Janmi
Jenmi is the term used to refer to the landed aristocracy of Kerala. In the past the majority, if not all the land was owned by these Jenmis (landlords). They belonged to Nambudiri, Ambalavasi and Nair castes, and it was not unusual for an aristocratic family to own up to 20,000 acres (81 km2) of land. The Maharajas of Cochin and Travancore and many Rajas, such as those of Punjar in Travancore, were well known. Proprietors of temples like the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum controlled by the Maharaja of Travancore, the Koodalmanikyam Temple controlled by the Thachudaya Kaimal and the Guruvayoor Temple of M. R. Ry. The Zamorin Rajas of Calicut were also jenmis in their own right owning at least 60,000 to 90000 acres. The title of the land goes back into antiquity and normally ceased its absolute proprietorship and became subject to tax upon alienation.
Today, however, there are restrictions placed on the amount of land one can own in Kerala. A token pension is paid to Jenmis who ceded their lands but the Government has refused to do so from time to time.
The largest landlords of Malabar included the Vengayil family which owned 200,000 acres (810 km2) including forest lands, while the Chirakkal Raja owned about 30,000 acres (120 km2). Other major Jenmis included the Kurumathoor Namburidipad (5,615 acres) and the Kalliat Nambiar (36,779 acres).
There have been incidences of violence against Jenmis, influenced by Communists.
Kayyur Incident: Kayyur is a small village in the Hosdurg taluk. In 1940, peasants there under the leadership of communists rose against the two local jenmis, Nambiar of Kalliat and the Nayanar of Karakkatt Edam. Several people were killed and four communist leaders were found guilty and hanged by the government,(Madathil Appu, Podavara Kunhambu Nair, Koithattil Chirukandan and Pallickal Abu Bakr)being the guilty. A fifth instigator (Choorikadan Krishnan Nair) was sentenced to life imprisonment and spared from the death penalty, since he was under the age of criminal liability.
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