Goud Saraswat Brahmins of Cochin - Social Profile

Social Profile

Saraswat Brahmins are one of the most ancient tribes within Hindu society, retaining many of the ancient practices. Mainstream Brahmin community always had reservations against the Saraswat Brahmins for many Saraswat Brahmin customs were at odds with mainstream Brahmin traditions and observations, though no such basis can be traced to Hindu scriptures.

The post inquisition Saraswat Brahmin Diaspora experience is remarkably similar in wide areas where Saraswat Brahmins settled. The ruling elites were quick to realise the value of Saraswat Brahmin skills, whereas Social elite tried to undermine Saraswat Brahmins through persistent litigation and smear campaign. The saraswat experience in Kerala was no different.

Kerala society of yesteryears practised a very rigid form of caste system; The sudden appearance of Saraswat Brahmins in large numbers triggered two different and somewhat opposite reactions from elites of Kerala society. The ruling elites welcomed Saraswat Brahmins and granted many rights to them. The Saraswat Brahmins were gifted prime real estate properties to build their temples, they were allowed to build brick houses, and were even given right to collect taxes in many localities. Most of the saraswat Brahmin temples stand on properties gifted by Kshatriya and Nair elite.

The social elite consisting of different indigenous Brahmin sects viewed Saraswat Brahmins in a different light. At the highest level, Saraswat Brahmins belonged to Panch gauda as opposed to the indigenous Brahmins who were part of Panch Dravida group. The Saraswat Brahmins entered Cochin by sea, something which was a taboo in those days. The non vegetarian diet of Saraswat Brahmins constituted probably the most contentious issue. Finally, the saraswat Brahmins did not have any reservations against having a professional partnership with the Europeans in matters commercial. The Saraswat Brahmins thus represented a type of alien Brahminhood which was in total conflict with the Brahmin prototype prevalent in Kerala. Notwithstanding all the above, the Kerala Brahmin opposition to Saraswat Brahmin was not a knee jerk reaction, but a gradual one spread over a long period of time.

The as Western civilisation took root in Kerala soil, the kerala Brahmins, fearful of losing their exclusivity, started moving to remote parts of the Kerala state. The Saraswat Brahmins with more liberal attitudes towards Westerners stayed behind to take advantage of the commercial opportunities. The local Brahmins viewed this as guilt by association. The expansion European power and commerce brought staggering success to the Saraswat Brahmins and jealousy among sections of native population. The influential Tulu faction, who had a history of disputes with Saraswat Brahmin in Tulu Nadu, also worked towards denying Saraswat Brahmins many privileges rightly due to them. The Saraswat Brahmins, thus, did not really become part of the larger Brahmin community, preferring to maintain autonomy and entrepreneur activities at the expense of integration leading to some sort of social stigma.

Two centuries of introverted life has somewhat taken a toll on the Cochin GSBs and has deprived the community of social and linguistic skills required to thrive in a state which has a different social structure than the state in which they have their roots. It has resulted in a community which is essentially introverted which internalises its energies, and is not integrated completely with the mainstream of Kerala society. Till some years ago, GSBs were caricatured in popular media. Even though such caricaturing is not in fashion any more, stereotyping of GSBs still persists, albeit with less intensity.