Achan is a title of nobility in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
, India. The title was used by Nair feudal lords and were awarded to those Nairs who excelled in martial arts by the Kings of
Malabar. The
Pillais of Travancore are addressed as "Pillai Achan" by commoners. Famous Achans included the Mangat Achan of
Calicut
Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second l ...
who was the by tradition the Prime Minister of the Zamorin and the
Paliath Achan
Paliath Achan or Paliyath Achan is the name given to the oldest male member of the Paliam royal family, a Nair/ Menon chieftain family from the Indian state of Kerala who were elevated to the status of royalty by the Rajah of Kingdom of Cochin ( ...
, Prime Minister of
Cochin
Kochi (), also known as Cochin ( ) ( the official name until 1996) is a major port city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of K ...
. The ruling house of
Palghat
Palakkad (), formerly known as Palghat, historically known as Palakkattussery is a city and municipality in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. Palakkad is most densely populated munic ...
also bore the title Achan.
[ Kāṇippayyūr Śaṅkaran Nampūtirippāṭ in Aryanmarude Kudiyettam Vol III, Panchangam Press, Kunnamkulam, Kerala; See Chap. 4 Reprinted 2011]
References
Nair
{{Kerala-stub