Who are the Nayar people of India?

Question

i mean the ethnic group

Answer 1

Nayars of Punjab speak Punjabi

Nairs of Kerala speak Malayalam

Pl. See  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nair

Answer 2

Please check following link:

http://www.dreams2000.com/nair/

Answer 3

Nayar is surname that some Hindus and Sikh Punjabis have. I know Nayars who are Sikh, and some who are Hindu.

Answer 4

Generally the word Nair or Nayar  is used to denote the ethnic people from Kerala, who were a prominent class in the social structure till the advent of the British rule in Malabar  ( former district of Malabar in the  British  Presidency of Madras ) Travancore was a separate native kingdom then and Nairs were also a prominent social class in Travancore- Cochin.

Historically it is not clear when this sect of people migrated to Kerala. According to the 1881 census , Nairs were the second largest community in Malabar numbering 3,21,674 ( Ref. Malabar Manual- by William Logan) Until the advent of British supremacy in Malabar, Nairs were the militia or fighting people. The origin of the word Nair is believed to be from the Sanskrit word Nayak, or leaders of the people. Later on they were entrusted the supervisory duties also in the society. There were many sub-divisions in the Nair sects itself , especially in Malabar. eg. Nair (Leader, soldier, landlord) Menon ( Upper sect in Nairs) who were Accountants, Book-keepers, local revenue collectors), Mooppil Nair ( Main Local leader)  Pada Nair ( soldier/fighter)  Kurup Nair (Soldier in charge of forts and fortifications)  Kaimal ( Nairs wielding power- Kai means hand  in Malayalam, which is symbol of power) Panikkar ( martial arts experts)  Kiriyathu Nair ( mostly household duties, cooks etc.) In addition to those divisions based on duties in society, some Nair chieftans were known as local rulers in such clan names as  Eradi Nair ( ruled of Ernad Taluk of Malabar), Nedungadi Nair ( Rulers of Nedunganad in Valluvanad Taluk) , Vellodi Nair ( rulers of Valluvanad Taluk) . A sect of Nairs in Palakkad was known as Mannadiar (Palakkad Nairs who have connections to Chola Kingdom of South India). It may be noted that except the Mannadiars of Palakkad area all other sub-sects of Nairs in Malabar were following the matrilineal system of inheritance.

The Term Nayyar is generally associated with surnames in Punjab and parts of North India and not connected with Nair or Nayar which is a community in Kerala.

Answer 5

Na-yar Hindu caste also spelled Nair

Nair is the name of a Hindu upper caste from the southern Indian state of Kerala. The Nairs were a martial nobility and figured prominently in the history of Kerala.

The Nairs were classed as a martial race by the British, however were de-listed after rebelling against them under Velu Thampi Dalawa, and thereafter recruited in lower numbers into the British Indian Army. Only Nairs were recruited into the Thiruvithamkoor Nayar Pattalam (Travancore State Army), until 1945 when non-Nairs were admitted to join. This State Force (known also as the Nair Brigade) was merged into the Indian Army after independence and became the 9th Battalion Madras Regiment (the oldest Battalion in the Indian Army).

The Nairs have been described as a "race caste who do not owe their origin to function, although, by force of example, their organization is almost equally rigid, and they are generally identified with particular trades or occupations. These race caste communities were originally tribes, but on entering the fold of Hinduism, they imitated the Hindu social organization, and have thus gradually hardened to castes". However this does not rule out the possibility that the Nairs do not constitute a homogeneous ethnic group as it is possible that each subcaste or clan may have different origins. For example, members from other tribes or communities were adopted into the Nair fold once Nair became to be known to refer to a caste, such as the Tamil Padam Nairs. There have also been incidents where the Nair caste status was bestowed upon persons favoured by the Raja.

A number of sociologists are of the view that the Nairs are not indigenous to Kerala, as many customs and traditions distinguish them from other Keralites. According to one theory, Nairs are descendants of the Newars of Nepal, who joined the Munda exodus and later migrated to Kerala. The most prominent arguments given in support of this theory are the presence of distinct pagoda-like architectural style of Nair Tharavaadus and Temples and the practice of Marumakkathaayam (matrilinial) system of inheritance similar to both Nairs and Newars.

Irrespective of the different theories that seek to explain the origin of Nairs, it is clear that till the early 20th century, Nairs exerted their influence in medieval Kerala society as feudal lords and owned large estates. The position in society of the Nairs as that of a martial nobility in medieval Kerala has been likened to the position in society of the Samurai in medieval Japan. Nairs dominated the civil, administrative and military elite of the pre-British era in Kerala. The decline of Nair dominance came about in multiple stages. During colonial times, the British perceived that Nairs were an inherent threat to their hegemony in the region and therefore outlawed their right to bear weapons and by banning the Nair martial art of Kalaripayattu. Weapons were integral to the Nair psyche and power, and combined with repressive legislation led to a loss of social standing for Nairs, though some of the social legislation was in part inspired by the Nairs themselves, such as changes in inheritance law permitting the Karanavan to pass on some (and later all) of the fruits of his stewardship of the taravad to his own children. During post-colonial years, the Land reforms of 1950's led to massive loss of land-ownership by Nair feudal lords and some Nair gentry were relegated to poverty overnight. The decline of Nair dominance was however tempered by their conversion through the 20th century to the academic and professional classes and their high profile in Kerala politics.

The family name Nair or Nayar also occur in Punjab, belonging to a Khatri community.

Nair surnames were traditionally carried through matrilineality, although most modern Nairs follow patrilineal nomenclature. The surname Nair, sometimes spelled "Nayar" or "Nayyar" is commonly used by all sub-castes belonging to Nair caste. However, there are surnames which are reminders of the honours conferred upon individuals by the powers that be from time to time in acknowledgment of exceptional acts of valour, erudition and scholarship, or excellence in chosen field of endeavour. The families of these individuals inherited the titles. It is also possible that in the majority of cases, such honours were bestowed by the Royalty in return for services rendered and in recognition of a display of loyalty. In general, the system of conferring honours points to the ruling Monarch's dependence on the Nairs who provided them with military and administrative support. While most of these are ranks and positions in a feudal set up (similar to the Mughals' Mansabdari system), such royal patronage was crucial to the development and promotion of strikingly singular forms of dance and drama such as Kathakali of which, the Nairs were exponents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nair