TEMPLES OF WAYANAD DISTRICT

                                               TEMPLES OF WAYANAD DISTRICT

            Extracts from page No.8.of the book

Para 14. Scheduled tribes constitute 17.11 per cent of the total  population of the district. Most of the tribal people take their ancestry to aboriginal tribes consisting of Atiyans, Katars, Kattu Naaykkans, Mulla Kurumbas, Uraali Kurumbas Paninans, Chettis[Etanaatan Chettis, Wayanadan Chettis and Mantatan Chettis], Kuntuvatiyans, Karimpaalans, Pathiyans, Uridavans, Thachchnaat Mooppans, Kanaladis, Arandans, Vettuvan Malakkaaransetc.. Of them Atiyans [in vernacular means slaves ] are generally tall and sturdy in stature. They are mostly agricultural labourers.Though there are various sub-sects called kudumbams generally marriages between the members of these kudumbams  are forbidden. They celebrate Onam and Vishu aand visit Thirunelli and Vlliyurkaav temples. Katars mostly reside in Vellamunta village and they are supposed to be decedents of Naayars who accompanied Pazhassi Raaja. KaattuNayakkans ,as they name indicates are chieftains of dense forests. Kurumbans fall under two classes-the Then Kurumbans[aalso known as Jen- or jenu Kurumbans after the honey which they gather] and Vetta Kurumans or Oorali Kurumans[an artisan tribe with main occupation being skilled blacksmiths and basket makers]. MullaKurumas , who are found in Kuppthot area of Maananthavati taluk, claim that they are the Vetars of South India. Kurichyan are aristocrats among hill tribes and they consider themselves superior to all tribes and even consider Brahmins as inferior .Rigidly of customs within the caste compelled many to be expelled as outcastes and some of these persons embraced Christanity, Kurichyas played a pivotal and heroic role in Pazhassirevolts. Panyas, the ancient inhabitants of Wayanad and once themain stock-in-trade[a kind of slave trade] are skillfull agricultural labour flourished during the festival of Valliuoor kaav but owing to public pressure and intervention of Government it lost its severity and importance. The Etanaatan Chettis are agriculturists migrated from Kodugu [Kutaku]. Wayanatan and Mantatan Chettis are immigrants from Dharapuram [Coimbatore] aand Nilgiris respectively and both these tribes are traditionally  agriculturists . Kuntuvatiyans  is id s minority tribe residing in Poothati and Purakkati villages. Other tribes are insignificant in number . Generally the aborigines of the district are highly God fearing.

15. Pulayans of Wayanad, an important community among Scheduled Castes, are basically hired field labourers. Nambyaars, Naayars, Brahmins etc., who are constitute the Hindu population . Since some of the characteristics and details of these communities are discussed in the monographs of neighboring districts they are not reproduced here.

                                                                       S. JAYASHANKER.

                                     DIRECTORATE OF CENSUS OPERATIONS, KERALA

                                                                THIRUVANATHAPURAM

                     

                                         //True Extract//