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Ezhava is the name of a caste (religious sub-group) in the southern Indian state of Kerala. In the northern parts of Kerala, Ezhava caste is also referred to as ‘Thiyya’. Sociologically, Ezhava caste has never found a place in the four-tier caste system of the Hindu community. Speculations of Buddhist origin and / or migration from the Sri lanka could be sought as the reasoning behind this.

Today Ezhavas make up a major community in Kerala, comprising of about 25% of its population. Until the end of Royal rule, Ezhavas were considered a backward community, because of their position outside the Hindu four-fold caste hierarchy and their unwillingness to cater to the needs of the upper caste Brahmins and royalty unlike the Nair community. Sree Narayana Guru, the greatest social reformer that Kerala has seen, was primarily responsible for the uplift of the Ezhava community.

The origin of the word Ezhava is often disputed. The most plausible explanation is that it means “people from Ezham (Sri Lanka)”. Thiyya seems to have originated from “Dweepan” which means a person living in an island (obvious reference to Sri Lanka). Ezhavas are also referenced as “Chovan” (at times in a derogatory manner); however, this reference stems from the word “Chekavan” or “Anga-Chekavan” which is a reference to the olden day warriors and
Kalari masters.

Although, traditionally agriculturists and toddy farmers, many Ezhavas were notable as Ayurvedic physicians, warriors and traders. In fact the translation of Ashtanga Hridaya (Sanskrit Ayurvedic text) to Malayalam was done by none other than an Ezhava physician, Kayikkara Govindan Vaidyar. The legendary “Puthooram Veedu” glorified in several folklores was an Ezhava family who had mastery of the art of Kalaripayattu and were the most renowned warriors of the middle age. Tharavaads such as Alummoottil were traders whose financial empire were second to none in medieval kerala.

Websites of Ezhava Organizations
http://www.sndp.org/
http://www.sivagiri.org/
http://www.sndpyogam.net/
http://www.snaofna.org/
http://www.sngm.org/
http://www.narayanaguru.org/
http://www.sndpuniondelhi.org/
http://www.sreenarayanamission.org/
http://www.sreenarayanakendra.org/

Other Sites of Interest
http://www.alummoottil.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ezhavas/

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