Pallar: Difference between revisions
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==Conversion to Christianity== |
==Conversion to Christianity== |
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Pallars converted to Christianity by choice to escape the clutches of the rigid Hindu caste system. Ironically, Hindu |
Pallars converted to Christianity by choice to escape the clutches of the rigid Hindu caste system. Ironically, Hindu caste consciousness creeped into Christianity as well and the Pallars are still put down and harassed by the so called upper castes like Kallar and Maravar who also embraced Christianity right about the same time<ref name="Identity and Affect |
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By John R. Campbell, Alan Rew">Identity and Affect By John R. Campbell, Alan Rew</ref>. |
By John R. Campbell, Alan Rew">Identity and Affect By John R. Campbell, Alan Rew</ref>. |
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Revision as of 19:04, 10 December 2008
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tamil people,kshatriya |
Pallar are a caste of upwardly mobile Tamil agriculturalists and agricultural caste of Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and amongst the Tamil diaspora. There are number of theories as to their origins. Edgar Thurston describes the Pallar or Pallan as a caste of agricultural labourers.[1]
Origin
P(M)allar also called Devendra kula vellalar are the orginal descendants of (Moovendar) Chera, Chola and Pandyas. Ex. The Great Chola king called as Mamallan Raja Raja Cholan. (Mallan = pallan) . The name Pandian belongs to the same community as per travangore court (Kerala) order when there was a dispute of another community claiming the name before independence , though any one can can be called with any name in this democratic country.
Pallam means low lands and Malla means plains. So Pallars rename themselves so that the people living the lowlands prefer the name Pallar and those dwelling in the highlands refer to themselves as Mallar. But both of them refer to the same group. There is another theory that the kingdom of Pallavas was also founded by Pallars, since the word Pallava was formed from Palla and then adding the an as a suffix to denote a person. Sanskritic influence caused the n to be dropped and the dynasty came to be known as Pallava[2].
In Tamil Nadu
There is caste conflict between Pallar and other upwardly mobile groups in Southern Tamil Nadu. In recent times they are in intense competition with upwardly mobile but numerically superior mid level castes such Kallar, Maravar and Vellala Gounder across Southern and western Tamil nadu.[3][4][5]
In Sri lanka and abroad
In Sri Lanka, Pallar are currently found in Jaffna and eastern Batticalo region and were primarily agricultural workers. But there is evidence that some have assimilated with the dominant Vellala caste over the last 100 years. They have played and important role in the formation many Tamil nationalistic militant groups namely EPRLF that was eventually eclipsed by the more militant LTTE. Today amongst the Tamil diaspora across the world Pallars are found as part of the greater Tamil community and caste distinctions are minimal.[6] In Sri Lanka, Pallar have formed an important component in rebel groups after the civil war.
Genetics
According to Sengupta et al., 2006 study Pallars have Y-chromosome-Haplogroups that show a curious mix of South Asian haplogroups. Their biggest lineage is R1a1 which forms 24% of their male population. This Y-chromosome lineage predominates North-West of the Indian subcontinent. They also have L1 and L3 where L1 is one of the most common Haplogroup in South India with an appreciable presence in North India and Pakistan, L3 is mostly observed among Pakistanis and almost absent among South Indians. Other pan-Indian Haplogroups like H, R2 and J2 are observed at frequencies greater than 10%.[7]
Conversion to Christianity
Pallars converted to Christianity by choice to escape the clutches of the rigid Hindu caste system. Ironically, Hindu caste consciousness creeped into Christianity as well and the Pallars are still put down and harassed by the so called upper castes like Kallar and Maravar who also embraced Christianity right about the same time[8].
See also
References
- ^ Edgar Thurston, The Tribes and Castes of Southern India (7 vols).
- ^ On the Original Inhabitants of Bharatavarsa Or India By Gustav Salomon Oppert
- ^ INDIA: Dalit farmer was humiliated, harassed and tortured by upper caste Hindus
- ^ Pallar attack on Sakkiliar
- ^ Untouchability and Inter Caste Relations in Rural India by A. Ramaih
- ^ Caste, the last frontier by Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
- ^ Mitochondrial unity of India’s castes
- ^ Identity and Affect By John R. Campbell, Alan Rew