In today's world, Ossan has become a topic of relevance and interest for people from different fields and profiles. Whether they are researchers, professionals, students or simply curious individuals, Ossan has captured attention and generated debate in different spaces. From its impact on society to its global implications, Ossan has proven to be a topic that deserves to be explored and analyzed in depth. In this article, we will delve into the different dimensions of Ossan to understand its importance and its repercussions on our reality.
Ossan is a community/status group of Muslims in Kerala, south India. The Ossan men were the traditional circumcisers[1] among the Muslims of the central Malabar Coast (northern Kerala).[2][3] The Ossan women were experts in pre- and post-delivery care of pregnant women (midwifery). The Ossann the Kerala Muslim community of Muslims [2]
It is speculated that the original form of the title Ossan is "Otthaan", derived from the Arabic word Khatthaan meaning an expert practitioner of circumcision.
The Ossans were formerly considered as a low status group among the Muslims of Kerala. Ossan community is still figured as a financially backward group among some of the Muslim families in Kerala. Matrimonial alliances with financially elite Muslim families are rare in some parts of Kerala.[1][3]