The Thampis and Kochammas are the sons and daughters of the maharajahs of Travancore and their consorts belonging to Nair caste.[1] The Thampi surname is also used by non-Nair communities, and they have no relation to the aristocratic Nair Thampis.
Thampis and Thankachis form a part of the Samanthan Nair and Illam Nair subcastes.
This title was given by the royal families to their Nair relatives. The very term Thampi and Thankachi meaning, brother and sister respectively which indicated the position of the Thampi families as the non-crown inheriting royal relatives of the Royal House of Travancore as per the matrilineal law followed.
The consort of the ruling Maharajah (King) as well as Elayarajah (Crown Prince) was known as the Ammachi with the title of Panapillai Amma. To the names of the sons of the Maharajahs was prefixed the title of Sri suffixed with Thampi. The daughters were known as Kochammas. The other members as well as the descendants of the Ammaveedus, however, were simply known as Thampi and Thankachi. [2]
- ^ "Ammachies of Travancore". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Dr. Ivy Peter, Dr. D. Peter (November 2009). Liberation of the Oppressed a Continuous Struggle- A Case Study (since1822 A.D). Nagercoil: Kanyakumari Institute of Development Studies. pp. 24–26.