Mukkuva kerala

Mukkuva community in Kerala belong to the Dheevara section in Hindus. The major occupation of the dheevaras were limited to fishing in early times. With the support of the fishing community which included mukkuvas and Muslims in Calicut and adjoining areas, the naval fleet was founded by Kunjali Marakkar.
Dheevara community also includes mukhayas and arayas. This is just a regional difference in the community; with each section claiming to be superior to the others!
Arayas are settled in the Cochin, Alleppey, kollam and Trivandrum coastal areas. Most of them are poor in these regions and lived in huts and hence were affected by the Tsunami. The richer among them lived in small houses and mostly did government jobs.
Mukkuvas are settled in the trichur and calicut regions. Most of them are well-off and are a strong community owing to the fact that the major occupation was not limited to fishing alone. The rich dealt with agriculture and various businesses. Most of them were educated and had managed to secure jobs of high position in the government in these areas. The rich among the Mukkuvas lived in Nalu kettu and many of them were the landlords in most places and enjoyed many privileges over Ezhavas and vettuvars. The poorer among them had small houses and very few lived in huts. The condition remains almost the same today except that there are no naalu kettu or huts now. Most of them are well-off and many have settled in the gulf regions or are professionals, people holding good government jobs or businessmen.
The mukkuvas in Trichur, Calicut and Mahe were far more adventurous than in any other part of Kerala. They were also mostly rich and competent enough unlike the members in other districts. The main occupation was not limited to fishing in these regions. Agriculture, social causes and education were given due importance. Even the girls in the 18th century would complete their 8th standard(which was considered high education those days) The uprising against the Portugese in Calicut and the 'Sanku pada' against the mappillas(another name for Muslims)during the mappila lahala and the freedom movements in Mahe are examples of these.
Dheevaras in Trichur.
Other related articles
* Caste system in Kerala
* Arayan

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