Thandan is the honorary title given to the headman of the mainly Thiyya (Ezhava) community people in Palakkad, Thrissur district, who reside in the Indian State of Kerala.

They are designated as an Other Backward Classes by the Government of Kerala.[1]

Status

Thandan was the most commonly-used title to represent the highest privilege among the Thiyyar of the Malabar area. The most notable Thiyyar of the Malabars received the title as Thandan for their service to the state either in the administration of Malabar district.[2] The Thandan, the privileged Thiyyar-Karanavar in a dhesam has to carry out the instructions of the politically powerful. He was powerful enough to rule the caste people in his area. In Malabar, the smallest political unit is known as thara. The head of the thara is known as tharayil karanavar, "The one who got privilege from the king."[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (2006-2007)" (PDF). p. 13.
  2. ↑ Journal of Kerala Studies. University of Kerala. 2009. p. 203, 205.
  3. ↑ Journal of Kerala Studies. University of Kerala. 2009. p. 205.
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