Which is the richest caste in Kerala?
The Nambudiri Brahmins were at the top of the ritual caste hierarchy, outranking even the kings. Anyone who was not a Nambudiri was treated by them as an untouchable.
Is Ezhava a low caste?
The Ezhavas are classified as an Other Backward Class by the Government of India under its system of positive discrimination.
Is billava and Ezhava same?
Billava is a sub-caste of Villavar. Billava who reside in Karnataka were also the followers of Shree Narayana Guru like Ezhavas. Billavas are racially same as of Ezhava community of Kerala. Billavas were also previously engaged in Martial Arts, Toddy tapping, Ayurvedic and liquor business like Ezhavas.
Are Ezhavas Brahmins?
The Ezhavas, the dominant backward class caste (OBC) among the Hindus in Kerala, has overrun Brahmins who dominated the priesthood for centuries, in the recent recruitment of priests by the Travancore Devaswom Board for the 1248 temples under it.
Which caste is OEC?
OEC (Other Eligible Communities) are those communities recommended to include in the state Scheduled Caste list and Scheduled Tribes.
Are nadars Dalits?
Tamil Nadu’s Nadars belong to a community in the middle of India’s caste system, occupying a place barely above the untouchables, now called Dalits. Academics and analysts have closely watched the rise of the Nadar caste for clues about the role caste barriers play in holding back India’s economic progress.
Are Ezhavas Tamils?
The Ezhavas are a caste/community of Kerela. Other than being genetic related to the Sri Lankan Tamils like the other communities in Tamil Nadu and Kerela, they may have had some historical relations. Their name Ezhava, also pronounced Eelava, is derived from the word, Eelam.
Which caste is Pillai?
Tamil inscriptions define the direct meaning of Pillai as “Child of King” (prince), denoting nobility. The title occur both as a single name or as a suffix to the name. This title has been in traditional use by the communities such as the Nairs and the Vellalars.
Is billava a lower caste?
Billavas were traditionally suppressed by the upper caste and treated them as untouchables. It is in such a scenario that the community found a messiah in Sri Narayana Guru.
Does billava caste come under OBC?
As per central list our caste(Billava) comes under OBC category.
Is OEC a general category?
OEC is a Category that stands for Other Eligible Communities. And this is seen in the State of Kerala. These are the Communities that have been recommended to be added to the State SC and ST list. That is why they are Categorised into OEC (SC) and OEC (ST).
What caste is Thiyya?
Ezhava of Malabar is known as Thiyya. Pinarayi Vijayan was born in Malabar. The only difference is Ezhavas were economically and socially backward while Thiyyas were a forward caste until the 1950s.