Nair Menon

When I was searching about Menons on the internet, I was astonished when I found that currently there are five types of Menons. Nair Menon, Vattakadan/Chakkala Menon, Cutchi Menon, Ezhava Menon, Gounder Menon and Christian Menon. The surname Menon is used in other Nair sub-castes too. Kiriyathil Nair Menons have no relation with other Menons. 

The title Menavan or Menon, means a superior person and is derived from Mel, above and Avan, he. The recipient of the title held it for a lifetime, or it was bestowed in perpetuity on his family, according to the amount of money paid down as Atiyara. As soon as an individual was made Menon, he was presented with an Ola(palmyra leaf for writing on) and an iron style as symbols of office accountant, which he was expected to fill.

Nairs and Bunts are entirely different from each other. But there is a similar surname called Menava in Bunt community. So, I think the surname Menon was first given to some Nairs at the time of Vijayanagara empire. The Vijayanagara Kings ruled most of southern India from 1336 to 1646 and Tuluva dynasty was the third dynasty of Vijayanagara empire. 

In Nair community, the types of Menons were Paricha-Menon, Menon Panikkar, Pattola-Menon, the relative rank of each often varying from Taluk to Taluk. 

Once I read in a website that Paricha Menons are highest among the Menons. Pattola Menons were the secretaries of the Nilambur Thirumulpads. The first Pattola Menon was one Shri.Kelu Menon who was reputed for his knowledge of toxicology and cures for snake-bites. Thazhakodenadu of Themmalapuram Taluk which was under Sekhari Varma Raja of Palghat was governed by the first Naduvazhi, Kanhumalpada Nair and the second governor Tharupada Nair and the Raja's accountant (Pattola Menon) was Anavangot Menon and the governors were Nannat Menon and Kulaviyil Menon respectively.

Shri.Kelu Menon of Perumpulaavil Nair Tharavadu was an expert in Kalarippayattu. He was best known for his swordsmanship and was able to reach the heights by backflipping. Because of his martial prowess, Shri.Kelu Menon at the time was appointed as the village headman. Even then he did not entirely give up his wild days and was once very nearly caught while raiding a rich merchant's house in Kunnamkulam near Thrissur, supposedly in Robin Hood style of robbing the rich to help the poor. Gradually his reputation spread, and he became quite a folk hero.  





Data were collected from The Indian Forester - Volume 51 - Page 118. Pattola Menon. — Recorded, in the Cochin Census Report, 1 90 1, as a sub-caste of Nayars, who are accountants in aristocratic families,  Castes and Tribes of Southern India - Volume 1 By Edgar Thurston and Kandur Rangachari, Tales Once Told: Legends of Kerala
By Abraham Eraly, Kavalappara papers by K. K. N. Kurup, University of Calicut, Dept. of History, Calicut University, 1984 - Kerala (India), Aitheehyamaala by Shri.Kottarathil Shankunni Warrier and Wikipedia.