Tharavad Nair

a typical tharavad reproduced panikkar s article published in 1918. capital , small letters represent females , males respectively. supposing females a, b , c dead , oldest male member karnavan being d, if male members t, k , others demanded partition, property divided 3 parts.

nairs operated matrilineal (marumakkathayam) joint family structure called tharavad, whereby descendant families of 1 common ancestress lived under single roof. tharavads consisting of 50 80 members not uncommon , membership high 200 have been reported. women lived in main house; men lived in separate rooms and, on occasions, lived in separate house nearby. families split on instances when became unwieldy , during crisis among members. when split, family property separated along female lines. karnavan, oldest male member in tharavad, had decision-making authority including power manage common property. panikkar, well-known writer nair community, wrote in 1918 that,

authority in family wielded eldest member, called karnavan. has full control of common property, , manages income pleases. arranges marriages (sambandhams) boys girls of family. had till lately full power (at least in practice) of alienating belonged them. undisputed law. is, perhaps, intended conveyed term matri-potestas in communities of female descent. should remembered among nayars autocrat of family not mother, mother s brother.

the husband visited tharavad @ night , left following morning , had no legal obligation children lay entirely karnavan. in nair families, young men , women same age not allowed talk each other, unless young man s sister considerably older him. wife of karnavan had unusual relationship in tharavad belonged different 1 , interests lay there. panikkar wrote karnavan loved sister s son more own , believes due instability of nair marriages. divorce rate high both man , woman had equal right terminate marriage. enangar family tharavad remained closely related; few such related families formed social group members participated in social activities. nakane wrote in 1956 tharavads functional unit had ceased exist , large buildings had once hosted large tharavads occupied few of remnants.