Jenmi

Jenmi is the term used to refer to the landed aristocracy of Kerala.[1] In the past, jenmis owned much of the land in Kerala. Most landlords belonged to the Nambudiri and Nair castes. It was not unusual for an aristocratic family to own up to 20,000 acres (81 km²) of land. The Maharajas of Cochin and Travancore and many Rajas, such as those of Punjar in Travancore, were well known.[2] Proprietors of temples like the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, controlled by the Maharaja of Travancore; the Koodalmanikyam Temple, controlled by the Thachudaya Kaimal; and the Guruvayoor Temple, controlled by the Zamorin Rajas of Calicut; were also jenmis in their own right. The title of the land goes back into antiquity and normally ceased its absolute proprietorship and became subject to tax upon alienation.

Though it has not been phased out, the term jenmi tends to be offensive, just like the word madampi, and is best replaced by the word "landlord."

Today, however, there are restrictions placed on the amount of land one can own in Kerala.[3][4] A token pension is paid to landlords who ceded their lands but the Government has refused to do so from time to time.[5]

The largest landlords of Malabar included the Vengayil Nayanar who owned 200,000 acres (810 km²) including forest lands, while the Chirakkal Raja owned about 30,000 acres (120 km²). Other major Jenmis included Kavalappara Mooppil Nair (155,358 acres), Kurumathoor Namburidipad (5,615 acres), and the Kalliat Nambiar (36,779 acres).[6]

Organised violence against Jenmis

There have been incidences of violence against landlords, some influenced by the presence of Communism in Kerala.

Kayyur Incident

Kayyur is a small village in the Hosdurg taluk. In 1940, peasants there under the leadership of communists rose against the two local landlords, Nambiar of Kalliat and the Nayanar of Karakkatt Edam. Several were killed and four Communist leaders were found guilty: Madathil Appu, Podavara Kunhambu Nair, Koithattil Chirukandan and Pallickal Abu Bakr, all of whom were hanged. Choorikaadan Krishnan Nair was also an accused, but he was given life imprisonment because of him being a juvenile.[7]

Mattannur Incident

Mattanur witnessed riots between the Moplah tenants and their Nair landlords in 1852. The riots started when an armed band of 200 Moplahs entered the house of the local landlord, Kalathil Kesavan Thangal and massacred his family of 18 members. The rioters then conspired to eliminate the most powerful landlord in the district, Kalliat Anandan Nambiar. Their plans were leaked and Nambiar and his family fled the district, entrusting his nephew Kalliat Kammaran Nambiar with protecting the land. Kammaran Nambiar organized a militia of 300 Nair warriors and waited for the rioters. The unsuspecting rioters were ambushed and massacred, and the tenants were forced to abandon their campaign and disband.[8]

Korom Incident

Another movement was at Korom village of Payyanur in 1948. Farmers of Payyanur Farka took control of the rice godown of the landlord, Aalakkat Mavila Kunhambu Nambiar and distributed the grain among themselves. The Malabar Special Force proceeded to arrest the perpetrators, including their leader, KP Kunhikannan. In protest against the police response, people marched to the spot where the volunteers were detained on 12 April 1948. The police opened fire at the procession, which resulted in the death of a youth named Pokkan. Pokkan was the first martyr in Payyanur Farka during the 1948 movement.

See also

• Pulleri Illathu Madhusoodanan Thangal
• Kesava Pillai of Kandamath
• Mannarghat Nair

References

1. https://indiankanoon.org/search/?formInput=jenmom
2. See Further Notes on Poonjar Cheiftains Article accessed at http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/72849/14/14_appendix%201.pdf
3. Agrarian change and economic consequences: land tenures in Kerala, 1850-1960 By T. C. Varghese
4. India: social structure By Mysore Narasimhachar Srinivas p.15
5. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Kerala-high-court-asks-govt-to-pay-pension-to-jenmis/articleshow/20824047.cms
6. Karat, Prakash (March 1977). "Organised Struggles of Malabar Peasantry 1934-1940". Social Scientist. 5 (56). JSTOR 3516560.
7. Om Prakash Ralhan (1998). Encyclopaedia Of Political Parties (Vol. 33-50). Anmol Publications Pvt. Limited. p. 53. ISBN 978-81-7488-865-5.
8. Kerala (India); C. K. Kareem (1976). Kerala District Gazetteers: Palghat. printed by the Superintendent of Govt. Presses.