The Karakkattedam are a 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...

 in the North Malabar

North Malabar

North Malabar , is a historic as well as geographic distinction in India used to refer the area covering; present Kasaragod and Kannur Districts, Mananthavady taluk of Wayanad District and Koyilandy & Vatakara taluks of Kozhikode District in modern Kerala and the entire Mahé sub-Division of...

 region of the India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n state 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....

 and belong to the Edathil clan of the Nayanar

Nayanar (Nair subcaste)

Nayanar is an honorific title used among certain clans of Nairs in the North Malabar region of Kerala. Men of these clans were mainly chiefs of fiefdoms, and formed the aristocracy and landed gentry of the area.-Etymology:...

 Nair

Nair

Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...

 subcaste.

History

Traditionally, the Karakkattedam were headed by the Chuzhali Swarūpam and had control over all other Samanthan Nair as well as vast acres of land. Records show their holdings at around 350000 acres (1,416.4 km²) of directly controlled land and another 150000 acres (607 km²) held indirectly, including devaswoms (socio-religious trusts). Temples spread across Payyavur, Eruvassi, Ellaringi, Chengalai

Chengalai

Chengalai is a village in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. The village is also known as Chengalayi.-Demographics: India census, Chengalai had a population of 14883 with 7247 males and 7636 females....

, Irukkur and Kalyadu villages are also under the control of the Chuzhali Swarūpam. Until 1960, the Karakkattedam were considered to be one of the biggest landlords and during the British Raj

British Raj

British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...

 they were entrusted with powers to collect taxes.

The Kerala Land Reforms Act brought about drastic changes in janmi-kudiyan (landlord-tenant) relations. With the dawn of the Temple Entry Proclamation

Temple Entry Proclamation

The Temple Entry Proclamation issued by Maharaja Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and his Dewan Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer in 1936 abolished the ban on low-caste people or avarnas from entering Hindu Temples in the state of Travancore .The edict is as follows:Today, the Temple Entry...

, an upsurge of social interaction began. The so-called underprivileged gained self-respect and self-confidence, paving the way for a quantum leap forward. Nationalisation of forests also played a vital role in shaking the foundations of the hitherto unchallenged upper echelons of society. In many cases, landlords became landless and vice-versa.