03-27-2007, 07:01 AM
I don't know much about Kerala, but typically in the South, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are much smaller communities than they are in the North. So typically, the Shudras substitute for everybody. There are trading as well as warrior communities among the Shudras. I think this is also true of Kerala, where the Nairs were the biggest landowning class as well as the warrior community. They may have also been traders.
As for the Ezhavas being Buddhists, that sounds like propagandist nonsense. I have read similar nonsense from Ambedkar as well, and with very little evidence.
As for the Ezhavas being Buddhists, that sounds like propagandist nonsense. I have read similar nonsense from Ambedkar as well, and with very little evidence.