Madampi (Nair title)

{{Short description|Feudal landlord in pre-independence south India}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}

Madampi (equivalent to Lord in English) is an aristocratic title given to the uppermost subdivisions of Nairs in Kerala, by the Maharajahs of Travancore and Cochin.{{Cite book|last1=Menon|first1=T. Madhava|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FltwAAAAMAAJ&q=Madampi|title=A handbook of Kerala|last2=Linguistics|first2=International School of Dravidian|date=2000|publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics|isbn=978-81-85692-27-2|pages=139, 170|language=en}} Usually, it was given in addition to the Pillai title. Madampis served as Jenmis or landlords during the pre-independence era. Their power was severely reduced after the Communist government passed the Land Reforms Ordinance.The Spirituality of Basic Ecclesial Communities in the Socio-Religious Context of Trivandrum/Kerala, India By Selvister Ponnumuthan p.146 The title Madampi was also used in Cochin, to denote the 71 Nayar chiefs who ruled under the Maharajah of Cochin.A handbook of Kerala, Volume 1 By T. Madhava Menon, International School of Dravidian Linguistics p.139 A few Nambuthiri landlord families, most notable of whom being those in Vanjipuzha and Makilanjeri, were also given the Madampi title.The Indian economic and social history review, Volume 28 By Delhi School of Economics p.312 In Cochin, the Madampis had their own armies, but seldom numbered more than 100. Their power was only a little bit higher than that of the Desavazhis.Marriage and the family in Kerala: with special reference to matrilineal castes By Joseph Puthenkalam p.10 Madampis supplied chieftains along with soldiers in times

of war to the King.Kerala district gazetteers, Volume 10 By A. Sreedhara Menon p.108Madampimars the members of the family hold a unique position of healthy influence amongst the Nair Madampis.The madres states and mysore directory p.321

This title is equivalent to others such as Eshmanan, Eman and Mannadiyar which were used in Cochin and Malabar areas. Other titles used by the Nairs include Kurup, Pillai, Valiathan, Kaimal, Thampi, Chempakaraman, Unnithan, Nambiar, Panicker, Nayanar, Kartha and Menon.