140-629: The Nair Service Society ( NSS ) is an organisation created for the social advancement and welfare of the Nair community that is found primarily in the state of Kerala in Southern part of India. It was established under the leadership of Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai . The NSS is a three-tier organisation with Karayogams at the base level, Taluk Unions at the intermediate level and a central headquarters operating from Perunna , Changanassery in Kerala. G. Sukumaran Nair
280-647: A Peace Pagoda in the city containing Buddha relics. It was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama . New Delhi is home to several historic sites and museums. The National Museum, which began with an exhibition of Indian art and artefacts at the Royal Academy in London in the winter of 1947–48, was later at the end was shown at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in 1949. Later it was to form a permanent National Museum. On 15 August 1949,
420-698: A revolt in 1809 to remove British influence from the Travancore sarkar . After a few months, the rebellion was defeated and Velu Thampi had committed suicide. Afterwards, the Nairs were disbanded and disarmed. Up to this time the Nairs had been historically a military community, who along with the Nambudiri Brahmins owned most of the land in the region; after it, they turned increasingly to administrative service. By this time there were nine small Nair kingdoms and several chiefdoms which were loosely affiliated to them;
560-518: A 5.2-magnitude earthquake on 5 March 2012, and a swarm of twelve earthquakes, including four of magnitudes 2.5, 2.8, 3.1, and 3.3, on 12 November 2013. The climate of New Delhi is a dry-winter humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cwa ) bordering on a hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen BSh ) with high variation between summer and winter in terms of both temperature and rainfall. The temperature varies from 46 °C (115 °F) in summers to around 10 °C (50 °F) in winters. The area's version of
700-483: A bath. The period was followed by a feast and by participation in sports events, which also involved Nairs from nearby villages. Subsequently, the family stayed in mourning while one male member undertook a diksha , during which time he had to maintain a pure life. This involved him living with a Brahmin, bathing twice daily and desisting from cutting either his hair or his fingernails, as well as being prevented from speaking with or indeed even seeing women. In some cases,
840-543: A caste system within a caste system. Except for high-ranking priests, the Nayar subdivisions mirror all the main caste categories: high-status aristocrats, military and landed; artisans and servants; and untouchables. But ... this structure is ideal rather than real. M. N. Srinivas observed in 1957 that, " Varna has been the model to which observed facts have been fitted, and this is true not only of educated Indians, but also of sociologists to some extent." Instead of analysing
980-537: A consequence of a decline in trade with the Romans . There is no evidence of Nairs in the area during this period. Inscriptions on copper-plate regarding grants of land and rights to settlements of Jewish and Christian traders, dated approximately between the 7th- and 9th-centuries AD, refer to Nair chiefs and soldiers from the Eranad , Valluvanad , Venad (later known as Travancore ) and Palghat areas. As these inscriptions show
1120-450: A consequence of shared work experiences with, for example, a local Nambudiri or Nair chief. These groups then became an endogamous subdivision, in a similar manner to developments of subdivisions in other castes elsewhere. The more subdivisions that were created, the more opportunity there was for social mobility within the Nair community as a whole. Even the highest ranked of the Nairs, being
1260-517: A given distance of other castes on the grounds that they would "pollute" the relatively higher-ranked group. For example, Dalits were prohibited within 64 feet. Likewise, a Nair could approach but not touch a Nambudiri. The Nairs identify themselves as being in many subgroups and there has been debate regarding whether these groups should be considered as subcastes or a mixture both of those and of subdivisions. There have been several attempts to identify these various groups; most of these were prior to
1400-422: A guardian of the clan. The worship of snakes , a Dravidian custom, is so prevalent in the area that one anthropologist notes: "In no part of the world is snake worship more general than in Kerala." Serpent groves were found in the southwestern corner of nearly every Nair compound. The origin of the Nair is disputed. Some people think the name itself is derived from nayaka , an honorific meaning "leader of
1540-580: A humid subtropical climate is noticeably different from many other cities with this climate classification in that it features long and extremely hot summers with dust storms , relatively dry and mild winters with wildfire haze , and a monsoonal period. Summers are long, extending from early April to October, with the monsoon season occurring in the middle of the summer. Winter starts in November and peaks in January. Winters are very mild. The annual mean temperature
SECTION 10
#17328521136061680-444: A king. In all cases, the landholdings could not be sold without royal permission. The villages were historically mostly self-sufficient, with craft trades such as pottery and metalwork present in each of them. This meant that there was little need for close central control by the higher levels in the organisational hierarchy, and it also meant that trade between villages was minimal. Such traders as did exist were mostly concentrated in
1820-453: A large area of land southwest of Lutyens' Delhi to create the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri , where land was allotted for embassies, chanceries, high commissions and residences of ambassadors, around a wide central vista, Shanti Path . With a total area of 42.7 km (16.5 sq mi), the municipality of New Delhi forms a small part of the Delhi metropolitan area. Since the city
1960-404: A martial review would take place. According to Gough, the villages were generally between one and four square miles in area and their lands were usually owned by one landlord family, who claimed a higher ritual rank than its other inhabitants. The landlord was also usually the desavazhi (headman) and in all cases, their families were known as jenmis . These landlords were from the lineages of
2100-467: A negative effect; they also believed that utterances of a person with kari nakku (black-tongue) had a similarly bad effect. They also believed kothi from a poor man watching someone eating a delicious food will cause stomach-aches and dysentery . The Nair traditionally practised certain rituals relating to births, although often only for those of the first-born. Of these, pulicudi was the most significant to them. This involved rubbing coconut oil onto
2240-454: A piece of laced muslin; the remainder of the community used once to wear a material manufactured in Eraniyal but by the time of Panikkar 's writing were generally using cotton cloth imported from Lancashire , England, and wore nothing above the waist. Nair men eschewed turbans or other head coverings, but would carry an umbrella against the sun's rays. They also eschewed footwear, although some of
2380-526: A single platform at Ajmeri Gate near Paharganj , and was completed in time for the city's inauguration in 1931. As construction of the Viceroy's House (the present Rashtrapati Bhavan), Central Secretariat , Parliament House , and All-India War Memorial ( India Gate ) was winding down, the building of a shopping district and a new plaza, Connaught Place , began in 1929, and was completed by 1933. Named after Prince Arthur , 1st Duke of Connaught (1850–1942), it
2520-460: A whole. Census information thereafter appears to have become unreliable on the matter of the subdivisions, in part at least because of the NSS campaign to ensure that respondents did not provide the information requested of them. The NSS also promoted marriage across the various divisions in a further attempt to promote caste cohesion, although in this instance it met with only limited success. Indeed, even in
2660-490: Is 774.4 millimetres (30.49 in) and monsoon rainfall from June to September is about 640.4 millimetres (25.21 in), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August. In Mercer 's 2015 annual quality-of-living survey, New Delhi ranks at number 154 out of 230 cities due to bad air quality and pollution. The World Health Organization ranked New Delhi as the world's worst polluted city in 2014 among about 1,600 cities
2800-580: Is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event. Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi. In 2007, the Japanese Buddhist organisation Nipponzan Myohoji decided to build
2940-445: Is around 25 °C (77 °F); monthly daily mean temperatures range from approximately 13 to 34 °C (55 to 93 °F). New Delhi's highest temperature ever recorded is 49.9 °C (121.8 °F) on 28 May 2024 at Met Delhi Mungeshpur while the lowest temperature ever recorded is −2.2 °C (28.0 °F) on 11 January 1967 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (formerly known as Palam Airport ). The average annual rainfall
SECTION 20
#17328521136063080-615: Is barricaded now with entry to the inside arch restricted. The Rajpath , which was built similar to the Champs-Élysées in Paris, is the ceremonial boulevard for the Republic of India , located in New Delhi. The annual Republic Day parade takes place here on 26 January. The Beating retreat takes place here two days later. Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi is the location where Mahatma Gandhi spent
3220-483: Is currently the General Secretary. The Society owns and manages many educational institutions , hospitals, hostels, guesthouses, and estates. The Nair Service Society was formed on 31 October 1914 by Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai as a reaction to perceived communal slights in the princely state of Travancore in southern India, which now forms a part of the state of Kerala. At the time of formation, K. Kelappan
3360-697: Is jointly administered by both the Central Government of India and the local Government of Delhi , it is also the capital of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. New Delhi is administered through a municipal government, known as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The other urban areas of the metropolis of Delhi are administered by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Cantonment Board . As of 2015 ,
3500-716: Is located on the Indo-Gangetic Plain , there is little difference in elevation across the city. New Delhi and surrounding areas were once a part of the Aravali Range ; all that is left of those mountains is the Delhi Ridge , which is also called the Lungs of Delhi. While New Delhi lies on the floodplains of the Yamuna River , it is essentially a landlocked city. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara . New Delhi falls under
3640-716: Is the Karnataka Nair Service Society, comprising 30 Karayogams. and the Kanyakumari Nair Service Society with 27 Karayogams, NSS Vidarbha , which unites Nairs living in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra . NSS is also having branches in Nagpur , Chandrapur and NSS of North America (NSSONA) with many Karayogams in North America . In Qatar there's an outfit of it called KSCA affiliated with aegis of
3780-575: Is the most widely spoken language in New Delhi and the lingua franca of the city. English is primarily used as the formal language by business and government institutes. New Delhi has a literacy rate of 89.38% according to 2011 census, which is the highest in Delhi. According to 2011 census, Hinduism is the religion of 89.8% of New Delhi's population. There are also communities of Muslims (4.5%), Christians (2.9%), Sikhs (2.0%), Jains (0.4%). Other religious groups include Parsis , Buddhists , and Jews . The national capital of India, New Delhi
3920-519: Is the spirit of prematurely dead people; Bhutam , Panikkar says, "is seen generally in marshy districts and does not always hurt people unless they go very near him"; and Pisachu is a spirit of bad air causing illnesses. Believing Pretam to be wandering around the place of death, they warned people to stay away from those areas between 9 am and 3 pm. They also believed in a comic elf called Kuttichattan who would be prone to mischief. They believed in evil eye —that compliments from others had
4060-401: Is to say, they assumed a position above the status that they were perceived as being by others. The hypothesis, proposed by writers such as Fuller and Louis Dumont , that most of the subgroups were not subcastes, arises in large part because of the number of ways in which Nairs classified themselves, which far exceeded the 18 or so groups which had previously been broadly accepted. Dumont took
4200-676: The Delhi Sultanate , most notably of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857. During the early 1900s, a proposal was made to the British administration to shift the capital of the British Indian Empire, as India was officially named, from Calcutta on the east coast, to Delhi. The Government of British India felt that it would be logistically easier to administer India from Delhi, which is in the centre of northern India. The land for building
4340-726: The Government of India , hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan , Sansad Bhavan , and the Supreme Court . New Delhi is a municipality within the NCT, administered by the NDMC , which covers mostly Lutyens' Delhi and a few adjacent areas. The municipal area is part of a larger administrative district , the New Delhi district . Although colloquially Delhi and New Delhi are used interchangeably to refer to
Nair Service Society - Misplaced Pages Continue
4480-453: The Madras area but outside Malabar. There were 44 listed in Travancore in the census of 1901. These designations were, however, somewhat fluid: the numbers tended to rise and fall, dependent upon which source and which research was employed; it is likely also that the figures were skewed by Nairs claiming a higher status than they actually had, which was a common practice throughout India. Data from
4620-724: The McKelvey School of Engineering of Washington University in St. Louis , launched the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility to study air pollution in New Delhi, among other Indian cities. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India , the water quality of the Yamuna and Ganges river basins have improved as industries are closed due to the lockdown. The air quality has also significantly improved during
4760-570: The Partition of Bengal by Viceroy Curzon . This created massive political and religious upsurge including political assassinations of British officials in Calcutta. The anti-colonial sentiments among the public led to a complete boycott of British goods, which forced the colonial government to reunite Bengal and immediately shift the capital to New Delhi. Old Delhi had served as the political and financial centre of several empires of medieval India and
4900-580: The RK Puram district with an index of 852. The lowest index recorded was in the Anand Vihar district with an index of 319. Levels of PM2.5 were recorded at 710 μg/m , more than 11 times the World Health Organization 's safe limit. In a 2018 study, New Delhi was found to be the most polluted capital out of 61 capital cities around the world. In December 2019, IIT Bombay , in partnership with
5040-635: The Sansad Marg and run parallel to the Rajpath. In the south, land up to Safdarjung's Tomb was acquired to create what is today known as Lutyens' Bungalow Zone . Before construction could begin on the rocky ridge of Raisina Hill, a circular railway line around the Council House (now Parliament House ), called the Imperial Delhi Railway , was built to transport construction material and workers for
5180-578: The Vaishyas were not present at all. The roles left empty by the absence of these two ritual ranks were taken to some extent by a few Nairs and by non-Hindu immigrants, respectively. The Nambudiri Brahmins were at the top of the ritual caste hierarchy and in that system outranked even the kings. They regarded all Nairs as Shudra . Below the Nambudiris came the Tamil Brahmins and other later immigrants of
5320-460: The Veluttetan , Chakkala and Vilakkittalavan , would take titles such as Nair or Nayar in order to boost their social status, as was also the practice with other castes elsewhere, although they were often not recognised as caste members by the higher ranks and other Nairs would not marry with them. It has also been postulated that some exogamous families came together to form small divisions as
5460-404: The diksha might last for a year rather than the more usual forty-one days, in which case there would be considerable celebration at its end. Pork was noted as a favourite food of the Nair, and even high-status Nairs were noted as eating buffalo meat. The Nair avoided beef, and many did not eat lamb. In the modern day, alcohol is a component of Nair-dominated festivals in Kerala. Prior to
5600-429: The rajah when required. All fighting was usually suspended during the monsoon period of May to September, when movement around the country was almost impossible. Roads did not exist, nor wheeled vehicles or pack animals, until after 1766. The desavazhi had the right to operate kalaris , which were military training schools that all young Nair men from the age of 12 were expected to attend. They ceased attending at
5740-464: The seismic zone-IV , making it vulnerable to earthquakes. It lies on several fault lines and thus experiences frequent earthquakes, most of them of mild intensity. There was a spike in the number of earthquakes between 2011 and 2015, most notable being a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in 2015 with its epicentre in Nepal , a 4.7-magnitude earthquake on 25 November 2007, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake on 7 September 2011,
Nair Service Society - Misplaced Pages Continue
5880-635: The "Nareae, who are shut in by the Capitalis range, the highest of all the mountains in India". Fuller believes it probable that the Nareae referred to the Nairs and the Capitalis range is the Western Ghats . There are large gaps in the known early history of the Kerala region, which in the 1st-century AD is thought to have been governed by the Chera dynasty and which by the late 3rd-century AD had broken up, possibly as
6020-555: The 1970s, it was likely that cross-subdivision marriage was rare generally, and this was certainly the case in the Central Travancore area. New Delhi New Delhi ( / ˈ nj uː ˈ d ɛ . l i / , Hindi: [ˈnəiː ˈdɪlːiː] , ISO : Naī Dillī ) is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of
6160-520: The Ambalavasi group. She also believes that some Nairs adopted the title of Samantan in order to emphasise their superiority over others in their caste. The unwillingness of the higher varnas to engage in what they considered to be the polluting activities of industrial and commercial activity has been cited as a reason for the region's relatively limited economic development. Keralite traditions included that certain communities were not allowed within
6300-668: The Brahmin varna . Beyond this, the precise ranking is subject to some difference in opinion. Kodoth has placed the Samantan caste below the Kshatriya rank but above the Nairs, but Gough considers that the Pushpakans and Chakyars , both of which were the highest ranked in the group of temple servants known as Ambalavasis , were ranked between the Brahmins and the Nairs, as were several other members of
6440-433: The British amalgamated seven of those kingdoms (Calicut, Kadattunad, Kolattunad, Kottayam, Kurumbranad, Palghat and Walluvanad) to form Malabar District , while Cochin and Travancore were left as native states under the control of their own rulers but with advice from the British. Velu Thampi's rebellion had made the British wary of Nair leaders, and the Travancore sarkar was mainly under control of British residents although
6580-658: The Delhi region to switch to compressed natural gas by 1 March 2016. Transportation vehicles that are more than 10 years old were banned from entering the capital. Analysing real-time vehicle speed data from Uber Delhi revealed that during the odd-even program, average speeds went up by a statistically significant 5.4 per cent (2.8 standard deviations from normal). This means vehicles have less idling time in traffic and vehicle engines would run closer to minimum fuel consumption. In bordering areas, PM 2.5 levels were recorded more than 400 (ug/m3) while in inner areas in Delhi, they were recorded between 150 and 210 on an average. However,
6720-632: The Dutch in 1683. The British and French were also active in the region now known as Kerala, the former from 1615 and the latter from 1725. These various European powers combined with one or another of the Nair rulers, fighting for control. One notable alliance was that of the Portuguese with the Kingdom of Cochin , with whom they sided in order to work against the power of the Zamorins of Calicut. Although Calicut remained
6860-414: The NSS. As late as 1975, the NSS still had most of its support in the Central Travancore region, although it also has numerous satellite groups around the world. From its early years, when it was contending that the Nairs needed to join together if they were to become a political force, it argued that the caste members should cease referring to their traditional subdivisions and instead see themselves as
7000-494: The Nair men was the mundu , a cloth wrapped around the waist and then left to hang down nearly to the ground, rather than tucked in as in other parts of India. The low-hanging fabric was considered as specific to the Nair caste, and at the start of the 20th century it was noted that in more conservative rural areas a non-Nair could be beaten for daring to wear a cloth hanging low to the ground. Wealthy Nairs might use silk for this purpose, and they also would cover their upper body with
7140-505: The Nair military past. Kathakali is a dance-drama which portrays scenes from Sanskrit epics or stories. The dance drama was historically performed exclusively by Nairs and had always traditionally been associated with them; Nair rulers and chiefs had patronized the art, the first Ramanattam plays were written by a Nair from a ruling family, and Kathakali had foundations in Nair military training and religious customs. The first Kathakali actors were most likely Nair soldiers who performed
SECTION 50
#17328521136067280-551: The Nairs as witnesses to the agreements between those traders and the successors to the Cheras, the Perumals , it is probable that by this time the Nairs were vassal chieftains. Certainly by the 13th-century, some Nairs were the rulers of small kingdoms and the Perumals had disappeared. Trade with China, which had declined for some time, began to increase once more in the 13th-century and it
7420-563: The Nairs contributed increasingly to literature and drama. Nairs from the lowest subsections of the community had also partaken in these artistic traditions. By the 19th century, novels written by Nairs had dealt with themes of social change. These themes would primarily relate to the rise of the nuclear family in replacement of the old matrilineal system. Novels such as, for example, Indulekha by O.C Menon had themes which dealt with societal constraints on romantic love, while C.V Raman Pillai's Marthanda Varma had dealt with themes relating to
7560-402: The Nairs had facilitated Padmanabhan to create the NSS. The organization aimed to respond to these issues by creating educational institutions, welfare programs, and to replace cumbersome customs such as the matrilineal system. Subsequent to Indian independence from British rule, the regions of Travancore, Malabar District and Cochin became the present-day state of Kerala. It is with regard to
7700-400: The Nairs is Bhagavati , who is the patron goddess of war and fertility. Central to all aspects of Nair life and revered as a kind and ferocious virgin mother, Bhagavati identifies with both Sanskritic and regional based aspects of worship. The goddess was worshipped in the temples of the royal Nair matrilineages and also the village Nair matrilineages. The idol would either be placed in
7840-411: The Nairs living in the former areas of Cochin and South Malabar, which are sometimes jointly referred to as Central Kerala, that there is the most information; that available for North Malabar is the most scant. Two former Travancore State Army divisions, the 1st Travancore Nayar Infantry and the 2nd Travancore Nayar Infantry were converted into 9th and 16th Battalions of Madras Regiment respectively after
7980-478: The Nairs was something that was covered by nearly all visitors, and their characteristic of always being armed is well described. The Portuguese arrived in the area from 1498, by which time the Zamorin (King) of Calicut had come to the fore. Arab traders had firmly established themselves at his port and although trade still went to the ports of the other two small kingdoms, it was in relatively small amounts. Indeed,
8120-624: The Nairs. These descriptions were initially idealized by Europeans for its martial society, productivity, spirituality, and for its marriage practices. Some early examples of these works being John Mandeville ’s ‘’Travels’’ (1356), William Caxton ’s ‘The mirrour of the wourld’ (1481), and Jean Boudin ’s ‘Les sex livres de la republique’ (1576). The Nair men are described as being polite and well-mannered in old sources, and nearly all historical descriptions describe them as arrogant. Sources on Nair women are scant and were written by men, and these primarily comment on their beauty. The martial society of
8260-535: The National Capital Territory of Delhi, both are distinct entities, with the municipality and the New Delhi district forming a relatively small part within the megacity of Delhi. The National Capital Region is an even larger entity, comprising the entire NCT along with adjoining districts in the two neighbouring states forming a continuously built-up area with it, including Ghaziabad , Noida , Greater Noida , Meerut , YEIDA City , Gurgaon , and Faridabad . The foundation stone of New Delhi, south of central Delhi,
8400-756: The National Museum was formally inaugurated and has 200,000 works of art, both of Indian and foreign origin, covering over 5,000 years. The India Gate , which was built in 1931, was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is the national monument of India commemorating the 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died while fighting for the British Raj in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War . The monument
8540-452: The Travancore Nair Infantry (also known as the Nair Pattalam ) distinguished themselves in battle against the Dutch at the Battle of Colachel (1741). The Nair army was re-organized in the European style and had transformed from a feudal-based force into a standing army. Though this army was still made up of Nairs, this had checked the power of local chiefs and was the first limit on Nair dominance. There had been Hindu–Muslim clashes during
SECTION 60
#17328521136068680-448: The Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. A system was introduced under which the elected government was given wide powers, excluding law and order which remained with the Central Government. The actual enforcement of the legislation came in 1993. The first major extension of New Delhi outside of Lutyens' Delhi came in the 1950s when the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) developed
8820-436: The age of 18 but were expected to be available for military duty at a day's notice. The function of these schools became less significant practically, following the introduction of the Arms Act by the British, which limited the right of Nairs to carry arms; however, they continued to exist and provided some training to those Nair men who did not attend English schools. This training became evident at village festivals, during which
8960-426: The area of the municipality of the same name but also encompasses the Delhi Cantonment and parts of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi area. New Delhi is the largest commercial city in northern India. It has an estimated net State Domestic Product (FY 2010) of ₹ 1,595 billion (US$ 19 billion) in nominal terms and ~ ₹ 6,800 billion (US$ 81 billion) in PPP terms. As of 2013 , the per capita income of Delhi
9100-422: The broad system of classification took place from the late 1950s. Fuller, writing in 1975, claims that the approach to classification by use of titular names was a misconception. People could and did award themselves the titles; and on those occasions when a title was in fact bestowed, it nonetheless did not signify their subgroup. He argues that the broad outline of the subdivisions ... embodies, so to speak,
9240-407: The child in the first few months of its life. Although birth was considered to be ritually polluting, a death in the family was thought to be much more so. In the case of the death of the oldest member of the family, whether male or female, the body would be cremated on a pyre; for all other family members, burial was the norm. In either case, the ceremonies were conducted by the Maran subgroup of
9380-402: The committee settled on the south site. A site atop the Raisina Hill , formerly Raisina Village, a Meo village, was chosen for the Rashtrapati Bhawan , then known as the Viceroy's House. The reason for this choice was that the hill lay directly opposite the Dinapanah citadel, which was also considered the site of Indraprastha , the ancient region of Delhi. Subsequently, the foundation stone
9520-486: The community and they utilised both elements of superstition and of Hinduism. The occasions involving cremation were more ritualised than those involving burial. An elaborate fourteen-day period of mourning followed the cremation, during which the family performed various symbolic acts around the pyre and were regarded to be highly polluted in ritual terms, thus necessitating not only that they took regular baths, but also that any other Nair who might touch them must also take
9660-407: The community from superstition, taboo and otiose custom, to establish a network of educational and welfare institutions, and to defend and advance Nair interests in the political arena." Devika and Varghese believe the year of formation to be 1913 and argue that the perceived denial of 'the natural right' of upper castes to hold elected chairs in Travancore, a Hindu state, had pressured the founding of
9800-437: The dance-drama part-time, influenced by the techniques of Kalaripayattu . As Kathakali developed as an art form, the need for specialization and detail grew. Those who had become masters of the art would pass their traditions on to their families. These families were the source of the next generations of Kathakali students, and it was often the nephew of the master that would be chosen as the disciple. The historical attire of
9940-433: The detail varied from one region to the next, the main points of interest to researchers of Nair marriage customs were the existence of two particular rituals—the pre-pubertal thalikettu kalyanam and the later sambandam —and the practice of polygamy in some areas. Some Nair women also practiced hypergamy with Nambudiri Brahmins from the Malabar region . The Nair were historically involved in military conflicts in
10080-555: The embassy. In October 2010, Nair organizations from around the world decided to establish a united body. Subsequently, the Global Nair Service Society was founded during a meeting attended by thousands in New Delhi . As of 2010 the NSS comprised: NSS has also started many schools under its supervision directly and also under many of its units like Taluk Unions and Karayogams. Collectively named NSS HSS or NSS High Schools , these schools function in almost all parts of
10220-626: The end of British governance in India but Kathleen Gough also studied the issue in 1961. These analyses bear similarities to the Jatinirnayam , a Malayalam work that enumerated 18 main subgroups according to occupation, including drummers, traders, coppersmiths, palanquin bearers, servants, potters and barbers, as well as ranks such as the Kiriyam and Illam . Although the Jatinirnayam did not itself distinguish any particular subgroups as ranking higher, subsequent attempts at classification did do so, claiming
10360-404: The entire Kerala region. The British imposed the next limitation on Nair dominance. After signing the treaty of subsidiary alliance with Travancore in 1795, British residents were sent to the Travancore administration; the interference from the British had caused two rebellions in 1804 and 1809, the latter of which was to have lasting repercussions. Velu Thampi , the Nair dewan of Travancore, led
10500-400: The essence for the set sari, which is considered to be Kerala's specific regional wear. Sonja Thomas describes how this is an example of how “primacy was given to upper caste cultural norms”. The Nair women would also wear onera ( onnara ), a loincloth worn as an undergarment by more conservative women. The undergarment was noted as beautifying and slimming the waist. The primary deity of
10640-554: The extreme view that the Nairs as a whole could not be defined as a caste in the traditional sense, but Fuller believed this to be unreasonable as, "since the Nayars live in a caste society, they must evidently fit into the caste system at some level or another." The 1891 Census of India listed a total of 128 Nair subgroups in the Malabar region and 55 in the Cochin region, as well as a further 10 in
10780-565: The government structure of the New Delhi Municipal Council includes a chairperson, three members of New Delhi's Legislative Assembly, two members nominated by the Chief Minister of the NCT of Delhi and five members nominated by the central government. The districts of the NCT were redrawn in 2012 and include a district called New Delhi, albeit with different borders than the municipality. The New Delhi district includes not only
10920-524: The independence. The Nayar Army from Cochin was incorporated into the 17th Battalion. Historically most Nairs were literate in Malayalam, and many in Sanskrit. The explanation for this literacy was attributed to the general needs of administration, as many Nairs served as scribes and bailiffs for the royal courts. Many Nairs had become prominent philosophers and poets, and from the 16th century and onwards,
11060-421: The kingdom based at Kolathunad had split into three even smaller kingdoms; and the ruler of Venad had conceded considerable powers to local chiefs within his kingdom. By the time of European arrival, the title Nair was used to refer to all military castes. The Portuguese used the term Nair for all soldiers, and prior to 1498 the military or retainer Nairs are believed to have been called 'Lokar'. Gough states that
11200-511: The kings and chiefs, were no more than "supereminent" subdivisions of the caste, rather than the Kshatriyas and Samantans that they claimed to be. Their claims illustrated that the desires and aspirations of self-promotion applied even at the very top of the community and this extended as far as each family refusing to admit that they had any peers in rank, although they would acknowledge those above and below them. The membership of these two subgroups
11340-476: The late 19th-century and early 20th-century censuses indicates that ten of these numerous subdivisions accounted for around 90% of all Nairs, that the five highest ranking of these accounted for the majority, and that some of the subdivisions claimed as little as one member. The writer of the official report of the 1891 census, H A Stuart, acknowledged that some of the recorded subdivisions were in fact merely families and not sub-castes, and Fuller has speculated that
11480-472: The lockdown. On 5 November 2020, New Delhi recorded its most toxic day in a year, as the concentration of poisonous PM2.5 particles was recorded at 14 times the WHO's safe limit. (Poor) (Poor) (Moderate) (Moderate) (Moderate) (Moderate) (Satisfactory) (Satisfactory) (Satisfactory) (Severe) (Severe) (Very Poor) As of 2011, the New Delhi Municipal Council area has a population of 249,998. Hindi
11620-491: The medieval period, notably when Muslim armies from Mysore invaded and gained control of northern Kerala in 1766. The Nairs of Kottayam and Kadathanad led the resistance, and the Nairs managed to defeat all Mysorean garrisons except for those in Palakkad. Shortly afterwards, Haider Ali died and his son Tipu had become Sultan. The Nairs of Calicut and South Malabar had recaptured Calicut and defeated an army sent by Tipu to break
11760-462: The most significant of the kingdoms until the 1730s, its power was eroded and the rulers of Cochin were freed from being vassals of the Zamorins. In 1729, Marthanda Varma became the Raja of Venad and inherited a state facing war and refractory Nair chiefs. Varma curtailed the power of the Nair chiefs and introduced Tamil Brahmins to form a core component of his administration. Under Marthanda Varma's reign,
11900-645: The name 'Nair'. These people lived, and many continue to live, in the area which is now the Indian state of Kerala . Their internal caste behaviours and systems are markedly different between the people in the northern and southern sections of the area, although there is not very much reliable information on those inhabiting the north. Historically, Nairs lived in large family units called tharavads that housed descendants of one common female ancestor. These family units along with their unusual marriage customs, which are no longer practiced, have been much studied. Although
12040-488: The new capital was inaugurated in 1931. Many employees were brought into the new capital from distant parts of India, including the Bengal Presidency and Madras Presidency . Subsequently, housing for them has developed around Gole Market area in the 1920s. Built in the 1940s, to house government employees, with bungalows for senior officials in the nearby Lodhi Estate area, Lodhi colony near historic Lodhi Gardens ,
12180-876: The new city of Delhi was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1894 . During the Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1911, George V while laying the foundation stone for the viceroy's residence in the Coronation Park , Kingsway Camp , declared that the capital of the Raj would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi . Three days later, George V and his consort, Mary , laid the foundation stone of New Delhi at Kingsway Camp. Large parts of New Delhi were planned by Edwin Lutyens , who first visited Delhi in 1912, and Herbert Baker , both leading 20th-century British architects. The contract
12320-554: The next twenty years. The last stumbling block was the Agra -Delhi railway line that cut right through the site earmarked for the hexagonal All-India War Memorial ( India Gate ) and Kingsway ( Rajpath ), which was a problem because the Old Delhi Railway Station served the entire city at that time. The line was shifted to run along the Yamuna River , and it began operating in 1924. The New Delhi Railway Station opened in 1926, with
12460-488: The odd- and even-numbered licence plates system was announced by Delhi government in December 2015. In addition, trucks were to be allowed to enter India's capital only after 11 pm, two hours later than the existing restriction. The driving restriction scheme was planned to be implemented as a trial from 1 January 2016 for an initial period of 15 days. The restriction was in force between 8 am and 8 pm, and traffic
12600-419: The organisation tracked around the world. In 2016, United States Environmental Protection Agency listed New Delhi as the most polluted city on Earth and IQAir listed New Delhi as the world's most polluted capital city for the second straight year in year 2019. In an attempt to lessen air pollution in New Delhi, which gets worse during the winter, a temporary alternate-day travel scheme for cars using
12740-494: The people", while others believe it stems from the community's association with the Naga cult of serpent worship. Christopher Fuller , an anthropologist, has said that it is likely that the first reference to the Nair community was made by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History , dating from 77 AD. That work describes what is probably the Malabar coast area wherein could be found
12880-409: The point that a third Nair kingdom, based on the port of Calicut , became established. There were also small kingdoms at Walluvanad and Palghat, away from the coastline. This period was characterized by continuous war between these various kingdoms, and most able bodied Nair men were assigned to fight in these wars. The large influx of travelers and traders to Kerala had left many early accounts of
13020-459: The port towns and consisted of immigrant Syrians, Muslims, Christians and Jews, with Hindu traders later arriving from other parts of India, as well as the Europeans. The Nairs were the sole members of the village organisations, which existed for such purposes as managing the affairs of the temples and, at one time, organising military training and deployment. A Nair family was considered to be part of
13160-425: The pregnant woman, followed by bathing, formal dressing, consultation with an astrologer regarding the expected date of birth and a ceremonial drinking of tamarind juice, dripped along the blade of a sword. The woman would also select a grain, from which it was believed possible to determine the gender of the child. This ritual was performed in front of the community and contained many symbolic references; for example,
13300-642: The region. Following hostilities between the Nair and the British in 1809, the British limited Nair participation in the British Indian Army . After India's independence , the Nair Brigade of the Travancore State Force was merged into the Indian Army and became a part of the 9th Battalion, Madras Regiment , the oldest battalion in the Indian Army. The serpent is worshipped by Nair families as
13440-416: The reorganisation of the region by the British, Kerala was divided into around ten feudal states. Each of these was governed by a rajah (king) and was subdivided into organisational units known as nadus . In turn, the nadus were divided into dēsams . The person who governed the nadu was known as the naduvazhi . It was an inherited role, originally bestowed by a king, and of a lower ritual rank than
13580-661: The rest of India. On India's Independence Day (15 August), the prime minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort . Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom. The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might. Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of light), Maha Shivaratri , Teej , Durga Puja , Mahavir Jayanti , Guru Nanak Jayanti , Holi , Lohri , Eid ul-Fitr , Eid ul-Adha , Easter , Raksha Bandhan , and Christmas . The Qutub Festival
13720-577: The rest of the administration had been handled for the most part by non-Malayali Brahmins and Nairs. The Travancore army became the Travancore Nair Brigade in 1818–1819. The Nair unit, 1st Battalion of HH Rani's Troops, was likewise incorporated into this brigade, but the Brigade served only in a police capacity until the withdrawal of the East India Company troops in 1836. In 1901, the unit
13860-419: The rituals of thalikettu kalyanam and sambandham , which constituted their traditional version of a marriage ceremony, in order to advance themselves by association with higher-ranked participants and also to disassociate themselves from their existing rank and those below. The Nair Service Society (NSS) was founded in 1914. Nossiter has described its purpose at foundation as being "... to liberate
14000-399: The royal families or feudatory chiefs; or were patrilineal Nambudiri families or the estates of temples operated by groups of those families. They were also from the lineages of the matrilineal vassal Samantan chiefs and, finally, the lowest jenmis in terms of ritual ranking were Nairs who had inherited from matrilineal ancestors to whom land and the concomitant headmanship had been granted by
14140-506: The royal lineages. Although Nair families, they generally used the title of Samantan and were treated as vassals. However, some naduvazhi were feudatory chiefs, former kings whose territory had been taken over by, for example, the Zamorins of Calicut. In these instances, although they were obeisant to the rajah, they held a higher ritual rank than the Zamorin as a consequence of their longer history of government; they also had more power than
14280-680: The siege. This had caused the Sultan himself to intervene in 1789 during which many Hindus, especially Nairs, were kept captive or killed by Muslims under Tipu Sultan . Many Nairs had fled to the protection of Travancore, while others engaged in guerilla warfare. However the Nairs of Travancore were able to defeat the Muslim forces in 1792 at the Third Anglo-Mysore War . After this, the East India Company established its pre-eminence throughout
14420-468: The single-member subdivisions were "Nayars satisfying their vanity, I suppose, through the medium of the census." The revisionist argument, whose supporters also include Joan Mencher , proposes a mixed system. The larger divisions were indeed subcastes, as they demonstrated a stability of status, longevity and geographic spread; however, the smaller divisions were fluid, often relatively short-lived and narrow in geographic placement. These divisions, such as
14560-506: The state of Kerala . The official organ of the organization is a bi-weekly named 'SERVICE' - which has completed its 100 years in 2019. Notes Citations Nair The Nair ( / ˈ n aɪər / , Malayalam: [n̪aːjɐr] ) also known as Nayar , are a group of Indian Hindu castes , described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom historically bore
14700-517: The structure of the subgroups independently, commentators had explained them inappropriately by using an existing but alien social structure. From this unsuitable methodology had come the notion that the groups were subcastes rather than subdivisions. He also argued, in 1966, that "Some Nayars "ripened" into Samantans and Kshatriyas. The royal lineages of Calicut, Walluvanad, Palghat and Cochin, for instance, although of Nayar origin, considered themselves superior in ritual rank to their Nayar subjects." That
14840-600: The sub-city of Dwarka , located in the southwest district, has a substantially low level of air pollution. At the NSIT University campus, located in sector 3 Dwarka, pollution levels were as low as 93 PPM. On 7 November 2017, the Indian Medical Association declared a public health emergency due to high pollution levels. The highest being in the Punjabi Bagh district with an air quality index of 999 and in
14980-553: The title " Pillai " from his name, which is recognized as one of the highest statuses among the Nairs. One generation back, the high-status Nairs mostly used surnames like Pillai , Kurup , Kaimal , Varma , etc., while the Nair surname was relatively rare. He believed this would help remove differences among Nairs based on social status and promote unity. Its effect was significant, as many started removing their title surnames and reverted to their original caste surname, Nair, but many families in central Travancore and cochin still keep
15120-642: The title Nair existed prior to that time referring to only those families that were involved in the military. The Portuguese had many involvements in South India, including their support of the Paravars in a trade battle over control of the pearl fisheries of Malabar , but in the Nair kingdoms, their principal interest was to obtain control of the trade in pepper . In this they followed the Muslim Arabs, whom they eventually marginalised; and they were in turn followed by
15260-410: The titular surnames or interchangeably use "Nair" and Title surname to show their high esteem once they have. Now, the Nair surname is common among higher and auxiliary subcastes. The strength of NSS lies in its 5000-plus Karayogams, which function in almost every nook and corner of the state. The NSS Karayogam movement was initiated by Mannath Padmanabhan in the Malayalam calendar year 1104 Dhanu, from
15400-493: The top position as the most targeted emerging markets retail destination among Asia-Pacific markets. The government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi does not release any economic figures specifically for New Delhi but publishes an official economic report on the whole of Delhi annually. According to the Economic Survey of Delhi , the metropolis has a net State Domestic Product (SDP) of Rs. 830.85 billion (for
15540-418: The use of the sword was believed to make the child a warrior. In the months subsequent to the birth there followed other rituals, including those of purification and the adornment of the child with a symbolic belt to ward off illness, as well as a name-giving ceremony at which an astrologer again played a significant role. There were also various dietary restrictions, both for the woman during pregnancy and for
15680-460: The various occupations to be traditional ones and stating that only the higher ranked groups were soldiers. Anthropologists, ethnologists and other authors believe that the last name of a Nair was a title which denoted the subgroup ( vibhagam ) to which that person belonged and indicated the occupation the person pursued or was bestowed on them by a chief or king. These names included Nair itself, Kurup , Menon , and Pillai . A re-evaluation of
15820-412: The vassal chiefs. The naduvazhi families each saw themselves as a distinct caste in the same manner as did the rajahs; they did not recognise other naduvazhi families as being equal to them. The naduvazhi maintained criminal and civil order and could demand military service from all Nairs below him. There was usually a permanent force of between 500 and 1000 men available and these were called upon by
15960-817: The village Thattayil , with the assistance of T. P. Velukkutty Menon, who served as a unique organizer and orator. Two prestigious Nair Tharavadu in Thattayil, namely Edayirethu and Kalluzhathil, were chosen by Mannathu Padmanabhan to host the inaugural ceremony of the Karayogam Movement. Consequently, the No. 1 and No. 2 Karayogams were declared to commence operations from the village Thattayil in Adoor Taluq . Expatriate Nairs, both in other states of India and in foreign countries, have established Nair Service Societies in their respective states and countries of residence. One such example
16100-439: The village layout. Nairs were not permitted to perform rites in the temples of the sanketams , the villages where the land was owned by a group of Nambudiri families, although they might have access to the outer courtyard area. Sometimes there were no Nairs at all in these villages. In villages where temples existed which were privately owned by a single Nambudiri family, there would be another temple, dedicated to Bhagavati, that
16240-435: The village organisation even if they had moved away from it. There were other castes in these villages, and other religious groups also, but they were excluded from the organisations. This arrangement was different from that found elsewhere in India, and another difference was that each house, whether for Nairs or otherwise, was usually in its own compound. There was no communal land, as existed elsewhere, and no communal plan for
16380-430: The wealthy would wear elaborate sandals. The historical dress of the Nair woman was the mundu, as well as a cloth that covered the upper body. The mundum neryathum , a garment that roughly resembles the sari , had later become the traditional dress of the Nair women. The dress consisted of a cloth tied around the waist as well as a cloth covering the breast, and worn without a blouse. The mundum neryathum had become
16520-435: The western side of the house or be placed in a room with other deities. The kalaris would also have an area for the worship of Kali, the warlike manifestation of Bhagavati. Serpent deities known as Nāga were revered by the Nairs, and these deities would be placed in a grove in the family property. The groves would portray a miniature forest made to resemble Patala , and could feature various types of idols. Naga worship
16660-551: The year 2004–05) and a per capita income of Rs. 53,976 ($ 1,200). In the year 2008–09 New Delhi had a per capita Income of Rs. 116,886 ($ 2,595). It grew by 16.2% to reach Rs. 135,814 ($ 3,018) in 2009–10 fiscal. New Delhi's per capita GDP (at PPP) was at $ 6,860 during 2009–10 fiscal, making it one of the richest cities in India. The tertiary sector contributes 78.4% of Delhi's gross SDP followed by secondary and primary sectors with 20.2% and 1.4% contribution respectively. The gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Delhi at prices for
16800-528: The year 2011–12 has been estimated at Rs 3.13 trillion ( short scale ), which is an increase of 18.7 per cent over the previous fiscal. New Delhi is a cosmopolitan city due to the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural presence of the vast Indian bureaucracy and political system. The city's capital status has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events such as Republic Day , Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated with great enthusiasm in New Delhi and
16940-460: Was Rs. 230000, second highest in India after Goa. GSDP in Delhi at the prices for 2012–13 is estimated at Rs 3.88 trillion ( short scale ) against Rs 3.11 trillion ( short scale ) in 2011–12. Connaught Place , one of North India 's largest commercial and financial centres, is located in the northern part of New Delhi. Adjoining areas such as Barakhamba Road , ITO are also major commercial centres. The government and quasi-government sector
17080-646: Was designed by Robert Tor Russell , chief architect to the Public Works Department (PWD). After the capital of India moved to Delhi, a temporary secretariat building was constructed in a few months in 1912 in North Delhi . Most of the government offices of the new capital moved here from the 'Old secretariat' in Old Delhi (the building now houses the Delhi Legislative Assembly ), a decade before
17220-442: Was during this period that two small Nair kingdoms were established. Both of these—at Kolattunad and at Venad —contained major seaports, and they expanded by taking over the inland territory of neighbouring chieftains. Although trade with China once more went into decline in the 14th-century, it was replaced by trade with Muslim Arabs. These traders had been visiting the area for several hundred years but their activities increased to
17360-569: Was given to Sobha Singh . The original plan called for its construction in Tughlaqabad, inside the Tughlaqabad Fort , but this was given up because of the Delhi-Calcutta trunk line that passed through the fort. Construction really began after World War I and was completed by 1931. The gardening and planning of plantations was led by A.E.P. Griessen , and later William Mustoe. The city that
17500-485: Was gradually lost, for there was a massive rate of wealth transfer to Christians and avarna Hindus. Christian missionaries also found interest in the dissolution of the tharavads as they saw this as an opportunity to convert the Nairs. In 1914, the Nair Service Society (NSS) was founded by Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai . Growing up in poverty and witnessing widespread domestic disarray and land alienation amongst
17640-410: Was gradually reformed to some degree, with one of those reformers, Swami Vivekananda , having observed that it represented a "mad house" of castes. The usual four-tier Hindu caste system, involving the varnas of Brahmin (priest), Kshatriya (warrior), Vaishya (business person, involved in trading, entrepreneurship and finance) and Shudra (service person), did not exist. Kshatriyas were rare and
17780-425: Was in contrast with other communities who were quick to unite for caste interests. By 1908, the Nairs had not completely lost their dominance; they still held the most land, and had still held a majority of the government posts despite competition from low-castes and Christians. The dominance that Nairs historically held from their ritual status had come under opposition. The land that the Nairs historically had held
17920-480: Was laid by George V during the Delhi Durbar of 1911 . It was designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker . The new capital was inaugurated on 13 February 1931, by Viceroy and Governor-General Irwin . Until December 1911, Calcutta was the capital of India during the British Rule. However, it had become the centre of the nationalist movements since the late nineteenth century, which led to
18060-575: Was later dubbed " Lutyens' Delhi " was inaugurated in ceremonies beginning on 10 February 1931 by Viceroy Irwin. Lutyens designed the central administrative area of the city as a testament to Britain's imperial aspirations . Soon Lutyens started considering other places. Indeed, the Delhi Town Planning Committee, set up to plan the new imperial capital, with George Swinton as chairman, and John A. Brodie and Lutyens as members, submitted reports for both north and south sites. However, it
18200-445: Was not restricted on Sundays. Public transportation service was increased during the restriction period. On 16 December 2015, the Supreme Court of India mandated several restrictions on Delhi's transportation system to curb pollution. Among the measures, the court ordered to stop registrations of diesel cars and sport utility vehicles with an engine capacity of 2,000 cc and over until 31 March 2016. The court also ordered all taxis in
18340-465: Was notable because previously, during a period when the political systems were being modified, these positions were held only by Hindu Nairs or Brahmins . The Nairs believed Travancore to be a Hindu state and the founders of the NSS believed that their own community could only counter the changing socio-political situation if it presented a united front and did away with its internal social subdivisions, to support this, Mannathu Padmanabha Pillai removed
18480-454: Was rejected by the Viceroy when the cost of acquiring the necessary properties was found to be too high. The central axis of New Delhi, which today faces east at India Gate , was previously meant to be a north-south axis linking the Viceroy's House at one end with Paharganj at the other. Eventually, owing to space constraints and the presence of a large number of heritage sites on the north side,
18620-721: Was relieved of its police duties and placed under a British officer. In 1935, the Travancore Nair Regiment and the Maharaja's bodyguard were fused and renamed the Travancore State Force, as part of the Indian State Forces system. The changes in the economy and the legal system from the late 1800s had ruined many Nair tharavads. Nair leaders noted the decay of their community and struggled to deal with issues regarding widespread infighting, disunity, and feuds. This
18760-738: Was shifted from the site of Delhi Durbar of 1911–1912, where the Coronation Pillar stood, and embedded in the walls of the forecourt of the Secretariat . The Rajpath , also known as King's Way, stretched from the India Gate to the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Secretariat building, the two blocks of which flank the Rashtrapati Bhawan and houses ministries of the government of India, and the Parliament House , both designed by Baker, are located at
18900-593: Was significant to the entire tharavad since, as Gough says, they "... could inflict or avert sickness in general but were especially believed to be responsible for the fertility or barrenness of tharavad women". Gough speculates that the Nagas were seen as phallic symbols representing the procreative powers of the ancestors. Nairs believed in spirits, which on some occasions they attempted to tame by performing various rituals. According to Panikkar, they believed in spirits such as Pretam , Bhutam and Pisachu . Pretam
19040-430: Was statistically insignificant, being a small fraction of 1 per cent of the regional population, but the example of aspirational behaviour which they set filtered through to the significant ranks below them. These subdivisions might adopt a new name or remove themselves from any association with a ritually demeaning occupation in order to assist their aspirations. Most significantly, they adopted hypergamy and would utilise
19180-487: Was the last residential areas built by the British Raj . After India gained independence in 1947, limited autonomy was conferred to New Delhi and was administered by a Chief Commissioner appointed by the Government of India . In 1966, Delhi was converted into a union territory and eventually the Chief Commissioner was replaced by a Lieutenant Governor. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared
19320-542: Was the president and Mannathu Padmanabhan was the secretary. Nairs were the most economically and socially dominant community, as well as the most numerous, in what was traditionally a staunchly Hindu kingdom that rigorously and officially enforced distinctions between castes. Some Nairs had felt provoked by the rise to prominence of the Saint Thomas Christians during the era of British rule and whose members were being elected as chairs of various official bodies, this
19460-492: Was the primary employer in New Delhi. The city's service sector has expanded due in part to the large skilled English-speaking workforce that has attracted many multinational companies. Key service industries include information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media, and tourism. The 2011 World Wealth Report ranks economic activity in New Delhi at 39, but overall the capital is ranked at 37, above cities like Jakarta and Johannesburg. New Delhi, with Beijing, shares
19600-488: Was used by the Nairs. It was in villages where the Nairs included the headman that there might be just a single temple, run by their village organisation. By the late 19th-century, the caste system of Kerala had evolved to be the most complex to be found anywhere in India. There were over 500 groups represented in an elaborate structure of relationships and the concept of ritual pollution extended not merely to untouchability but even further, to unapproachability . The system
#605394