Caste Culture and Communalism An Ethnohistorical Study of Araya Fisher Communities in Coastal Malabar Regions of Kerala

Abstract

This study examines the dynamics of caste, culture, and communalism in the coastal Malabar newlineregions of the south Indian state of Kerala. The work investigates the Rashtriya Swayamsevak newlineSangh s (RSS) activities among the marginalised Araya fishers of the coastal Malabar region of newlineKerala. Unlike the other Hindu castes in the Malabar region, the RSS has managed to establish newlineformidable influence among the Hindu Araya fishers since the early days of its presence in the newlineregion. It was in 1942 that the first pracharak of the RSS, D.B. Thengadi, was appointed in newlineMalabar to organise the activities of the organisation in the region. In 1948, the organisation newlinesuccessfully set up a shakha in Vellayil coastal village in Kozhikode district, reaching out to the newlinefishermen in the area. Eventually, its influence expanded to neighbouring coastal villages, rapidly newlinemaking RSS the most predominant organisation among the Hindu fishers in the Kozhikode district. newlineHence, it is crucial to explore how Hindu nationalist organisations mobilised the marginalised newlinefishers within their fold. newlineI have adopted an ethno-historical methodology for my research, integrating historical methods newlinewith ethnographic fieldwork. The ethnographic field study was conducted among the fisher newlinecommunities living in selected coastal villages of Kozhikode district at various intervals spanning newlinefrom February 2020 to June 2022. The Araya Samajam plays a significant role in organising the newlinesocio-cultural life of the fisher communities living in coastal Malabar. In the traditional caste newlinehierarchy, the fishers were placed as subordinate caste groups. However, the study found that in newlinethe early 20th century, Dheevara social reformers diligently attempted to enhance the social status newlineof their community. In doing so, they assimilated their community into mainstream Hindu culture, newlineasserting their superiority in the caste hierarchy through their cultural heritage and traditions. newlineviTherefore, I argue that through cultural assimilation, they are integrated into mainstream newlineHinduism. Al