part of their life.

Consequently, it became the part of their living culture automatically. Even though there are no evidences some stories existed among the people of the ancient community. The member of the Araya community gets information from the functioning of stock knowledge and cultural rules. The stock knowledge is passed from generation to generation through oral tradition. It also deals with specific situation and generally, shapes their perception and understanding of their own world. But this knowledge is not familiar to the some youngsters due to their educational and economical upwardness. Since the earlier days the cultural knowledge remained among Arayawas acquired, transmitted and produced from generations through oral tradition. It implies the acquisition of symbolic meanings for understanding, transmission through the passing of basic cultural knowledge,

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values and everyday experience across the generations. Similarly, Levinson (2005)

identified the education meant, the nature of culture and the conceptualization of

education such as cultural transmission, acquisition and production. In this sense,

education is a flawless part of everyday life . The beginning of modern period

reflects in various spheres’ like urbanization, rise of capitalism, formation of states,

printing press that created mass school and much of human learning been confined

to schools. After the Second World War, schools became the dominant media for

learning in most areas of the world. Particularly the culture is acquired through

teachers instead of traditional cultural transmission. Both processes such as

traditional cultural education across generation and modern education from a

teacher are together known as cultural production among Araya. The concept of

education is broader than schooling, before starting to the school education the

traditional knowledge passing through oral transmission from generations. In the

study cultural production through generations means oral tradition but schooling means formal education. In short the Arayas have reached on the path of formal education presently. means of their life.

4.2.2. Role of leaders in the Araya fishing community

The prominent leaders working for the development of fishing community are K.P.Karuppam, Velukutti Arayan and Rao Bahadur Govindhan. According to

Sarasan (73 years old) from Kaipamangalam, the leader of the Malabar area was R

B Govindhan. During that time the area was directly controlled by the British government. The leaders of the fishing community got help from the Christian missionaries through education to bring progress to the fishermen. But the main aim of Christian missionaries was to propagate the religion by which they get the

154 domination of Kerala. The arrival of innovation made a strong influence in all traditional communities but not among the Arayas, due to lack of coordination of the leaders so that they split in the coastal area. Example: in earlier days the Arayas rejected formal education and fishing technology. The education has acted as an important instrument of modernization in Kerala. The beginning of western education in Kerala associated with the work of Christian missionaries. The major

Christian mission schools are: LMS in south Travancore, CMS is central

Travancore and Basel mission in Malabar, welcomed all students irrespective of their caste or religion. The Christian missionaries set up schools in different parts of the state which gave encouragement to the government to enter in the field of education. The fine examples are in 1817, Rani Gauri Parvati Bai, with the assistance of her Divan Col.Munro, introduced a system of free and compulsory education under state control (Sreedharmenon, 1996).

According to elderly informants from Kaipamangalam, on earlier days the

Arayans life was fully associated to the sea and they could not separate from sea because their one and only fishing occupation is related to sea. In such situation they are not mingling with the outside world because their thinking capacity is different from the outsiders. They focus only to catch fish to meet their day-to-day expenses and also to use their income to consume liquor. Thus their job is not a boon for them because they are the group of people who faces highest exploitation from others which lead to high liability situation to the fishermen. In fact, the fishermen community used to live in their own way of cultural life. Sir Nickelson, the director of fisheries branch under the Madras Presidency understood the weakened situation of the fishing community. In past days fisheries sections were the part of the Madras museum. He studied the socio-economic background of

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fishermen and was anxious about the life of fishing community. He tried to bring

development in the fishing community and prepared a report to send to the

government to get consideration for their life and living standard. The Kerala

representative Rao Bahadur Govindhan helped Nickelson to study the fishermen’s

background. Govindhan began to work amidst the Araya community to eradicate

their poverty and exploitation from others. For this, he aimed to establish night schools and awareness classes for the development of fishermen. He established fisheries school and fisheries banks for the fishing community in 1912 in different districts in The main topic of school was fisheries science which guides how to store fish and introducing some modern equipment to seize fish such as net and

other fishing tools. The preservation of fish was easier to the fishermen compared

to the earlier days. But teachers of these schools were less from Araya community

and it turned an advantage for the other people and later it became deteriorated.

The ice factories were established instead of fish-curies but it didnt function

successfully. Afterwards the activities of the fisheries school was handed over to

the state government through state formation since the government controlled the

educational institutions and fisheries banks. In past days, the position of Araya was

higher among the other members of the society and during that time the Araya fishermen were the navigators of the Cochin king and also, the fighters of the

society. It has diminished in recent days due to the arrival of caste system which

also led to the separation of occupational status. This social phenomenon

automatically creates some inferiority complex among Araya supported by

Udayabhanu (1987) in his study about the historical perspective of Dheevara

community. The significant developmental factors of Araya community are:

advanced information technology, globalization, westernization, industrialization,

156 modernization, the widespread growth of education and mass media. Moreover, modern communication, economic liberalization and consumerism have accelerated the process of social transformation and it affects the values and social structure in the culture of Araya community. Overall these factors have far- reaching implications on the Araya community in terms of social, cultural, economic and political life. Likewise, the actions of individuals, organizations and social movements have an impact on society and it became the mechanisms for social change. The actions of individuals, however, occur within the context of culture, institutions and power structures inherited from the past, and usually, for these individuals to effect dramatic social change, the society itself is tripe' for change (Preston, 2013). At the same time, social development is the process of proposed organizational change to bring about better adjustment between human needs and ambitions on the one hand and social policies and programs on the other.

It is the announcement of war against poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, inequality, irrationality and oppression that prevalent in a society. It is not only the uplift of the weak but also the underprivileged, disadvantaged people and improving the life of all citizens (Sharma, 2008). The Araya’s life influenced the interference of education, mechanization, communication with outsiders and elements of modernization.

4.3. SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC STATUS OF ARAYA

It focused directly to the socio-economic and demographic condition of the

Araya community in current era. The profile of the respondents and household members play an important role in the socio-economic condition of the Araya community. The socio-economic condition of the Araya is examined by collecting

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the social and economic variables like sex, age, education, occupation, income,

type of family and so on. It also helped to identify the demographic, educational,

occupational, religious and political life of the Araya community.

4.3.1. Geographical profile

The analysis of the area helps to understand the social and geographical

background of the Araya fishing community in Thrissur district. For the

convenience of the study the researcher divided the area into three parts namely:

rural, semi-urban and urban. On the basis of the living area of the Arayas near to the sea is rural; far away from the sea and some small shops situated in the area is

considered semi-urban (until one kilometer from the rural) and far away from semi

urban and some big shops situated in the area as urban (more than 1 km distance

from semi urban).The social condition of Arayas is identified through the living

area of respondents. Araya is the traditional fishing community living in coastal

areas of Thrissur district of Kerala. Earlier days, many Arayas lived in the coastal area and they were highly depended on sea. They lived in the overcrowded coastal areas. Moreover, their lifestyle is related to the nature of their job.

In the present study, more than half (56.9 percent) of the respondents

belong to rural areas. At the same time more than one fourth (31.2 percent) of the

respondents live in semi-urban and only very few (11.9 percent) of them are living

in the urban area. It was noticed that, less people are living in the coastal area

compared to earlier days. While, Vasumathi (2008) the study on sea, man and life

explained the living nature of the fishing community especially in a congested

coastal village area which is different from the other divisions of the community.

They are reluctant to live away from the coastal area. Yet, the density of the fishing

158 village population is higher compared to the other community. However, on the basis of the regional variations the density of populations is varied.

According to the respondent (35 years old), since older days the Arayas are located in rural areas while, they changed their living area into the semi-urban and urban due to the fear of tsunami, sea erosion (Appendix:Photo no.11), rainstorm, absence of hospitals, no adequate facilities and so on. It is observed that there are number of dangerous coastal zones existing in the Thrissur district. In particular, it can be seen as the absence and the destruction of sea walls in some areas because of the powerful sea waves. The authorities have taken necessary steps to avoid the devastation of sea walls but they are not in a proper way especially when they are made by the stones arranged in an unorganized way just putting each stones top of other stones without any concrete and heap of sand sacks.

The reasons of this collected from the respondents are:- the construction defect of the sea wall build by the corresponding authority, lack of yearly maintenance of the existing sea walls (Appendix: Photo no.10) and fishing land gap ( the gap given in favour of the fishermen to keep the fishing boat to the sea shore or path of the fishing boat) kept by most of the coastal lines affected by the monsoon due to the strong sea waves comes to the sea shore and it returns to the sea and removes the soil in between the sea walls. It is examined and suggested that the needs of ‘Pulimut’ kind of sea walls in some dangerous sea areas seriously affects the people living in coastal lines. These are the reasons that compelled the

Araya fishing community to move to the developed areas. Specifically, today

Araya people prefers semi-urban and urban areas because of suitable facilities like schools, occupation, hospitals, banks, large shops and so on.

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It is observed that, compared to the old age people the people from the new

generation do not like coastal areas. They are moving from rural area towards

advanced cities for occupational opportunities and for more advanced facilities. So the number of people living in the rural area has declined. There are some external factors specifically modernization which brought changes in the Araya community.

This data discloses the small movement happened among the Araya community from the rural coastal areas to semi-urban and urban areas. The people living in the rural area have decreased mainly due to the adequate facilities, education of their children which again show signs of change. At the same time there can be seen clash of opinion between the new and older generations regarding the choice of the dwelling.

4.3.2. Sex of the respondents

Sex is the basic characteristic or the biological attribute of any demographic

group. Sex has an inevitable role for determining the identity of the community’s

nature. For the study, the researcher selected nearly three fourth (72.92 per cent) of

the respondents belonging to the male sex from 362 households at the same time,

more than one fourth (27.07 per cent) of the respondents belong to the female sex

in the absence of male. Sex is a key variable which surely affects the economic

condition of the Arayas. Araya community provides a special preference to males.

Traditionally, Araya men are strong enough to carry out their occupation and

family together. It is because they have abundant knowledge about sea fishing and

the techniques of fishing in traditional occupation. The males usually engage in

jobs such as fishing, painting, clerk, engineer, business, gulf and so on. Whereas

160 women are engaged with household works, child care, financial management, parents care etc., and therefore overall controlling power is in the hands of male.

According to an old informant, male plays an important role among Araya because male brought major source of income to the family and controlling the family. At the same time, the position of women is obedient and submissive among

Araya. This attitude gradually developed among Araya community. A small percentage of women go for outside jobs such as peon, tailoring, clerk, kudumbasree (SHG)*, thozhil urappu padathi (EGP)*, teacher, sales representative, bank, fishing and allied jobs etc. But the majority of women are housewives.

According to aged respondents, in earlier days, men and women were not much mingling with other community. It is because the Araya people felt that they do not have good status in the society. Male and female were known as arayan and arayathi in the Araya community and they have commonly used half naked dress.

Study on ‘the sea, man and life’ by Vasumathi (2008) explained that their lifestyle is related to the nature of their jobs. Udayabhanu (1987) mentioned in the study on

‘Dheevara Community’ men and women used dress code in earlier days.

Ethnographic study on ‘Araya fishing community’ by Iyer (1982) and ‘Dheevarar of Kodungallur’ by Raman master (1990) revealed similar views. This unique attributes of their name and dress code creates a complex feeling which lead them to keep a distance from others. . Moreover they thought that, they do not have any status in the society which resulted in separation from the other communities.

While today the names and dress code has declined due to the choice of other occupations and mingling with outside world. The younger generation goes for

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education and other occupations so that they intermingle with public that it naturally brought new style, values, norms and practices in their life and it leads to a modern way of life. Presently the Arayas wear modern dress like pants, saree, salwar, lungi (tube shape like a skirt) and mundu (dhotis) while they go for shopping, public place, park, movie, ceremonies etc,. Hence in the current era people dislikes old traditions like half naked dress, ear studs and Deeksha by

respondents.

4.3.3. Sex of the household members and Education

Sex of the respondent is higher in females than males whereas the greater

number of sex of the household is females compared to males. From the analysis

of sex of the household more than half (50.92%) of the members are females.

While, nearly half (49.07%) of the members are males. As, in the marine sector the

sex ratio indicated 969 males for 1000 females (MFC, 2013). It revealed that

women are more than men from the field work and they are unemployed so the

males are compelled to work more to satisfy the major portion of the female

households.

The cross tabulation of two variables like sex and education shows that

1.53 percent of males (out of 49.07 percent) and 0.61 percent of females (out of

50.92 percent)are illiterate. The sex of the household in present study discloses in

Araya community involved more females compared to male and these females are

more literate compared to male. Similarly, the study on sea, man, and life by

Vasumathi (2008) claimed that fishermen literacy rate at Thrissur indicated by

female (62 per cent) are more than that of male’s (60 per cent) literacy rate. While,

total literacy rate of male (59.77) is more than female’s literacy rate (54.85) in

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Kerala. Therefore it revealed that the Arayas have reached the path of modernity and education is the prominent modernization factor in the society which intermingles with the Araya life. They receive education to improve their status in the society and also to avoid isolation from other communities.

The increasing education not only brings some changes in the philosophy of life of men and women but also provides new path of employment to the latter.

After becoming economically independent some women demand more freedom in family affairs. They refuse to accept anybody’s dominance over them. Education brings changes in relations in the family.

It definitely changed their individual values and rational thinking which generates stress between the uneducated elder and educated younger generation.

Moreover it brought changes in the family system and diversifying their traditional occupation.

4.3.4. Age groups of the respondents

Age is another important variable in the study. The United Nations has defined age as the estimated or calculated interval of time between the date of birth and date of census, expressed in completed solar years. Age influences the various aspects of the social, economic, and cultural life of individuals among Arayas. The researcher selected the age groups as young, middle and old age group for the study. These age groups include both men and women. But the availability of the respondents i.e., men and women, are not equal. The majority of the respondents are men and they are the primary earners of the family.

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Nearly half (46.96 percent) of the respondents are from the old age group while nearly one fourth (24.58 percent) of respondents from the young age group.

At the same time more than one fourth (28.45 percent) of the respondents are from the middle age group. In accordance with age the knowledge and experience regarding the occupation are different. The respondents from the old age group have more knowledge about fishing and majority of them used the mechanized boats than the traditional boats for fishing. From the examination of this variable it is identified that these age categories are working groups. It includes older, middle and young people and their knowledge and experience of their occupation is accordingly different subject to their age group. Therefore the comparison from traditional to modern was easier to check to have the continuity and change among

Arayas.

The old age generation has much knowledge about traditional fishing because in earlier days they engaged in traditional fishing with traditional equipment. Specifically the knowledge about the nature of the sea, various fish, method of catching the fish, stars which aids fishing, customs related to fishing and community matters and so on. They gained this knowledge from their childhood days through their practical experience especially worked with their parents in fishing occupations. While the middle age people lacked the traditional fishing knowledge, they tend to learn the mechanized fishing because during their time the fishing sector changed to motorization and mechanization. But the younger generations are unaware about the traditional fishing knowledge and depend upon the latest fishing equipments’ to scan the sea to find where the fish is located.

Apart from this, the uses of mobile phones enhanced the communication much easier between the fishing vessels whenever the herd of fish has discovered. Added

164 to this, literacy and education aids the people to understand the technological fishing knowledge. It is identified that the first generation have very less knowledge about the traditional norms and values of community compared to the other two groups. Hence, the different age groups followed diverse lifestyles subject to their living period and they hesitated to adopt external influence and change.

Mostly the younger group accepted the new equipment and knowledge, job, education, etc. So these factors influenced the cultural life of the Araya such as conversation style, norms, outlook, thinking, feeling, what to do and so on. It carries some issues within the inter-generations of the Araya.

4.3.5. Age structure of the Household

An important effect of demographic transition is the change in the age structure of the population. Age structure of household was divided into six categories to pinpoint the clear picture of the dependent and the working group of the Araya community that is the age group are: upto 22, 23-32, 33-42,43-52,53-

62,63 and above.

Figure 4.1 Age group of the household members

42.38

13 12 12.51 15 Upto 5.01 23-32 33-42 22 age 43-52 53-62 63 and above

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The study shows that more than one fourth (42.38 per cent) of the members belonging to the age group of 1 to 22 years and are students. They are dependent upon the working population. Whereas, nearly one fourth (25 per cent) of household members are belonging to the age group of 23 to 32 and 33 to 42.

Similarly, and next age group is 43 to52 and 53 to 62 which is 27.51 per cent. The remaining 5.01 per cent of the members of households belongs to the age group of above 62 years who are old age groups and non-workers taking rest at home.

The age of the household data shows that total working men and women are 51.51 percent under the category of 23 to 62. But the members of the working age groups are not fully engaged in jobs. The data shows that nearly one third

(70.73 per cent) of the household members comes under the dependent age groups

1-22 years and above 62 years i.e., the students, elder persons and non-wage earning females. Only 29.27 percent of household members are the working groups. By comparing the ratios of non-working and working groups, the working groups possess minor percent while non-working groups are large. Therefore the fewer number of working groups need to work hard to meet the basic requirements of the major portion of the non-workers. In addition to this, it concludes that the working group needed to earn more income for the protection of the dependent people. Therefore it automatically creates the situation to find other jobs to earn more income to support their family.

4.3.6. Marital status of the respondents

Marriage is a social control mechanism and is a decisive variable in determining the social cohesion and social unity. Marital status is one of the important variable through which the individual’s role in the Araya community can

166 be analyzed. One of the reasons for studying the marital status of the respondents is to identify whether they have responsibility in their family or not. The marital status is a variable which can be identified in the demographic surveys. It is a best indicator of co-operation, joint understanding about human affairs.

According to the United Nations, the marital status should be classified in the following 5 categories. Single (never married), married and not legally separated, widowed and not remarried, divorced and not remained and married but legally separated. From the field observation, in earlier days female married at the age of 12thor 13 but today, legally declared age of marriage is 18 years for females and 21 for males. While from the data the average age of marriage of the females is before 24 and for males is 30 years old.

From the investigation it is found that, all respondents are married and no divorce case was reported which indicates marital stability among the Arayas.

Married couples always have one opinion. In earlier days husband and wife did not have equal position in the family which provides males with power to control the females. Through marriage, a man gets a woman who can care him well with respect to his needs. Women are trying their best to help their families in such a way to fulfill the family affairs and meeting their responsibilities through marriage.

Different opinion is revealed in Araya community within the various age groups.

The 52 years old female respondent said that, she was interested to get a job and to be independent but her husband was not interested. It reveals that women are highly depended on their husbands. While a few young age group men were interested to send their wives for a job. The women are conscious about their rights to get some jobs through to achieve their independence.

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Marriage is no endogamous group among Arayas. Changes of freedom in

mate selection and changes in the attitude towards marriage have also affected the

Araya family. Young group do not wait for parental permission. Parent’s role in

mate selection has diminished. Marriage is not very much considered a religious affair but only a social ceremony. Inter-personal conflicts in the family are increasing. An unusual amount of conflicts between parents and their adolescent children is taking place. This is often denoted in terms of the generation gap.

The Hindu social value seems to be ingrained in the minds of women especially the older women. In their childhood days, a girl is protected by her father, after her marriage protected by her husband then in the old age protected by her son. But the young women do not subscribe to this view. The responsibility of the men and women are elevated after the marriage time and their responsibility is different according to their sex and role in their family.

4.3.7. Educational qualification of the respondents

Education is considered as the most significant factor in the socio- economic progress. The level of education is an important aspect for personality development and also choosing an occupational carrier and more over it has vital role in people’s standard of living. It provides exposure and access to new ideas and ways of thinking, and triggers a demand for change. Education and literacy is the most significant characteristics of a population.

James Welton in Encyclopedia of Britania writes that education is an attempt to shape the development of adult members of the human society in the upcoming generations. Here, literacy means a person’s ability to read and write

168 their mother tongue. Study on Ethnic identity and social mobility by Kurane

(1999) revealed that education is an important determinant of the quality of life and upward mobility. The education variable in this study is relevant to discuss the type and level of education of the respondents.

Figure 4.2 Educational qualification of respondents

Literate

4%1% 4% Below Primary level 5% 25% Secondary level 6% High school

SSLC 21% Pre-degree/Higher secondary level+diploma Degree 34% Post graduate

For the study, researcher divided the respondents into two categories on the basis of their SSLC education. It is due to the SSLC education level is considered as the basic level of education among the backward community. In this study, majority (80.64 percent) of the respondents were below SSLC whereas only 19.31 percent of respondents were above SSLC.

Among those who were below SSLC, just above a third (33.97 percent) of respondents belong to secondary level and at the same time more than one fourth

(25.13 percent) of respondents are primary level. The one fifth of (20.44 percent) respondents belongs to the high school level and the literates are very few i.e., 1.10 percent. However, few of them are above SSLC, Pre-degree, and Degree and Post

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graduate and the percentages are: 5.80, 5.24, 3.86 and 4.41 correspondingly. Pre-

degree level (Higher secondary) is clubbed into the courses like technician, lab

technician, electrician, auto-mobile engineering, and diploma and so on. Degree

and post graduates like, arts, science and commerce, engineering etc. have been

clubbed into another category.

Majority of the respondents have no higher education but they know the

value of education in case of job,standard of living, status, culture and so on. So

they provide compulsory education to their children. Whereas, the elder persons

(old age group) said that their parents did not give much value to the respondent’s

education due to their ignorance and lack of their education. Added to this, the

parents of the old age respondents do not have enough money, no nearest school in their area and also the respondent’s unattractiveness. Due to their lack of education

they did not get higher jobs and also they are forced to do traditional jobs. From the examination of the study, researcher identified that the education level is below

high school due to the poor economic condition, lack of schools, nature of their life

and respondent’s unattractiveness. Moreover, the words of respondents revealed

that due to the influence of recently occurred external factors the elders thought

that past education atmosphere is not adequate.

While the educated respondents gave more priority to their children’s

education either with their own finance or loan from the banks, it aids them to

increase their living standard, ensures high tech jobs to their children and through

that they can go outside states and countries for jobs and their studies. The SSLC

education is the highest qualification in the community while it can be noted that

there are no illiterates among the Araya community in the study sample. From the

170 above it can be observed the minor change is visible in the three age groups of the

Araya community. Influence of modernization especially education brought new skills, ability and talent in the Arayas. It produces like new lifestyle, thought, ideas, outlook, attitudes and so on in the Araya people.

4.3.8. Age and education

The age and educational level were cross checked to identify the educational mobility and relevance of the education among different age groups such as young (below 30), middle (31 to 60) and old (above 61) in the Araya community. Such an analysis showed the slower educational improvement within these age groups.

Table 4.1 Age and education

Education of the Age group of the respondent Total Respondent Old Middle Young Literate 2.35 0 0 1% Primary level 51.76 2.91 0 25% Secondary level 40.58 52.42 0 34% High school 2.35 33.98 39.32 21% SSLC 1.17 3.88 16.85 6% Pre-degree/Higher 0.58 2.91 16.85 5% secondary level Degree 0.58 1.94 12.35 4% Post graduate 0.58 1.94 14.60 4% Total 46.96 28.45 24.56 362 (100)

By the comparison of different age groups about their educational level identifies that, the old age group had only 2.91 percent were SSLC and above

.Whereas, the ratio has been increased in the middle age group i.e., 10.67 percent.

But the young age group is where the greatest number (60.65 per cent) of people

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acquired SSLC and above education. Compared to the old age group the education

level of the younger has progressed. The higher the age group then the lesser is the

educational level and when the age is declining then there is an upward education.

So the young age group is the highest group of people who has higher education compared to other groups.

More than half (51.76 percent) of the respondents belonging to the old age group have acquired primary level education. It is interesting to know that a good number of people were primary educatedobtained the traditional occupation. The reason may be their reluctance to leave their traditional jobs even if they get opportunities for other jobs.

For instance; there was a system which provides training to the young individuals for different kinds of job by the Madras government. But the majority

Arayans hesitated to enlist for this training in Madras because they were shy to intermingle with the strangers, and they were part of the traditional jobs: their fear and scare to go for training was due to the misbelief among the Arayas at that time that the scheme was to abduct their children for some criminal purposes. Therefore they did not utilize these opportunities well and continued in their traditional life.

In conclusion, there has been dawdling improvement in the education

among these age groups. At the beginning, lower number of people (old age

group) went for higher education due to the lack of knowledge and education of

their parents. While at the second stage (middle age group) there are many

individuals who acquired upper education because their parents are aware that the

value of education, norms and values, policies, reforms, economic condition and

educational institutions is better than previous years. Modernization had an effect

172 to this positive change among them. It was in the third category (young age group) that the highest number of individuals gained advanced level of education and the reasons for this can be attributed to the increased interaction, technological and educational advancement, innovation, transportation and so on. Among these, modernization had a great influence on the younger generation. The young people identify all trends and tried to achieve that trend. So they sometimes do not care the words of grandparents, but they do not reject the words fully. Education takes on youngster’s independent decisions relating to his personal affairs such as higher education, marriage, occupation etc. Youngsters are not much carried away by the traditional influence. He is ready for new experiences and ideas and is relatively opened minded and cognitively flexible. Here surely effected is mass communication, indusralization, new life style and modernization. Thus, it increases mobility in the Araya community like material standard of living, scientific and technical education, transition from ascribed to achieved status and increase in geographic and social mobility.

4.3.9. Occupation of the respondents

Occupational status of the respondent is one of the most important variables to determine their socio-economic and demographic background of the community. Occupation has an important role anddifferent types of occupation exist in the society. Occupational pattern influenced the behavior of individual and sources of their income. It also determined the socio-economic status, health condition, living conditions and the self-confidence of the people.

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Figure 4.3 Occupation of the respondents

1%2%1% Fishing 3% 7% Painting 3% Welder 4% Gulf Govt.employee 53% Teaching 18% Tailoring Business 5% Manager 3%

More than half (53.31 percent) of the respondents are engaged in fishing occupation. At the same time below one fifth (18.23 percent) of respondents do jobs in gulf countries like fishing, accountant, driver, security etc. and 6.62 percent of people are concentrated in business activities. The fishermen tend to do mechanized fishing and it generates better condition than their traditional fishing.

But still they want more status from their jobs so that they are likely to go to gulf countries. At the same time some people do not like to work under any authority.

Therefore they moved to do private business. Some respondents go for other jobs such as painting, welding, government employment, manager, clerk and so on because these jobs offer them better social status than their traditional fishing occupation.

Out of 21.78 percent of respondent’s occupational percentages were below five specifically, painters (4.69 percent), welders (2.48 percent), Government employees: peon, teacher, post office worker (4.41 percent), unaided teacher (3.31

174 percent), tailor (2.76 percent) manager (1.10 percent), clerk (2. 48 percent), and lab assistant (0.55 percent) individually.

This data show that Arayas are in path of occupational mobility from their traditional occupation. Older Araya people had enjoyed their occupation since they were not bothered about their occupation. But majority of respondents among young people are not satisfied because they are not getting high income and status from the fishing occupation. But advent of education had brought some changes in occupation of the educated persons eventually engaging themselves in other jobs.

The present study revealed that more and more Arayas are taking up jobs as teacher, engineer, and government service in Thrissur district. A study on the same community by Zakaria (2002) also revealed the same trend showing a gradual movement in the traditional occupation at the same time the Arayas to continue in the traditional occupation adopted mechanized fishing as against traditional fishing technology. This occupational movement occurred to change their socio-economic life. This analysis shows that most of the members were working in self-employed and private sector. This leads to deviation of traditional knowledge and changes in individual character.

4.3.10. Age group and occupation

The age and occupation are cross checked to identify the occupational mobility and significance of the occupation among different age groups in the

Araya community like young (below 30), middle (31-60) and old (61& above).

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Table 4.2 Age group and occupation

Occupation of the Age group of respondent Total respondent Young Middle Old Fishing 3.62 17.0979.27 53.31% Painting 35.29 35.2929.41 4.70% Welder 66.66 33.33 0 2.48% Gulf 54.54 37.87 7.57 18.23% Government 50 37.5 12.5 4.41% Teaching 58.33 33.33 8.33 3.31% Tailoring 20 80 0 2.76% Business 41.66 41.66 16.66 6.62% Manager 50 50 0 1.10% Clerk 33.33 66.66 0 2.48% Lab Assistant 100 0 0 0.55% Total 89 (24.58) 103 (28.45) 170 (46.96) 362 (100)

The evaluation of varied age groups subject to their occupation identifies

that, majority (90 percent) of them the age group of old is belonging to fishing at

the same time only few of them are engaged in painting (2.94 percent), gulf (2.94 percent), government (1.17 percent) and teaching (0.58 percent). Whereas, the ratio has been decreased in the young age group that is, in the case of fishing only 7.86 percent respondents engaged this job, majority (92 percent) of them move from hereditary occupation to other occupation such as painting (6.74 percent) welder

(6.74 percent) gulf (40.44 percent) government (8.98 percent) teaching (7.86 percent) tailoring (2.24 percent) Business (11.23 percent) Manager (2.24 percent)

Clerk (3.37 percent) Lab Assistant (2.24 percent). Their occupational group increased new group and number of respondents than earlier days.

The occupation of more than half of the respondents ie., the age group of middle which is fishing and gulf. But compared to young age group, gulf migrants are increased among youngsters in Araya community. This data has showed a

176 gradual occupational movement happened among these age groups., The younger age group have the highest level of education comparing with the older. The higher the age group, then lesser the traditional occupational changeand when the age is declining then there is traditional occupational transformation. Therefore the age group 31 to 40 is the highest group of people who has other occupation especially gulf migration compared to other groups. This migration caused problems in the life of Araya community. According to the woman respondent (29 years old) from rural area, her husband migrated to a gulf country around six years ago and they had three children. She lives in a separate single house. Therefore she is facing several problems like loneliness, burden of family, disturbance from neighbours and so on. Besides she is having mental stress and tension about her personal life and he cannot share to anyone. Consequently the Araya women face many problems due to patner’s gulf migration.

The influence of education, television, radio, newspaper, movies, telephone, growth and expansion of cities, unprecedented growth and expansion of industries,etc increased migration to other jobs among Araya community. The migration to Gulf increased among youngsters. The youngsters noted that the modern ways of life and change in economy and its related effects change social values and practices. There arechanges among Arayas involving the elements of occupation and fishing technology. These changes have brought about remarkable social changes in the whole system of social relationship installed new ideologies in the place of traditional ones.

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4.3.11. Occupation of the household members

Occupation of members of the household is analyzed to understand the job

security and the income earners of each household in the Araya community. It is

found that the limited number (29. 23 percent) of people of the total population of

the households (1628) work in different occupational sectors. Among the people

who are working in different occupational sectors, more than half (55.05 percent)

of people work inquasi- government, government, aided institutions and self-

employed. While below half (44.95 percent) of people are engaged in fishing and

allied activities. It includes mechanized, motorized and traditional fishing people.

Among Arayas there is a movement away from use of power and toward the use of

machinery driven by non-human power when they were touched at modernization.

It has declined the influences of the traditional beliefs and religious system. The

Araya people have different way of thinking, acting and feeling. The factors such

as the dominance of commercial activities, urban condition of life, greater division

of labour and rapid social change have compelled the individuals to achieve their

statuses on the basis of accomplishments in the modern societies. Rapid change

provides new statuses since they are new they cannot filled by ascription.

Only few people work under the other occupational sectors such as aided

and quasi-government (6 percent of people) such as teachers, accountants, clerks,

managers etc. More than half (58 percent) persons work under private institutions

like network engineers, painters, welders, tailors, drivers and so on. The self- employed people are 20 percent involved in business, driver, and shop owners etc.

At the same time 16 percent of people employed under government sectors like

178 teachers, peons, clerks, and post office employees. Only few number of people aregovernment staffs who got job security and pensions.

While the rest of the employees both work in private and unaided sector they do not have job security and pensions and they may lose their job at any time.

The older people like to work on traditional occupations to maintain their family.

But the younger generation moves away from their traditional occupations because they can earn more income from other jobs and also it is the matter of their status.

In fact it is difficult to get jobs in government sector.

4.3.12. Head of the Households

There are patriarchal and matriarchal family existing in India. The patriarchal family is known as father dominated family. Matriarchal family is known as the mother centered family. This variable helped the researcher to know about the structure of the families, that is male or female dominated ones. In the present study the majority (90.33 percent) head of the household is male but few

(9.66 percent) of them are females which includes temporary and permanent female headed households. It is claimed that the temporary female headed households’ are7.73 percent in case of the absence of the male counterpart. While the permanent headed female households is 1.93percent with the total absence of their husbands.

From the field of observation majority of the males are head of the family who possess authority. He is the owner and administrator of the family property and he is the final voice and opinion. The various Araya community studies conducted by many scholars in particular, ethnographic studies by Zakaria (2002)

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and Iyer (1982), the study on Fishing Economy of Kerala by Rajan (2000), study

on Continuity and Change in the Fishing Community of Kerala by Mathur (2008)

and the study on Kerala fishermen and Indo-Norwegian pilot project by Klausen

(1956) supported the idea that the Arayas followed a patriarchy family system.

Descent, inheritance and succession are recognized through the male line. Male children inherit the property of the father. Eldest son enjoys some special rights.

He normally succeeds the father after his death in the case of residence; sons continue to stay with the father in his own house ever after their marriages, only the wives come and join them. Women have secondary position in these families.

Children are brought up in their father’s family. Authority of patriarchal family is the father and male member of the family is the dominant person. All the members are subordinate to him. Nobody has the authority to question him because he is the owner and manager of the family property. To conclude, male and few of female can maintain the guardianship of the family, while the new generation does not like the control by others because their thinking is different which have a great influence on modernity and they gave preference to their education and work through which they achieve self-dependency. It creates some internal pressure happened within the generations.

4.3.13. Type of Family

Family is one of the major institutions in the society, which plays an important role in shaping the individual and their attitudes. According to Burgess and Locke “family is a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood or adoption, consisting of a single household, interacting and inter communicating

180 with each other in their respective social roles of husband and wife, father and mother, son and daughter, brother and sister creating a common culture”.

Family is considered as a fundamental social group in society typically consisting parents and their children or as two or more people who shares goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place. A nuclear family includes husband, wife and unmarried children. A family in which distant and close relatives stay together in the same house with or without separate kitchen is reflected as extended family.

It is very important to analyze the respondents’ social background. In a sociological point of view, it is essential to know whether the family is nuclear or extended. More than half (68. 78 per cent) of the respondents are belongs to the nuclear family. While, more than one-fourth (31.22 percent) of the respondents are under the extended family. A family which extends from the nuclear family includes grandparents and other relatives.

As the level of education rises, the percentage of those in favour of nuclear families increases and the percentage of these supporting extended family living decreases and joint family get detached. The impact of industralisation led to new system of organization management and new style of life has also affected the joint and extended family. It has made young men and women leave their joint family and extended family to faraway places in search of better employment. It has resulted in the breakdown of the link between the kinship and the occupational structure. Among the Araya the traditional skills, crafts and household amenities associated with the joint and extended family have declined because of the onslaught of capitalism and factory system of production. Now-a-days, many

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changes have taken place in the family system. The elder respondents claimed that in earlier days the life was very smooth and easy in such a way that any problem came up in the family then the elders found solution to that particular problem. In addition to this, they have sharing mentality, smooth relationship between grandparents and children. Especially they orally transmits many stories and norms to the children. From the observation, it is noticed that many joint families has been divided into nuclear families.

At present, there is a gap between the grandparents and the children and also the diminishing nature of oral transmission like stories, custom practices and so on. Another reason is that the joint family has one opinion in older days but it is different today because the family system changed into nuclear family. One of the reasons to move to nuclear families is that, the thinking and attitudes of the elder to younger is diverse. Specifically, old aged gave their opinion from their past experience and knowledge whilst the youngsters thoughts are based on modernity.

Added to this, the arrival of tsunami houses resulted to change the family system into nuclear families. In earlier days Arayas followed a joint family system.

Likewise, Iyer (1982), Rajan (2000), Zakaria (2002) and Mathur (2008) stated the

Arayas are changed their family system into nuclear family. The educated persons in urban areas are less in favour of joint and extended family norms.

4.3.14. Size of Household

The size of the household was one of the criteria to assess the responsibility of the respondents. The size of the family is not large today. It is because of the family planning adopted within the society. When the family size is low then the expenses of the family is automatically get reduced and also promotes productivity

182 which leads to the raising the standard of living to an appreciable extent. The size of household is divided the four categories: up to 3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10 & above.

The study pointed out that the nearest three fourth (73.48 percent) of household falls within the range of 4 to 6 members. At the same time the ratios of

10.77 percent and 14.08 percent of household belongs to the range of 1-3 and 7-9 members respectively. Only 1.65 per cent of household members ranged in between 10 and above 10. In most of the study regions, the number of Araya family consists of 4-6 members. The total person enumerated in the 362 sample households is 1628. The average household size of the Araya in the study is 4.49 persons, which is greater than the state average household size that is, 4.3 in

Kerala. When the size of the family is big then the safe guarding will be stronger, which directly or indirectly help the respondents to deal with the conflicting situation. For instance, some elder respondents shared that when they needed anything in their childhood days (Eg: new shirt, new sandal, dhotis,etc.) their parents were not interested to buy it for them. Meanwhile their grandparents interfered in such situations and helped to resolve the issue. Family is cut to size due to the arrival of industrialization and urbanization. Araya families are now the smallest and home ties are the weakest. Trends towards disorganization are set in motion. Decline in birthrate due to the size of family is becoming smaller.

Interpersonal conflicts in the family are increasing in terms of the generation gap.

From respondents it was understood that the size of the family determines the workload of Araya women and also the importance of men’s work to earn more income to support the family. So people have realized the convenience of small family. It became the increasing trend of small size household. The analysis

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disclosed that the size of the household declined from large size. The decline of

size of household leads to social and economic development. In contrast,

Vasumathi (2008) explained that the size of household of fishermen is increasing

than the any other community. The average family size is varied from district to

district. The Araya fishermen households the idea of the small family norm as

propagated by the governmental department machineries as evidenced by the

declining trend in household size.

4.3.15. Economic condition

In earlier days the family fulfils the economic needs of its members and the

family was an economic unit. The family members work together in traditional

occupation and today they are engaged in different economic activities outside the country. They are no longer held together by division of labour. Economic function is more a consuming unit than the producing centre, however, the family of the araya community is not completely losing this function, but it is transforming this

function to some external agencies. The majority of the older generation earn income through fishing. It aimed to understand the financial background of the

Araya households and it can be understood with the help of monthly income,

savings, loan, land ownership, ownership of boat and so on.

4.3.16. Monthly Income

Income is an important criterion to determine the social and economic

status of the respondents. It also verifies the living standard of the people and the

living condition of the people. The income level is divided into five categories to

scrutinize the income level of Arayas especially to identify the number of rich and

poor. In addition to this, to understand the standard of living, status of the

184 respondents in the Araya community was checked. Income level of lower class

(below 5000), below middle class (5001-10000), Middle class (10001-15000), below upper class (15001-20000) upper class (20001 and above)

Majority of the family creates only one source of the income in the Araya community. All family members are depended on men. More than one fourth

(28.17 per cent) of the respondents of income level are under the below middle class group. Among the people the majority of them are below middle class because their jobs are such kind of jobs can earn income up to Rs: 10000 are supervisors, security guards, painters, managers, fishermen and so on. While the

14.70 percent of population belonging to the lower class category due to they engaged in traditional fishing and allied activities, tailors, clerks and other jobs.

Fishing is a seasonal job therefore which earns less income. Due to the expansion of industrialization and urbanization generated changes in occupation sector and it arised economic condition among arayas than earlierdays.

From the observation fishing occupation does not provides a stable monthly income, because sometimes they get daily or weekly wage. They are not satisfied with their lesser income fishing jobs and it creates a painful situation among fishermen. So they compelled to go for other jobs which influenced the changes of their life style and development of community.

The middle class group followed the second highest that is, 25.09 percent.

The ratios of 22 percent and 9 percent are below upper class and above upper class.

There are people who can earn higher income from their higher level job employees are gulf employees, business, teachers, electricians, engineers and so on. It is evident that, it has a positive economic development has been happened in

185 recent years. On the contrary, the study on sea man and life by Vasumati (2008) about fishing communities and study on Dheevara community by Udayabhanu

(1987) mentioned Hindu fishing communities are the economically weak group.

4.3.17. Ration card distribution of respondents

The public distribution system in Kerala is common and everyone is entitled to get a ration card. All households of the Araya community possess their own ration card. More than half (67.67 per cent) of the households are under the

BPL category, while, more than one fourth (32.32 per cent) of the household belongs to the above poverty line (APL), which help to analyzed a clear cut picture of socio-economic condition of the Araya community. Income level is a best indicator to show the socio-economic condition of the people. The living condition and facilities enjoyed by the people are closely related to their income. It is found that the most of the Arayans’ families are neither poor nor rich. The distribution of ration card showed a clear evidence of the government interference in the Araya community. Some of the aged respondents claimed that in earlier days ration card distribution has not fully reached to the Araya community because of legal formalities. Compared to the previous days, a positive change has occurred in recent years. The arrival of ration card in community is the interference of external agencies. Modernisation elements are engulfing the Araya community. It gave more preference to differentiation among araya community and it leads to the altered status among arayas.

4.3.18. Ownership of boat and Income level

To identify the economic condition of the Araya community the ownership of boat and the level of income has been cross checked. Out of 362 respondents the

186 total number of fishermen was 193 who are engaged in fishing and allied activities.

Among these 41.96 percent of respondents belongs to the BPL category while

58.03 percent of them under the APL class. From the total 193 fishermen the 12 persons were possessed the ownership of boat. The total 12 owners are subdivided into 5(6.17 percent) persons from the BPL and 7(6.25 percent) individuals were from the APL category. The ownership of boats in case of APL and BPL group is almost same but the qualities of the boats are different. The BPL owners’ boats are different in such way that it fitted with outboard engine, size is comparatively smaller which can carry maximum 5 members, used simple nylon nets. Moreover some of the fishermen were the traditional boat owners who used oar (Appendix:

Photo no.3) for sail and repair nets by themselves (Appendix: Photo no.12). On the contrary, the boat owners of the APL category used modern mechanized boats which have large size, used fiber material, can carry around 60 members, used huge sized nylon nets repaired by the workers of the fishing community. The BPL income groups are not rich enough therefore they have taken loan from banks and cooperative sectors to buy boats. Majority of them are not interested in buying boat due to their poor economic condition. The youngsters of Arayas are financially no satisfied compared to older generation. The effect of innovation leads to mechanization in fishing and occur the capitalization on fishing sector. The modernism brought differentiation of boat and income among aray community. It leads to colonize the traditional life of the araya.

4.3.19. Land ownership

The adoption of land property bases the individual’s aspirations, preferences and choices of life. One of the important measures of the economic

187 security of a person is ownership of land. Ownership of land is an important variable to assess the economic background of the people. The data shows that all respondents have varying cents of land in ownership. More than one fourth (30.11 percent) of them have possessed 5-10 cents of land while 5.80 percent of respondents acquired 26-30 cent land property. At the same time more than one fourth (25.69 percent) of the respondents have 11-15 cents of land. Below one fourth (20.16 percent) of people are the owners of 16-20 cent land. At the same time 13.53 percent of people possessed below 5 cents of land. Only a few (1.06 per cent) of them have above 30cents of land property. It is observed from the study the land acquisition has been increased in recent years which can be attributed to the direct influence of modernization and the gulf remittance. The study of sea, man and life by Vasumati (2008) argued that while considering the average state’s land property the 9 percent of families have below 5cents of land ownership among this 32 percent is under fishermen community. The 11 percent of households have land from 1 to 5 acre whereas only 1 percent of the fishing groups are included in this category. The Araya’s land property is usually the land surrounding to their house. It is laid varying and it held the economy of Araya people.

An old respondent narrated the way in which the Arayas got their land.

They did not buy any land property but they got it from their ancestors. In his childhood days he had heard that in the earlier days, the coastal areas of Thrissur district was inhibited by the Brahmins. And the Arayas came from the northern district of Kerala. A man from Eranad married a lady from other community and they reached at the central area of Thrissur. There a Brahmin gave shelter and permission to catch fish from the sea and he blessed them that “Fish will be your livelihood”. It is the story behind the origin of Arayas in Thrissur district. Some of

188 the elder respondents said that in earlier days’ sea receded towards west at that time their ancestors seized more coastal land and they cultivated coconut plant to claim the ownership of land, therefore this property became the land of Arayas.

From that moment onwards the coastal areas of Thrissur are owned by Arayas. But at present there are some other religious and community members located in these areas. Some of the Arayas had seized some extra land added to their property and it is known as ‘Purambokk land*’ in the coastal areas. Only a few (12.88%) of the respondents have purambokk land. After the tsunami disaster of 2004, the government has provided tsunami housesto the fishing community as compensation. Some of the araya people revealed the land fixed by cash.

4.3.20. Savings and Sources of loan

Savings refer to any income which is not used for immediate consumption.

The data shows that among the 362 respondents, more than half (37.56 percent) of them have savings while more than one fourth (62.43 percent) of them have no savings. The savings are mainly in the form of chittis, gold ornaments, bank deposits, and insurance policies and so on. But majority of the respondents are not free from debts. Among the respondents 6 percent of them said that they have no debts. It portrayed the real picture of the economic status of the Araya community.

Sources of loan are very helpful to know the socio-economic condition of

Arayas. Only a limited number of respondents have no loans. Majority (66.43 per cent) of them have taken loan from different sectors, organization, fisheries banks and persons. The main purposes of the loans are for marriage, education of son or daughter, building and maintenance of house, fishing equipment and so on. Just above one fifth (21.07 per cent) of respondents have taken loan from Matsyafed

189 which is the fishermen’s welfare organization under the government fisheries department. At the same time, less than one fifth (18 .32 per cent) of them have taken loans from banks. A few number that is, 10.64and 12.40 per cent of the respondents have taken loans from money lenders and friends or relatives. Only few (4per cent) of them have taken from co-operative sectors. The data pointed out the poor economic condition of the respondents. According to the respondent in some situations money which borrowed from the money lenders who charged the high interest and gold loan for medical and such other emergency matters.

Borrowing money from money lenders with high interest rate is known as blade loan because it is just like killing the borrower with a sharp blade. It is evident from the above description the Arayas leads an economically stressful life. Only fisheries banks working in Koolimuttom and Kaipamangalam areas so this befit getting the nearest people only. According to informant (76 years old) from

Thalikulam, earlierdays many fisheries banks established in coastal areas but there have no strong person from fishing community to hold the fisheries bank that is deterioration occur the banks in fishing community. Development structures had a uniform character throughout the society and the government provides the loan facilities to araya community. It helps to develop the educational, economic, political and cultural level of the araya community.

To conclude: The majority of the Arayans are not economically well off because they do not have enough savings for their future. Most of them take loans from banks to meet their requirements which made some financial liability in their life. In traditional period, fishermen experienced very dangerous economic liability in their life compared to recent days. The elements of modernity such as the gulf migration, mechanization and education, transfer of other occupation, use of

190 communication device and mingling to the outsiders are the reasons for better economic condition than customary days. Apart from this, differences in thinking capacity, feelings and questioning are the other remarkable changes occurred from olden days. Correspondingly, the characteristic of economic sphere in modern society such as the development of a very high level of technology, encouraged by the systematic application of knowledge, the quest of which became the province of the secondary and tertiary occupations, as against the primary ones, growing specialization of economic roles and increasing the scope and complication of the major markets for goods, labour and money by Moore (1963).

In the Araya community a new economic structure has appeared in such way that fishermen taken loan from banks which is used for education, occupation, marriage, housing, health care etc. through that they achieve a better standard of living than before it influenced in each and every elements of their life specifically, thinking power, feelings, attitudes, outlook, lifestyle, aspirations and so on it automatically changed the cultural life of the araya community. It is approximately same as the uncoupling of system by Habermas, that is, the appearance of new structures through that the changes of communication in the society

(Habermas,1987).

4.3.21. Household amenities

Today Arayas hold a distinguished material possession than in traditional days which significantly affect the life of the Araya community. How the material possession of the Araya community can be identified? The material possession can be identified with the help of understanding the household amenities. It is vital to observe the household facilities to identify the standard of living and the socio-

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economic condition of the Araya community. Household amenities associated with

status of the Araya community especially private property is the modify form of

the distribution of statuses. The household amenities helps to explain the economy and changes of the community and the changes is the part of development and cultural change .The changes of Araya community identify through the use of man-made objects such as tools, concerned with the external, mechanical and utilitarian objects like household amenities such as telephone, electrical appliances and cooking facilities. Moreover, type of house, availability of electricity, exterior

and interior design of the house, possessed vehicles and so on.

4.3.22. Income and type of house

House and quality of life are the vital elements of an individual. House provides shelter, health, sanitation, and standard of living of the people. In some extent the social status of an individual is identified in accordance with roof type.

And the roof types are thatched, tiled and concrete. For instance if a person have a

concrete house he is richer than the person who have a tiled roof house and the

person with thatched house is poorer than previous two category. Therefore the

structure of the household is a key variable to determine the income of each

respondent. So house is the vital yardstick to measure the socio-economic condition of the Araya community.

From the analysis of the type of house and income level among the 362 respondents, 117 houses belonged to Above Poverty Line (APL). This APL

category includes 3 respondents have thatched houses, 37 tiled houses and 77

concrete houses. At the same time 245 respondent’s houses are under the Below

Poverty Line (BPL) consists of 138 respondents have concrete houses, and 107

192 respondents have tiled house. It was noticed that, there were no thatched houses in the BPL category.

Compared to APL category there is no thatched housed in the BPL category. Because they can get loans from the banks very easily due to the fact that government gave special care to the weaker section of the community for their house maintenance. Therefore they can transfer their house immediately into tiled and concrete house forms. Added to this, government provides tsunami houses which are concrete. Thus, it automatically raised the ratio of concrete houses in the

BPL category compared to the earlier days. Whereas, the transformation from the thatched roof houses into tiled house is not easier in the APL category because banks are provides loans with high interest rate and also higher demands. So it is difficult for the APL category to meet the demands of the banks. So the transformation is very sluggish. The fishing community has been changed economically Ibrahim (1992). According to age old person, they are lived hut in earlierdays. Overall, it is evident from the data the majority (65.81 percent) of respondents had concrete houses, which indicates a better social status among

Arayas compared to their ancient days in Thrissur. The government introduced several housing loan schemes for the fisher folk. So most of them get benefit from these schemes.

4.3.23. Interior facilities

Identifying the type of house is not enough to check the housing condition and social change. But it is essential to recognize the interior facilities which are suitable to the Araya households or not. In this modern world, technology has developed to a great extent. There are different types of innovation existed on

193 flooring of the house. There are houses with cement, red oxide, and tiled floor, shining marbles and granites, mosaic. While in old age time the floors were made up with mud and cow dough. Majority of the houses are made up of cement floor and red oxide. While few of them made their house floor with tiled, marble and granite. It shows a positive indication of the acceptance and imitation of the modern world in the Araya community. These indications influenced the social change among Araya.

4.3.24. Electricity and Electrical appliances

Electricity is one of the most important elements not only in the commercial world but also in the household purposes. Now the source of lighting is considered as an important means to measure the socio-economic life of the people. All Araya households in the coastal areas are electrified.

Electrical home appliances are the other indicator to measure the standard of living of the people. The data indicated that majority (98.35percent) of respondents have electrical appliances in their home. Whereas, only few (1.65 percent) of them have no electrical appliances in their home. From observation they using household durable assets are TV, Radio, Mixer grinder, Refrigerator,

Washing machine, Computer, electric iron, AC, Micro wave oven and so on. From this analysis it is found that majority of the respondents are interested to achieve a better standard of living which results that Arayas accepted the modern life. The development brought in the Araya household is the element of the electricity and electrical appliances.

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4.3.25. Telephone connection

Telephone is considered as an important indicator to understand the social life of the Araya community. Among the 362 respondents, more than one fourth

(32.32 percent) of them have telephone connection in their home. While more than half (67.67 percent) of them have no telephone connection. However, out of 362 respondents majority of the respondents have mobiles. Each of the household uses more than one mobile. In fishing family mostly people used mobile than land telephone connection. From the observation, mobile is more helpful for the fishermen in their life. It is examined that changes occurred not only in fishermen but also in the Araya community. Telephone connection is the part of modernism and it is increases communication with other, and leads to socio-cultural changes in

Araya. It changes ideas, lifestyle and attitude.

4.3.26. Cooking facilities

Like the source of lighting, sources of cooking are also important. Cooking energy used in the household of Araya community such as Electricity, LPG,

Kerosene and Firewood. In older days’ Arayas using only firewood but due to modernization effects the cooking pattern has been changed in the Araya community. Today modern cooking materials are usedg for making the way of cooking easy like LPG and electric cooking. From this it is observed that most of the households use both LPG and firewood. But within that the number of people who use LPG for cooking is higher than that of firewood. The best example of

Araya’s life controlled by the element of modernity is that of modern cooking facilities.

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4.3.27. Ownership of vehicle

The analysis of the ownership of the vehicle helped to assess the material possessions of the households. The data shows that among the 362 respondents only 17.95 percent of them have no vehicles in their homes. While, most (82.05 per cent) of the respondents acquired vehicles in their homes. Among them more than half (51.65 percent) of the respondents have bike in their homes. These vehicles are not only used by the respondents but also the other members of family.

Similarly, more than one fourth (26.79 percent) of them have their own bicycle out of total number of vehicle owners. Only few (3.59 percent) of them have car. It indicates that Araya wish to turn their local life into modern life. This material wealth is the part of their life and also the by-product of modernization.

4.3.28. Water Sources

Water is essential for human life. Likewise, Arayas have different water facilities for their housing and irrigation for their agriculture field. The main sources of water are public water distribution system, wells, and tube well. More than half (56.35 percent) of the respondents use water from the public pipe line and more than one fourth (33.64 percent) of them are depend on wells. It shows development of Arayas than earlier days. While few (10.01 percent) of them depends upon well, tube well and privately owned pipes. Sometimes they face some water problems like water shortage or unavailability of water occurred through leakage of pipes, pipe crash or from the damaged pipes. Hence their life becomes disordered and they cannot satisfy their daily requirements.

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4.3.29. Sanitation facilities

Sanitation facilities are vital for the personal hygiene and also for the society. Therefore researcher has identified the how many houses have bath room and toilet facilities. Majority (99.44 percent) of the respondents have better toilet facilities. While only 0.55 percent of people have no basic facilities. Most of them have bath room amenities. On the other hand few of them preferred to take shower and washing clothes near to the well or pond. So it is evident that Arayas have better bathroom and toilet facilities and are conscious about their healthy life.

Government provides tsunami houses to Arayas with bathroom and toilet facilities while it has built in congested coastal areas. Therefore Arayas faces many problems like water pollution, air pollution and soil pollution which caused various health issues and at the same time they are compelled to move from the congested village area to urban areas. Rajan (2000) and Sathiadhas (2013) supported the previously mentioned problems of the fishing community especially on their health issues.

In earlier days, Arayas were unfamiliar to the modern equipments’ but now they are familiar to the various modern equipments’. The Arayas prefer to work in other jobs than fishing in order to buy the costly modern appliances which automatically change their lifestyle. It involves the changes in their attitude, ideas, character, thinking, feeling and behavior. The use of communication media like mobile phones increases their communication to the outside world. Besides television enhanced their trends into new modern style and the most of Arayans use expensive electronics appliances in their home without considering their financial soundness. In earlier days Arayans used the traditional way of household

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amenities but it recently it converted into modern amenities. The reasons are that

the people of the new generations are very fond of new equipments and also the increased number of gulf migrants so their taste and preferences automatically changed and interested in qualitative expensive modern equipments from the foreign nations. In short, the life of native Araya fishermen is different compared to those of the gulf migrants. Added to this, there has been a remarkable change in the housing condition due to modernization and influence of external factors in the

Araya community. The lifestyle of material wealth robotically influenced the personal development of the Araya. The modern household amenities reached into the araya community which is same as the Habermassian colonialization of lifeworld. It involved modern societies have witnessed a phenomenal expansion of material wealth but they have yet to fulfill the promise of the enlightenment. The

Arayans possessed new household material amenities deviated from traditional material amenitities.

4.3.30. Health condition

Without a proper health care evaluation of the community, the study will

not be complete. It focused to identify the health awareness among the Arayas.

More than a half (58.01 percent) of the respondents is visiting hospitals when they were affected by diseases. It was noticed that, the majority of the people in the study is educated at the same time they were much conscious about their health.

While less than half (41.98 percent) of them were not bothered about hospitals because they are uneducated old people. They preferred to cure the disease with their own home-made remedies. In general the attitude of both these groups creates some internal issues among the araya community.

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In earlier times, people were not concerned about the hospitals while they used herbal medicines available near to the homestead. But this situation has been changed in the current era due to modernization and development facilities such as increased number of hospitals, new innovation in medicines, equipments and so on from the respective authorities. It summarizes that, there are a number of clinics in the coastal areas of Thrissur but it is not functioning well due to several reasons like shortage of staffs, medicines, equipments, doctors, pharmacy and some other allied factors.

At the same time the Aryans faces number of serious issues especially the people from coastal areas are faces the morbidity and it may be attributed due to the poor sanitation facilities especially from the congested houses and also the weather condition in the coastal area. The common contagious diseases observed were: fever, diaherria, vomiting, skin disease and so on. Therefore the developmental elements are the indicators of the progress of the Araya at the same time it became the reasons for the health issues of the modern life among araya.

The concept of uncoupling of system and lifeworld by Habermas is applicable to describe the health condition of the araya community. Uncoupling occurred due to the development of modern societies and through this the individual gets a greater potential for freedom. It enables the societies to became more efficiently organized and control their productive and administrative requirements and with growing rationalization of the lifeworld. When the complexity, power and differentiation of the system grow, it eventually becomes sealed off from the lifeworld ( Habermas, 1987 and Appelrouth & Edles, 2008).

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Thus the Arayans consults doctor and uses modern medicines meanwhile declining the usage of herbal medicine.

4.3.31. Political condition: Enlistment

Enlistment means the act of one who voluntarily enters the political party in

Kerala. The analysis of the enlistment helped to understand how many members were aware of the governmental provisions provided for them. More than two thirds (73.8per cent) of the respondent always use election identity card, which means they have awareness about the election processes the same time they do not have any active participation. At the same time below one fifth (16.9 percent) of them sometimes use election identity card. Whereas, only few (9.4 per cent) of the respondents never used election identity card, they do not bother about any politics. It includes both educated and uneducated people. According to a respondent (45 years old) who is working in gulf, casting vote if there was an election during his vacation. Another female respondent (71 years old) said that, she never missed her voting in any election and usually the members of the particular parties carried her from home to the polling booth in a vehicle. At the same time in earlier days the minor number of representatives participated in elections.

According to a group of fishermen from Azhikode, during the election time the candidates of the political parties came to the coastal area to request to vote for them. The fishermen promised to vote for the party and always they used their voter’s right for such election. Compared to the ancient time their public intermingling nature has been increased. It is a positive indication of development of the Araya community on politics. In other words, it is a foundation to the

200 relation with the state authority. The candidature of politics among the Araya community has been arisen and many of them won in the election. During the field work the application of the candidature has been arisen in the areas such as

Chavakkad, Nattika, Valappad, Azhikode, Kazhimbrom and so on. The three participants are from third generation. It opened a movement to the modern political world. Today increased trend seems to the intermingling with politics among Araya. It revealed newer people going with outside world.

4.3.32. Religious condition: Family temple

The composition of family temple has existed among Arayas. It aids to analyse of this practice brings to how religion, temples and deities are important in their day-to-day life. There is no difference among the educated and uneducated people in case of religious beliefs and they equally follow the religion. But in some cases it may vary from person to person. But some people from the new generation have the habit of visiting temples only on occasions and their attentive attitude to religious is completely different from the older people.

Majority (89 percent) of the respondents have family temples. They believe in deities and giving tribute to them for getting a peaceful prosperous life. Only 11 percent of respondents have no family temples because they do not have enough funds to build the family temple. But they are interested to construct and for that they are keeping some saving amount separately. The main reason behind is that, they believe that in every Araya homestead residing land, some active evils are present and to avoid the negative effects and also for getting protection to the family the gods must be worshipped in family temples by placing special idols in temples.

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They believe that if the people are close to the deities will give support and protection to the people from the negative forces affecting and if they keep away from the deities, the evils will take its advantages and prompt them to do bad things. Usually the Arayans like to revisit various temples either to their own temple or their community temple or other temples. The old age people are not satisfied going other temples. But the the young group, amidst their busy time lavish money owned by their own temple function for achieving their wishes and needs. Any time yougsters are feeling ‘better’, therefore they try to achieve the new elements through holding faith in deities.

4.3.33. Social relations: Community organization

The Araya’s also participate in the community organization which is known as the Dheevara sabha which stands for the upliftment and welfare of the country. Generally, educated persons are concerned about the membership in community organization than the uneducated ones. But it varies from person to person. In the study more than half (65 percent) of respondents are members of

Dheevarasabha. They believe that it is better to have membership especially to get avail different types of benefits available to them. At the same time, lot of Arayas

(34.8 percent) is non-member of the organization.

The Akila Kerala Dheevarasabha meeting was held at Nattika recently for the development of fish marketing sector for domestic and international purpose.

Many ministers have promised several developmental programs for the fishing community such as spending 6 crores about the 8 programs for the upliftment of the fishermen. Added to this, it ensures economic help to the students that is, Rs:

1000 for each student from fishing community on a yearly basis. Moreover in

202 recent times the government has cut down many of the benefits given to the Araya community. Yet it is noticed that, these promises are remaining same as promises rather executing the programs. At the same time it is observed that all of the government programs are taking time for their practical implementation.

As mentioned earlier, at the initiative of the Dheevara sabha people have started thinking about the community and its destiny. For example, many of them are interested in knowing the cultural background of their own community like the name, stories and their origin in the past years.

More than half of the respondents are interested to known in their own community name as Arayas. The Arayas consider themselves as higher among the other fishing communities and they would like to raise their unique identity also.

However, some of Arayas do not like to known as the Dheevara because they feel that assuming another name that their community name may automatically devalue their own original community name.

4.3.34. Welfare Policies

Kaipamangalam fisheries bank is the only bank for the development of fishermen in Kerala. They opened two branches recently in coastal areas of

Thrissur district. In earlier days the bank had different branches in all districts of

Kerala but due to proper support and maintenance all these branches had immobile their functioning in all districts of Kerala except Thrissur.

All the fisher folk are aware about the Matsyafed, which is the state Co- operative Federation for Fisheries Development which is the Apex Federation of

654 Primary Fisherman Co-operative Societies spread over 10 districts of Kerala.

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This agency offered several welfare schemes for the development of fishing

community and the fishermen gets benefit from these welfare programs. It includes

group accident insurance scheme for active fishermen with registered boat

(Appendix: Photo no.5), development of model fisher villages, saving come relief

for fishermen etc. are some welfare programs sponsored by the agency. More over

only the fishermen family within the Araya community gets the benefits of bank

loan for fishing equipment, financial help for the renovation of traditional boats,

house loans, financial help for marriage, old age pension, cash award for the SSLC

winners, financial aid for maternity and financial support for the dependents of

fisher folk’s after death. The fisheries bank of Kaipamangalam and Koolimutton

provide helps to poor fishermen families such as education, 1st winner of SSLC

and above education and loan for fishing aids. It is evident that the reservation

policies help to develop the araya community and it brings changes in the cultural

life of the araya community. However the different scholars like Mathew Philip

(1997), Dehadrai and Yadava (2004) and Mathew Aerthayil (2004) described the

continuous process of welfare and developmental policies of the government for up

bringing the fishernmen community to keep pace with the national development.

The cultural life of Araya have changed due to the financial help of the government and arrival of the developmental elements. What are the cultural elements of the lifestyle of the Araya community that has been changed? The elements are: attitudes, values, style of behaving are the inevitable factors for the

development of the araya community. Preston argued (2013) that the change has the unconscious effect of socio-cultural life. In this sense the Araya culture is approximately identical as the uncoupling of system by Habermas. Uncoupling is the system that has its origin in the lifeworld; highly differentiated and complex

204 societies have developed a set of emergent structures that become increasingly segmented from the communicative and integrative processes of the lifeworld

(Appelrouth and Edles, 2008). Hence the arrival of welfare policy brought subsection among the Arayas and it reduced the social intergrity. As a result difference in attitude, values, lifestyle and communication occurred which diversified from the ancient period.

To conclude: This section focused on the demographic, educational, occupational, political, cultural and religious status of Arayas in present era. Added to this it examined the socio-economic condition is measured based on the facilities and conveniences enjoyed by them. It is remarked that both positive and negative effects has been occurred in every aspects of Araya’s life. Plattueau et al.,

(1985) discussed the quality of life of fishermen is different from region to region due to the socio-economic condition and is measured based on the conveniences enjoyed by them. In the current study the Arayas have a better socio-economic life due to the effects of education, technological advancement, modernization and external factors which led to the improved standard of living of the people.

However, Senthilahiban and Selvaraj (1988) claimed the socio-economic condition of the fisherfolk of Kerala is very backward in India. So the government introduced various welfare programs for the development of the coastal areas of

Kerala and the implementation of welfare scheme is really a continuous process, which enables the fishermen to keep step with the national development. In short the decoupling aspects in the study are economic wealth, material possession, modern medicine and welfare policies. The changes in economy occurred due to the arrival of educational and occupational changes, improvement of household amenities creates changes in their standard of living. The welfare policies brought

205 increased social interaction and systematic order in administration of the Arayas

For instance, compulsory registration in Malsyafed and araya census became easier than before. Besides, as part of development the modern health care facilities have been improved. These developmental factors automatically bring changes in the communicative system which leads to socio- cultural changes in the Araya community.

4.4. TRADITIONAL OCCUPATION OF THE ARAYA COMMUNITY

This part explains the occupational features of the Arayas, the continuous changes from their hereditary occupation to the contemporary period. It also describes the mode of fishing and about the fishing nets.

4.4.1. Mode of fishing: Traditional and Mechanized

Traditional, Motorized and Mechanized fishing are the three modes of operation of the fishing community. Fishing is the hereditary occupation which transfers from older generation to younger generation. From the total respondents, there are 53.31 per cent of fishermen engaged in the hereditary occupation which includes fishing and allied activities. Specifically, majority of respondents work with mechanized boats while few of them work with traditional boats (Appendix:

Photo no.1). The hereditary fishermen not only goes for fishing but also engages in such related jobs as fish catching with the help of traditional boat, fishing rod, fishing net knitting, casting net on the seashore vendors, fish markets workers

(Appendix: Photo no.20) and so on. At the same time, the workers of mechanized boats used mechanized net for fishing such as purse seine nets (Thanguvala),

Chinese net, trawl net, fast engine boats, spacious boats, large members and so on.

From this, it is clear that the strong influence of mechanization can be seen in the

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Araya community which automatically reduced the number of traditional boats among the fishermen. Due to modernization and technological advancement as a result of the Indian Norwegian Project, the fishermen moved from traditional fishing to the mechanized fishing and adopted fishing as part of the daily life. The fishermen are forced to accept the mechanized fishing in order to fulfil their basic need for development. Further, it reveals how the modern fishing technology is closely connected with Araya community.

Different types of nets are used for fishing which are made up of cotton and nylon. More than half (62.17 per cent) of the fishermen used nylon net for fishing.

Whereas, above a third (38.88 per cent) of the respondents used cotton and nylon nets for fishing. According to the nature of fish, they selected different net for fishing. From the observation, it is understood that the nylon nets are comparatively stronger than cotton nets. In earlier days, people used cotton nets, but it did not last for a long time so that people changed their nets made of cotton into nylon nets. But still it can be destroyed by fish bite or from sharp edges of rocks under the deep sea. Due to these damages, the fishermen lost a lot of money for repairing purpose and it consumes their valuable time for fishing. It can be marked that the transformation of fishing net has occurred according to the changes in the various elements of the contemporary period.

From the observation, it is evident that Arayas shifted their occupation from traditional to mechanized fishing. Likewise, the other fishing communities in

Kerala changed their traditional job in terms of modern fishing technology as pointed out by Klausen (1968), Achari and Menon (1963), Mathur (1977), Felice

(1980), Kurien and Sebastian (1982) and Gulati (1984). At the same time, it has

207 improved the standard of living in terms of housing, household amenities, education and income. Since the beginning of mechanization era, the Araya fishing scene is dominated by persons from outside the community and changes in the fishing materials such as equipment and tool. It made a gap in between the traditional and mechanized fishermen regarding the wealth and knowledge of fishing. So the earnings from the traditional fishing have been diminished and it has led to an income disparity among the Araya fishermen.

4.4.2. Uniqueness of traditional boat

During focused group discussion with fishermen above 50 years old, they described the uniqueness of traditional boats. Since the ancient period traditional fishing existed in Kerala and the fishing was possible with the aid of kattamaram or chalathadi (craft of 3-4 meters long made of soft wood). The innovation of the popular kattamaram indicates fishermen’s creativity, hard work and dedication.

The kattamaram was an eco-friendly fishing instrument which floats on the water.

Therefore it cannot harm and destroy the bio-diversity system of the ocean because the net used in these crafts are capable of catching layer of the water without affecting the ocean flow. Due to the shortage of wood and arrival of modern technology, this device has become obsolete. But some of the coastal lines in

Kerala are still using kattamaram and it was traditionally passed on from the ancestors. These days, fishing boats, ships and ordinary boats are constructed with the help of modern technology. Respondents opined that a few of the coastal areas

(thurakal) like Ernakulam, Kollam, Alapuzha and Thiruvanthapuram districts show a decline of fishing with kattamaram. Fishing is possible with kattamaram up to 25 km and depth upto approximately 35 to 40 Maaru (measuring the depth of

208 sea, the length of two hands together is one maaru). The mechanized fishing can be carried out very far and deep than that of kattamaram. As a result the mechanized boats sweep the whole fish near to the seashore and it leads to the decreasing of sea wealth. The changes of environment destroyed the traditional way of fishing, and thus no kattamaram was found now in the study area.

The fishing culture of kattamaram is the idea introduced by the traditional fishermen and the shape of the kattamaram can be different on the regional basis which portrayed their regional identity. It became the part of their cultural life which indicates social organization of the ordinary people, language, customs and rituals. According to a fisherman (78) the word Kattamaram derived from Tamil language ‘Kattu’ which means ‘tie’ which symbolizes two or more wood kept together with a tag. The very lightest wood is used for this kattamaram because it needs to float on top of the water. A fisherman from Edamuttom says that earlier days the trees like the Phal Kadriya and Chirancis are used to construct kattamaram and it come generally from Tamil Nadu.

A Group of old age respondents recollected the past memories, the fishermen used kattamaram at early mornings (3 and 4am) by considering the sea’s nature especially to check whether the sea was calm or not and they returned to seashore before noon time. During night time the fishermen used kerosene lamps for fishing. The lamp is lighted to attract the fish so the fishermen take it as an advantage to catch the fish. In earlier days the various types of net were used in kattamaram such as neettuvala, karamadi, choonda and valippuvala. The fish trapped in these nets like chala, paral, netholi, ayala, vala, kalava, sravu (shark), thirachi, prawn and avoli. Each kattamaram can carry maximum of 10 kg fish

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each time. The fish thus caught to be sold on the same day to the merchants

through bidding on the sea shore. The fishermen’s net annual income was

approximately Rs.10, 000. It is significant to note that, the fishermen with strong

body, sound mind, hard work and suitable weather are the most important factors

for traditional fish catch. They engaged in the traditional fishing occupation to

meet their daily expenses for household and other purposes. The fishermen have

now adapted to small fiber covered boats, Valiya kettuvallam and smaller wooden

dugout boats. During the period of 1980 the mechanized boats were used in the

study area with Yamaha outboard engines (Appendix: Photo no.7). The nature of

traditional boat is different from mechanized boat which is using in the

contemporary period.

4.4.3. Nature of mechanized boat

How did the mechanized boats function among the fishermen and what are

the effects on the Araya community? Compared to the country boats the mechanized boats are created with the technical knowledge and technical support of the modern world. It initiated among the fishermen only after the INP but it became well known only recently. Though, the past 8 feet and 30 feet wooden vessel is used for fishing and fishermen ventured only 250 meter distance from the sea for fishing. Later other type of Moodivetti and Murivanchi (boat with its tailing cut off) was modified with outboard machines (engine boats) later on the boats were transformed into mechanized boats. The similar idea is shared by Kurien

(1982) and Mathur (2008) about the different types of boats and nets. Nowadays, fishing is an activity using various advanced fishing equipment. For example people go for fishing with the support of modern equipment in large fiber and steel

210 boats. It consists of several facilities similar to a house such as kitchen, room and puja room. As an impact of technical developments, the fishermen got some equipment (fish detector-echo sounder) to chase the highly concentrated fish resource in deep sea water. The use of this equipment both badly and positively affected the fishermen from the field study. The fish activity becomes more effective with the use of this equipment while use of the same machine can cause the problems of overfishing. There arise several complaints of fishing vessels travelling long distance and catching fish from other coasts. For example the fishermen from the neighbouring states of Kerala are exploiting the fish resources with the use of fish detector (echo sounder). Besides, fishing control room announces the weather report especially during the monsoon time. They also mention the favourable time for fishing and give warning in case of dangerous situations to avoid the fishermen from going to sea. There are system to check the violence of the sea and also tsunami detector.

Comparatively the mechanized boats are very long lasting and strong enough so that they do not sink easily down to the sea. So definitely, it reduced the maintenance expenditure and increased the income of the fishermen compared to the earlier days. The Araya fishermen’s life is daated to the historic period and they ascribed the essentials from the ancestors, while the youngsters achieved factors from external world to maintain the equal status in the society. Thus the traditional knowledge of the fishing among the Araya young adults has been declining and at the same time they developed their new ideas through communication, mass media and also relation with outsiders which direct them towards modern ideology.

Krishna Kumar (2005) attributes that the many problems faced by the traditional fishermen are because of their unawareness of modernization.

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4.4.4. Knowledge difference between fishermen

It is discussed about the knowledge of the traditional and old age fishermen

distinguished from mechanized fishermen. The respondent (61 years old) provide

description about the fishing aid elements such as stars, wind, water flow and

volume of sea which helped them on their navigation especially those who go for

fishing during night time. This knowledge exists among the old age persons while

the mechanized people are not aware about it. Perumeen is a constellation of six

stars with the shape of a kite. It rises at 8.30pm in the east after sunset and by 4 am

in the morning it reaches at the west side. It helps the fishermen to going out at

night for determining the direction and time. Kottu is another star arises in the

morning 4am at the south east side. It aids to identify the direction especially from where the wind blows. The wind carries particular smell it assists to find the location. When there are seasonal changes occurs then the regular stars are not visible. Flow of waters is known as Moyal .The elder fishermen said that the waves flow from west to east just like a running rabbit with a violent noise. This noise occurs from the deep sea waters. The flow of the water is also used to detect the directions. Fishermen can cross the tides even though the sea is violent. In the violent condition of the sea, tidal waves may rise thirteen times and then slow down for a moment and again it rises for eight or nine times. The fishermen also move their boats in accordance with this varying motion of the flow thakkam

(using the slowing down of the waves). Besides, the volume of ocean is alavu or

maaru which is when fishermen said ‘breast of ocean’ it indicates the volume.

They called it as ‘maaru’ for example: 20 Maru, the 20 ‘Maru’ means

approximately 30 km within 2 hours to cover fishing boats to reach 20 ‘Maru’

apart (R,2011).

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The knowledge disparity of the fishermen is due to mechanization, modernization, education, mass media and interrelationship with outsiders. The

Araya’s cultural reproduction is from the elders especially with the use of fishing aids. Similarly, according to Sarah (2007) culture is typically expressed in terms of symbols and through practice. The traditional knowledge about fishing aids is deteriorating among the younger people of the Araya community. The mind of the youngsters has been changed due to the interference of external factors and also declining fishing relationship within community. Fisheries network information system (2012) describes absorbing innovative and new technologies in fishing practices and advantages of the advanced fishing. It creates different types of knowledge among the generations of the Araya community. It generates knowledge inequality within the community. Particularly, the younger generation’s idea does not accept the older generation and the same thing is working in case of older generation. For example: The situational ideas made conflicts among the older and younger generation especially working in the mechanized boats. The arrival of mechanization leads to the changes in Araya culture. On the other hand,

Thomas Kocherry (2013) reported that the general norm for social change has been think globally and act locally. In the context of globalization we need a new dictum that is not by displacing peoples and destroying cultures. Specifically, after the year 1980 the mechanized boats depicted different features in the study field which guides the fishermen for fishing particularly, the boat navigators gave proper direction to the fishermen. However, traditional fishermen are guided by their own experienced knowledge from fishing.

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4.4.5. Experienced fishermen

Why are the ancestors known as the knowledgeable fishermen among the

Araya fishing community? The traditional fishermen have knowledge about the

Tsunami. Ramakrishnan (89 years old) said about the phenomenon of ‘tsunami’ as

Njandukayattam (crab invasion). The coastal people heard the name of tsunami for the first time after those tidal waves hit South East Asia in the year 2004

December. Until then such incidents were known among the Araya as crab invasions during the old times. One of the respondents from Chavakkad coastal region has seen the good and the bad effects of the sea and he recollected from his

60 years old memories. Many years ago, tsunami occurred in the Chavakkad area but the fishermen did not identify it as tsunami but they called it as njandukayattam. He shared his life experience: A man named Aachi Velayudhan lost his life in the above incident. The natural disaster occurred in 1952, from

Azhikodu to Ponnani coastal region. The whole picture of that calamity was so horrifying that the waves appeared like swarm of crabs and thus it was called crab invasion. These waves had its origin from Bay of Bengal. The Arabian Sea was calm and it had no connection with this disaster because Arabian Sea is shallow and having large amount of clay and rocks lying on its bed compared to the Bay of

Bengal. This knowledge only exists in the Chavakkad coastal area among the old fisherman. The severity of this past incident is of less significance, considering the recent attack of tsunami that occurred in Chavakad beach in 2004 (R, 2011).

Majority of the older generation followed traditional as well as motorized fishing and they were comfortable in their way of fishing. But the youngsters are accepting modern equipment and tool for fishing and also used the ascribed traditional knowledge from the elders which brought changes in their life. It is evident that the

214 technological colonialization occurred among Araya community due to

Modernization. Ahuja (1999) opined that accommodating the traditionalism does not mean the entire rejection of modernization and vice-versa. It meant that retaining only those elements of traditionalism and also some elements of modernization which are considered by the society as for it is function, in view of the collective goals. Thus, the existing wide spread unrest is the result of increasing contradictions in the social system. The change of the fishing technology is a branch of the Araya culture. Technological change is, of course, behind the process of industrialization, increasing division of labor, and growth of large-scale formal organization. Hence, Jonson (1980) asserted that the technology has an impact on social structure. In other words, Preston (2013) has discussed about the modern technology as the reason for the changes in the social condition.

4.4.6. Issues of fishermen

The acceptance of new elements surely affects positively as well as negatively in the life of Araya. The price fluctuation of oil seriously affects the fishermen. But the price of the fish is not increasing in the same proportion than that of the high oil price. Added to this, the fishing allied expenses also have been arisen. They are not getting oil with a subsidy rate. Still the quantity of kerosene with subsidy is less. They are getting 129 liter of kerosene with subsidy and that will last only for two days. The other possibility of getting oil is only through black marketing. The eligible fishermen complained that the ineligible fishermen are getting subsidy oil than eligible. The fishermen opined that, the harbor oil bunk needs to supply oil to the fisherman who got permit to solve this problem.

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The higher price of fishing net is another issue. The elderly respondents

argued that the net knitted in the Azhikode harbour with the range of 40mm to

1200mm. On the basis of the size of the net ring the price may vary and it begin

from Rs: 35,000 up to any value. The peaked sand -bed in the seaboard is another

threat for the fishermen in such way that they cannot move their boat to the sea

very easily. Nobody is taking initiatives to solve this issue.

It is evident that the fishermen from different states and districts are coming to Kerala for fishing and it seriously affects the native fishermen. Similarly the deficiency of monsoon is the other cause for reducing the amount of fish resources.

The less fish production is not only deplorably affects the fishermen but also the

peeling workers, fish loading people and ice factory workers. Besides this, usually

in the past days approximately 10-12 years old children were used for tying net.

The arrival of various communication devices has adversely affected the

sea and also the fishing sector. The usage of mobile phone is possible at a distance

of 8 nautical miles. So the communication become easier and they can immediately

transfer the information about the highly concentrated fish resources. So the

fishermen suddenly reached to those areas for fish catch and sweeps of all fish

especially the fishes are on reproduction stage and also the new born fish.

Therefore the increased numbers of mechanized boats are a threat to the sea. It

negatively affects the fish production in such way that the large amounts of boats

are sailing to the sea for fish catch and it automatically reduced the quantity of fish.

Likewise, Nair (2005) pin pointed the technological advancement negatively

affected on the life of fishermen. With the mechanized boats the fishing

community facing several problems but still fishing is more convenient with the

216 use of mechanized boats in such a way that easy to catch fish, less hard work, less time and earn more income. The motorized boats used Kerosene for it is functioning. But the shortage of kerosene makes their life more difficult because they cannot go for fishing. Due to the shortage they bought Kerosene from the black market with high price. The fishermen filled the high priced kerosene to their boats and afterwards go for fishing meanwhile their net may damage by a fish bite therefore they cannot catch fish from sea. Hence Jonson (1980) describes that the technology has an impact on social structure.

4.4.7. Transformation of the mode of transport for fish marketing

Different methods are available to sell fish in the market. The elderly fishermen claimed that the fish caught from the sea is normally sold in the coastal area in the past days. There are two types of fish selling: the direct and indirect selling. The fisherman directly sold the fish in the market or selling near to the seashore is known as direct selling. While in indirect selling some of middle men collects the fish from the fishermen and taken in the market, sea food zones, selling in near shops and to the individuals. If in the case the fishermen directly selling the fish in the market then he can earn more income than sea shore selling. Otherwise the fishermen is exploited by the middle men in such a way that he collects fish for a cheap price (lesser than the market price) and sells in a high price so the middlemen enjoys a higher profit.

In earlier days the majority portion of fish were sold in the coastal side itself, but some of the fishermen carry these fish on top of their head and also by bicycle into short distance. While at present, the mode of transportation is different for taking the fish into the market especially the middlemen collect the

217 fish with the aid of different types of vehicle such as two wheelers, small

Autoriksha (three wheeler) and tempo (four wheeler). If the fish is not sold in the same day or in case of excess fish or it may be taken to the far away fish factories then it can be kept safely. It is possible only through proper storage facilities with the help of chilling and icing. The mechanized fishermen land on the harbor area

(Appendix: Photo no.19) and the market is very close to them besides this the ice factories are also surrounded to that area. Thus it makes easier for them to sell and keep the fish under refrigeration. But the fishermen faces some issues like pricing problems, in adequacy of properly facilities ice factories, lack of Kerosene in OBM boats and so on. Thus the change in the mode of transportation is significantly helpful to the marketing of fish. In other words, Preston (2013) has expressed about the modern world the technology is the reason for the changes in the social condition.

4.4.8. Economic exchange among Araya community in earlier days

According to Raghavan (73 years old), in the earlier period there was barter system among the Araya community and they shared their food among themselves. Thus people became more enthusiastic by the new tastes.

Later, because of the interaction of exchange system people had attributed value to each food item. In the earlier days they measure the economic value of the food item through the mechanism of ‘thutti’. Then some other measurement rods added to it that is, ‘mukkal’, ‘ana’, and ‘nanayam’. The common occupations were agriculture, fishing and trade in the past days. Thus the food grains cultivated from agriculture and the fish from fishing were exchanged and people of the country became reformed a lot Eventually, people developed their own way

218 of life and food habits, and their occupation undergone change (R, 2011). To conclude, in the earlier days Arayas were living their own cultural life having no communication with modern world. They kept unity and equality in the thoughts and thus developed uniqueness in their identity from others.

4.4.9. The Boat ownership and distribution of money among the Arayas

The pattern of boat ownership is in two types’:the collective ownership and individual ownership. The group of respondents viewed that the one fisherman who is the owner of a small fishing boats is termed as individual ownership. While under the collective ownership two or more fishermen are the boat owners. The fishing unit may vary on the basis of the boat size. The unit of the boat may be single man crew –one man, five men crews consists of five people, ten men crews, and above ten men. Each member of the crew need to spend equal amount of money to meet the fish catch expenses. They share their profit equally. But there may be another case than that of the previous one is that; For instance, if five men are working but the boat is under individual ownership then the full amount of money is invested by the owner. Then how can they share their profit? They deduct the expense from the total outlay the remaining amount of money will be the net profit. It can divide into six portions the each of the employee can take one portion of the profit while the owner takes two portion. This is because the owners invests money for boat and also spend money behind repairing works in the case of any damages. The similar notion discussed on boat ownership and distribution of money by Klausen (1956) and Jones (2006). The profit is not only shared on a daily basis but it may be weekly, two weeks or two or three days’ time which is

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convenient for them. The employees may be seasonal workers or keep mutual

agreement with the owner.

There is income based difference between the boat owner and employee

among the Arayas. The difference is based on the more economic wealth of boat

owner, the upper position is for the boat owner and the lower position is acquired

by the employee who has low income. The owners attained the material and non-

material facilities such as children’s education, housing facilities etc. But the

employees tries to maintain the life with his limited income and they achieved the

facilities below that of upper people. The richer became richer and poorer became

poorer in the fishermen community. Through the economy both these groups

accumulated the assets especially, it refers to children’s education, housing facilities, better standard of living, creates family temples, investment, provide money for religious ceremonies and so on. These assets accumulation range is different amid owner and employee on the basis of their income. The same opinion revealed by Hasif (2008) in his study on the mechanization affects the occupation of traditional fishermen. It signifies the appearance of internal crisis in the case of economy. Mainly these difference influenced in the socio-economic and cultural life of the Araya. So they try to find out better job for more income and gain to accumulate of latest assets.

In general in olden days the boat owners were normally rich people in the fishing community while today anybody can be the boat owner who has money.

The fishermen can get loans from fisheries corporative bank if they meet their legal requirements either to buy a boat or maintenance of the fishing instruments. The

220 fishermen taken loan from different banks this view supported by Jincy (2007),

Klausen (1956) and Mathur (2008).

4.4.10. Trolling: the new element came to the fishing

In the year 1988 the government has established trolling act to prevent the catching of the reproductive fish and baby fish from the sea during monsoon time.

Previously the government has declared that trolling is for 47 days but presently it lengthens the period into 60days. When the trolling was for 47 days (June-July) then the fish production has been showed an upward trend while it stayed until the year 2000 because the traditional fisherman catches fish only from top water. After this period the mechanized boats became more popular among the fishermen. As a result they used their boats to catch fish not only from the top water but also from the deep water. It seriously affects the fish wealth. At the same time the government has announced another rule that need trolling for 60 days in a two time period, first one is June-July and second one is in October -November. The top water fish like chala and ayala reproducing at the June and July time while the deep water fisher like chemeen, kanava and koonthal reproducing during the

October and November time. So the government adopted these two times for the implementations of trolling. According to a respondent (55) trolling negatively affects the traditional fishermen’s life in such way that the traditional fishermen used the outdated traditional equipments so they cannot earn high income than the modern fishing. Added to this, traditional fishermen job is on a seasonal basis and they are unaware of other jobs so the government declaration of the 60 days prohibition badly affects the traditional fishermen.

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From the above analysis, it can be concluded that the transformation from traditional fishing to modern has occurred in the Araya fishing community.

Furthermore, the technological factors have made a considerable contribution to social change. The introduction of power driven machines and vehicles has brought about considerable change in the society and this has profoundly seen in family by Preston. (2013) Many studies has noted the changes to the mechanized fishing by Kurien and Achari (1988), Nayak (1993), Rao (1998), Dhanurraj (2000),

Dietrich and Nayak (2002), Mathur (2005), Jones (2006), Beena (2007) and Rajan

(2000). It is significant to note that the arrival of INP is key factor besides this; the modernization, globalization, communication and technological advancement are all changes happened in the fishing community. The changes affect the Araya fishermen both positively and negatively. Kurien (2014) discusses that the technological change resulted in the economic growth and development. However,

Mehar (2005) explained that the technological monopoly of the non-fishermen community can adversely affect the traditional fishermen. Likewise, Nair (2005) mentioned that the technological advancement brings the trouble and turmoil experience by the traditional fishermen. Similarly, the modernization is the process in which a society moves from traditional and less developed modes of production to technologically advanced industrial means of production. Social transformation is the established patterns of social relations or change in social values, or change in structures and subsystems which are operating in the society. Social change may be partial or total, though mostly it is partial. It indicates that the society pursues some fundamentals of continuity from the past (Ahuja,1999). To conclude, it is assumed that in case of occupational equipment and knowledge, the Araya

222 community is experiencing and practicing a good measure of continuity and change.

To conclude, the traditional fishermen transform his knowledge to the mechanized groups but they prefer to use mechanized boats for fishing and vice versa. The mechanized fishermen focus on new ideas, attitudes, aspirations and technology. These changes generated the disconnection of Araya community’s traditional factors. In this way the uncoupling of system occurred in the current study. Habermas states that the systematic aspects move out of the orbit of control of the lifeworld ( Layder, 2006). Correspondingly, Arayas move away from their own traditional edifice which appears as a new structure in the current Araya community’s study. It is identified that matched with the elder generation, the youngsters have little or no knowledge about the aspects of fishing aids.

Nevertheless, Araya culture is mostly understood as dynamic rather than static due to the introduction of fishing technology, relation with outside world and influence of modernization.

4.5. SOCIAL MOBILITY OF THE ARAYA FISHING COMMUNITY

Social mobility is the movement of an individual or groups from one social position to another. Social mobility does not happen suddenly because it is a dynamic process which happens gradually within the community. The analysis is focused on the social mobility in terms of social development of the Araya community. The main aim of the study is to discuss the different processes which lead to the upward social mobility of the Araya. There are two types of social mobility based on the generation that is Inter and Intra- generation mobility in case of education and occupation. When an offspring acquires a position higher than

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that of his father, it is operationally defined as upward social mobility within inter-

generation of the Araya community. Intra-generational mobility measured by

comparing the occupational status of an individual from his various occupations at

different times among Araya people. The study analyzed the Inter-generational

mobility with special reference to the educational and occupation mobility within

three generations of the Araya community and also analyse the intra generational

mobility within occupation.

4.5.1. Educational Background of Arayas

In former days education merely existed among the higher caste Hindus.

Only after the arrival of Christian missionaries that education has reached to the lower communities. It brought a spark into the life of Araya community but it does not work fruitfully. Some of the reformers like Pandit Karuppan, R B Rao from the community have worked for the development of Araya. But still not much development has been occurred. At the same time, during some of the officials deputed by the Madras government came to establish several fisheries schools for the development of the fishing community. Working syllabus of these fisheries schools were completely related to the mechanisms of fishing, fish net knitting, process etc. But there were not enough staffs in these schools so they recruited and

tried to take some of the educated (2nd and 3rd class) fishermen to Madras for

giving training in the aforesaid skills. But most of them were reluctant to go there.

With the absence of proper management and maintenance these schools became

deteriorated. The Araya did not receive any benefit from the schools due to their

ignorance about the opportunities unattractive to them and also education. Hence

the program was not become a part of their life. The early Araya were not

224 concerned about the highly settled life. Meanwhile, the community organizations powerful interference have undertaken among the Araya especially to provide educational awareness and also literacy. In 1996 the government has proclaimed a rule to ensure a compulsory education among all people of Kerala. Due to the new policy, components like craft which included fish net knitting were taken away from the curriculum. The compulsory education generated some fluctuations among the Araya particularly, the parents were compelled to send their children to the schools. The government has brought some policies which are favourable to them as part of their educational activities such as free food, stipend and so on. As a result it increased the number of Araya children going to schools. Hence, Sorokin

(1959) argued the changes in the social position of individuals or groups on account of changes in the occupational, economic and educational status.

4.5.2 Educational mobility within three generations

In this section, educational mobility among three generations of the Arayas has been examined; third generation, second generation and first generation from the 362 households. It divides the age group that is, below 30, 31 - 60 and above

61. The third generation is the children of second generation and first generation is the parents of second generation. It aimed to analyze the educational comparison between the three generations and through it evaluates social mobility among

Arayas. The educational levels between the first to second generation, and the second to third generation were compared.

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Figure 4.4 Inter-generational difference in education

100 90 80 70 60 3rd generation 50 40 30 2nd generation 20 10 0 1st generation

The above figure (4:1) focused on the level of education and generations within the Araya community to know the mobility of Arayas. In the third generation, majority (88.57 percent) of the members are students. While, there were no students in the second generation. The highest number (32.58 percent) of educational qualification possessed the pre-degree and technical holders in the third generation. While the primary holders the highest education that is, just above one fourth (25.28 percent) in the second generation. It is noticed that, in 3rd generation all of the members have above secondary level education. Whereas, in the second generation only few (0.56 percent) of the members are literate and also their education extended until masters level.

In comparison to the two, the 3rd generation’s educational qualification is better than the second group. The maximum educational qualification is above degree in the current era therefore the 52.8 percent members acquired both degree and post graduate qualification level. It indicates an educational mobility among this age group. But on the contrary, during the second generation the highest

226 education level is considered as SSLC and above, so it is evident that 36.56 percent members are above SSLC.

Only 31.20 percent of the members are literates in the 1st generation but in the 3rd and second generation educational level is comparatively better. It is significant to note that only below one fourth (24.82 percent) of members’ were illiterates. Comparatively they are the backward group who got less education than the other two groups. The 1st generation is proud to keep as education level that is the high school and above that is, 18.41 percent of members are educated. In earlier days their life is related to their occupation therefore they were unattracted to education In general, compared to the first and second generation the third generation is the group of people who educated well in the society. The reason is that, education has been developed due to the influence of modernization and external factors. The reason for lack of education in the second and first generation is the situational factors which are different from time to time. It is investigated that, moving from first to third generation there was a gradual educational improvement among Araya.

4.5.2.1. Case studies from household respondents

Few case studies are presented to acknowledge the education mobility among the Araya. These cases were identified during the field work together the socio-economic profile of the Araya.

Case I : Thambi, aged 43 years residing in the semi urban area of

Azhikode, hails from a middle class family. He is a SSLC holder who was working as a manager in a private company and now he is retired. His wife also achieved

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SSLC education but was not working. But his parents were educated up to

secondary level. They have three children: two sons and one daughter. Three of

them are graduates. His elder son studied Bachelor of Engineering (B.E), the other

one is studying in Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) and the daughter is studying

Bachelor of Commerce (B.com). It showed an educational mobility in this family,

from secondary level to engineering graduate, within the three generations.

Case II: Informant aged 29 years, dwelling at the semi urban area of

Thalikulam is a graduate from lower middle class family and working as driver.

His father was educated up to secondary level and mother was primary educated.

His grandfather was illiterate. His sister is studying in the 12th standard.

Respondent told that he lost his father when he was fifteen years old. But his mother supported him for completing his education and now he is educating his

sister.

Case III: Respondent aged 61 years, living at the rural coastal area in

Koolimuttom, has two daughters and one son. He is from a below upper class

family and educated up to high school level and his wife was educated upto

secondary level. His father and mother were illiterates. His son is diploma holder

and employed in Indian navy at Mumbai. One of his daughter is studying medicine

at Bangalore and the other daughter has graduated BSc botany.

Case IV: Respondent aged 56 years, located at the rural area of Chavakkad.

He and his wife got secondary level of education. His parents were literates. He

has two children. One son studied B Com with Network Engineering and daughter

studied upto TTC.

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There is a trend of intergenerational mobility with regard to education in every households.. These four cases are taken as representational to support the idea that the educational mobility between the generations is far more familiar.

People from the 3rd generation showed a better level of education than their parents and grandparents. Hence, the intergeneration mobility can be seen among the Araya. Education is a prestige symbol and at the same time higher education is not only a status symbol but also an effective means to upward mobility of the

Araya community.

4.5.3. Occupational mobility within generations

One person’s level of occupation and level of status in a community are correlated. Social mobility of a group is determined by the shift and ranking of occupation, consumption, social power and social class. Occupation is the most important indicator of stratification. The occupational mobility of the Arayas has been analyzed to understand the degree of occupational mobility among Arayas. It focused on three generation on the basis of their age. It involves third generation

(below 30), second generation (31-60) and first generation (61 and above).

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Figure 4.5 Inter-generational difference in occupation

100 90 80 70 60 3rd generation 50 40 2nd generataion

Generation 30 20 1st generation" 10 0 Gulf Clerk Tailor Driver welder Fishing Painter Resting Teacher Business Studying Manager Government… Lab assistant Unemployed

The purpose of this figure (Figure 4:2) is to analyse the occupational mobility within the different age groups. The below one third (29.23 percent) of members are working in different sectors from the total population (1628). The remaining respondents of the figure are known by different titles such as unemployed (22.35 percent), retired persons (6.01 percent) and students (42.38 percent).

Out of total working population (29.23 percent) the highest number of people are employed in fishing sector (44.95 percent). Among this, the people from the second generation are the highest amount (36.76 percent) of people working in the fishing sector compared to the other age groups. The members of the 3rd generation are the highest gulf migrant workers in comparison to the total working population. In contrast, the elders form only a minor population who are gulf migration.

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Out of total working members (29.23 percent), a small majority (12.39 percent) of individuals are working in gulf countries in the three generations. The percentage of the workers involved in other occupations like clerk, lab assistant, government, painting, tailoring are below ten percent out of the total population.

It is observed that a minority of young generation has been involved in jobs like painting and fishing. Added to this,the Araya belonging to the second generation are the individuals engaged in business are the group of people.

In the 3rd generation the fishing population is very less because the number of people who are migrating to the gulf countries are higher. It is due to the fact that they are reluctant to work in traditional jobs who gave them less social status and money. This also points to the occupational mobility among the Araya. While in the second generation the greater number of people involved in fishing sector because they are traditionally expert fishermen and they gained the knowledge and experience directly from the older generation. Besides, they did not get opportunity to move to other jobs. In second generation, some of them who left their traditional occupation and are now employed in business. The first generation also has the similar trend that of the second generation. It is observed that, coming from first to third generation there has been noticeable occupational change among the Araya.

Moreover, the traditional jobs are declining day-by-day due to the significant influence of the external elements like modern equipment.

Today Araya is economically better than earlier days due to occupational change and it leads to achieve the status and like the life of other communities. The younger people’s attitudes, ideas, personality, values, morals, knowledge, thought and behavior are different from other generation. The aim of youngsters of the

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Araya community is gaining better status and money. It leads to control the life of

the Araya community and it generates the internal stress within the community and

personally.

4.5.3.1. Different cases of occupational mobility from the household respondents

Case I: Respondent aged 58 years is a retired military service man, having high school education, residing at Kazhimbrom rural area. His wife is also retired

from her job at the post office. He is from a middle class family and his father was

a traditional fishermen and mother was engaged in fishing allied activities. He has

two children one is Network Engineer settled in Muscat and daughter is from

software profession. It is understood that, the occupational mobility has taken place

in the family, within three generations from traditional occupations to an engineer

who works in outside India.

Case II: Informant aged 57 years; he is located at the urban area of

Chavakkad. He is a business man and his wife is not working now. But previously

he was working as a traditional fisherman but now he has changed his traditional

occupation into business. Likewise his wife has done fishing allied activities in

early days. His father was also a traditional fisherman and mother helped him for

fishing allied activities. He has three sons and they are working in gulf. It is

important to note that there has occupational change in their family specifically,

intra and inter- generational mobility.

Case III: Respondent aged 61 years, dwelling in Orumanayoor semi-urban

area, a retired man from ship acquired higher secondary education. He is from a middle class family. His wife is unemployed and parents were engaged in

232 traditional fishing. He has one son and three daughters. Son is a diploma holder working in ship as Captain. One daughter is a doctor; another daughter is B Ed graduate and working as teacher and third is working as a clerk in a bank and possessed M Com. It showed a higher level of occupational mobility within the three generations.

Case IV: Respondent aged 56 years, residing in the coastal area of

Valappad, is a fisherman who achieved secondary level of education. His wife has no job and his parents were involved in the fishing activities. He has one son and one daughter. His son is a Network Engineer and he was working 2 years in Kerala then changed and settled in Bangalore. Daughter is the Panchayath secretary. He has middle class family background. It is explored that, there is an occupational mobility which is vertically upward in this case.

Case V: Informant aged 41 years, living at the coastal area of Vadanappilly is a fisherman. His wife was educated at the primary level and has no job. His father was a fisherman. He has one son and 3 daughters. His son cleared the competitive net exam and his one daughter is a lecturer in a college and two other daughters are doing graduation. He is from a lower middle class family. They live in small house but have high educational and occupational aspirations.

The foregoing cases examined the occupational mobility within three generations especially with the help of qualitative and quantitative data. Here it is identified two types of mobility inter and intra generational mobility, and upward vertical mobility within generations. The causes of change in occupation are the arrival of modernization, globalization and other external factors. The study on social mobility in industrial society (1959) by Lipset and Bendix supported the

233 above view that some forces are the reason for the change among the generations.

Likewise, the study by Sorokin about social and cultural mobility (1959) describes the social mobility is the transformation of an individual or value position to another. Furthermore certain group or people are relatively immobile. In such a social set up people remain in the same strata or group in which they were born.

4.5.4. Araya’s Awareness about world: Newspaper reading habit

The newspaper reading habit was examined to evaluate the Araya community’s awareness’ about the outside world. The age and newspaper reading has been analyzed to understand how many people from different age groups is reading newspaper on a daily basis. Out of 362 population just above two third

(66.57 percent) of them had the newspaper reading habit. While a third (33.41 percent) of people from different group are not reading the newspaper. They do not follow the routine of reading news daily but are reading occasionally because they have no interest to read the small letters or interested to hear the radio and others. But they find pleasure in some other activities. Just under a half (48.13 percent) of the people from middle aged is reading newspaper out of the total newspaper readers. They do not have enough knowledge about the communication devices therefore they prefer to read newspapers. They do not trust television news channels because the different channels tell the same news differently. Apart from this, they are always engaged in their occupation so they do not get adequate time to watch the news. However, a few (10.12 percent) number of individuals from the new generation have the reading habit of newspapers. They are very fond of electronic devices such as mobile, computer, and tablet and so on. So they do not bother about the newspaper. While below one fourth (20.74 percent) of elderly

234 persons are in between the two age groups in newspaper reading habit. Compared to other age groups they are the vulnerable people who do not like to sit long time to read the newspaper especially after their hard work. Overall, the majority of the

Arayas would like to get awareness of the outside world. It enhances them to know about the market, price, trend, new equipments’, technologies, issues, politics, policies and so on.

4.5.5. Social interaction

The age and membership in club are verified to examine the communication and social interaction of the Araya. The members of the club are not only the Araya but also the people from the different religion and community.

From the total population of 362, more than half (51.10 percent) of the respondents have taken membership in club. While just below a half (48.89 percent) of people do not have any membership. They are not interested to mingle with others and they do not have time. Among the total club members the higher number of young adults have taken club membership that is, below a half (42.24 percent). They would like to mingle with others through different activities in case of local temple festivals, Vishu, Onam celebration, Diwali, Christmas, Eid Mubarak and so on.

Moreover keeping friendship with many people is the peculiarity of this generation. Under stably the membership of the club below one fourth (22.16 percent) of the elder people is less. Compared to the young people they are the matured people who are having different responsibilities specifically family matters. Besides, the age is varied so there may be some generation gap and it creates arguments and issues. The middle aged people are followed by the young generation that is, 34.59 percent.

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It is indicated that, the middle age individuals are interested to participate in

different activities but here the number is less due to their less interest, does not

like to mingle with others and moreover they do not like spend money for

unnecessary things. To conclude, it can be said that, through taking membership with other people from the different religion the social interaction has been

increased among the Arayas. It is a positive development of the Araya community.

The Araya life has influenced the external communication facilities and social

interaction with other community. It enhances expansion of knowledge and

enlarged outside world relation compared to the older age group. It created

inequality between younger and older generation within the community. Here,

inequality means logical thought, knowledge, idea, attitude, feeling and so on. The

youngsters going on with the outside society automatically creates inequality

among Arayas and it leads to internal tension in the community

(Appendix: case 1). The youngsters face the internal stress because they are living

with modernity so they completely cannot accept the elders’ words. Therefore the

discomfort in the life of youngster leads to tensions in the Araya community.

4.6. CONCLUSION

This chapter revealed the social, economic, religious, cultural, educational,

occupational and political lifeworld of the Araya community in present era.

Presently the Arayas are on the path of formal education. The majority of the

Arayans are not economically well because they do not have enough savings for

their future. Most of them take loans from banks to meet their requirements which

made some financial liability in their life. The changes of economiy occurred due

to the arrival of educational and occupational changes, improvement of household

236 amenities creates changes in their standard of living. The welfare policies brought increased social interaction and development of modern health care facilities. The traditional fishermen transform his knowledge to the mechanized groups but they prefer to use mechanized boats for fishing and vice versa. The mechanized fishermen focus on new ideas, attitudes, aspirations and technology. These changes generated the disconnection of Araya community’s traditional factors. Araya culture is mostly understood as dynamic rather than static due to the introduction of fishing technology, relation with outside world and influence of modernization.

These external elements’ interference is called the colonization or mediatization of lifeworld in this study. These developmental factors automatically bring changes in the communicative system which leads to socio- cultural changes in the Araya community. It includes dress, lifestyle, and daily routines and so on. The elements of modernity such as the gulf migration, mechanization and education, transfer of other occupation, use of communication device and minkling to the outsiders are the reasons for better economic condition than customary days. Apart from this, differences in thinking capacity, feelings and questioning are the other remarkable changes occurred than from olden days. Specifically, thinking power, feelings, attitudes, outlook, lifestyle, aspirations and so on it automatically changed the cultural life of the araya community. In this way the uncoupling of system occurred in the current study. Habermas states that the systematic aspects move out of the orbit of control of the lifeworld ( Layder, 2006). Correspondingly,

Arayas move away from their own traditional edifice which appears as a new structure in the current Araya community’s study. It enhances expansion of knowledge and enlarged outside world relation compared to the older age group. It created inequality between younger and older generation within the community.

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Here, inequality means logical thought, knowledge, idea, attitude, feeling and so on. The youngsters going on with the outside society automatically creates inequality among Arayas and it leads to internal tension in the community. The youngsters face the internal stress because they are living with modernity so they completely cannot accept the parents’ words. Therefore the distress in the life of youngster leads to tensions in the Araya community. In short the decoupling aspects in the study are economic wealth, material possession, modern medicine and welfare policies. It is approximately same as the uncoupling of system by

Habermas, that is, the appearance of new arrangements through that the changes of communication in the society (Habermas, 1987). This chapter revealed that Arayas are on the path of change with continuity.

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