Moopil Nairs were prominent Nair naduvazhis (governors of nads or city-states) and desavazhis (chieftains of desams, or local provinces) who ruled over small feudal principalities along the Malabar Coast—modern-day Kerala, South India. Belonging to the Samanthan subcaste within the Nair community of the Hindu caste system, Moopil Nairs held significant political and military authority in the region.

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Following the decline of the Mahodayapuram Chera dynasty in the 12th century, the Malabar Coast fragmented into numerous semi-autonomous nads. These were governed by local chieftains known as naduvazhis, some of whom further subdivided their territories into desams, overseen by desavazhis.

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Prominent Moopil Nair chieftaincies included the Valluvakkonathiris of Valluvanad, whose capital was at present-day Angadippuram. Other influential Moopil Nair lineages included:

• The Kavalapparas

• The Kuthiravattathu Moopil Nair, near Kozhikode, who commanded the cavalry forces of the Samoothiri (Zamorin) of Calicut

• The Mannarkad Moopil Nair, who administered the Attappady region

• The Kuppathode Moopil Nair, who ruled Pulpally

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The Mannarkkad Moopil Nair

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My grand father from my matrelinial side was Kunnattattil Madambil Kunjunni Moopil Nair. He passed away in the year 1984. The title "Mannarkkad Moopil Nair" (also rendered as Kunnattattil Madambil Nair) was traditionally conferred upon the eldest male of the Mannarkkad Moopil Nair family. He served as a desavazhi (provincial governor) under the Valluvanad Raja, tasked with overseeing the eastern frontiers and the highland regions of southern Malabar.

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The family held substantial land holdings, controlling approximately 70% of the territory in Attappady, including the ecologically significant Silent Valley region. Their governance played a pivotal role in maintaining order and defense in the mountainous terrain bordering the Western Ghats.​

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