Question

After the end of the reign of the Perumals, the chieftains, who were the local rulers under the Perumals began to rule their respective Nadus independently. The region under the control of the chieftain was known as…………
A.Iqta
B.Swaroopam
C.Province
D.None of the above

Answer 1

Hint:The Nadus were the places where the people established their agricultural settlement. Basically, the Nadus were under the Perumals who ruled Kerala with their capital as Mahodayapuram. In total there were fourteen Nadus and all of them were from Kolathunadu in the north to the Venad in the south accepted the rule of the Perumal.

Complete answer:
The reign of Perumals came to an end by the 12 century. Basically, the chieftains were the local rulers under the Perumals who began to rule their Nadus thus the rule under the control of a chieftain was called ‘Swaroopam'.Perumals were basically the rulers from outside Kerala, historians suggest that the Perumals were invited by Parasurama who invited Perumals who were Kshatriyas. The time period of Perumals is said to be around 216AD - 428AD. The most famous of these Perumals were the Cheraman Perumal. Cheraman Perumal is said to be the king of Kerala at that time. Kerala developed as a unique administrative territory during the reign of Perumal’s. Trade and Agriculture formed the base of the economy during the reign of Perumal. The sources of the Perumal include popular oral traditions and later literary compositions.
Meaning of Chieftain:
The Chieftain is the leader of the tribal society. He is also called a tribal chief.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note:Full name of Perumal was Raja Sri Rama Varma, Kulasekhara Perumal. Perumal ruled from 712.To 754 A.D is certain that they belong to the same family. Cheraman Perumal II succeeded Thambiran Thozhar,it is presumed that Thamibran Thozhar died childless in 754A.D.