Kudumbi

Kudumbi (also referred as Kunubis/kudumbi /kunbi means a farmer) is traditionally a farmer community.They are Konkani people or Konkani speaking minority in Kerala. Majority of them are cultivators, farmers, petty workers . Kudumbis are found settled across Central and Southern Kerala in large numbers compared to the Malabar region of Kerala. They associate their legacy with the kunbi community of Goa. They had migrated to Kerala during the Portuguese suppression in 15th century in Goa. The Kudumbis, along with Gowda Saraswat Brahmins and Vaiysas who wanted to preserve their religious and cultural identity, had to migrate from Goa along the west coast of India. The first settlement of Kudumbis landed at Cherai near Paravoor (in Ernakulam district). Slowly they migrated to Cochin, Vypeen, Paravoor,Mala ,Kodungallur, Trichur,Kozhikode,Tellicherry,Kannur, Tripunithura, Alapuzha,Changanacherry,Kottayam, Thuravoor, Chertala, Kayamkulam, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and other coastal area towards south of Ernkulam .The largest settlement of Kudumbis is in Vypeen near Kochi. The Kudumbis speak the Konkani language which is purest form of Goan Konkani with slight Malayalam influence on it. In fact there are few scholars from the community who have contributed significantly to Konkani literature in Kerala.

The Kudumbis are socially, financially and educationally backward with respect to other Konkani people peers. They are innately hardworking, sincere,humble and god-fearing people.There are many workers who are expert in Pandal or tent erection work.Many temples use their service during their annual festivals.In fact few of them have become big contractors who supply decoration materials for festivals,conferences, rallies and big gatherings . Even though they are coming under Other backward /Eligible community in the Kerala, generally their social backwardness still remains unnoticed. Kudumbi Seva Sanghom, Kerala Kudumbi Federation, Kudumbi Seva Samiti and Kudumbi samajam, are the social organisations representing the community in Kerala.Kudumbi Seva Sanghom (KSS) is now the largest united organisation representing the majority of Kudumbis in Kerala.

Infobox caste
caste_name= Kudumbi
classification= Farmers, Cultivators
subdivisions = -
populated_states= Kerala
languages= Konkani,Malayalam
religions= Hinduism

Progressive Kudumbis

For the last two decades the community has progressed educationally and financially, thanks to educational concessions granted by the State Government. The community enjoys the job reservation coming under the Other Backward Classes (OBC Quota). There are many Govt. servants, few of them holding high posts in various Departments, especially in Education Dept. There are now many engineers, and a few doctors, leading lawyers and Advocates and Ph.D. scholars from the community. Some of the young Kudumbi IT professionals are found working in USA,UK,Australia etc in reputed MNC. The community is socially upfront, competing with other communities in the mainstream to improve its social and economic status. In fact there are few elected representatives in various Panchayats and Municipal Corp. who were elected during the elections held in 2005, especially in the localities where the community has a decisive voting majority.

The Kudumbis in the pre-republic Cochin princely state where classified under the Depressed class and granted educational fee concessions. With the formation of unified Kerala state in 1956 under the republic of India, these concessions where extended to Kudumbis in Travancore and Malabar regions of the state. Since then many students have utilized these benefits and come up in their life successfully. The community has understood the value of education and is encouraging the students in completing their studies. The educated peers encourage and guide the talented students in completing PG and Professional courses. The community which use to remain socially introvert and reserved, is now actively participating in social,cultural,political activities in their localities.

In spite of these small gains ,there are no well known personalities ,public figures worth mentioning from the community.

Ethnicity

The ethnicity of Kudumbis originates from the aboriginal Kunbi tribe of Goa.Kunbis,Vellips and Gauddi are the prominent aboriginal tribes in Goa. Typically Kudumbi men are usually darker in complexion, having a rugged body built up, sparingly grown bread, raised cheek bones.The anthropological studies conducted by the Kerala Institute of Research, Training and Development Studies (KIRTADS) proves that Kudumbis are socially and economically very backward among other Hindu backward communities. Due to climatic and morphological changes their physical appearances has undergone variations.Traditionally Kudumbis prefer simple dressing. Elders prefer white Dhoti and shirt. Old women use to wear the saree similar to a tribal outfit, also known as "Guzli". Now it is an outdated outfit. Elderly women still remember the traditional folklores when requested humbly. One can still taste the Konkan Cuisine, the "Gessi" being served during functions in the community. Another popular leafy item is the "Patravado" which is highly nutritious and tasty. It is prepared only as special recipe item. Items made from "Avil" or beaten rice is another popular cuisine of the community. Decades back the Maharaja of Travancore was very much pleased with an item made of "Avil and Jaggery". He soon ordered around 40 Kudumbi families from Alapuzha to settle down in Thiruvananthapuram and prepare the Avil for the royal palace.

Traditions and culture

Kudumbis have a rich cultural heritage derived from the Kunbis.In fact the great Marathi Saint and poet, Sant Tukaram was a kunbi who lived in Maharasthra state. Kudumbis are highly religious , god fearing, diligent,independent people. Every Kudumbi family goes for annual pilgrimage to Tirupathi to seek the darshan (glimpse of the deity) of Lord Venkatashwara, offer their [Anguvanna] (preserved Hundi collection ) and pray for their prosperity. This custom is followed even today with much devotion . Kudumbis conduct the
Satyanarayana Puja once in a year in their house for prosperity and well-being of their family. The community has adapted Sakthi/Devi-pooja (Mother goddess) as a part of tradition from decades back. The Kurumba-Bhagavathy of Kodungallur is workshipped even to this day as their Kuladevi (main deity of the community ). Legacy says that Mother goddess of Kodungallur had protected the Kudumbi community during the exodus period from Goa. Even to this day the Kudumbis visit the temple during the month of January (Ist day of Makam) every year. The ladies offer the special Puja at this temple which is popularly known as "Suvasini" or the Suhasini Puja. There are many [Devili] (small temples) being run by the community in different places, majority of them dedicated to Mother Goddess also known as [Bhoguanthi] in Konkani. One can find Talapulli (procession by ladies carrying oil lamps) in these temple. We can also see the traditional "Haampu" (multi-stacked brass lamp) found in a few Kudumbi temples which is lit during special pooja days.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 with the Tappu-melam. This ceremony is held in few Kudumbi temples as a mark of remembrance of Goan exodus centuries back. In fact, a presentation of Tappu-melam was given by a group of Kudumbis during the state festival in Goa. The Goan legacy is still revered during the community gatherings, festivals and tour visits to Goa.

Traditionally Kudumbis follow the patriarchial order in the family. But maternal Uncle is given a special honour during various ceremonies. Earlier the marriages used to held for three days in the bridegroom's residence with many traditional customs and ceremonies held with much gaiety and fun.The pre-marriage ceremony starts with the engagement of the girl and the boy which is nowadays conducted at girl's place.After the engagment, the boy's party have to honour and seek consent from the maternal uncle of the girl.This custom is also called "Mallam-ponno" [visiting uncle's house] .Finally prior to the marriage day the ceremony called "Sakkido" is conducted.Five noble men (also called "Sajjari" in kudumbi) from bridegroom's locality go the bride's house,and give her dressing material and some traditional items as a gift. In earlier days when the marriage was held in bridegoom's house ,after the "Sakkido" the bride was supposed to handed over respectfully to bridegroom's people.The marriage is officially completed with tying of the traditional Mangalsutra or Taali and performing Sapthapathi where both the bride and groom have to circumbulate 7 times around the lamp which is kept at the center of the Kalyan mantap. With blind adoption of local socio-cultural values, the Kudumbi customs are slowly eroding from the community and getting camouflaged with mainstream customs. Now marriage is just a one-day affair with gaudy and lavish spending asserting one's social and financial status especially found among the neo-rich. The dowry system which was unheard-of in the community, is slowly becoming a necessary social evil.

Some of the well-known Kudumbi temples in Kerala

* Sreenivasa kovil-Tripunithura,Ernakulam -- Main deity is Lord Sreenivasa / Venkateshwara
* Vilanjoor Bhagavathy temple,Alapuzha -- Main deity is Bhagavathy or Devi
* Mallikarjuna Temple-Vypeen,Ernakulam -- Main deity is Lord Shiva with Parvathi Devi

Festivals

Holi,Onam,Vishu, Navarathri, Sivarathri, Nagapanchami etc are some of the festivals celebrated by kudumbis. Unlike in Northern India, Holi-the festival of colors, is celebrated in a different way in Kerala by the kudumbis. Youngsters and children go in a group, pour the yellow colored pot water kept in front of every house and finally gather at their local (Devili) temple. Onam and Vishu are the kerala festivals which they have also adapted as their traditional festivals. The festivity has regional variations.

ocial Reformers

Sri M.Krishnan --1937 -- popularly known as Gandhi Krishnan

Sri Santhalyan Master (Nominated Ex-MLC in erstwhile Cochin legislative assembly under Cochin Princely State)-1937

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.

Socio-Cultural Organisations

Gandhi Krishnan Memorial Library- Tiruvambadi,Alapuzha -Runs a library in the name of Late social reformer Gandhi Krishnan.

TRACKS - Tripunithura, Ernakulam, Kochi - A research center for Konkani studies

CS & RC (Center for Cultural Studies and Research Center) -North Paravoor, Ernakulam

KES (Kudumbi Educational Society) - North Paravoor,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

External links

* [http://www.keralakudumbi.com keralakudumbi.com]

* [http://www.geocities.com/kudumbisevasangam/ kudumbi.com]

* [http://www.hindu.com/2004/03/07/stories/2004030702870500.htm Extract from a popular newspaper]

* [http://www.ciil-ebooks.net/html/piil/acharya4.html Convergence and Language Shift- A Case Study of the Kudumbis of Kerala]

Miscellaneous links

* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/konkani/konkani.htm Evolution of Konkani]
* [http://www.goacentral.com/Goatemples/GoaTemples.htm Temples of Goa]
* [http://goacentral.com/Goatemples/ponda.htm Temples of Ponda,Goa]
* [http://www.goatourism.org/History/mythology.htm Extract of Goan history]
* [http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/kudubis/index.htm The Kudubis of Karnataka]
*List of Indian Castes

References

* "The Kurmis-Kunbis of India" by Pratap Singh Velip Kankar

Published ByPritam PublishersPajiFord,Margoa,GoaYear -2006

*.MargdeepamA Bi-Monthly magazine Published byKudumbi Seva SanghomKochi, Kerala