What is "adiyan"

Adiyan or Adiya people live in the northern hill districts of Kerala. It's an exonym, people prefer to be called as Ravula. Linguistically and ethnically they are related to Ravula language speaking Yerava tribe living in the neighbouring Coorg district of Karnataka. The word Adiyan means “service class” in Malayalam. The Adiyans are found in the Wayanad and Kannur districts of Kerala. Most of them are agricultural workers and are in the process of detribalizating. It is believed that they were agricultural serfs in the past. During the annual festival at the Valliyurkkavu temple in Mananthavady, Wayand, the Adiyar people used to gather where they trade services with landlords.