Nairs and Marumakkathayam

The Nairs follow the system of inheritance called Marumakkathayam as opposed to the traditional Makkathayam system according to which property belongs to the father and which property is ceded to the oldest son or sons, and the son succeeds the father as head of the family.  The Marumakkathayam law regulates succession through the female line. For instance, in Travancore the heir apparent is the reigning Monarch's sister's oldest son (nephew) and not the king's own son.  Marumakkathayam (marumakan == sister's son;  dayam= inheritance) could have arisen as an alternative norm to patrilineal inheritance in a system where a man's sister's son was supposed to marry his daughter anyway.  The Karanavan who has lately taken over from the female, is entitled to the full possession and management of the property. The junior members legally have no claim to residence and maintenance.  The Karanavan is not accountable to any one member; he is not under obligation to support any member of the Tarawad  (family).  The only restraint on him is that he cannot alienate the family lands without the consent of all.  When the family divides, it divides along the female line (Tavaztu).  But the female inheritor lets one male member, like her brother, manage the new Tarawad.  Needless to mention that the Marumakkathayam system is no longer a viable system.  It was outlawed in the early part of the twentieth century.