Generally the Asan Kalaris of ancient Kerala were the sole
institution for elementary education for past generations of
Keralites . It was from where the pupil did acquire the basic
abilities for literacy and numeracy .They helped to develop and
sharpen the skills of 3 R (read, write and recite).
Though English system of education has been widely replaced the
ezhuthu Kalari, since the 19th century, the ancestors of present
generation of Keralites undoubtedly owed to the Ezhuthu kalari
system for their intellectual advance ment.
History of education system of Kerala dates back to samgam age
with all its vicissitudes. Budhist and Jain teachers were the
earlier Gurus.
Later pada salai kala salai culture established and
Matoms(exclusively for Brahmans ) for education purpose .
But, since the medieval period, ezhuthu palli or kalari were the
only sources for elementary education to eligible- non
brahmans.
Kaniyar or Ganaka people were the teachers of such Ezhuthu palli
or Asan Kalary.They were always esteemed as teachers in every
parlance by virtue of their scholarship in sanskrit and astrology.
So they were honoured with a title "Asan'' ( Acharyan) ,
particularly in southern region of Kerala
In northern region of Kerala (Malabar) they were known as
Kanisan (truncated form of kaniyar-Asan) and in Kochin area as
Kaniyar Panicker(Kalari panicker or Kurup) in view of their role as
martial art preceptors. some places they were known as Ezhuthu
asan.
It was through them the sanskritisation of non- Brahmin people
was made possible, especially while a period sudras were
stringently prohibited from learning sanskrit.
It is notable that the development of Malayalam as a distinct
language was begun through the tremondous literary contributions
from some Kaniyar scholars such as Ayyipilli Asan(Ramacharitham
pattu) Kannassa Panickers (kannassa ramayanam) Ezhthachan(Adyatma
ramayanam)
Since 18th century , the learned members from others
castes(Nair,Ezhava etc) had also taken up the role as Asan and had
set up Ezhuthu pallikkoodam.
Highest number of contribution in Malayalam literature began
since late 18th century and that was the renaissance period of
Kerala. it is unfair to omit the fact that in addition to multiple
factors, the Literacy has also enabled the Keralites for social
revolution.