Pallichan Nair is an intermediate Malayali caste who had adopted Nair surname and thus classified under Nairs[1][2] seen predominantly in Malabar and Cochin areas. They are found in Travancore in very low numbers. They are the palanquin / pallak bearers for the ruling dynasties, at some places for the Jenmi Namboothiris[3] and Nair chieftains.[4] Vaniya Nairs and Pallichan Nairs are Theyyam worshippers and they have their own shrines for their Theyyams.[5]
Pallichan and Vattakad were treated as an intermediate class.[6]
Notable people
edit- Nalapat Narayana Menon - writer
- Kamala Surayya - poet
References
edit- ^ Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7. p. 19.
- ^ T. Madhava Menon. A handbook of Kerala, Volume 2. International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 2002. p. 800.
- ^ Census of India, 1961, Vol 7. India Office of Registrar General, 1965. p. 19.
- ^ Journal of Kerala studies, Vol 4. University of Kerala, 1977. p. 152.
- ^ A. M. Abraham Ayrookuzhiel. The Sacred in Popular Hinduism: An Empirical Study in Chirakkal, North Malabar. Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, Bangalore, 1983. p. 16.
- ^ Census of India, 1961 - Volume 7. p. 19.