Thread by @joBeeGeorgeous

Thread:
Sister said something abt father's Christian ancestors being kept around by Nambudiris to do purification in temples. So I had to read up n cos history is fascinating. And no Syrian Christians aren't Brahmin.

Also, Brahmin reign in Kerala and TN needs to b understood.1/

In Maritime (India) long distance trade (9th century) included trade with Persian Gulf regions and Canton in China. Coast of (India) was a break during their tumultuous voyage because of monsoon winds here. Local rulers encouraged more traders.2/

They started making commodities to attract foreign merchants. Money frm this helped fund political expansionist ideas of rulers. Ay Kingdom gave privileges to Christian migrant traders of Quilon from Sassanid Persia (mid 9th century). 3/

Christians evolvd as a major trading grp. Connecting them to spice producng Christians in hinterland with far flung mercantile networks in Indian Ocean.

In Persia, Abbassids (750-870) shifted HQ frm Damascus to Baghdad to access trade in Indian Ocean via Tigris. 4/

With expansion of political domains n commercial activities of Abbassid Persians in Persian gulf region, Sassanid Persian Christian merchants found Kerala safer for trade etc.

There was already an extensive network of commerce tht Sassanids had developd centuries before. 5/

Mar Sapor n Mar Prodh were prominent Christian migrants frm Persia who reached Kurakeni Kollam/Quilon (823AD) n erectd a church called #Tharispally, whch was a place of prayer n the centre of economic activity. 6/

Ay Kingdom was a feudatory of the Chera ruler Sthanu Ravi Varma. These Christian merchants were tested for 26 years to see if they would improve the fortunes of the Kingdom n local ruler's coffers. They received the privileges as seen in the #Tharisapally copper plate. 7/

Ezhava n Vellala families, Thachan, Vannan were 'given' to this church/trading point. They were also givn right to collect taxes. Church was also givn rights to collect taxes on goods taken into the city by land/boat. The ruler knew the maritime trading gave greater revenues. 8/

The Christian merchant groups' guild #Manigram
and Jew merchant groups guild #Anjuvannam wielded considerable authority n power. The Church property and rights were given absolute protection to safeguard revenue from trade 9/

This alliance between ruler n merchants was necessary cos the kingdom depended heavily on this revenue. Cos of declining trade in inland Kerala following intense feudalization process (land grants n consumption-oriented production). 10/

CHERA VS PANDYA conflicts in deep south, led to Pandyas capturng Vizhinjam. Cheras movd to Quilon as HQ. They encouraged foreign Christian merchants to settle down in Quilon to create a port to compete with Pandya's port Vizhinjam n assist in Chera political ventures in South 11/

This gave the foreign Christian merchants and Christians in Kerala an economic identity as traders. A TRADING CASTE.

(Brahmin) minister joined hands with others to give these privileges to #Tharisapally n its members. #Tharisapally CopperPlate 12/

During 6th/7th century onwards, Brahmins were taking on Jains n Buddhists.
Mass migration of Brahmins started in 8th century.

Hegemonic position necessitated #Vaisyas

Christians were kept on a social ladder equivalent to Vaisyas of north of Vindhya n Satpura. 13/

#Angadis were clustered living. Around Churches. They were trading establishments. Indigenous Christians cultivating spices and these Christian merchants worked n lived there. By the end of the 15th century they were linked to Craganore, Cochin, Quilon, Kayamkulam. 14/

Rulers of Vadakkenkur and Cochin banked on Syrian Christians as soldiers in their armies. And were offered as soldiers to the Portuguese to further the rulers' political intentions. They also formed suicide squads to protect their bishop, Mar Joseph from Portuguese. 15/

The 'St Thomas Christians' used to go to their churches along with swords, shields n lances in their hands. Weapon houses were created outside churches. Seen today in Ramapuram, Pala and Cherpunkal. 16/

When central Kerala was amalgamated into Travancore State, Marthanda Varma had his own standing army. And importance of Syrian Christians as a fighting force declined. 17/

Brahminical ideology was reshaping social life in Kerala. And temple centred activities began (9th to 13th century).

All intermediaries were arranged within the hierarchy. Constructing and reconstructing new castes. Syrian Christians came to be Vaisyas. 18/

They were given social functions that were ever evolving. For touching and 'purifying' the oil and utensils to be used in the temples and palaces. To 'purify' them from the 'polluted' touch of the artisans. For the touching n purifying oil (Enna thottu kodukkan) etc. 19/

Certain Christian families were specially invited, offering them land to settle around temples n palaces.
Christians started practicing untouchability to maintain their interactions with Brahmins n Nairs. Caste practices n norms were fabricated by Brahmins. 20/

Christians were afraid to lose their trading benefits n complied. They wore a sacred thread, #kudumi (they inserted a silver cross in it). They maintained #pula (tainted by a death of a member) n #pulakuli (10th day feast) n #sradham (1 year later feast when souls come back) 21/

St George (slaying dragon) became patron saint of Christians cutting into forests, looking to do spice cultivation. Helped wean the Christians from worshipping snakes, even though other cultures around continued to do so. Edapally Church? Aruvithara and Muthalakodam etc. 22/

From 'Maritime India: Trade, Religion and Polity in the Indian Ocean.'
By Dr Pius Malekandathil.
(Prof at JNU)

IMHO/Conclusion:
Syrian Christians practiced Untouchability and oppressed 'lower castes'.
My community needs to contemplate on this. And reject supremacist ideas.