I have a Malayalam document which proves that Cheras (Untouchables of today) had once treated Brahmins as Untouchables. The book, Kerala history through Parasurama, was written by a Hindu (sudra) Thiruvangat C. Krishna Kurup. (1962), National Book Stall, pp. 254 It is a valuable one in many respects. He says: “Even though the Namboodirls started migrating to Kerala from 5th century onwards, upto the 10th century they could not dominate anybody. During that period, they used to live in isolated areas called cheris is because because of their Interior position (low caste) compared to others”
Beel-eating: Brahmins were then despised because they were beefeaters and drunkards. These Cheris, now far removed from Karana, meaning slums, were far removed from Kara’s thara’s, Nadu’kal and Ooru’kal where those other than Brahmins used to live. The word Parpariacherry in Tamil is used to denote the Brahmin localities Papas in Tamil means Brahmin.
How Buddhists were Hinduised: It was during the Buddhist period that Brahmins first came to Kerala Because they happened to be beef-eaters and liquor-drinkers, they wore compelled to live in segregated areas called cheries which wore on river side, in Kerala, even today, there are many such cheries- Vaduncherry, Edacherry Chalacherry. etc. The nearby localities of Chengannur were once famous Namboodiri centres with 300 Mama. Keezhchert, Perichery, Kallichery are still Namboodiri centres. The “most revered tamily among Kerala Brahmins is that of Aazhuvan Chem Thamprakkal. Aazhuvancherri, this is the origin of the word. By 10th century when the Namboodiris established their dominance, they managed to erase the inferiority complex attached to Cheris, says the book (p 41-44).
Krishna Kurup’s important conclusions are: (i) Up to the end of 10th century, the Namboodiris were treated by the society as a very low caste minority. (2) I by the end of 10th century the entire Buddhist institutions were forcibly converted and Hinduised. (101)
This book needs to be translated to English so that Brahmins all over India would know what their arrogance had once cost them
