Who were the basic Teachers of Malayali of ancient and medieval Kerala?

Answer 1

The Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans ( Acharya ) were the basic teachers of malayali of ancient and medieval kerala.

The Kaniyar or Ganaka people were generally scholars in sanskrit and Astrology.

They were the only agents for sanskritisation of eligible non- brahmin people of Kerala till 17th century.

For the acquisition of intellectual abilities in literacy and numeracy ,all non -Brahmin pupils of ancient and medieval kerala were indebted to Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans .

Even though the sudra people were prohibetd from learning sanskrit in that era ,the Kaniyar or Ganaka Asans had taught them to read, write ,recite and calculate , along with the sanskrit literature ( kavyas ) and superficial knowledge of astronomy and astrology.

They had set up ezhuthu salai and ezhuthu palli (kalari or pallikoodam) in pre- medieval and medieval era respectively .

When most of the people lost their interest in intellectual pursuite and turned for martial training during the medieval period ,again the Kalari Panicker or Kalari Kurup of ( a sect of Kaniyar panicker) Kochin region become their preceptors (Asan ) in Kalari.

Every academic year were begun on Vijaya dasami pooja day. Elementary education was initiated with oral learning and then allowed to practice with writing in sand , eventually taught them to scriblbe on palm leaf .

Since 18th centuary ,the learned members from other castes had also taken up the role of Asan to conduct ezhuthu pallikkodam.

During later half of the British imperialistic era ,the ezhuthupalli (pials) had lost its significance as the English education had gained tremendous momentum.