Decline of Rawther tribe

Rawthers were traditionally warrior tribe. The last recorded rawther cavalry existed in vijayanagara empire. after decline the vijaya nagara dynasty, nayaka community became rulers of most of tamil hinter lands. they were not in favour of keeping rawther cavalry. keeping a strong muslim cavalry regiment having tamil ancestry was a threat for them. they were telugu speaking community.

Rawthers kept very good relationship with another warrior tribe 'maravars'. Maravar considered rawthers as related tribe coneveted to islam between AD 900 - 1000. 

Due to these reason rawthers started migrating to find new jobs. initially they found jobs in different local ruler's forces in southern kerala. and some of them joined with nawab's forces. 

some local rulers with pandian anccestry favoured them and identified as fellow pandian tribe.

the early migrants found fortune on new land and became land owners and start trading of spices and wood between south kerala and tamil nadu.

Between AD 1700 - 1760 , Deccani muslim armies start invading southern land, which created pathani dominance on muslim forces. as a result, self esteemed rawthers step down from forces and start searching for other jobs. 

But, Rawther tribe lost their unity that time. the rich one was not ready to share there fortune with the struggling ones.

Many rawthers became petti traders (spices, fish and meat). they started leaving as marginilised. there childrens were unaware of there great past. they considered their selves as butchers or fish merchants. 

when other communities step into spice and wood trade, the generation of rich rawthers also started declining financially. 

During AD1900 - 1950, many tamil muslims start claiming to be decedants of Rawther warrior tribes (especially in Northern kerala). Due to this, only rawthers from rich families who built early mosques started identifying as original rawthers among the community.

the rich familes, who lost trade find new way to make money from these mosques. they start earning money from these mosques in the name of yearly pilgrimage. mosques become family property.

There is no religious council to keep the community on religious track or no proper organizations to help the marginilised.