Chakkala Nair

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Chakkala Nair
Regions with significant populations
Malabar, Travancore.
Languages
Malayalam
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Nairs

Chakkala Nair is one of the lower ranking subcastes of the Nair community among Keralites. They are distributed throughout Kerala. In Travancore, they are known as Chakkalans, while in Malabar and Cochin, they are known as Vattakadans. They were admitted in to the Nair caste quite recently (19th century) and most Nairs do not consider them to be a part of the community.[1]

The traditional occupation of the Chakkala was the production of gingelly or coconut oil.

Caste system

Chakkalans rank below many other lower ranking Nair clans such as Otattu Nair and Kalamkotti Nair, but still rank above a few other subcastes like Asthikkuracchi Nair and Chaliyan Nair.[2]

References

  1. Nâyars of Malabar - Google Books
  2. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3629883 The Internal Structure of the Nayar Caste, C. J. Fuller

External links