Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

Desam Total
Assessed
Land(in
acres and
cents)
Wetland
(%ge)
Ullanam 1852-96 1121-11
(60.50)
Thenhippalam 2482-69 718-42
(28.94)
Velimukku 2265-70 780-82
(34.46)
Vallikkunnu 1859-02 625-38
(33.64)
Kodinji 1477-25 946-24
(64.05)
Garden
land
(%ge)
606-58
(32.74)
1180-53
(47-55)
1003-86
(44.31)
977-67
(52.59)
498-95
(33.78)
Number
of
holders
Paying
Re1000
Extent of
lands
They
held
1-40 2(0.59) 627-
36(33.86)
2-13 5(2.34) 1187-47
(47.83)
1.73 2(0.55) 553-62
(24.43)
1.65 2((0.89) 533-83
(28.72)
1.11 2((0.29) 327-78
(22.19)
The above figures show that the pattern of concentration is similar in all the Desams,
although the actual percentage of lands held by major landlords may vary. But one
feature can be noted. In Desams where wetlands are more than garden lands, the average
holding of a small farmer is lower than the areas where garden lands are dominant,
pattern that we saw in the case of Trikkulam and Peruvallur also. The significance of this
feature will require further comparisons between garden and wetlands.
The observations made above show that there was substantial disparity between the small
landholder and thee large landlord in the entire area, and if we take the entire population,
the large landlords formed often a microscopic minority. The available data in the
settlement records also demonstrate that a handful of Nambutiri, kovilakam and nayar
families, and few Muslim households held a sizeable share of the lands, and most of the
population were either small landholders or laborers. In terms of the social composition
of the population, majority of the population, consisting of the Muslims and lower castes
also were at the bottom of the economic pyramid of the region.
Social and Ideological role of the Ba alawis
Average
Holding
Of
One
Land
holder
313-68
237-49
276.81
266.92
163.89