[Reader-list] My First Posting to Sarai.

[Rajesh Komath]

Dear Friends,

It has been a great pleasure to read the posting of Sarai I-Fellows, not 
only because each research questions raised were distinct and cross-
disciplinary, but the voices who raised those questions were equally 
vibrant. I am thankful to CSDS-Sarai, for giving me this opportunity to 
interact and share our views on a wider range of issues. Let me briefly 
introduce my-self and thereby my-work, on the first posting to Sarai. 

I am Rajesh Komath, an indigenous\traditional performer of Teyyam, a 
ritualistic folk art linked to the rich traditions of ancient cult system, 
largely performed in the northern regions (Malabar) of south Indian state, 
Kerala. The word ‘Teyyam’, derived from the word ‘Daivam’, means God in 
Malayalam language. It is performed annually or on festive occasions as an 
expression of local people’s faith in the divine and also, as an artistic 
expression of their collective social consciousness. Though performed for 
different purposes, generally it is towards satisfying some social needs. 
For instance, performance of fertility cult, in the paddy field for 
increasing agricultural productivity or the case of the Teyyam 
named ‘Vasurimala’ performed for warding off small pox from the village. 
Teyyam related rituals have a close connection with worship, life 
ceremonies, sorcery and belief in the daily life of the ordinary people of 
north Malabar. Its themes have originated from mythical and ritualistic 
imagination and the dancer give vent to the moods through his dances, 
movements and articulation. It is a colourful combination of dance, 
theatre and music. The dancer, who transforms into ‘Teyyam’, performs, 
admonishes, predicts the future, reads the past, and receives adulation 
and worship from villagers. Primarily, this art form is found in Kannur 
and Kasargod districts of Kerala, though such traditions do exist in 
southern Malabar region too and also in the border areas of south Kanara 
and Coorg districts of the neighboring state Karnataka, however the 
regional terminologies may differ.

By training I am an economist, holding an M Phil degree in Applied 
economics and currently pursuing doctoral research on the 
theme “Negotiating for Social Development: Experience of Teyyam Performing 
Communities of north Malabar” at Centre for Development Studies, 
Trivandrum. But I also perform Teyyam, both in traditional shrines and 
modern theatre stages as the art form is presently commodified. Thus, I 
straddle between two worlds—of Teyyam dancer and a researcher. I have a 
plan to document 400 Teyyams that face extinction and record Thottam that 
is recited during performance. I am also interested in music and musical 
production of Teyyam performances. Photographs of my performances are: 
link  http://rajeshkomath.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_rajeshkomath_archive.html

The present study, “Ethnography of Teyyam Performance as Practitioner”, 
attempts to analyze how long-term social transformation reflects on the 
life of a community in terms of their adherence to Teyyam performance and 
their traditional social position as legitimate artists/workers of the art 
form. The study intends to understand the predicament of marginal 
communities in the larger stratified society. Historically, 
marginalized/indigenous communities have been relegated to the conditions 
of the most backward communities in the hierarchical social structure of 
India. This study would investigate social and material conditions, social 
meanings, and aesthetic practices of the cultural production of Teyyam; 
performed by lower castes and Adivasi communities which can be considered 
as a resistance against, oppression of the dominant groups in the northern 
districts of Kerala. The analysis will be an ethnographic and folkloristic 
discourse on behalf of the community. This study will capture 
the  “insider perspective”, as the researchers himself is an active 
performer of Teyyam and will be able to combine individual experiences 
with the social, cultural and economic aspects of the community.

Next posting, based on the personal narrative of researcher, as 
a ‘performer’ will illustrate Teyyam performer’s social life, to 
communicate their dilemma in the changing social hierarchy of north 
Malabar society, where Communists ideology interfaces with the traditional 
ritual of Teyyam performance. 

With warm regards.
Rajesh Komath.







Rajesh Kumar.K.
Doctoral Scholar
Centre For Development Studies
Prasanth Nagar, Ulloor
Trivandrum- 695011
Kerala, India
Ph : +91-471-2442481
Fax: +91-471-2447137
Mobile: 9895056659.