Kerala forms Forward Castes Corporation and Commission; a long standing demand of Nairs

Finally it seems Forward Castes in Kerala including Nairs who form 26 per cent of total population (according to official records) have been able to get something from the Government. Forward Castes Development Corporation constituted recently and Forward Castes Commission to be constituted shortly are definitely a solace to Kerala’s Forward castes (of whom majority are Nairs and secondly Syrian Christians. Brahmins form less than 1 % of population) who have been neglected by Congress and Left front governments that ruled Kerala ever since independence of India.

Newspapers that reported government’s decision to act for the welfare of forward castes have pointed out that as per officials surveys it is now clear that poor people of Forward Communities of Kerala have become socially and economically backward. The fact is that a significant number of Nairs in Kerala have become economically backward and this will result in they becoming socially backward also. While Forward Castes Development Corporation has already announced different scholarships for students the commission which has powers of civil court will also review condition of forward castes and may give suggestions for their welfare.

Discrimination against forward castes

Forward castes in Kerala have been discriminated against in every sense. They can apply only for 50 % of job vacancies in government services. Even in that category they have to compete with candidates from reserved groups. Their plight in getting government jobs does not end there. The rotation system followed by government in appointing those who are selected in competitive examinations held by Kerala PSC (state recruiting agency) means only almost 1/3 rd of the meritorious forward caste candidates selected in PSC exams will eventually be appointed. It means when an open merit candidate is appointed, then a scheduled caste candidate and next a backward caste candidate has to be appointed before the next open merit candidate gets chance for appointment.

It is a shocking truth that chances of getting appointment for candidates from reserved categories in government service is several times higher than more meritorious candidates from Forward castes.

Then there is reservation in promotion too. In some departments in Kerala it is almost impossible for officials from forward castes to become the head. In many departments number of officials belonging to forward castes is very few not even reflecting their proportionate numerical strength in the society.

While members of reserved communities including Muslims got several types of financial helps in addition to reservation, forward castes did not get much. Scholarships given to SC, ST, OBC, Muslim, and Christians from reserved categories are enough for them to pursue education. But Nair students who come from poor families get little help. While even children of rich businessmen who belong to reserved categories get financial aid and reservation poor Nair children and youth whose parents are labourers won’t get anything. Moreover they are abused as Forward Castes and denied benefits.

Unscientific classification of Forward and Backward castes

The classification of castes as forward and backward is totally unscientific because forward and backwardness are relative. For example while Nairs are forward castes compared to Ezhavas and SC, STs they are backward compared to Brahmins. Similarly while Ezhavas were socially backward compared to Nairs they were forward compared to all other OBCs and SC/STs. There was hierarchy even among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The topmost in hierarchy among scheduled castes practiced untouchability towards the rest.

Historical records in Kerala have pointed out that caste hierarchy was stricter among different castes now considered OBC and SC, STs. Even after all these years of practicing social justice, how many people belonging to OBCs will readily enter into a marriage alliance with SCs and STs? Not many will do it. So it is clear that the ploy of classification of castes was a trap by political parties to divide society and get votes. In Kerala all Muslims are considered OBCs. This is just an appeasement considering the fact that Muslims have never been discriminated against in the history of Kerala and they have a respectable status. (They were called Sahib and Muthalali etc, all pointing to their high status)

Congratulations to NSS leadership and Kerala CM Oommen Chandy

Media analysis of the decision of Kerala govt to form Forward caste corporation and Commission says as NSS leadership has now distanced from Kerala CM Oommen Chandy and Congress, the govt resorted to welfare measures to appease Nairs. Whatever may the reason be, the decision is welcome for Nairs. Others could have done that but they did not. So Oommen Chandy needs be congratulated for this act. But this does not also mean all Nairs who distanced from Congress will comeback. Forward Caste Development Corporation and Commission are rights of Nairs. We expect government to end all types of caste based discrimination.

The government needs to prove that it is sincere in its approach to uplift forward castes. Forward Castes' Development Corporation needs to be given enough funds and Forward Castes' Commissions needs to have enough powers. The government should implement it also earnestly. Recently it had been reported that kerala govt has reduced qualifying marks of OBC students in SET examination (eligibility test for becoming teachers) while increased it for Forward Caste students. This is shocking. This proves government is going forward with appeasement.

It is true that the strict stand of current NSS general secretary Sukumaran Nair towards Congress govt that forced the government to declare some welfare measures for Forward castes. NSS had severed all ties with Congress recently and said that it won’t support Congress candidates in the coming elections. The Congress knows very well that many of their candidates in the coming Lok Sabha elections cannot win without votes of Nairs and so came out with welfare measures.

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Are Nair Youth falling into the trap of Terrorist groups and conversion mafia?

Nairs are one of the few castes in South India whose caste identity is synonymous with religion. It means for being a Nair one has to be a Hindu; once he converts, he loses Nair identity too. One could rarely find a Christian Nair or a Muslim Nair unlike Christian Nadars of Tamil Nadu and Brahmin Catholics of Goa.

(Non keralite readers please remember that Nairs use an array of surnames of which the most common are Nair, Menon, Pillai, Nambiar, Panicker and Kurup. All those with these surnames are Hindus)

Despite all the difficulties faced because of various social changes Nair community has steadfastly adhered to Hinduism. However a disturbing trend has surfaced of late where Islamic groups have succeeded in converting Nair youth. There are not many such converts but there are enough that warrants a study on this phenomenon. More shocking aspect of the conversion is many of such neo-converts have joined Terrorist groups like Lashkar E Toiba or modern versions of SIMI. Let us examine a few prominent cases.

The case of Javed Hassan Sheik, a LeT leader who was killed while allegedly on his way to kill Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is one of the most widely reported case involving Nair converts. Javed who was Pranesh Pillai before conversion hailed from a middle class Nair family from Alappuzha district of Central Travancore where social life used to be inseparably linked with annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala, festivals at the innumerable temples owned by Nair Community and a strong sense of brotherhood.

According to media reports, Javed (Pranesh) had a troubled childhood following family problems. His mother died early and father married another woman. Media reports say that he was involved in petty crimes during teenage and the family had financial difficulties. He even completed his school education with the help of an affluent relative according to reports. All these could have made him vulnerable to overtures by organized terrorist groups who seem to be targeting youth from middle Nair class families. Pranesh was sent to North India (here Pune) by his father for a job where he loved a girl from Muslim community and got converted. A report appeared in The Hindu has details of his life in Pune where he developed contacts with and slowly became a part of LeT.

The case of Al Umma leader and ISI agent Imam Ali formerly Hari Kumar, is also similar as per some media reports. Only difference is details of his antecedents are not that much known. According to some reports Hari Kumar hailed from Haripad also in Alappuzha district of central Travancore from where  the family migrated to Chennai following financial troubles.  While these are two widely reported cases, more cases are reported locally by media.  Poor Nair youth who suddenly disappear from homes are reported in local media. Often they return silently and help families. The number of females converted by Islamic organizations run to hundreds. It is not unlikely that at least some of them are associating with extremist groups. Conversion of noted Indian English writer and poetess Madhavikkutty who hails from a top Nair family in North Kerala is the topmost example of Nair women falling into the trap of love and converting.

Role of Nair social organizations in preventing conversion

While there may be people who argue that there is no need to get panicked by some isolated incidents one cannot dismiss the fact that no male member from any other Hindu caste in Kerala had been reported to have converted and rose to key positions in Terrorist organizations. Conversion of Nairs and their entry to Terrorist groups is the result of social situation in Kerala and remedying it will reverse the trend. Nair organizations need to do serious introspection as to why a small section of younger generation of a community known for its nationalism, law abiding nature and unflinching loyalty to Hinduism fall into the trap of Terrorist organizations.

Let us look into Javed’s example again. When Javed alias Pranesh initially returned to his home, he was not welcomed. But when he offered financial help to the poor family slowly he gained acceptance. This could have possibly helped Javed to maintain a double identity and a safe haven. It is for intelligence agencies and the Police to analyze this aspect. But for social organizations the incident is an eye opener. Poverty is making Nairs vulnerable to all types of allurements. They need act quickly to help Nair youth who feel dejected.

Several Nair families in Kerala are economically backward though socially forward. After the implementation of land reforms Nairs who owned major section of land used for food grain cultivation lost a large part of their land. Kerala used to have little opportunities to do business and Nairs who were basically soldiers and farmers in the past did not find it easy to do business. Moreover while Muslims and Christians had access to capital from Gulf and European countries Nairs don’t have any such links. While reservations in jobs enjoyed by other Hindu castes in Kerala and all Muslims and a sections of Christians have given them positions of power in government in large numbers, getting a government job is a Herculean task for Nairs . Well off Nair businessmen based in Gulf or North India rarely comes forward to help the community. Many Nair youth are frustrated and no wonder poor Nair youth find it unable to deny offers of economic help from Extremist groups.

Nair Service Society (NSS) also has failed to do anything significant to uplift the Nairs economically. While it is true that G Sukumaran Nair, present general secretary of NSS sometimes takes a bold stand on issues regarding Nairs, some of the previous leaders of NSS had made the organization inert and shied away from forcefully demanding for the community. There had been allegations that they always wanted to gain goodwill of Christian and Muslims groups and were eager to project a secular image even at the cost of rights of their own community.

Absence of cultural and moral awareness

Another most important factor for conversion of Nairs is lack of religious and moral education. Earlier in Nair joint families children grew up listening to the morals of stories of Mahabharata and Ramayana told by grandmothers. With the break-up of joint families grandmothers are out and parents often don’t impart cultural education. While all family members used to light up lamps in the evening at home and prayed together now that is absent. Around 15-20 years ago while walking through country roads of Kerala one could hear singing of prayers by children during the twilight hours. Such a thing is rare now and Nair children have little knowledge of the culture of their forefathers.  Though realizing this NSS has recently started religious education in all Karayogams (basic units) it seems to be seen how successful the initiative will be?