Demographics of Nair community
The total population of the Nair community is disputed, since there has been no caste-based census since 1931. The administrators of the British Raj had an abiding interest in ethnography but in post-independence India the policy has been generally to ignore it in censuses.[1][2]
The 1968 Socio-Economic Survey by the Government of Kerala stated that the population of the Nair community comprised 14.41% of the total state population. However, various sources cite figures ranging from 12% to 20%.[3][4][5][6] There is also the practical difficulty of certain Nair subcastes declaring themselves as independent castes. Out of the citizens eligible to vote in Kerala, around 12% or 15% belong to the Nair community.[7]
The Nair population historically and currently remains concentrated in the capital districts. The Nair population in Trivandrum and Ernakulam districts has been increasing since the beginning of 19th century.[8]
The Nair population has been declining in Kerala, with some districts having only a small percentage of Nairs. For example, Malappuram has a Nair population of 1.8%, and Kasargode has about 2.1%.[9]
The most reliable population figures comes from two sources. The BCRC estimated Nair population at 14.47% of the total population of Kerala based on a statewide sample survey conducted for the reservation of seats in educational institutions.
Population estimates[edit]
Household sample surveys conducted by the Kerala Statistical Institute, the last of which were in 2000[needs update], produced estimates which were:
| District | Total District Population |
Nairs in District | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | % of District Population |
% of Total Nairs in Kerala | ||
| Kasaragod | 1,203,000 | 36,000 | 3.0% | 0.8% |
| Kannur | 2,412,000 | 584,000 | 24.2% | 13.1% |
| Wayanad | 787,000 | 152,000 | 19.3% | 3.4% |
| Kozhikode | 2,878,000 | 504,000 | 17.5% | 11.3% |
| Malappuram | 3,630,000 | 80,000 | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Palakkad | 2,617,000 | 330,000 | 12.6% | 7.4% |
| Thrissur | 2,975,000 | 223,000 | 7.5% | 5.0% |
| Ernakulam | 3,098,000 | 316,000 | 10.2% | 7.1% |
| Idukki | 1,129,000 | 111,000 | 9.8% | 2.5% |
| Kottayam | 1,953,000 | 227,000 | 11.6% | 5.1% |
| Alappuzha | 2,105,000 | 352,000 | 16.7% | 7.9% |
| Pathanamthitta | 1,232,000 | 174,000 | 14.1% | 3.9% |
| Kollam | 2,584,000 | 793,000 | 30.7% | 17.8% |
| Thiruvananthapuram | 3,235,000 | 575,000 | 17.8% | 12.9% |
| Kerala total | 31,838,000 | 4,457,000 | 14.9% | 100.0% |
References[edit]
- ^ Blair, Harry W. (1981). "Caste and the British Census in Bihar: Using Old Data to Study Contemporary Political Behavior". In Barrier, Norman Gerald (ed.). The Census in British India: New Perspectives. New Delhi: Manohar. p. 154. ISBN 9780836408478. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ a b G.O.K 1971: Appendix XVIII : For percentage of Nairs in total population of Kerala, adjusted for decrease due to emigration and low birth rates.Nairs are kshtriya caste.
- ^ [1] Archived 7 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Kerala: Radical Reform as Development in an Indian State (FF, 1994, 140 p.): 11. Women and the Kerala reforms". Nzdl.sadl.uleth.ca. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Kashmir terror trail vanishes in Kerala's political sands .:. newkerala.com Online News". Newkerala.com. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Drèze, Jean; Sen, Amartya (2002). India: development and participation - Google Books. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199257492. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Rana, Mahendra Singh (2006). India votes: Lok Sabha & Vidhan ... - Google Books. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 9788176256476. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ Blair, Harry W. (1981). "Caste and the British Census in Bihar: Using Old Data to Study Contemporary Political Behavior". In Barrier, Norman Gerald (ed.). The Census in British India: New Perspectives. New Delhi: Manohar. p. 154. ISBN 9780836408478. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ Zachariah, Kunniparampil Curien; Mathew, Elangikal Thomas; Rajan, Sebastian Irudaya (2003). Dynamics of migration in Kerala: dimensions, differentials, and consequences. Orient Longman. ISBN 978-81-250-2504-7.
- ^ Zachariah, Kunniparampil Curien; Mathew, Elangikal Thomas; Rajan, Sebastian Irudaya (2003). Dynamics of migration in Kerala: dimensions, differentials, and consequences. Orient Longman. p. 91. ISBN 978-81-250-2504-7.