Karava
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| One of the many flags created by the Karava Community subsequent to shifting allegiance from the kings of Lanka. It depicts several traditional symbols. The original flag is illustrated under Karava Heraldry |
| Total population |
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| 4.8 million |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Sri Lanka, India, USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, France |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
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Sinhalese, Tamils, Kshatriyas, Kurukulams, Kauravas, Kurukulathar |
Karava (pronounced Karaava) also Karave, Kara, Karavaa, Kaura is a significant Sinhalese community who are considered secondary in caste to the Govigama. The Tamil equivalent is Karaiyar.
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[edit] General
The origins of the term Karave also Kaurava or Kurukula are still debated. One school of thought maintains that the Karava are traditionally fisherfolk, citing the similarity between the terms for sea-water (Kara Diya in Sinhalese). Another contends that it was the traditional military or warrior caste of Sri Lanka although no mention of such a caste is extant in pre-colonial literature there is mention of foreign warriors and mercenaries throughout history. A third opinion is that it stems from the Kauravas of Indian Folklore. Karava communities are scattered throughout Sri Lanka including the interior but are predominantly resident on the southern, western and northern coastal districts of Sri Lanka.
The modern Sri Lankan Karava community is also of interesting note for the energetic attempts it makes to reinterpret its status in the caste ranking system of the country. Traditionally set below the Govigama caste, the Karavas came into contact with the Colonial powers ( Portuguese, Dutch and English) who ruled Sri Lanka before the rural interiors and assimilated (through choice or force) with regards to education, dress, religion and customs and exploited the new opportunities in commercial enterprise and upliftment. In the following centuries the Karava have created a semi-modern folklore of heraldry, etymology and traditions that attempt to establish them at the apex of the Sri Lankan caste structure. They have on occasion also succeeded.
In modern Sri Lanka, occupationally its members include the foremost professionals, capitalists and politicians of Sri Lanka as well as large numbers of wage earners, carpenters, fishermen and farmers. Karava myth as well as historical manuscripts such as the Mukkara Hatana[1] [1],[2] and royal grants [3] indicate that they migrated mainly from the area previously known as Kuru Mandalam Coromandal coast of South India. Related communities in India are found north of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu well into the Andhra Pradesh coastal areas.
All Karava communities throughout Sri Lanka share a common origin myth that claims an ultimate origin from the Kuru (kingdom) and the epic Kauravas of the Mahabharata.
[edit] Traditional status
The Karavas were the traditional fisher-folk, naval warriors and seafaring traders of the Sri Lankan coasts. Following the period of Western occupation of Sri Lanka when the Karavas rose in prominence through allying themselves to the new rulers. However it may be that they remained loyal to the king even after religious conversion. It is also interesting to note that many natives serving the British administration were from the newly elevated farmer caste. The clan has also claimed to be the naval and military caste of Sri Lanka and were also mercenaries to kings in India and Sri Lanka. They claim that leaders, referred to as Patabenda in Sinhala and Patangatim in Tamil, lived in the coast and ports of Sri Lanka from the mediaeval period until the Portuguese colonisation in the 16th century. Although conclusive evidence is lacking that they were the ruling class of the era, there are historical documents including the 'Pujavaliya', 'mukara hatana' and Portuguese state records that suggest their importance to the rulers. Verses from the 'Mahavamsa', and archaeological evidence has also been used to support this. It is also interesting to remind that Arya Chakravarti / Kalinga Magha's invasions were repulsed in Panadura, Dematagoda, Negambo and Chilaw, Dambulla being the only exception.
All major Karava settlements traditionally had service castes such as barbers, drummers, potters, washermen, etc. settled in satellite communities around them. The presence of such settlements is still evident despite the social changes and inter-caste migrations of the past century.
The Karavas were one of the few Sri Lankan communities traditionally entitled to use flags. British Government Agents studying Sri Lankan flags have noted that not a single flag could be found even in the residences of Kandyan chiefs as even they were not entitled to use flags. These observations, made in the 19th Century, do not take into account that the Kandyans were living under a Sinhala Royal dominion that reserved the right to bear flags to the Palace, while the Karava were settled in the coastal lowlands that had been claimed from the Sri Lankan Kings by the Portuguese, and then the Dutch and English. At the same time, other caste groups in the lowlands did not bear flags. Karava families in these areas no more owed allegiance to the kings of Lanka, and it is supposed that they took up customs prohibited to them in the feudal era. A large number of these so called Karava flags have survived the ravages of time and many are illustrated in E. W. Perera’s book Sinhalese Banners and Standards. However, despite the extent of the collection, they are scattered throughout the book and not in a special chapter. As such, their significance is missed by most readers. Further, none of these flags predate the occupation of the lowland Karava settlements by the West. However the oldest surviving flag in world does not pre date the 17th century and the symbols on Karava flags are the sun, moon, stars, elephant, fish, white shield, pearl umbrella, swords, lotuses, and ship all of which were royal symbols in Sri Lanka’s past.
[edit] Karava royal insignia
Although the Karava community describes the usage of royal insignia, there is no mention in the entire 2500 year odd history of the Sinhalese race that the Karava or for that matter any other caste (other than kshatarya) had any claims to the throne of Sri Lanka. The origin of the term 'Royal Insignia' is therefore hotly debated among scholars and considered a modern affectation of gentility.
For the past 1,700 years the only undisputed symbol of Sri Lankan Royalty and Leadership has been the sacred Tooth Relic of Gautama Buddha. Whosoever possessed this was acknowledged as the rightful ruler of Lanka, and thus the Tooth Relic was a possession exclusive to the ruling caste of Sri Lanka. Upon each change of capital, a new palace was built to enshrine the Relic. Finally, it was brought to Kandy where it is at present, in the Temple of the Tooth.
The oldest Buddhist sect in Sri Lanka, the Siam Nikaya (estd. 19 July 1753) are the custodians of the Tooth Relic, since its establishment during the Kandyan Kingdom. The Siyam Nikaya as of 1790 granted Higher ordination only to the Radala and Govigama castes and excludes Karave and other castes completely from its numbers.[2] Separate Sects exist for Karave castes, which have no claim to the Tooth Relic.
Apart from flags, the Karavas were the only community in Sri Lanka entitled to the use of the said 'royal insignia'. Insignia such as the pearl umbrella, flags, swords, trident, yak tail whisks, lighted flame torches and drums were previously widely used by the Karavas at their weddings and funerals. Such usage is now greatly reduced but even now it is not unusual to see these royal symbols used even at funerals of extremely impoverished Karavas. See Karava Heraldry
Across the Palk Strait, the kinsmen of the Karavas too have used similar insignia in the past. H. R. Pate describes a wedding as follows: "A peculiar feature of the wedding is the procession to the bride’s house with virudus or banners supposed to be the insignia of the Kingly ancestors of the race. The emblems consist of 21 flags embroidered with representations of various objects, animate and inanimate, such as a Snake, a Peacock, a Palmyra, a Chank, the Sun and Moon an Elephant. A Fish and so on. In addition to these a large Umbrella, a Shield and other trappings are carried. The bridegroom wears a costume called KAPA resembling the state robes of Jathi Thalavi More and white cloths are spread before hi in his path". (Madras District Gazetteer 123 & 124)
With the fall of Sri Lankan kingdoms under Dutch and British colonialism the Karavas kept to their occupations such as deep sea fishing, cultivation, and trading for survival.
[edit] Origin with the Kuru
In Sri Lanka, some Karave claim Kuru - an Indo-Aryan Kshatriya tribe from northern India - ancestry, thus assimilating with the Sinhalese people.
Karavas, south of Colombo, along with all other Sinhalese communities, the Karavas are Sinhala speakers and are devoted Catholics and Buddhists with very little vestige of their former Hindu religion. With Salagama and Durave, they make a sizable number of people among the coastal Sinhalese sub group. The Karaiyars are an ancient seafaring, warrior caste native to Tamil Nadu, India to the North Eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Karave and Karaiyer are both equivalent caste groups in Sri Lanka. The name Karaiyar means "coastal men" in Tamil. They are of mostly Hindu origin.
[edit] Timeline of the Karavas
[edit] Karava Flags and insignia
See Karava Heraldry
[edit] Social position
The Karave community of today is made up of many Clans as indicated by their hereditary ancestral names also known as "Ge" names and Clan names. In Sri Lanka they are an influential and prominent caste among the majority Sinhalese. They are now said to be behind the majority Govigama.
Most Karave were forcibly converted to the Catholic religion during the Portuguese period. (See Patabendige for Portuguese conversion strategies). During the British period several Karava families, along with families from other communities achieved elite status by participating in the colonial economic activities. Although the strides made thus far by a few families are impressive, and many members of the community are leading professionals and businessmen, a great many of them now languish at the bottom of the economic order, deprived of opportunities for progress[citation needed].
[edit] Political influence
The democratic system of Sri Lanka, where the main political parties are run as family organizations, dominated by the elite Radala and Govigama castes has prevented Karava and other minority community politicians from ever reaching the top or gaining political influence. Young leaders rising up against the system have been continually eliminated by the Sri Lankan state since the 1970s.
Non–Govigama representation in Parliament has steadily declined since independence and representation of non-Govigama castes are well below their population percentages. [4]. Caste representation in the Cabinet is limited to a few very visible, but unconcerned and disconnected members from a few leading castes. However none of these representatives are known to have ever spoken on behalf of their respective communities or done anything constructive for the progress of these communities.
Whereas Karave are very vocal about their Sinhala Buddhist identity and drive the nationalistic political parties such as the SLFP and JVP, both aligned to Sinhala nationalism. Some sociologists have commented that the current civil war in Sri Lanka has become a vehicle by which both the Karave have sought to marginalize the post-colonial elites by taking extremely partisan but opposite views[citation needed].
[edit] Karava ancestral names
Most of the Karavas in Sri Lanka belong to one or more of the Suriya clans Weerasuriya, Wickramasuriya, Kurukulasuriya, Warnakulasuriya, Mihindukulasuriya, Bharathakulasuriya, Manukulasuriya, Vijayakulasuriya or Arasakulasuriya which appear to indicate distinct streams of migrations. Other clans are Vadugas, Koon Karavas (such as Samarakoon, Weerakoon etc.), Ratne(such as Rajaratne or Jayaratne)( and Konda Karavas (such as WeeraKonda, Konda Perumal Árachchigé etc.). Additionally they also bear Gé names.
Gé names among the Sinhhala speaking population are traditional hereditary family names. They denote a person's ancestry, caste, social status of an illustrious ancestor or the village of origin. The Karava traditionally used the title or clan name before the 18th century emergance of the govi. Hence, 'Patabandi' became 'Patabadige'. These names predate the 16th century European colonisation of Sri Lanka. Gé names precede an individual’s personal name unlike a surname which follows one’s personal name.
As such it is important to understand the historical significance of these ancient Ge’ names vis-à-vis the 20th century British period acquired surnames such as Bandaranaike, Dissanayake, Senanayake etc. which were the Anglicization of higher caste Govigama names.
The Karavas claim their Ge’ names overwhelmingly show a traditional military heritage. Modern writers who ascribe a fisher ancestry for the Karavs have been unable to explain how such assertions fit in with these ancient ancestral names as many of these names indicate a fishing industry / boatman origin. Some of the more frequently encountered Karava Ge names are:
- Arachchige: From the house of the village headman.
- Arasa Marakkalage: Royal Mariner (alternatively descendant of Arasa sect of Arab Muslim traders)
- Baduge: Variant form of Vaduge
- Hennedige: Armoured militiaman
- Hewage: Soldier
- Kankanamage: Supervising of workmen of military weapons production
- Marakkalage: Ship owner or captain (see illustration of Marakkalam vessel on right), or more probably merely descendant of Arab Muslim traders)
- Mestrige: Artisan
- Patabendige: Honorific name given by the Ruling class to local headman
- Rajaratne: Royal military Advisor
- Tantrige: Expert in military strategy
- Vaduge: Ships carpenter (from the Sinhalese 'Vaduva' meaning carpenter)
- Varnakula Aditya Arasanilayitta, Varnakula Suriya -suggested by Karavas to mean possessing kingly status (an alternate interpretation of 'Varnakula' means Colour-Caste) [5]
- Vidanage: Civil officer
- Vedage: Expert in the Vedas. This is a highly contentious claim since the pronunciation 'Veda' in Sinhalese is grammatically aligned to the root denoting Ayurveda and not the Broader Indian Veda learnings. Hence 'Vedage' probably refers to the local herbal healer / medicine man in the Ayurveda tradition.
- Egodage: Great warriors in the sea and land ( Modern day Military Commandos )
Apart from Ge names, they also use Iberian-derived surnames such as De Silva, De Mel, Fernando, Perera and Mendis denoting their switching of allegiance to the Portuguese colonials which allowed Karava to prosper under foreign rule.
Rarer occurrences of such surnames are found in Fonseka, De La Salle, De Mazenod,Peris and others who can often directly trace lineage back to a member of the Portuguese colonials in the country in the 16th century.
[edit] A few prominent members of the Karava community
- Veera Puran Appu: Sinhala hero who fought against the British.
- Ronnie De Mel: Ceylon Civil Service (CCS),Cabinet Minister and current Senior Presidential adviser.
- Prof. G. L. Peiris: Current Cabinet Minister of External Affairs.
- Rohana Wijeweera: Founding leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
- Tyronne Fernando: Cabinet Minister,Presidential adviser and Former Governor of the North Eastern Province
- Sarath Fonseka: Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and former candidate for President of Sri Lanka
- Hinidumage Thusitha Chandima De silva: chairman road passenger transport authority NWP
- Waduge Mahinda Deshaprya:Commissioner General OF Election
- Malcolm Ranjith: 11th Archbishop of Colombo, second Sri Lankan Cardinal[3]
- J.L.Sirisena: Ex Minister of Social Service
- Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakkodi: Ex- Air Force Commander
- Indra De Silva: Ex- Inspector General of Police
- Velupillai Pirabhaharan: Tamil LTTE LEADER
- Sajith Egodage : Last Trinity Collage boxing Lion Man .All Island Boxing Champion in 1983
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Weerasuriya, A. S. F.; Venthar, Kurukula. "Kurukula Charithaya—Part II". http://www.defonseka.com/ref_kurukula_charithayaII.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ Two Great Needs of Buddhists
- ^ Fonseka, the political arriviste–a historical irony
- ^ RAGHAVAN, M. D., The Karava of Ceylon: Society and Culture, K. V. G. de Silva, 1961.
- ^ Caste Conflict and Elite Formation, The Rise of the Karava Elite in Sri Lanka 1500–1931. Michael Roberts 1982, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 81-7013-139-1
- Madras District Gazetteer—Tinnevelly Volume I 1917 H. R. Pate
- ^ Social Change in Nineteenth Century Ceylon. Patrick Peebles. 1995, Navrang ISBN 81-7013-141-3.
[edit] External links
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