A bit complicated actually. According to the state government of Kerala, for purposes of reservation (a form of positive discrimination), they are classified as

A bit complicated actually. According to the state government of Kerala, for purposes of reservation (a form of positive discrimination), they are classified as a 'Backward Community'. The line is so blurry atleast in my part of the country (Kerala state, South India) that it is increasingly difficult to say whether a caste is lower or upper from day-to-day life.