Valan

Valans are a Malayali caste based in Kerala, India.According to the people's traditional beliefs, they were brought to Kerala by Parasurama to work as boatmen, conveying passengers across the rivers and backwaters on the west coast.

Another tradition is that the Valans were Arayans, and they became a separate caste only after one of the Perumal had selected some of their families for boat service, and conferred on them special privileges. They pride themselves that their caste is one of remote antiquity, and claim that ancient members included Vyasa, author of the Vishnu Purana, and Guhan, the legendary boatman who assisted Rama.