Kudumbi
Encyclopedia
Konkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
speaking farming community residing in 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....
, India who belong to the Shudra
Shudra
Shudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. The other three varnas are Brahmans - priests, Kshatriya - those with governing functions, Vaishya - agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders...
(cultivator) varna (caste). The majority of the group are farmers, labourers and petty workers settled across central and southern Kerala. Kudumbis are part of the larger Kunbi
Kunbi
Kunbi is a generic term applied to castes of traditionally non-elite tillers in Western India. These include the Dhonoje, Ghatole, Hindre, Jadav, Jhare, Khaire, Lewa , Lonari and Tirole communities of Vidharbha. The communities are largely found in the state of Maharashtra but also exist in the...
–Kurmi
Kurmi
The Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
, a generic farming community spread all over India, with the probable exception of only Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
.
Goan legacy
The Kudumbi originate from the aboriginal KunbiKunbi
Kunbi is a generic term applied to castes of traditionally non-elite tillers in Western India. These include the Dhonoje, Ghatole, Hindre, Jadav, Jhare, Khaire, Lewa , Lonari and Tirole communities of Vidharbha. The communities are largely found in the state of Maharashtra but also exist in the...
tribe of Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, South West India where the prominent tribes are the Kunbi, Velip and Gowada
Gauda and Kunbi
Gaudas and Kunbis are aboriginal people residing in the coastal Indian state of Goa. They are of Proto-Australoid stock and are believed to be the original inhabitants of Konkan...
, largely settled in the southern Canacona administrative region of the state. In the 15th century, the Kudumbi were forced to migrate from Goa following religious persecution by the Portuguese during the infamous Goa Inquisition
Goa Inquisition
The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian state of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia. It was established in 1560, briefly suppressed from 1774–1778, and finally abolished in 1812. The Goan Inquisition is considered a blot on the history of...
. The Kudumbis, along with Gouda Saraswat Brahmins (Tamil: ഗൌഡ് സാരസ്വത്), Daivajnas and Vaishya Vani
Vaishya Vani
Vaishya Vani, is a trader/merchant community hailing from the western coast of India, residing in the Konkan division of Maharashtra, Goa,some parts of coastal and central Karnataka, and Kerala. This community commonly known as Vanis and sometimes Kudali Vanis...
s who wanted to preserve their religious and cultural identity, migrated from Goa along the west coast of India. A Small group as helpers and house maids with influential Gouda Saraswath Brahmins and their relatives followed by voyages from Goa to Kerala.
One of the first exodus groups landed on the island of Cherai
Cherai
Cherai is a region in the island of Vypin, a suburb of the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is at a distance of about 25km from the High Court Junction, Kochi. Cherai has the longest beach in Kochi - the Cherai beach. The beach is located towards the centre-north of the Vypin...
. near Paravur Taluk
Paravur Taluk
North Paravur is the capital of Paravur Taluk in Ernakulam District. Paravur Taluk lies in the north western part of Ernakulam district bordering to Thrissur district. The surrounding taluks are Kochi to the west consisting of Vypin Island, Kodungallore to the north, Aluva to the east consisting...
in the Ernakulam (എറണാകുളം) district of Kerala. They slowly migrated southwards from Ernakulam and settled in coastal areas including Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
, (Cochin) Vypeen വൈപ്പിന്, North Paravur
North Paravur
North Paravur formerly known as Parur is a town, municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is an old and growing municipality. Paravur is the capital of Paravur Taluk in Ernakulam district...
, Mala, Kerala
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 ). ...
, 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...
, Trichur (തൃശ്ശൂര്,) Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
, Tellicherry, Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
, Tripunithura, Alapuzha (ആലപ്പുഴ), Changanacherry (ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി), Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
, Thuravoor
Thuravoor
Thuravoor is a gram panchayat in the Pattanakkadu Block of Cherthala Taluk of Alappuzha District in the South Indian State of Kerala. Thuravoor lies exactly between Kochi and Alappuzha. A four lane National Highway 47 passes through the village, which along with a railway station gives it...
(തുറവൂര്), Cherthala
Cherthala
Cherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...
, Kayamkulam
Kayamkulam
Kayamkulam is a town and a municipality in Alappuzha district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is an ancient maritime trading centre. One of the largest power plants in Kerala, run by the NTPC, is located in Kayamkulam. Krishnapuram Palace is located nearby and an old cashew factory.Kayamkulam is...
, Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
(കൊല്ലം) and Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
(തിരുവനന്തപുരം). The largest Kudumbi settlement is in Vypeen (വൈപ്പിന്) near Kochi. They were experts in paddy cultivation
Paddy field
A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
, especially in the low lying fields of the Kerala Backwaters
Kerala Backwaters
The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state...
and pioneered cultivation of the well-known "Chettiverippu" strain of paddy rice. A small number of the Kudumbi are also found in cities like Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, particularly those members of the group who migrated from Kerala in search of better prospects and livelihood.
Early Cochin Princely State
According to the official census of 1901, in the pre-republic Cochin StateKingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
, the Kudumbi were referred to as Kudumi Chetti, the majority of whom were educationally and socially backward agricultural labourers. In 1937, M. Krishnan (later known as Gandhi Krishnan), formed an organisation called the All Cochin Kudumbi Association whose members were Kudumbi students and youngsters living in Cochin. He then submitted a memorandum to the Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin
Kingdom of Cochin was a late medieval Hindu kingdom and later Princely State on the Malabar Coast, South India...
seeking concessions on educational fees for Kudumbi students. Aware of the social and educational backwardness of the Kudumbi community, the maharajah ordered that the Kudumbis of his state be classified as "depressed" and granted educational fee concessions. At that time Santhalyan Master (1908–1973) was also nominated as Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in the erstwhile legislative assembly of Cochin State. Until now, Santhalyan remains the only MLC elected from the Kudumbi community. The early 20th century saw a period of social, educational and cultural uplift of backward communities in Kerala led by reformers such as Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru
Sri Nārāyana Guru , also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a Hindu saint, sadhuand social reformer of India. The Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when people from backward communities like the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society...
, Pandit Karuppan
Pandit Karuppan
Pandit Karuppan was a poet, dramatist, and social reformer who lived in Kerala, India. He was born on May 24, 1885, at Cheranelloor, near Ernakulam....
, Ayyankali
Ayyankali
Ayyankali was a leader of the Indian lower caste Dalits known as the Untouchables. He pioneered many reforms to improve the lives of the Dalits. In 1937 he was praised by Mahatma Gandhi when he visited Venganoor, Ayyankali's home town...
, Chattampi Swami, Sahodaran Ayyappan
Sahodaran Ayyappan
Sahodaran Ayyappan was a social reformer, thinker, journalist, and politician of Kerala, India. He was one of the outspoken followers of Sree Narayana Guru.-Overview:...
and Kumaran Asan. Inspired by these social reformers, Santhalyan Master and Gandhi Krishnan organised the Kudumbi community in a drive to eradicate illiteracy, superstitions and caste discrimination.
Current status
Many Kudumbis are expert in pandalPandal
A pandal is fabricated structure, either temporary or permanent, in a religious ceremonies including weddings.It is derived from Tamil...
(temporary building) or tent erection work and numerous temples call on their services during annual festivals. Kudumbis living around the Kerala backwaters are involved in large scale Shrimp farming, fishing and working at commercial aquaculture
Aquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
farms, while a few of them, especially those living around Vypeen, own deep sea fishing boats. Small-scale Pappad/Pappadum manufacture is undertaken by many Kudumbis, especially around Kozikode and Alapuzha. Despite their classification as one of Kerala's "backward"
Other Backward Class
The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste , Scheduled Tribe , and Other Backward Class . The OBC list presented by the commission is dynamic and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and...
communities, in general their social backwardness remains unnoticed.
In 1956, with the formation of the unified Kerala State under the Republic of India, education fee concessions given to the Cochin Kudumbis were extended to cover the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
and Malabar regions. For the last two decades the community has progressed educationally and financially, thanks to educational concessions granted by the State Government. The community enjoys job reservation under Other Backward Classes OBC
Other Backward Class
The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste , Scheduled Tribe , and Other Backward Class . The OBC list presented by the commission is dynamic and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and...
. The community is in the vanguard alongside other mainstream communities in competing to improve their social and economic status . There are few number of elected representatives from the community in various gram panchayat
Gram panchayat
Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300...
s (local self-governments), block panchayats and municipal corporations, especially in areas where the community has a decisive voting majority.
The community is officially classified as within the Socially and Economically Backward Communities (SEBC) by the State Government. Many students have utilized the benefits of reservation legislation to improve their lives. A mass struggle and hunger strike were organised by social organisation Kudumbi Seva Sanghom
Kudumbi Seva Sanghom
Kudumbi Seva Sanghom is a social organization of the Kudumbi caste of India for the upliftment of the caste in Kerala state. KSS now becomes the official organization of all Kudumbi's. About 4 lakh Kudumbi's are living in Kerala....
(KSS) during 2006–2007 demanding a 1% reservation for Kudumbis seeking admission to various professional courses in Kerala. In 2008 the State Government finally acceeded to the demand. In the long run, this opportunity will help to remove some of the inherent social and educational backwardness of the community which understands the value of education and is encouraging students to complete their studies. The once socially introvert and reserved community now actively participates in social, cultural and political activities in their localities.
Language
The Kudumbis speak their own dialect of the Konkani languageKonkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
, which closely resembles original Goan Konkani. Kudumbis colloquially refer to Konkani as Kudumbi Bhaash (mother tongue of the Kudumbi). The older generation still prefer to speak this pure "Kudumbi Bhaash". Many among older generation can sing folk songs in Kudumbi Bhaash dedicated to Kurumba-Bhagavathy
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is in Kodungallur town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the Asura, another a sword, next a...
. Due to prolonged socio-economic pressures to maintain a bi-lingual format for verbal communication, Konkani has shifted towards the Malayalam language. This change is more pronounced among Kudumbis. For many decades there was no unified official script for Konkani until 1987 when it was declared the official language of Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
with Devanagiri as its official script. As a result many Kudumbi prefer Malayalam over Konkani for written and oral communication. There are a number of scholars in the community who have contributed significantly to Konkani literature in Kerala while Kudumbi Seva Sanghom has regularly participated in all India conferences, forums organised by Akhil Bharat Konkani Parishad, Goa and similar organisations. To nurture the Konkani language among Konkani-speaking communities, in 2009 teaching in Konkani began in three government schools located around the Western Ernakulam district where there is a sizable Kudumbi population. Many students participate in Konkani poetry recitations during annual cultural competitions organised by Kudumbi Seva Sanghom. Unlike in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Kerala, Konkani speaking communities are still not recognized as a Linguistic minority. Kudumbis living around Vypeen, Kodungallor, North Paravoor and the Trichur district speak the purest form of Konkani compared to other localities in southern Kerala. Konkani is regarded as the Amma Bhaash (mother language) and Malayalam as the Pootah Bhaash meaning the language by which one earns a livelihood.
Traditions and culture
The Kudumbis have a rich cultural heritage derived from their ancestors the Goan Kunbis while the great Marathi Saint and poet, Sant TukaramTukaram
Sant Tukaram was a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet during a Bhakti movement in India.Sant Tukaram was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in Mahārāshtra, India. He was born to a couple with the family name "More", the descendent of the Mourya Clan with first...
, was a Kunbi who lived in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
state. Every Kudumbi family makes an annual pilgrimage to Tirumala - Tirupati
Tirumala - Tirupati
Tirupati is a major pilgrimage city located in the Chittoor district and seventh biggest city of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats at a distance of south of Hyderabad, the capital of the state, east of Bangalore, and north of Chennai.Tirupati is famous...
to seek the darshan (glimpse of the deity) of Lord Venkateshwara
Venkateshwara
Venkateswara also known as Srinivasa, Balaji, Venkata and Venkatachalapati , is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara means the Lord who destroys the sins of the people...
, offer their [Anguvanna] (preserved Hundi collection) and pray for the family's prosperity. Kudumbis also conduct the Satyanarayana Puja to commemorate special occasions in their temples. This puja (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...
observance) is also conducted in many Kudumbi households. Kudumbis have adopted Sakthi/Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
-puja (mother goddess) as a part of their religious tradition . Kudumbis worship Kurumba-Bhagavathy
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is in Kodungallur town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the Asura, another a sword, next a...
as their Kuldevta
Kuldevta
Kuladevata or Kuladevi, also known as Kuladev and Kŭladaiwat, stands for "family deity, that is either a god or a goddess" within Hinduism, as distinct from personal ishta-devata and village deities...
(mother deity). The Kochu Kodungallur devi (goddess) temples at Changanacherry (Tamil:ശ്രീ ൊച്ചുകൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര് ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം, മധുമൂല, ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി) and Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
(Tamil:ശ്രീ കൊച്ചുകൊടുങ്ങല്ലൂര് ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം, ഓലയില്, കൊല്ലം) prove the devotion and historic connection of the Kudumbis with the Kurumba-Bhagavathy
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is in Kodungallur town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the Asura, another a sword, next a...
. Legend says that Kodungallur devi Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi
Bhagavathi or Bhagavati is the general way people refer to the Hindu goddesses in Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra states of India. It can be used to refer any of the Hindu goddesses like Durga, Kannaki, Parvati, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Kali...
protected the Kudumbi community during the exodus from Goa. Kudumbis from all over Kerala annually visit the Kurumba-Bhagavathy temple, preferably on the 1st day of Makaram in the Malayalam calendar
Malayalam calendar
Malayalam calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, India. The origin of the calendar has been dated as 825 CE....
, equivalent to January–February in the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
. Many Kudumbi women also offer the Suhasini puja to the devi on the same day in this temple. They also participate in the Onnam Talapoli (a traditional right given to Kudumbis to conduct the first Talapoli on this day). The occasion is also an informal matrimonial gathering for many Kudumbi families. Marriage alliances are negotiated by the elders for their children / grand children and many marriages are fixed.
Konkan Cuisine features "Gessi", a spicy dish made from chickpea
Chickpea
The chickpea is a legume of the family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae...
s/Kala chana/ Kadala parripu (in Malayalam) / chonno (in Konkani) served during community functions. Patravaado
Patrode
Patrode is a dish made in the Konkan region of the western coast of India. It is a popular dish for festive occasions among Konkanis. Regional variations of Patrode are Aluwadi made by the Marathis and Patra made by the Gujaratis, both of which are normally deep fried rather than steamed as in the...
is a leafy vegetable dish, which is highly nutritious and tasty. It is prepared from the large leaves of the root vegetable colocasia
Colocasia
Colocasia is a genus of 25 or more species of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to tropical Polynesia and southeastern Asia. Common names include Elephant-ear, Taro, Cocoyam, Dasheen,Chembu, and Eddoe...
/ taro
Taro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
or chembu (in Malayalam). Items made from avil" or beaten rice are also popular.
Traditionally, the Kudumbi follow a patriarchal system within the family, but maternal uncles are given special honours during various ceremonies. The pre-marriage ceremony starts with the engagement of the girl and boy, which is nowadays conducted at the girl's home. After the engagement, the boy's party have to honour the maternal uncle of the girl and get his formal consent for the marriage. This custom is also called mallam-ponno (visiting uncle's house). Before the marriage day the ceremony called sakkido is conducted, which involves five noble men (called sajjari or chow-gule in Kudumbi) from the bridegroom's locality viting the bride's house then giving her dressing materials and some traditional items as gifts. In former days when the marriage was held at the bridegroom's house, after the visit of the sakkido, the bride was supposed to be handed over respectfully to bridegroom's family. The marriage is officially completed by fastening the traditional mangalsutra
Mangalsutra
A Mangalsutra is a symbol of Hindu marriage union in South Asia. It is a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by women as a symbol of their marriage...
and finally by performing the saptapadi
Saptapadi
Saptapadi is the most important rite of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means "Seven steps"...
(seven steps). Unlike the Keralite Aalila taali (resembling a Pipal leaf), the traditional Kudumbi Mangalsutra
Mangalsutra
A Mangalsutra is a symbol of Hindu marriage union in South Asia. It is a sacred thread of love and goodwill worn by women as a symbol of their marriage...
is a round golden locket containing the ensign of goddess Mahalaksmi with two black beads tied to it.
Marriage is now a one-day affair, which asserts an individual's social and financial status especially among the neo-rich; a practice gradually being emulated by lower income groups. Most Kudumbi marriage customs are camouflaged by local customs and in practice are few. The dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
system which was unheard-of in the community, has become a necessary social evil in many Kudumbi marriages.
Seemantham (also known as pulikudi or jawana in Kudumbi) is performed during the seventh month of pregnancy. On an auspicious day, relatives of both in-laws visit the pregnant lady. A special item called polli (in Kudumbi), and seven types of sweets are distributed. Elder women and in-laws then bless the lady and wish for good progeny.
According to the Kudumbi tradition, the naming ceremony for a newborn baby is called shetti although this has now been replaced with the local tradition of irupattiettukettal. The ceremony takes place on the 28th or 56th day after the child's birth – the first time that the nakshatram (star) of the child repeats according to the Malayalam calendar.
A period of ten days is observed in mourning for the deceased. After that, the last rites or shraaddha
Shraaddha
Śrāddha or Shraaddha is a Sanskrit word which literally means anything or any act that is performed with all sincerity and faith . In the Hindu religion, it is the ritual that one performs to pay homage to one’s 'ancestors' , especially to one’s dead parents...
and spindi
Pind Sammelan
Pind Sammelan or Spindi is a ritual performed in Hinduism on the 13th day of death of somebody. This ritual is performed to place the departed soul with the ancestors and God. It is believed that before the ritual the departed soul is a "preta" , and after performing this ritual, the soul will...
ceremonies are performed on the thirteenth day and led by the eldest son of the family. According to the priest or astrologer's advice, the shraaddha ceremony may involve a homa
Homa (ritual)
Homa is a Sanskrit word which refers to any ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action...
, or fire sacrifice in which offerings are made to the ancestors and to the gods to ensure the deceased has a peaceful afterlife. Thirteen noble men from the locality, preferably non-blood relatives who have already performed last rites for their departed parents, are honoured with a feast and given alms. They bless the bereaved family and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul. Thereafter all the nearest relatives and local contacts participate in the feast. After one year, the same rites are conducted on the same day also known as orsikkau (in Konkani). Some visit holy places like Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
or Varkala
Varkala
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 50 kilometres north-west of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south-west of Kollam city.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to...
to bury the mortal remains of the deceased in the river or sea shore and thereby finish the last rites. The Kudumbis of the Alapuzha, Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
and Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
districts give more prominence to the spindi ceremony conducted on the 13th day, whereas those from the Ernakulam and Trichur districts give more prominence to the sanjayanam (immersion of ashes) ceremony conducted on the 3rd to 5th day after death. This a typical example of the cultural diffusion found in Kudumbi customs.
Cultural diffusion and language convergence
For decades the Kudumbi led a socially secluded life. During the late 19th century in Kerala, when a socio-cultural revival took place in many backward communities, the Kudumbi opened themselves up to mainstream socio-cultural and economic developments. Unfortunately, newer socio-economic and cultural changes in the community spurred a slow reverse cultural diffusion. This has created a language shift among the younger generation, who now prefer to speak Malayalam to Konkani, with Malayalam also used for written communication. The convergence of the Konkani and Malayalam languages is more pronounced among the Kudumbi. Unlike their Konkani peers,kudumbis have no spiritual GuruGuru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
, no central authority and no dominant figure in the community. As a result, many Kudumbi customs have regional disparities and many have vanished from its cultural ethos altogether. Mainstream peer influences compelled many to blindly adopt the local or dominant socio-cultural values .But in spite of this cultural diffusion, funeral rites (antyesti
Antyesti
Antyesti or Hindu funeral rites, also referred to as Antim Sanskar, is an important Sanskara, sacrament of Hindu society. Extensive texts of such rites are available, particularly in the Garuda Purana. There is wide inconsistency in theory and practice, and the procedures differ from place to place...
) rites and some religious ceremonies (poojas) are widely conducted according to Kudumbi customs.
Kudumbi temples
Traditionally, many Kudumbi localities have their own devili (temples) that are owned by a trust, committee or family from the local community. Most of the kudumbi temples are dedicated to DeviDevi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
or Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
although a few of them to Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. Following the exodus to Kerala, the Kudumbi were unable to maintain contact with their Goan brethren such that for decades the Kudumbi have absorbed other local cultures into their ethos. Unlike other Konkani speaking communities, the Kudumbis do not have any traditional kuldevta
Kuldevta
Kuladevata or Kuladevi, also known as Kuladev and Kŭladaiwat, stands for "family deity, that is either a god or a goddess" within Hinduism, as distinct from personal ishta-devata and village deities...
s (family deities) in their temples while they are all built using traditional Kerala temple architecture and follow the rituals, customs traditions, festivals and pujas in the Kerala tradition. The pujarii or priests in Kudumbi temples are usually Gouda Saraswat Brahmins, Nampoothiris or Ezhavas and few temples have priests from the Kudumbi community. Kudumbis worship Sri Kurumba Bhagavathi
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is in Kodungallur town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the Asura, another a sword, next a...
of Kodungallor as their kuladevi . The annual festivals in Kudumbi temples may last for three to ten days. The ladies offer a traditional puja popularly known as Suvasini or the Suhasini Puja, which is performed exclusively in Kudumbi temples. In order to commemorate special occasions, the Satyanarayana Puja is conducted in some Kudumbi temples. According to Kerala tradition, the ceremony of Talapoli or procession of ladies carrying oil lamps accompanied by chenda
Chenda
The Chenda is a cylindrical percussion instrument used widely in the state of Kerala, and Tulu Nadu of Karnataka State in India. In Tulu Nadu it is known as Chande....
(percussion instruments) or tappu melam can be seen during the festivals in these devi temples. The traditional haampu (multi-stacked portable brass lamp or a similar stone lamp) found in a number of Kudumbi temples is lit on special puja days. Votive items made from Aval, (puffed rice) or beaten rice and jaggery are still offered as prasadam in many Kudumbi temples. Holi—the festival of colours—is celebrated in many Devi temples by the Kudumbi. Youngsters and children go in a group, pour water from a yellow pot kept in front of every house and finally gather at their local devili temple.
The reverberating rhythmic beats of tonya-melam or tappu-melam (a tribal form of drum) can also be enjoyed during the festivals in many Kudumbi temples. The ceremony of Munnchuvu Vajjavappo (carrying a decorated country boat) is accompanied by the tappu-melam in a ceremony held in some Kudumbi temples to commemorate the Goan exodus of centuries ago.
Well-known Kudumbi temples in Kerala (കേരളത്തിലെ കുഡുംബി ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങള്) include:
- Sreenivasa kovil-Thekkumbhagam, Tripunithura, Ernakulam — Main deity is Lord Sreenivasa / VenkateshwaraVenkateshwaraVenkateswara also known as Srinivasa, Balaji, Venkata and Venkatachalapati , is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Venkateswara means the Lord who destroys the sins of the people...
തെക്കുംഭാഗം ശ്രീനിവാസ കോവില്, തൃപ്പൂണിത്തുറ, എറണാകുളം
- Mallikarjuna Temple - Kaalamukku, Vypeen, Ernakulam — Main deity is Lord ShivaShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
with his consort Parvathi Devi
ശ്രീ മല്ലികാര്ജ്ജുന ക്ഷേത്രം, വൈപ്പിന്, എറണാകുളം
- Vilanjoor Sree Bhagavathy Temple - A.N. Puram, Alapuzha - Main deity is Bhagavathy or DeviDeviDevī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
വിളഞ്ഞൂര് ക്ഷേത്രം, ആലപ്പുഴ
- Kochumullakal Devi Temple - Tiruvambady, Alapuzha - Two Main Deities - Lord VishnuVishnuVishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and Bhagavathy or Devi
കൊച്ചുമുല്ലക്കല് ക്ഷേത്രം, തിരുവമ്പാടി, ആലപ്പുഴ
- Madathiparambil Sri Anantha Vaishnava Vaishnavi Kshethram, Poothotta, ErnakulamErnakulamErnakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
- Main deity is Lord VishnuVishnuVishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
with his consort Lakshmi deviDeviDevī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents... - Alingal Sree Durga Devi Kshetram, Kudumbi Colony,Elamkulam, ErnakulamErnakulamErnakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
- Dedicated to the goddess Vana DurgaDurgaFor the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion... - Vana DurgaDurgaFor the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
temple - Perumpaddana, North Paravoor - Dedicated to the goddess Vana DurgaDurgaFor the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion... - Sri Gopalakrishna Temple - Thundi parambu, Cochin - Main Deity is Lord KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
- Sri Anandavishnu temple - Kattikunnu, Poothotha, Ernakulam - Main deity is Lord VishnuVishnuVishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
in his Ananthashayana form - Koshavarkunnu Sree Bhagavathy Temple - Mala, KeralaMala, KeralaMala 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 ). ...
- Pallipuram, Trissur - Main deity is Bhagavathy or DeviDeviDevī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents... - Moorthingal Sree Vaishnava Temple Pizhala,Ernakulam
- Sri Ganapathi Temple, Perandoor Road, Elamakara, KochiKochi-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
-26- Main deity is Lord Ganapathi - Vyathara Trimurthi temple - AndhakaranazhyAndhakaranazhyAndhakaranazhy is a coastal village located 4 km West of Pattanakkad under Pattanakkad Panchayath under Cherthala Taluk. It is famous for its beach which draws a number of domestic and international tourists.- Overview :...
near CherthalaCherthalaCherthala is a town located in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 30 km south of the city of Kochi and 22 km north of Alappuzha town, on the Kochi-Alappuzha streatch of both the National Highway 47 as well as the costal Rail-route.lt is 85 km from the...
- An old trimurthi temple rarely in KeralaKeralaor 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....
. All the trimurthis or tri-gods are consecrated in a single sreekovilSreekovilThe Sreekovil, also known as the Sanctum sanctorum, is the building in which the idol of the deity in a Hindu temple is installed.The area around the Sreekovil is referred as to the Chuttapalam, which generally includes other deities and the main boundary wall of the temple...
and worshipped with equal prominence . - Konnackapally Sree Bhagavathy Kshethram, AlappuzhaAlappuzhaAlappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
- Main Deity is BhadrakaliKali' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
or DeviDeviDevī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents... - Sri Anantha Vishnu Temple, Kattikunnu, Chempu.P. O. Vaikom.
- Oum Maha Vishnu shekthram Chenthuruthy,Mala,Thrissur.(The main speciality is the idol(deity) of the LAKSHMI NARAYANA (both god VISHNU and godess LAKSHMI) which is very rare to see in kerala & The idol of godess ANNAPOORNESHWARY)
- Some Kudumbi temples of Kerala
Some of the Kudumbi temples bear the unique local title "Moorthingal" prefixed to their actual names.
Festivals
HoliHoli
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
, Onam
Onam
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It falls during the month of Chingam and lasts for ten days...
, Vishu
Vishu
Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit into the Mesha Raasi , according to Indian astrological calculations, and represents the vernal equinox...
, Navarathri
Navarathri
Navratri, Navaratri, or Navarathri is a Hindu festival of worship of Shakti and dance & festivities. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshiped...
, Sivarathri, Nagapanchami and the Mandala Puja are some of the festivals celebrated by the Kudumbi. Onam and Vishu are Kerala festivals which have been adapted as Kudumbi traditional festivals. These festivities all have regional variations.
Popular surnames
"Moopan" / "Moorthy" are the typical surnames prevalent in Central Kerala. These surnames are now rarely used because of neo socio-cultural values in the community and dissolution of self identity.Social organizations
Kudumbi Seva SanghomKudumbi Seva Sanghom
Kudumbi Seva Sanghom is a social organization of the Kudumbi caste of India for the upliftment of the caste in Kerala state. KSS now becomes the official organization of all Kudumbi's. About 4 lakh Kudumbi's are living in Kerala....
(കുഡുംബി സേവാ സംഘം) KSS, Kerala Kudumbi Federation, Kudumbi Seva Samiti, Kudumbi samajam (കുഡുംബി സമാജം) and Kudumbi Karayogams, Kudumbi Mahajana Sabha-Vypeen are the social organisations representing the community in Kerala. Kudumbi Seva Sanghom (KSS) is the predominant organisation representing the majority of Kudumbis in Kerala. Their aim is social, educational and cultural uplift of the community.
Educational and socio-cultural institutions
- Gandhi Krishnan Memorial Library- Tiruvambadi, Alapuzha -Runs a library in the name of Late social reformer Gandhi Krishnan.
- TRACKS - Tripunithura, ErnakulamErnakulamErnakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
- A research center for KonkaniKonkani languageKonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
studies - CS & RC (Center for Cultural Studies and Research Center) -North Paravoor, Ernakulam
- KES (Kudumbi Educational Society) - North ParavurNorth ParavurNorth Paravur formerly known as Parur is a town, municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is an old and growing municipality. Paravur is the capital of Paravur Taluk in Ernakulam district...
, Ernakulam -Running a School and a parallel college - Kattukaran Chandu Santhappan Memorial Trust at Poyya near Trichur-A rare Kathakali School run by a Kudumbi family
- GKCS (Gandhi Krishnan Computer Studies) - MattancherryMattancherryMattancherry is the western part of city of Kochi, India. It is said that the name Mattancherry is drawn from "Ancherry Mattam", a Namboodiri illam which then the foreign traders pronounced it as Matt-Ancherry, gradually became Mattancherry. It is about 9 km from Ernakulam town. There are...
, Kochi - A computer center run by KSS Br. 31, Kochi - KEA - (Kudumbi Employees Association) - Cochin - Providing financial support for Kudumbis. Currently providing services in and around MattancherryMattancherryMattancherry is the western part of city of Kochi, India. It is said that the name Mattancherry is drawn from "Ancherry Mattam", a Namboodiri illam which then the foreign traders pronounced it as Matt-Ancherry, gradually became Mattancherry. It is about 9 km from Ernakulam town. There are...
and Fort Cochin. - KWT - (Kudumbi Welfare Trust) - A welfare trust of Kudumbis in Pallurutty, Cochin
- T.C Krishnan memorial Charitable trust, Cochin
- KWA -Kudumbi Welfare Association, Vypeen - A cooperative society of Retired Govt. servants around Vypeen.
- KonkaniKonkani languageKonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
Bhasha Padana Gaveshana Kendram - A KonkaniKonkani languageKonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
linguistic research body - Bharathiya KonkaniKonkani languageKonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
Bhasha Vikas Sabha - T.A. Road,Behind Town Hall, ErnakulamErnakulamErnakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in... - KSSEC Trust - Kudumbi Seva Sangham Educational and Charitable Trust-Reg. No. 109/2009- Kudumbi Sevasangham Building Pullut - Kodungallur - Trissur. KSSEC Trust is a Govt. registered and recognized Trust with the supreme objective of doing Charitable activities and establishing and running of educational institutions. The foremost aim of this Trust is to provide Professional Quality Education to youngsters, preparing them for a global career.
- K E T (Kudumbi Education Trust) - subsidiary body under Kudumbi Seva Sangham - Acquired a UP school at Kakkathuruthi, EdathirinjiEdathirinjiEdathirinji is a village in Thrissur district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Edathirinji had a population of 8196 with 3859 males and 4337 females....
village, Trichur dist in 2010. Its the first UP school run by Kudumbi seva sangham in the community.
Notables
- Gandhi Krishnan (1910–1944) - M. Krishnan is popularly known as Gandhi Krishnan. He was born and bought up in Alapuzha but later shifted to Cochin. In 1937, Gandhi Krishnan took initiative to organise the youngsters and submitted a memorandum to Maharaja of Cochin seeking educational fee concessions for the Kudumbi students. The Maharaja understood the social and educational backwardness of community, ordered the inclusion of Kudumbis in Cochin state under the Depressed classes and granted educational fee concessions. In 1937-38 All Cochin Kudumbi Association was formed and M. Krishnan became the first Secretary of the association. He had also served in British Royal Air force for few years. He followed the values of Mahatma Gandhi and also took part in the Indian Freedom Struggle. Even today, Gandhi Krishnan is a revered social reformer and stands as the iconic identity of the Kudumbi community.
- Santhalyan Master (nominated ex-MLC in erstwhile Cochin legislative assembly under Cochin Princely State) (1908–1973) - To date, he is the only Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from the Kudumbi community in Kerala. He was a school master and an active politician in Cochin. He along with Gandhi Krishnan organised the community and guided them in fighting for their rights. He was the leader who united the Kudumbis of both Cochin and TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
state during the pre-unification era of Kerala state. He was first secretary of Dakshin Kerala Kudumbi Maha Sabha (DKKMS), an organisation of Kudumbis in the unified TravancoreTravancoreKingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
–Cochin state. He is remembered for his leadership, courage and self-respect of his community. - R. V. Nath (1921–2001) - A veteran soldier and a social leader from KollamKollamKollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
. He was also the first publisher of Margdeepam (now re-published by Kudumbi Seva Sanghom), the mouthpiece magazine of Kudumbi community.
External links
- Evolution of Konkani
- Temples of Goa
- Temples of Ponda,Goa
- Extract of Goan history
- The Kudubis of Karnataka
- Reference in Google Books
- Konkani Language and cultural Foundation, Mangalore
- Exodus from Goa
- kudumbi.com
- kudumbi.org
- Kudumbis from Cherthala
- Extract from a popular newspaper
- Convergence and Language Shift- A Case Study of the Kudumbis of Kerala
Sources
- The Kurmis-Kunbis of India by Pratap Singh Velip Kankar. Published by Pritam Publishers PajiFord, Margoa, Goa Year -2006
- Faces Of Goa by Karin Larsen Published -1998
- 1956 An Introduction to the Study of Indian History (Popular Book Depot, Bombay)- D.D. Kosambi
- Margdeepam, a Bi-Monthly magazine Published by Kudumbi Seva Sanghom, Kochi, Kerala in INDIA.