Rayan in India
In India, Rayan refers to a person with authority. The term came to southern India through trading with Arab merchants on the coasts of Kerala and Tamil-Nadu. In the Chola, Chera and Pallava dynasties of southern India, the title of Rayan/Rayar was bestowed upon those who had fought valiantly in battle. Some of their descendants carry forth the surname today. In (Old) Tamil, "Araiyan" means a leader, later on Araiyan was pronounced as arayan and changed to Rayan.
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“There exists no politician in India daring enough to attempt to explain to the masses that cows can be eaten.”
—Indira Gandhi (1917–1984)