{{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox Ethnic group | image = Pictorial Depiction of a Thiyar Men.jpg | caption = | group = Thandan | pop = | popplace = Palakkad, Kannur | languages = Malayalam | religions = Hinduism }} '''Thandan''' ('''Thiyya Thandan, Thandar''') is the honorary surname given to the headman of the mainly Thiyya caste some people in Palakkad, Thrissur district, who reside in the Indian state of Kerala.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} They are designated as an Other Backward Class by the Government of Kerala.<ref name="stdg">{{cite web |url=http://164.100.24.208/ls/CommitteeR/Social/20threport.pdf |title=Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment (2006-2007) |page=13}}</ref>

==Status== ''Thandan'' was the most commonly used title to represent the highest privilege among the Thiyyar of the Malabar area. The most notable Thiyyar of the Malabars received the title as Thandan for their service to the state in the administration of Malabar district.<ref>{{Cite book|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=IKQ4m___Pd4C|page=203}}|title=Journal of Kerala Studies|date=2009|publisher=University of Kerala.|language=en|pages=203, 205}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2023}}

The Thandan, the privileged Thiyyar-Karanavar in a {{Transliteration|hi|dhesam}} had to carry out the instructions of the politically powerful. He was powerful enough to rule the caste people in his area. In Malabar, the smallest political unit is known as the {{Transliteration|hi|thara}}. The head of the {{Transliteration|hi|thara}} is known as {{Transliteration|hi|tharayil karanavar}}, "the one who got privilege from the king."<ref>{{Cite book|url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=IKQ4m___Pd4C|page=205}}|title=Journal of Kerala Studies|date=2009|publisher=University of Kerala.|language=en|page=205}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2023}}

==See also==

* Caste system in India

==References== {{Reflist}}<!--added under references heading by script-assisted edit-->

Category:Indian castes Category:Malayalam-language surnames