 | ||
Similar Chhatrapati, Dalavayi, Darbar (title) | ||
Aasaan or Asan is a Tamil word meaning teacher or guide.
Contents
Etymology
It is a corrupted form of Sanskrit word Acharya. The honorific suffix n is added with a phonetic change in pronounce mutates it in to Aasaan It was used by locals as an alternative colloquial term to address teachers in Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Traditions
Generally the Kaniyar or Ganaka people of Kerala in India, particularly from southern region were held this title Asan by virtue of their past vocation as Kalari teachers They acted as the media for sanskritisation and literacy to Non-Brahmins Ezhuthuassan was another name in which they were known at certain regions of Kerala. Till the second half of twentieth century the AsanKalari or Ezhuthu Kalari or Ezhuthu palli (village schools) were common in each village as it was conducted in many families of Ganaka in Travancore The female members of Ganaka were generally addressed as Asatti or Asaatti, because they too had engaged in teaching 3Rs to pupil. In the past, Kaniyar Panicker or Kalari panicker s of central Kerala too were known by the title Asan by virtue of their past profession as teachers of martial art (Kalaripayattu) to Nair youths.
For the last two centuries, it has not been uncommon to adopt this title by many learned people from other castes (Nair, Ezhava, Thiyya, Christian Nadar) as well. Eventually, the common usage of the term Asan gradually lost its original meaning as a venerated symbolic representation for teachers, as it is found used in every parlance without any significance to its meaning.