**All the info written below is based upon a conversation I had with a relative of mine. They may or may not be accurate. Forgive me if I have hurt any feelings
"You were once untouchables. You had to step aside if I happen to cross your path".
It came from the mouth of my Brahmin friend after we had a bitter fight. I cringed on hearing this. God, this is 2008, and people still nurse and hold grudges against others based on caste. I stopped my argument with him, lest it should go on and become a street fight.
The thought was still on my mind when my sister's father-in-law visited us yesterday. I usually take refuge in my room when the age of visitors exceeds 50. But Prof Raju was an interesting person, and I loved talking with him. He was a retired history professor and have traveled widely, which was a trait I envied.
I started with "So Sir, how are you doing" and gradually shifted the conversation to the argument I had with my friends regarding ezhavas. I asked him if he could tell me about the origin of ezhavas. I had done a "google" after the argument with my friend and found some info relating ezhavas to Buddhists who migrated from Srilanka.
I put this across to Raju Sir. I could tell that he was a bit infuriated that I believed in such stupid info and gave me an hour-long lecture on the Origin of Ezhavas and the lineage between, Ezhavas, Nambootiris, and Nairs.
Well, it is a bit interesting... Read on
'A large congregation of Buddhists migrated from Ceylon(in Srilanka) to Kerala. At that time, Buddhism was already prevalent in Kerala. Hinduism was not prevalent, though nature and idol worship existed. Buddhism does not propagate the worship of "GOD". But when the religion started establishing its roots in Kerala, it mixed rituals and poojas into its way of worship. Rituals and Poojas are associated with religions that worship GOD. That phase of Buddhism in Kerala was coined as "Tantric Buddhism".
It was at that time that 'brahmins' decided to spread their heritage into Kerala. They arrived from the northern parts of Karnataka and started to flourish here. They disapproved of the existing customs and rituals in Kerala and oppressed Buddhism. There will always be weak-minded people who can be lured by the prospects of money and power. The brahmins being a considerably wealthy and affluent population had the means to attract people (Buddhist followers) into their clan. That's how "Nambootiris" was born. "Nanbu" means trust. They entrusted nambootiris with the charge of performing poojas and rituals in Temples. People of the lower caste were not allowed to go near the temples, forget entering it. In fact, it was recently in 1931 that ezhavas were given the right to enter temples.
But this time, all our family members were drawn to this interesting conversation. They flocked around us. Unfazed by this, Raju Sir went on, obviously liking the attention he was getting.
After 'Nambootiris' was born, they took some more people into their tribe, mainly for creating an educated workforce and named those class as 'Nairs'. 'Nairs' were also lower caste and were not supposed to touch or speak with the nambootiris.
So where does 'ezhavas' come in, asked my mother(a staunch believer in all aesthetic aspects).
They were the only class of people who didn't do the conversion and stood still by their beliefs. This angered the 'nambootiris,' and they labeled us as 'Lower Caste,' "untouchables,' etc.
I could see Raju Sir getting all worked up. Did I see a tinge of caste-ism in him? Was he not being protective of our religion? I chided myself for doubting him. Here was a knowledgeable man trying to impart some sense into my head, and I was questioning his integrity.
Well, somebody should be protective of our caste. Did we not bear the brunt of the Namboothiri's' for generations?
"Vishnu," said Raju Sir, his voice breaking my chain of self-destructive thoughts.
"Yes Sir," I said, listening earnestly now.
Did you know that our ancestors were very knowledgeable people and that our primary professions were "Vaidyam" and 'Teaching'?
Sree Narayana Guru was also known as 'Nanu Asan' and used to be a teacher. All of us nodded our heads in unison. "No."
Well, they were. 'Sanskrit' is talked about as the language of the Gods and at that time brahmins were the only people(atleast, that's what they thought) who were well versed in it.
They were so possessive about the language that it is said that lots of "Nairs" had to have their ears filled with eeyam - a metal used to coat copper vessels' so that they cannot eavesdrop when the nambootiris conversed in 'Samskritam.'
"But" and paused Raju Sir. I noticed a twinkle in his eyes. He continued in the same tone.
But even during those times, ezhavas were profound pundits in 'Sanskrit' mainly because one of their primary professions was 'Vaidyam,' which required 'pandityam'(mastery) in Sanskrit.
Then Sir, why is it that all books and articles on the Internet refer to the 'ezhavas' as untouchables and backward caste, I asked mildly expecting a rebuff since Raju Sir had become totally engrossed in the topic.
That my child is a problem that occurred when our history was written.
European writers wrote most of the books about our culture. When they come to India in search of history, they would go the 'pandits' prevailing here and publish their opinion.
What is wrong in that, I asked a bit puzzled?
There is nothing wrong, my dear, except for the fact that all famous pundits belong to the "Brahmin" clan.
"Vishnu", what would you do, if someone asked an opinion about your worst enemy.
The logic behind his talk suddenly dawned on me.
So we were labeled as 'toddy-tappers' and 'untouchables' as per the information given by the brahmin pundits, concluded Raju Sir, his voice filled with contempt.
So there were no toddy-tappers among us, I asked, still confused.
There was, my boy, but it was only a minority of our community. But the brahmins portrayed all of us as 'Toddy-Tappers' to the western world.
Well, a highly knowledgeable class of people became 'backward class' - thanks to historians.
