Socio-cultural Processes and Livelihood Patterns at Tirurangadi - CDS

members of the family stay in the old house, while the younger members in the new
houses. The old houses in places like Alungal beach are intact, but often without
inhabitants. Parappanangadi kovilakam, now without inhabitants, is occupied by a
Nambutiri family. Descendants of powerful old families like Chiramangalath mana,
Thottassiiri Panikkar, Velimuttath Mussad, Neduvancheri Mussad Attyeri mana,
Muthedath mana, Thotuva muthedath mana, various members of the Naha family live in
their houses, but the families of Keerangat mana, Kaprat Panikkar, Puzhankadavath
Nayar and most of the members of the Muthedath mana have migrated or their houses are
in a state of dilapidation. The decline of the old janmi families is visible in the structure
of their houses.
However, the rise of middle class job opportunities and a stint in the Gulf have the made
the fortunes of some of the families to turn around. A typical example of the
transformation of housing can be seen in the region of Parakkadavu, which was the abode
of the landlord family called Cherumadathil Matari. The family was on the decline after
land reforms but revived after several members of the family went to gulf in search of
jobs. Now several old malikas of the mataris are being reconstructed as large concrete
structures. In Kodinji, the family of Pattassery, one of the early landowning families, has
become businessmen in gulf and constructed large houses. Kaithakath family in
Muttichira has experienced similar fluctuation of fortunes. However, ancient taravad of
the Kizhakkiniyath Naha have become businessmen and centres of political power. They
have experienced little fluctuation, although they lost their lands, and are still staying
their old taravad houses. Equally interesting is the rise of a large number of families who
were labourers or tenant- cultivators, who have become rich after their stint in the Gulf. A
large number of large houses in Kodinji, Tirurangadi, and Munniyur belong to such
families. The first thing that a gulf returnee or the middle class employee does is to bring