Unnithan Explained

Unnithan is one of the aristocratic Nair caste surnames used mainly in the Travancore region of the present-day Indian state of Kerala.^{[1] [2]}

History

The Unnithan and Valiathan surnames originated from the title "Thānkal" (Malayalam: "താങ്കൾ"), which is a respectful designation used to address members of aristocratic families in Kerala.^[3]

According to legend, Maharajah Marthanda Varma of Travancore sought the help of certain Nair families to overcome the powerful Nair clan of Ettuveetil Pillamar, the Lords of the Eight Houses. Many members of these families were killed by the Ettuveetil Pillamar. Later, these families were awarded the titles Valiathan and Unnithan, which mean "eldest Thānkal" and "youngest Thānkal," respectively.^[4]

Position in society

Unnithan surname is prevalent mainly in the Kayamkulam region of central Travancore, later due to conflicts between the Kayamkulam Raja and the Unnithan families, they were settled in Kollam and Pathanamthitta region of central Travancore. Many of these Unnithan families are recognised as Stani families similar to the Nair titles Pillai, Kurup, Kaimals, Karthavs and Thampi titles.^[5]

Until the 19th century, Unnithan families were only allowed to marry from the Royal, Valiyathan, Pillai, Kurup, Thampi, Karthav and Kaimal families. Currently, many families have started using the Surname "Nair". Unnithan ladies used the honorific title of Kunjamma/Ittiyamma, indicative of their greater status among the Nair community, where ladies unanimously used the title of Amma. Unnithan ladies were married by the Rajahs or princes of the royal families such as Mavelikara, Ennakad, Prayikkara etc.

Unnithans were not allowed to marry from ordinary Nair families, who served as soldiers and performed kitchen duties in Unnithan households.

Notable people

• P. G. N. Unnithan (1898–1965), Last Diwan of the Kingdom of Travancore (1947-1948)
• Adoor Gopalakrishnan Unnithan (born 1941), Indian film director
• Ramachandran Unnithan (born 1951), Indian Kathakali exponent
• Rajmohan Unnithan (born 1953), Current Member of Parliament from Kasaragod Lok Sabha Constituency (2019-present)
• K. B. Unnithan (1936–2017), an Indian politician
• R. C. Unnithan (1936–2015), Malayalam political activist
• Suresh Unnithan (born 1956), Indian film and television director
• Unnikrishnan R. Unnithan, The founder and CEO of DIBIZ and the SUMWIN Group, Malaysia^[6]
• Hima Unnithan, A software engineer at JPMorgan Chase & Co. who studied at Rutgers University^[7]
• Sunil Unnithan, A professional at Morgan Stanley in New York, USA ^[8]
• Niranjana Unnithan, A graduate research assistant at Kansas State University^[9]
• Jayadev Unnithan, former President of the Sree Narayana Mission (SNM), Singapore^[10]
• Maya Unnithan, A fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Professor of Social and Medical Anthropology and Director of the Centre for Cultures of Reproduction, Technologies and Health (CORTH) at the University of Sussex.^[11]
• Dr. Prabha Unnithan, Professor of Sociology at Colorado State University, USA ^[12]

References

1. Web site: CLASSIFICATIONS NAIR COMMUNITY . 2024-10-19 . www.nairs.in.
2. Book: Fuller, C. J. . The Nayars Today . 1976-12-30 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-21301-1 . en.
3. Book: Nair . R. Raman . Chattampi Swami: An Intellectual Biography . Devi . L. Sulochana . 2010 . South Indian Studies . 978-81-905928-2-6 . en.
4. Book: Sankunni, Kottarathil . Aithihyamala . 2024-05-08 . Mathrubhumi Books . en.
5. Book: Nair . R. Raman . Chattampi Swami: An Intellectual Biography . Devi . L. Sulochana . 2010 . South Indian Studies . 978-81-905928-2-6 . en.
6. Web site: Unnikrishnan R. Unnithan . 2024-12-02 . Fayuscorp.com . en-US.
7. https://www.linkedin.com/in/hima-unnithan/
8. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunil-unnithan-4a0784b/
9. https://www.linkedin.com/in/niranjanaunnithan/
10. Web site: Our Board of Trustees . 2024-12-02 . Sree Narayana Mission (Singapore) . en.
11. Web site: University of Sussex . 2024-12-02 . profiles.sussex.ac.uk.
12. Web site: Prabha Unnithan, Emeritus Professor - College of Liberal Arts Colorado State University . 2024-12-02 . College of Liberal Arts . en-US.