ABOUT NAIR COMMUNITY

Nairs form the second largest Hindu community in the Indian state of Kerala. The total population of the community is disputed, since there have been no caste based census since 1941. According to the 1891 Census of India, the total population of Nairs stood at 980,860 (Excluding subcastes like Maarans and Samanthan Nairs). Out of this, 483,725 (49.3%) lived in Travancore, 101,691 (10.4%) in Cochin and 377,828 (38.5%) in Malabar. The reminder were mostly found in Madras Presidency (15,939) and other parts of British India (1,677). [1] Nairs numbered 1,046,748 in 1901 and 1,129,466 in 1911.[2] The 1968 Socio-Economic Survey by the Government of Kerala gave the population of the Nair community as 14.41% of the total population of the state, constituting for 89% of the forward caste population in the state. But various sources site figures ranging from 15% [3], 16% [4], 17.5% [5], 19%[6] and 20% [7][8]. There is also the practical difficulty of certain Nair subcastes declaring as independent caste. Out of those citizens who are eligible to vote in Kerala, 15% belong to the Nair community. [9] Nair population has been declining in Kerala. Forced conversions and executions of Nairs by Tipu Sultan [10] contributed initially to the decline from late 1700s. Some of the districts in Kerala have very minimal population of Nairs. Malappuram has a Nair population of 1.8% and Kasargode has about 2.1%[11]. The most reliable population figures comes from two sources. The BCRC estimated Nair population at 14.47% of the total population of Kerala based on a state wide sample survey conducted for the reservation of seats in educational institutions. At the same time, the government for the same purpose, gave a figure of 15.35% based on the Census of Travancore in 1941, Census of Cochin in 1941 & Census of Malabar in 1921. [12] This figure will be true if the population growth rate is uniform for all the ethnic groups in Kerala. But this is not the case, as according to the 1941 Census, the Total Fertility Rate varied across various ethnic groups. In 1941, Kammalas had the highest TFR at 3.88 children per woman. They were followed by Ezhavas at 3.84, Syrians at 3.79, Muslims at 3.71 and Nadars at 3.64 children per woman. On the other hand, Nairs had a TFR of only 3.63 children per woman. Below the Nairs were Pulayas and Vellalas (3.43 each), Parayas (3.23), Brahmins (3.13) and Kuravas (3.13). [13] But it should be noted that the Censuses of 1941 and 1921 counted many of the Nair subcastes (Maarar for example) as independent castes, and they were not added to the Nair population. Travancore had a total population of 6,059,000 in 1941. Out of that 3,671,480 or 61% was Hindu. 1,963,808 (32%) were X'ian and 423,500 (7%) were Muslim. Upper Caste Hindus constituted 1,272,000 or 21% of the population, of which Nairs were 1,062,357 (17.53% of the total population of Travancore). Namboothiris constituted for 0.07% of the population at 4,229. Non-Namboothiri Brahmins like Pisharody numbered a further 1.20% at 72,605. Other Forward Castes numbered 133,000 (2.2% of the population), mostly Maarans, Ambalavasis, Samanta Kshatriyas and Arya Vysyas. [12]

In 1941, Nairs constituted the second largest ethnic group in the Kingdom of Travancore at 17.53% of the population. They were followed by Ezhavas at 17.14%. The largest ethnic group were the Syrians at 18.78%. [18] Nair population had decreased from 19.33% in 1881 to 17.53% in 1941. But the decrease was more evident for some of the other castes. For example Nambuthiris plummeted from 0.32% to 0.07%. On the other hand, Muslims increased from 6.45% to 7% and Ezhavas increased during 1891-1941 from 16.66% to 17.14%. [19] [edit] Census of Malabar, 1891 Malabar had a population of 2,640,000 in 1891 according to the British Census. Nairs formed 377,828 or roughly 14.31% of the total population. [20]. Muslims with a population of 759,242 formed the largest community in Malabar. During the 1881 census, the Nairs numbered 321,674. [edit] Census of Cochin, 1891 The 1891 census of Cochin reported a total of 111,837 Nairs as opposed to 184,504 Ezhavas. There were also 892 Samanthans, 7,483 Ambalavasis, 7,521 Veena Nairs, 6,407 Nambuthiris, 29,809 artisans, 7,564 Valans, 4,081 Arayans, 8,243 Velans, 59,840 Cherumans, 8,841 Paraiyans, 6,349 Vettuvans, 5,917 Kanakkans, 215 Nayadis, 2,631 Malayans, 439 Ulladans and 310 Kadans. [21]