Anjuvannam
Encyclopedia
Anjuvannam or Anjuvannan refers to the community of Cochin Jews
.
The name derives from the traditional Hindu
system of caste
s where any person not belonging to one of the four principal castes used to be referred to as an anjuvannan. The word comes from the Malayalam
words anju (five) and vannam or varnam (colour, race, or caste).
to India in 2003, the then Tourism minister of Kerala
, K.V. Thomas presented Sharon with a replica of the copper plate issued by the Bhaskara Ravi Varman II , king of Cochin, to "Ousepp Irabban" (interpreted to be Joseph Rabban
, the leader of the Jewish community of Cochin state), with permission to own, inhabit, trade and prosper in an exclusive island on the port of Kodungallur
, (referred to as muziris
by western authors including Pliny the Elder
). The Cochin Jews had a peaceful existence, free from persecution ( the only two notable exceptions being the brief periods of Portuguese
and Dutch
colonial rule over Cochin) in coastal towns like Kodungallur, Mala
, paravoor (also referred to as North parur, and Jew town near Mattancheri.
i. There was also a tradition of referring to any non indigenous community like the white Jews for instance, (as opposed to the Black Jews, who were considered as indigenous) as Jonon or Yavanan ( Yavana means foreign land as well as Roman depending on the context).
The Cochini Anjuvannam Jews also migrated to Malaya , records show that they were settled in Seremban ,Negeri Sembilan,Malaysia.The last jew of Seremban is Mr.Benjamin Meyuhasheem being the decendants of the Cochini jews.The Cochini Jews are divided in three groups. The biggest group is called ‘Meyuhasheem’ (meaning ‘privileged’ in Hebrew) or Malabari Jews (Malabar is the name of the coast on which Kerala is situated). These Jews forefathers are considered to have arrived in India as merchants during the period of King Solomon.The remnant of the Meyuhasheem Yehudans are traced to Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The Meyuhasheem and the Rabban-Mattan-Cheri Yehudans have established connection with the Cochini-Kerala Yehudans and such connection traces back to the Cochini Jews to modern Israel.
Cochin Jews
Cochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews , are the oldest group of Jews in India, with roots claimed to date to the time of King Solomon, though historically attested migration dates from the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Historically, they lived in the Kingdom of Cochin in South India, now part of the...
.
The name derives from the traditional Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
system of caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
s where any person not belonging to one of the four principal castes used to be referred to as an anjuvannan. The word comes from the Malayalam
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
words anju (five) and vannam or varnam (colour, race, or caste).
Copper plate given to Anjuvannam
During the visit of Ariel SharonAriel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
to India in 2003, the then Tourism minister of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, K.V. Thomas presented Sharon with a replica of the copper plate issued by the Bhaskara Ravi Varman II , king of Cochin, to "Ousepp Irabban" (interpreted to be Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban
Joseph Rabban was a Jewish merchant, possibly from Yemen, who came to the Malabar Coast in the mid eighth century. According to the traditions of the Cochin Jews, Joseph was granted the rank of prince over the Jews of Cochin by the Chera ruler Bhaskara Ravivarman II.He was granted the rulership...
, the leader of the Jewish community of Cochin state), with permission to own, inhabit, trade and prosper in an exclusive island on the port of Kodungallur
Kodungallur
Kodungallur is a municipality in Thrissur District, in the state of Kerala, India on the Malabar Coast. Kodungallur is located about 29 km northwest of Kochi city and 38 km Southwest of Thrissur, on National Highway 17 . Muziris the ancient seaport at the mouth of the Periyar River was...
, (referred to as muziris
Muziris
Muziris is an ancient sea-port in Southwestern India on the Periyar River 3.2 km from its mouth. The derivation of the name Muziris is said to be from "Mucciripattanam," "mucciri" means "cleft palate" and "pattanam" means "city". Near Muziris, Periyar River was branched into two like a...
by western authors including Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
). The Cochin Jews had a peaceful existence, free from persecution ( the only two notable exceptions being the brief periods of Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
colonial rule over Cochin) in coastal towns like Kodungallur, Mala
Mala, Kerala
Mala is the name of a small town in Thrissur district of Kerala, south India. K. Karunakaran, the former Chief Minister of Kerala, represented Mala constituency from 1965 to 1995. The famous Malayalam film actor Mala Aravindan is also a native of Mala. There is a Jewish synagogue at Mala town ). ...
, paravoor (also referred to as North parur, and Jew town near Mattancheri.
Subsequent Developments
From the 18th century onwards, the term anjuvannans was not used as commonly. Instead, the Jews were addressed as Judan, while the Christian community was referred to as Mappillai , or christianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
i. There was also a tradition of referring to any non indigenous community like the white Jews for instance, (as opposed to the Black Jews, who were considered as indigenous) as Jonon or Yavanan ( Yavana means foreign land as well as Roman depending on the context).
See also
- Cochin JewsCochin JewsCochin Jews, also called Malabar Jews , are the oldest group of Jews in India, with roots claimed to date to the time of King Solomon, though historically attested migration dates from the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Historically, they lived in the Kingdom of Cochin in South India, now part of the...
The Cochini Anjuvannam Jews also migrated to Malaya , records show that they were settled in Seremban ,Negeri Sembilan,Malaysia.The last jew of Seremban is Mr.Benjamin Meyuhasheem being the decendants of the Cochini jews.The Cochini Jews are divided in three groups. The biggest group is called ‘Meyuhasheem’ (meaning ‘privileged’ in Hebrew) or Malabari Jews (Malabar is the name of the coast on which Kerala is situated). These Jews forefathers are considered to have arrived in India as merchants during the period of King Solomon.The remnant of the Meyuhasheem Yehudans are traced to Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The Meyuhasheem and the Rabban-Mattan-Cheri Yehudans have established connection with the Cochini-Kerala Yehudans and such connection traces back to the Cochini Jews to modern Israel.