Malayarayan

Malayarayan (alternatively Malaiyarayan, the word Malai Arayan means Arayan or chief of Malayar, an ancient people originally beloved to Thirukkovalur, is a member of a tribal community in parts of Kottayam, Idukki and Pattanamtitta districts of Kerala state, southern India. They are listed (Central List No - 20) ^[1] as part of Scheduled Tribes by the Government of India. Among the Scheduled Tribes, Malayarayans out class all the other tribes in socio-economical and educational aspects. When an evaluation in the educational and employment prospect is taken, it will be found that almost all the Government Servants and other employees are coming from this faction of Scheduled Tribes.

Majority of the Population follows Hindu religion. Some of the Malai Arayans turned their religious belief from their centuries-old "Mala Daivangal" (renegades and traditional Hindus following the hereditary regulations and customs are included in this group) to Christianity, especially to Church of South India. Malai Arayans are opened to exploitation of their illiteracy and cultural uniqueness for centuries.Traditionally Malaarayans, have good moral values. Malaarayans usually practice agriculture, but most of them lost their farm land due to exploitation. As in the words of Rev C Y Thomas, 'From 1848 on wards, there was a turning point in the work of the C.M.S. Missionaries, as they began to work among the Hill Tribes of Central Travancore. The principal tribe among whom the C.M.S. Missionaries concentrated their work was, the Hill Arrians. This Mission was the out come of the request of a delegation from among the Hill Arrians to the C.M.S. Missionary, the Rev. Henry Baker Junior, often been known as the 'Apostle of Hill Arrians.' The deputation of the Hill Arrians persistently kept on coming. Their eagerness was remarkable. Henry Baker wrote "The heads of several villages appeared at Pallom and remonstrated on account of my delay. Five times, said they "have we been to call you. You must know, we know nothing right; will you teach us or not ? We die like beasts, and are buried like dogs; ought you to neglect us?" "Cholera and fever" said another, "carried off such and such members of my family; where are they now? " They stated that they "wanted no pecuniary help", as they had plenty of rice. They wished to serve '''YEHOVAH''', and not to be oppressed by any one." At last Henry Baker conceded to the request and decided to visit the Hill Arrians in 1848. The eagerness of the Hill Arrians to be instructed, to some extent helped the missionary to introduce a self supporting and self propagating mission from the very beginning.

The evangelists working under Henry Baker in the plains volunteered to go to the hills and teach the Hill Arrians. It was they who taught and instructed them. In 1849 Baker opened a mission with a large campus in a place named Mundakayam, heron's pool, which caused him to be called -a first rate colonizer" by T. G. Ragland, the then C.M.S. Secretary in Madras. The missionary earned a large compound for the mission from a landlord and settled many native families. The jungle had been cleared; eight houses were built for native families and a schoolroom to be used also as a place of worship. With the development of the mission, the progress was visible among the converted Hill Arrians in the socio‑cultural and religious spheres. These upward developments they had, were not gained by not paying heavy prices. They had to undergo bitter persecutions and severe oppositions from their own kith and kin, the communities that were interested in exploiting them and from the government officials.

From Mundakayam as a Mission Centre, the work began to extend northwards. In 1852, Baker went on a visit to the villages of Erumapra, Melukavu, Walakom. and several others, and reported that, "there is a complete string of Arrian villages the whole way from this to Mundakayam, averaging not more than three miles distance from each other." In 1854, two other villages had also been opened, Kannikal and Puthata.The Mission on these hills increased day by day. Baker expressed, 'I am happy to say that my hill people are improving every way..."Further, he speaks about the vast area of his mission district as "my district" when he said, "My district is now like a country, Mundakayam being thirty-five miles east of Pallom, and the Melukavu hills, twenty-eight north of that."

The abolition of slavery in Travancore helped the outcastes and the hill tribes to respond to Christianity in large numbers. In 1853, His Highness, Utram. Tirunal Marthanda Varma Maha Rajah, by a Royal Proclamation, declared that all future children of government slaves are free from bondage, and in 1855, the Maha Rajah completely abolished all kinds of slavery in his dominions. This gave freedom to the slaves to embrace the religion of their choice. In 1855, the Pallom district was divided. All the hills and a portion of the country along the foot, about 20 miles wide, with no defined limit north or south was called the "Mundakayam Church Mission District." Henry Baker was in charge of the new district. He again divided the district into two parts, Mundakayam and Melukavu. In the Melukavu hills there were three congregations at Erumapra, Melukavu and Kannikal. Similarly, in Mundakayam also there were three congregations, Mundakayam, Koottickal and Assapian. The members of all these congregations were steadily increasing. There were schools in each village at which all the children were required to attend. Henry Baker raised the status of the two mission stations, Mundakayam and Melukavu into the position of pastorates and appointed two native ministers to look after the missionary work. Besides, for every outstation there were native readers or evangelists and native teachers to the schools.

In 1878, 'the arduous missionary, Henry Baker Junior, died leaving a legacy of eleven churches and twenty-seven schools, which he founded in those hills. With this, the history of the Hill Arrian Mission took a new turn.

Beliefs[]

Ancestors of malaarayas used to worship natural forces and their traditional gods include Malamurthi, Azhamalamurthi, Thalaparamala, Kaali and Lord Ayyappan. About half of Mala Arayans were converted to the beliefs of ''' JESUS CHRIST ''' through the works of Rev Henry Baker, who was the missionary appointed by CMS to the district of Kottayam and Idukki. It is also said that many leaders of hamlets were so disturbed by the oppression and evil acts of developed classes through Poonjar, Erattupetah, Kanjar and other areas surrounding the now famous Moolamattom hydel power station, that they decided to meet the priest and missionary for social relevances. Rev Henry Baker Jr was born in 1819 and came to Travancore around 1850s. The protestant reformation was a delight to Malai Arayans. Within 100 years, they became the most respected class in Kerala. Hundreds of youngsters dedicated themselves to priesthood, many went to become government servants, attaining positions like Chief Election Commissioner, Sri. Joseph IAS from Kurijiplavu near Moonilavu. Rt. Rev. Michael John was the first bishop elect from this community. Church of South India, East Kerala Diocese was formed in 1980s and it flourished throughout central Kerala. However Malai Arayans are considered to be the most morally upright human beings in origin, morality, justice and reason. '''LORD JESUS'' has been the benefactor of this group for sure as is the case with the majority of people all across the world.

Traditional Art Forms[]

Malaarayans performing Ivorkali

Traditional art forms include Ivarkali, Koladikali. Ivorkali tells the story of panchapandavas and is used to worship devi

Details[]

• Population: 36,000
  • In Kerala: 34,000
• Primary Language: Malayalam
• Religion:
  • Traditional Hinduism
  • Christian Adherents: 43.10%
  • Evangelical: Data not available

Sources[]

• Website on the peoples of Idukki district, Kerala state
• [1]

References[]