Kaimal
Kaimal is an aristocratic title that was historically used by various chiefs from the Nair caste during the feudal period of what is now the Indian state of Kerala. The Kaimals are one of the highest caste of Hindus in Kerala and South India in general. It was the title awarded to notable Samanthan and Kiryathil Nair families.[1] Various families have used the title, including the Kaimals of Koratti, Angi and Koddachery.[2]
Kartha is a closely related Cast/Title Both Kartha and Kaimal are identified as Samanthan. Some Sāmantans have the caste titles of Kartāvu and Kaimal. But it does not appear that there are really any material differences between the various classes of Sāmantans, other than purely social differences due to their relative wealth and influence. [3]. Kaimals were ranked as Swaroopam/Svarupi as well.[4].
Kaimals identify themselves as a Nair Sub-cast with Kshatriya Varna. There are many references recorded in various historical documents. They are noted as Emirate Kings/Nadivazis(നാടുവാഴി)/ Princes.[5][6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10][11]
Many Kaimal families are now part of Kshatriya Kshema Sabha along with NSS.[12]
Portuguese ascendancy
The Fifth Portuguese India Armada under Afonso de Albuquerque arrived in 1503, just in time to save the King of Cochin from the Zamorin of Calicut. The Portuguese then turned their attention to the chieftains who had fought against the Cochin army, and committed atrocities wherein they killed local inhabitants in large numbers and also indiscriminately burnt down towns and villages.[13]
The Portuguese and the king subsequently entered into a treaty with the Anchi Kaimals whereby they accepted the overlordship of the Cochin throne.[14]
The Dutch in Cochin
On 26 October 1662, the rulers of Kochi successfully defeated the Portuguese who wanted to change the statue of Kochi from that of an ally to that of a vassal. They exploited the rivalry between the Dutch and the Portuguese, and made the Dutch their ally in the war against the Portuguese forces. The Kochi kings fought this battle with the assistance rendered by the Anchi Kaimals.[15]
T. I. Poonen says
It may be mentioned that one of the important causes of Dutch success in Cochin was the loyal co-operation they received from the Anchi Kaimals or five lords of whom the most important was Cheranellular Kartha.[16]
Regional rulers (നാടുവാഴി)
The name "Kaimal" is derived from the word "Kai", which means "hand" in Malayalam, signifying power. Earlier Kaimals were recognized as regional chieftains. Major areas of Vaikom, Niranampetti, Irinjalakuda, Ranni, Koratti, Niranampetti, Angi and Koddachery were under the control of Kaimal Naduvazhis. The old name of Eranakulam was Anjukaimalnadu (The land of the Anju Kaimals).
It can be seen that some Naduvazhis even attacked foreign invaders like the Portuguese and attained small victories.[17].
It is an interesting fact that some regional rulers such as Koratty Kaimal were served and protected by trained Non-Nair warriors as well.[18]
As per historical records, such as the 'International Congress on Kerala Studies', it states that Territorial rulers titled Kaimal and Kartha ran parallel administrative systems by even challenging Kings( Maha Raja)
[19]Few of them were very powerful and even Raja sought help from foreign powers such as the Portuguese to conquer them.[20]
Chiefs of Cochin
K P Padmanabha Menon, in his History of Kerala: Vol 2, mentions the Anji Kaimals, whose chief was Cheranellur Kartha, as owning all of Eranakulam. In fact, Eranakulam was known as Anji Kaimal in the early maps of Kerala. The Dutch Malabar records of 1910 (Dutch Records No 13), show a map from the year 1740 that illustrates the area of Anjikaimal as being almost twice as large as the Cochin State. The other chiefs he mentions quoting Gollennesse (The Dutch East India Company) are: 1) Moorianatt Nambiar, 2) Paliath Achan (mentioned above), 3) Codacherry (Kotasseri) Kaimal, 4) Caimalieone of Corretty, 5) Changera Codda Kaimal, and 6) Panamoocattu Kaimal (Panambakadu Kaimal). The last four Kaimals are known as the Kaimals of Nandietter Naddu. The Kaimals of Nandietter Naddu had Nair troops numbering 43,000 in 1694, according to Heer Van Reede of the Dutch East India Company.[21] The Kaimal royal members had also moved to Goa during the Portuguese era.
End of power
P. K. S. Raja gives the following factors for the end of feudalism in Travancore and Cochin:[22]
- His[who?] violation in his dealings with the Ettuveetil Pillamar of the principal custom of Malabar that a Nair lord would not be punished
- His dealing with Raja of Quillon (his own family) where instead of making a conquered chief a subordinate, the Raja was made a state prisoner
- His invitation of Hyder Ali to aid him in suppressing the revolt of the "whole country North of Kayamkulam" who did not appreciate his policies and his treatment of the nobility
- The treaty between Cochin and Travancore and an inserted clause in 1701 that Travancore would aid Cochin in putting down the nobles of Cochin
- Leading nobles of Cochin were brought to Tripunithra and asked to take an Oath of allegiance to the Rajas of Cochin and Travancore. After this, says P. K. S. Raja, the nobles of Cochin like those of Travancore lost their political powers
Vadakkan Pattu
Aromal Chekavar fought with Aringodar Chekavar to elect the next authority of a territorial ruler named Kurungadi Kaimal. [23]
See also
References
- ^ Koshy, M. O. (1989). The Dutch Power in Kerala, 1729-1758. Mittal Publications. p. ix. ISBN 978-8-17099-136-6.
- ^ Koshy, M. O. (1989). The Dutch Power in Kerala, 1729-1758. Mittal Publications. pp. 45, 49. ISBN 978-8-17099-136-6.
- ^ Thurston, Edgar. O. (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, by Edgar Thurston. Publications. p. 286.
- ^
"Kerala Yesterday Today and Tomorrow,Page 58". National Book, E. M. S. Namboodiripad.
Svarubis. an independent king like that of Cochin or Calicut
- ^
"Journal of Kerala Studies".
Only the kings called Kaimal can marry the relatives of the kings called Samanthar
- ^ Journal of Kerala Studies/.
- ^ "The Cochin State Manual". Cochin Govt Press, Year 1911.
- ^ "Journal of Kerala Studies". Cochin Govt Press, Year 1911.
- ^ "From Biography to History Essays in the History of Portuguese Asia (1500-1800)". The University of Virginia.
- ^ "Madras Christian College Magazine, Page 411". Madras Christian College, year 1910.
- ^
""Kaimal,” the title of a prince of the Nayar caste in Malabar (Dalgado I 172-173).". "Francis Xavier: His Life, his times - vol. 2: India, 1541-1545". The Jesuits Historical Institute, 1977.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "ക്ഷത്രിയ ക്ഷേമസഭ വിപുലീകരിക്കും". Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
- ^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (1965). Kerala District Gazetteers, Eranakulam. pp. 120–121.
- ^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (1965). Kerala District Gazetteers, Eranakulam. p. 121.
- ^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (1965). Kerala District Gazetteers, Eranakulam. p. 153.
- ^ Poonen, T. I. A survey of the rise of the Dutch Power in Malabar. pp. 106–107.
- ^
Page 108 (1960). "A History of Kerala 1498 - 1801". Annamali University.
Karappuram Kaimals attacked a Portuguese squad- ron and captured it.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^
"Kerala District Gazetteers: Kottayam". Superintendent of Government Presses.
Collected From The University of California
- ^ "International Congress on Kerala Studies". the University of Michigan.
- ^ "A history of Kerala, 1498-1801". 1960,Page 56 57.
- ^ Page 241 and 242
- ^ Raja, P. K. S. (1953). Mediaeval Kerala. Annamalai University. pp. 198–218.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (4 March 2011). Kerala History and its Makers. D C Books. p. 84. ISBN 978-81-264-3782-5. Retrieved 10 October 2021.