One of the preferred profession for the Tamil Brahmins in Kerala was the Legal profession. Even before the Bachelor of Law degree came into being, these people practiced as Vakils.
The problem they did face was that you can not possible have one too many lawyers. They went to places where courts were established to practice their profession. Palakkad Brahmins went to Kozhikode, Manjeri, Quilandy and even a very small place like Payyoli (P.T. Usha's place) to practice law. Many of them were successful. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer is from Quilandy. Manjeri Rama Iyer was a well known Freedom fighter.
The general population in these areas were Muslims. The big land lords called Moopenmars preferred a Tamil Brahmin lawyer. The Tamil Brahmins developed over the years a very good rapport with the Muslims. Kerala had an Chief Minister Mohammed Koya from Kozhicode. He was called a Brahmin Muslim because the Kozhikode Brahmins voted only for him. Almost all the Muslim businesses had a Tamil Brahmin second in command in charge of accounts.
The Travancore Iyers went to Kottayam, Kottarakara, Alwaye (it was in Travancore). Kottarakara is a small town now. But it had more importance before independence. There was a even a British Club. Later they admitted Indians. My great grand father was a member there. Dewan V.S. Subramania Iyer who was Divan of travancore though born in Nagercoil shifted to Vazhappally near Changanacherry. In fact he changed his name to Vazhappally S. Subramania Iyer. He was the Chief justice of Travancore high court before becoming Divan.
The Travancore Iyers entered the judicial service of Travnacore in large numbers and later rose to high positions.
The Travancore Iyers developed a good rapport with the Christians of Kottayam region. Once an old Malayala Manorama employee was recounting how they used to dump paper bales in Kottayam Krishna Iyer's ( known as Undial Krishna Iyer among the Brahmins) house and borrow money from him. Tamil Brahmins even entered the business of developing estates.
Them money lending was another favourite profession of the Kerala Iyers. More about that later.
The problem they did face was that you can not possible have one too many lawyers. They went to places where courts were established to practice their profession. Palakkad Brahmins went to Kozhikode, Manjeri, Quilandy and even a very small place like Payyoli (P.T. Usha's place) to practice law. Many of them were successful. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer is from Quilandy. Manjeri Rama Iyer was a well known Freedom fighter.
The general population in these areas were Muslims. The big land lords called Moopenmars preferred a Tamil Brahmin lawyer. The Tamil Brahmins developed over the years a very good rapport with the Muslims. Kerala had an Chief Minister Mohammed Koya from Kozhicode. He was called a Brahmin Muslim because the Kozhikode Brahmins voted only for him. Almost all the Muslim businesses had a Tamil Brahmin second in command in charge of accounts.
The Travancore Iyers went to Kottayam, Kottarakara, Alwaye (it was in Travancore). Kottarakara is a small town now. But it had more importance before independence. There was a even a British Club. Later they admitted Indians. My great grand father was a member there. Dewan V.S. Subramania Iyer who was Divan of travancore though born in Nagercoil shifted to Vazhappally near Changanacherry. In fact he changed his name to Vazhappally S. Subramania Iyer. He was the Chief justice of Travancore high court before becoming Divan.
The Travancore Iyers entered the judicial service of Travnacore in large numbers and later rose to high positions.
The Travancore Iyers developed a good rapport with the Christians of Kottayam region. Once an old Malayala Manorama employee was recounting how they used to dump paper bales in Kottayam Krishna Iyer's ( known as Undial Krishna Iyer among the Brahmins) house and borrow money from him. Tamil Brahmins even entered the business of developing estates.
Them money lending was another favourite profession of the Kerala Iyers. More about that later.
