Chekavar

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Meanings and origin of word Chekavan
Meanings and origin of word Chekavan

The Chekava/Chekavar/Chekavan/Chevakan/Chon were a warrior section[1] [2] belonging to the Ezhava (Thiyya) caste from Kerala in southern India. Vadakkan Pattukal describes talents of chekors who formed militia of local cheftians and kings. It was also the title bestowed upon experts of Kalari Payattu.[3]

The word meaning of chekavar or chon is warrior. [4] Some argue that this word might have derived from Sanskrit word Sevakan or sevaka.[5][6] Another theory proposed says that it might have derived from local Malayalam language word Chavuka means ready to die.

As the saying goes, An Ezhavan became a Chekavan only after the fight of an ankam and that A Chekavar's bread was on the tip of the sword. [7]

They worshipped prithukkal (ancestors) and deities like Muthappan, Ayyan, Ayyappan, Shiva etc. These men were skilled assassins in the deadly art of war and were actively seen in Mamankams held at various places in Kerala, and in particular at the famous Mamankam at Thirunavaya in the Valluvanad taluk of ancient Kerala.

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[edit] Origin

Historians say that Chekavars(Ezhavas) came in to India ancient times, on account of their long inhabitations and similarities in religion that with natives. The tradition is that they came originally from Ceylon where they belonged to Military caste.[8] Some folk song says they were natives of Ezhavathu Nadu(Local name for Ceylon) and another folk song about puthooram veedu says their ancestors were one of the eight fighter families sent by the king of Ezhavathu Nadu (Land of Ezhavas) to help the local rulers of malayalam (Here the malayalam refers to present day Kerala). Famous chekavars of south Kerala, Komalezhathu Chekavars's (which was originally komala ezhavathu) family name also stressing this notion.[9][10]

[edit] Kalaripayattu tradition

The chekavars of Malabar were masters northern style Kalaripayattu while their counter-parts in South Kerala were practising southern styles like Varma Kalari, Adithada, Chilambam and occasionally using weapon based Kalaripayatu during wars. The chekavars of malabar were involved in ankam(quarrels between local rulers were resolved by fixing an Ankam, a duel to the death) between two Ankachekavars, each ruler being represented by one Ankachekavar. The ruler represented by the surviving Ankachekavar was considered the winner. This type of Ankams between two chekavars were not common in Travancore or cochin.

[edit] Legends

Arattupuzha Velayudha Panicker, was an Ezhava warrior lived in the 19th century in Kerala who has also fought against the caste oppression by the upper castes. His original name was Kalisseril Velayutha chekavar. His grandfather Vallikadavil Perumal Chekavan(Perumalchekon or Perumalchan) was even proficient in Tulunadan kalari techniques which was not common in southern style of Kalaripayattu. [11] [12]

Legendary warrior figures of northern ballads Kannappa chekavar, Aromal Chekavar, Unniarcha, Unikkannan, Aromalunny etc. were chekavars from puthooram veedu in malabar. Kottakkal Kanaran, the founder of the renowned CVN Kalari, was himself a Chekava.

In Central Travancore, there are families such as Punnasseril in Veloor whose roots are closely associated with these clans. Komalezhathu Chekavars of the Alappuzha districts were fierce warriors of most of the central Kerala kingdoms before the emergence of Travancore as a powerful kingdom. Sree Moolam Assembly (Praja sabha) memebr Komalezhathu Kunju pillai chevakar and ezhava leader T. K. Madhavan are from this family.

So is the case of Thadathil Chekavars. Thadathil Raman Chekavar Velayudhan, Former CEO, Coir Worker's welfare Fund Board and an astrologist, belongs to this family. Other chekavar families in travancore include Valiya mundakkal chekavars of eastern kollam and Melathil chekavars of Kanyakumari. Majority of these families in South Kerala lost it mightiness after the emergence Travancore as powerful kingdom, except Melathil tharavdu which continued to serve the Travancore kingdom.

Manikya Chevakar, famous 2nd century warrior, scholar and Shiva devotee from a respected ezhava family of Kanyakumari debated with many of the early Christians and reconverted them back to the Shiva faith.

In South kerala members of ezhavas are still being called chovans (a maltreated derived version of chekavan) by other communities mainly upper caste.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ A. Aiyappan, Social Revolution in a Kerala Village: A Study in Culture Change. (Asia Publishing House, 1965), Page 85
  2. ^ Social Revolution in a Kerala Village: A Study in Culture Change.Page 85. A. Aiyappan. (Asia Publishing House, 1965. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  3. ^ Social Movements and Social Transformation.Page 23. M. S. A. Rao. (Macmillan, 1979. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  4. ^ Social Revolution in a Kerala Village: A Study in Culture Change.Page 85. A. Aiyappan. (Asia Publishing House, 1965. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  5. ^ Communal Road to a Secular Kerala.Page 30. George Mathew. Concept Pub.Co, 1989. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  6. ^ Religion and Social Conflict in South Asia.Page 27. Bardwell L. Smith. (BRILL publications ,1976. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  7. ^ Man in India.Page 27. Sarat Chandra Roy. A.K. Bose, etc. (1921).
  8. ^ Letters from Malabar.Page 127. Jacobus Canter Visscher (1862). Retrieved on 05-12-2008.
  9. ^ Letters from Malabar, tr.: to which is added An account of Travancore.Page 127. Jacobus Canter Visscher (1862).
  10. ^ Castes And Tribes Of Southern India.Page 137. Edgar Thurston, K. Rangachari (2001).
  11. ^ Ezhava Warrior From Central Travancore. haripad website. haripad web. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
  12. ^ NR Krishanan IAS, Izhavar Annum Innum (Trissur: Seena Publications, 1967), p 119

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