Ossan - Present Circumstances

Present Circumstances

The Ossan are traditionally involved with the occupation of barbering and the traditional circumcisers of Kerala. Unlike other Muslim artisan groups, they have not seen a decline in their traditional occupation, and most are still involved with barbering. They have set up a state wide association, the All Kerala Barbers Association, which acts as a pressure group for the community.

The Ossan belong to a matrilocal society, and descent is traced from the mother (see matrilineality). They are strictly endogamous, and marry close kin.

Actually most of the Ossan community members now in their traditional practice, but still they are treated as Ossan. In India Ossan is reated as a caste in Islam which is lower than other castes like Thangal, Keyi, Koya and so on. Like other Semitic religions, Islam did not originate in India. They gradually came to India. When it reaches here the Indian people accept it for a certain extend.All of them were not aware about the belief and ethics of Islam actually represents. Labour-based castism existed in also came to Islam. Whoever accepted Islam possing higher dignity because of labour got higher dignity in the new Islam also. Lower status workers got lower status. In other words a Namboothiri converted to Islam become Thangal, likewise a barber become Ossan. Although they were Islam their caste system remained in their minds and it was revealed through their character. Actually Islam never agrees with this caste system. As Indian cast system is based on code of labour, Semitic religion also lost its real character, because the inherited labour cast people accepted Islam. That is why still Indian Islam Ossans are treated as lower caste. This situation leads to colonisation of Ossan family, in that colony no bullying is happening in between them. Best example is Chanthanathoppe in Kollam District. There they have their mosque. The members of this mosque are Ossans.