Nair
The title of this article is ambiguous. For other meanings, see Nayar (disambiguation).
Nayar or Nair (Malayalam നായർ IAST Nāyar) is the name of a Hindu Kshatriya jati in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Before the British conquest in 1792, the Kerala region had small feudal royal dynasties where the royal and princely clans, the military and most rural landowners belonged to the Nayar caste. The Nayars are known for their history as warriors, especially for their martial art, the Kalaripayattu.
The Nayar families traditionally had a matrilineal kinship system. Regarding marriage, the Nayars had unusual customs:
"After her puberty, a girl or woman could receive a number of visiting husbands of her own or of a higher caste. Nayar men were allowed to visit as many women of appropriate status as they wished. Women were entertained by their matrilineal group and fathers had no rights or obligations in respect of their children. (After puberty the girl or woman could receive a number of visiting husbands of her own or a higher caste. Nāyar men might visit as many women of appropriate rank as they chose. Women were maintained by their matrilineal groups, and fathers had no rights or obligations in regard to their children)."
- Encyclopedia Britannica 2009
Most Nayars bear the name of their extended family, the Tharavadu, as their surname. To this are added other surnames which serve to identify the lineage. The kings of Cochin conferred princely titles like Achan, Kartha, Kaimal and Mannadiar on the Nayars. The title Menon also occurs in the Malabar and Cochin areas.
Until the early 20th century, the Nayars exercised their influence in Kerala society as feudal lords and large landowners. Their position in society as a warrior caste has been compared to that of the samurai in medieval Japan. The Nayars dominated in the civil, administrative and military elite of the pre-British era.
In the post-colonial period, land reform led to massive losses of land holdings by Nayar feudal lords, and some Nayars became impoverished literally overnight.
