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Undid revision 443337682 by 62.61.167.173 (talk) Please explain which Prashanth you mean, as there are several
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That explanation will divert the article information that mallar refers to two different people.This will be suitable
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'''Pallar'''([[Tamil language|Tamil]]:'''பள்ளர்''') or '''Mallar'''([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: '''மள்ளர்''') is a [[caste]] from the [[Indian state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. They are mostly agriculturalists in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Sri Lanka]] and amongst the [[Tamil diaspora]].<ref>Edgar Thurston, ''The Tribes and Castes of Southern India'' (7 vols)</ref> They are also known as Devendra Kula Vellalar.
'''Pallar'''([[Tamil language|Tamil]]:'''பள்ளர்''') or '''Mallar'''([[Tamil language|Tamil]]: '''மள்ளர்''') is a [[caste]] from the [[Indian state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. They are mostly agriculturalists in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Sri Lanka]] and amongst the [[Tamil diaspora]].<ref>Edgar Thurston, ''The Tribes and Castes of Southern India'' (7 vols)</ref> They are also known as Devendra Kula Vellalar.


The term Mallar refers both to the ancient group said to have lived in Marutam, as well as to a present day caste in India.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar ( Adipadai Saandrugal).Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Basic Facts))'' by Thiru Gurusamy siddhar</ref> Currently, the Pallar are included in [[Scheduled Caste]] by the [[Government]]. Pallars are denoted by the names ''Pallan'', ''Devendra Kulathan'', ''Kudumban'', ''Kaaladi'', ''Kadaiyan'', ''Kootan'', ''Pannadi'' in the [[Scheduled Caste]].<ref>http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/scordertamilnadu.pdf</ref>
The term Pallar is the corruption of the word Mallar according to the [[Tamil]] [[Literature]].<ref name="ReferenceA">''Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar ( Adipadai Saandrugal).Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Basic Facts))'' by Thiru Gurusamy siddhar</ref> Currently, the Pallar are included in [[Scheduled Caste]] by the [[Government]]. Pallars are denoted by the names ''Pallan'', ''Devendra Kulathan'', ''Kudumban'', ''Kaaladi'', ''Kadaiyan'', ''Kootan'', ''Pannadi'' in the [[Scheduled Caste]].<ref>http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/scordertamilnadu.pdf</ref>
==History==
==History==
{{TNhistory}}
{{TNhistory}}

Revision as of 08:01, 7 August 2011

Mallar/Devendra Kula Vellalar
File:Tyagi Immanuvel Devendrar-5.JPG File:MaaveeranSundaralingaDevendrar8.jpg
Immanuvel Devendrar, Thalapathi Sundaralinga Devendrar, Vikram
Total population
1.5 crore
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka
Languages
Tamil
Religion
Atheism, Hinduism, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Tamil people

Pallar(Tamil:பள்ளர்) or Mallar(Tamil: மள்ளர்) is a caste from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They are mostly agriculturalists in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and amongst the Tamil diaspora.[1] They are also known as Devendra Kula Vellalar.

The term Pallar is the corruption of the word Mallar according to the Tamil Literature.[2] Currently, the Pallar are included in Scheduled Caste by the Government. Pallars are denoted by the names Pallan, Devendra Kulathan, Kudumban, Kaaladi, Kadaiyan, Kootan, Pannadi in the Scheduled Caste.[3]

History

Part of a series on
History of Tamil Nadu
Main
Sangam period
Medieval history
Categories

Origin

Devendran
Mallar and Mallathi

According to ancient Sangam literature, the Devendra Kula Vellalar is an ancient group of people originating in the Marutam land. The land was said to be good for agriculture, and situated near a river.[2] They claim themselves to be the descendants of Devendran (the god of Marutam land). They also claim to be the first cultivators of rice in Tamilnadu. So they call themselves as "Devendra Kula Vellalar".[4][5]

The ancient people were described as Warriors and Farmers. [6][7] Their leader of the group, called the "vendan" later became the god for their land.[8][9][10][11]

Three dynasties

See also: Chera, Chola, and Pandyan

Due to the increase in the population of the Marutam land. The people distributed to many places and formed their own dynasties. The people who lived around the Vaigai and Thamirabarani river were known as pandians.The people who lived around the kaveri river were known as cholas.The people who lived in present day kerala and west parts of Tamil Nadu were known as cheras. These three dynasties fought with each other for superiority.[12]

Fall of the dynasties

See also: Vijayanagar empire

The three dynasties were continuously fighting with each other.After the fall of the chola empire, the pandyan empire controlled most of Tamil Nadu.The pandyan empire began to crumble due to clan fights.It also had invasion from the sultans.During 14th Century Pandian empire began to decline because of frequent attacks by Muslim Kings. Muslim Kings raided cities, killed hundreds of thousands of citizens and took huge amount (tonnes and tonnes) of gold and Jewellery to Delhi. It is to be noted there were about 20,000 Muslim soldiers in the Pandian army. But these soldiers betrayed the Pandian Kings and joined the Muslim army when Muslim army attacked Pandian Kingdom. During the end of 14th Century Vijayanagar army chiefs came to Madurai and defeated the Pandian kingdom and established their rule in Madurai. Gradually Vijayanagar army and citizens moved to Chola and Pandian Kingdoms all over the Tamil nadu and removed the privileges of the Tamil elite – Removal of land ownership from Tamils (Mallar – Devendrakulathar, Original Vellala).[13] The Vijayanagar empire controlled most of Tamil Nadu.

Vijayanagar and Nayak rule

See also: Nayaks of Madurai, Nayaks of Thanjavur, and Poligars

After the fall of the Pandyan empire the vijayanagar empire ruled Tamil Nadu. They divided Tamil Nadu into many territories.They also formed a part of the Poligars ruling class. The main territories like Madurai and Thanjavur were ruled by Nayaks. Other Poligars were selected from Tamil Nadu especially those who were against the Mallars and those who were loyal to the Vijayanagar empire. The Vijayanagar Empire took the agricultural lands from the Mallars and forcibly transferred the ownership of land and title to Telugu Nayaks, Telugu Brahmins and others who supported the Nayak's rule and made the Mallars agricultural labourers on the lands to which they were owners once. At this point of time the name 'Mallars' was changed to 'Pallars'. Many 'Pallu' poems were written to popularize the name Pallar. These 'Pallu' poems also discriminated against the Mallars. New rules were passed to the general citizens not to have any communication with the Pandian and Chola clans. Rules were passed to prevent social contacts and intercaste marriages between the 18 worker communities that supported the Tamil society and Tamil Kings.[14]

Pallu poems

Pallu poems are part of 'chitrilakiyangal' in Tamil literature. Pallu poems were also known as 'Aesal'. They were written during the Nayak rule. The first pallu poem was 'mukkoodar pallu'. Many pallu poems were written which include vaiyapuri pallu, sengottu pallu, thandigai kanagaraayan pallu. All the Pallu poems consist of a Pallan who has got two wives. It also explains about the farming and the life of a farmer (pallar).[15][16] During the period of the pallu poems, the pallars were very poor.

Caste attacks on Devendra kula vellalar's

In Tamilnadu Devendra kula vellalars were victims of caste attacks. One horrifying incident that shock the country was the 1967 Kizhavenmani massacre.[17] In which 44 Devendra kula vellalars were burnt alive. The caste violation against Devendrar's continued in many places in Tamilnadu. Then Devendrar's started to attack their attacker's and this led to the communal clashes in Tamilnadu. The infamous Kodiyankulam incident in 31 August 1995 were again Devendrar's became victims of caste violation.[18] One particular incident where the Tamilnadu police killed 17 Devendra kula vellalar people in 23 July 1999 in Tamiraparani rally. Many innocent people lost their life in all the caste clashes that took place in Tamilnadu.

Tamil literature referring to Mallar's

See also: Tamil literature and Sangam literature

Mallars are mentioned in Tamil literature from the ancient Sangam Literature to the recent 19th century poems, including Purananuru, Kamba Ramayanam, Thirumurukkatruppatai, Silapathigaram, Agananuru, Pathirtrupattu, Kurunthogai, Aingurunooru, Kalithogai, Natrinai, and Paripaadal.

The Mallar(Farmer) are praised in the Tamil poem Thirukural. The name Pallar is mentioned only in pallu poems and later poems. Both the names Pallar and Mallar denotes the same people.[19]

The Tamil poems which say that both the names Pallar and Mallar denote the same people are Mukoodar pallu, Vaiyapuri pallu, Sengottu pallu, Peerur Puranam and Thandigai Kanagaraayan pallu.

List of scholars postulating Pallars were Mallars

  • M.Srinivasa Iyangar:

'There was no such caste as pallan but instead we find in early Tamil Literature Mallarand Kadaignar, the later appearing as a sub-division of pallar caste. They are chiefly found in the Pandya country and correspond to the traditional occupation to the palli or Vanniyar caste of Tondaimandalam. These people are agricultural labourers and soldiers'.[20] 'The Pallar correctly Mallar formed the Pandian army'[21]

  • T.K.Velupillai.[22]
  • G.oppert:

'The indigenous title of the south india Chera, Chola, Pandya kings was Perumal. Mallan was the name of a Perumal who built Mallur in Polanadu. Mallan is also called a rural deity which is set up on the borders or ridges of the rice field'. 'The word Tirumal-Perumal are also derived from Mala, Malla. Both terms were originally the titles given by the Mallas to their great chiefs and kings. Each Perumal was elected to rule for 12 years. The term sacred Mala or the great Mala being once connected with the deity lost its original meaning which was incourse of time entirely forgotten. This circumstance explains their peculiar derivation so often found in Tamil dictionaries and strange attempts of grammarians to explain their startling formation. The name perumal the great Mala is still a royal title in Malabar'[23]

'The Pallas are also denoted by the title Kadaignar. The ancient heroic tribe called Mallar described in the Sangam classics were probably the ancestors of Pallas[26]

  • A.V.Subramaniya Iyer.[27]
  • Thiru R.Deva Asirvatham.[28]
  • Veeramamunivar.[29]
  • Prapanchan.[30]
  • R.Nagaswamy (Director of Archaeology (Retired))[31]
  • R.P.Karunananthan (Stone Inscription Researcher,Department of Archaeology)[32]
  • Nadana Kasinathan (Director of Archaeology,Tamilnadu government)[33]
  • M.Manivel (Tamil Professor,Madurai Kamaraj University)[34]
  • A.Pichai (Professor Tamil Department,Gandhi Gramiya University,Dindukal)[35]
  • D.Gnanasekaran (Associate Professor,Department of Tamil,Bharathiar University,Coimbatore)[36]
  • Gurunathan (Professor of Tamil, Pachaiyappa College, Chennai)[37]

Sports in ancient Tamilnadu containing the name Mallar

Mallar Kambam
  • Malladal: This sport was a fighting contest between the Mallars.[38]
  • Mallar Kambam: This sport is still played in India. This sport consists of a pillar(made of wood) standing in the ground,in which the contestant does some gymnastics. This sport was once used by the Mallars to strengthen their body[39]

Ongoing struggle for name change

The people of this caste does not want themselves to be called by the name Pallar. Because the name Pallar which is used to denote these people nowadays was introduced in the 17th century by the nayak kings to discriminate them. Before that they were called by the name Mallar. The people of this caste want their name to be called as Devendra Kula Vellalar. In order to make the Government change their name from Pallar to Devendra Kula Vellalar, the people of this caste are undertaking many peaceful struggles in Tamilnadu like hunger strike,peaceful rally,etc. On January 27 2011 Tamilnadu government has appointed a one man commission to change their name as 'Devendra kula vellalar'.[40] The people of this caste are also demanding the Tamilnadu government to change the name Adi Dravidar(which is used to denote the people of Scheduled caste in Tamilnadu) to Pattiyal sathigal(which is the Tamil Translation for the English word Scheduled caste). Because Adi Dravidar is the name of a caste which is present in the Scheduled caste list. In the list many other caste are also present including Pallar caste.

In Sri lanka and abroad

In Sri Lanka, Pallar's 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 an important role in the formation of many Tamil nationalistic militant groups. Today amongst the Tamil diaspora across the world Pallars are found as part of the greater Tamil community and caste distinctions are minimal.[41] In Sri Lanka, Pallar have formed an important component in rebel groups after the civil war.

Notable People

Social reformers

Freedom fighters

Performers

Scholars

See also

References

  1. ^ Edgar Thurston, The Tribes and Castes of Southern India (7 vols)
  2. ^ a b Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar ( Adipadai Saandrugal).Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Basic Facts)) by Thiru Gurusamy siddhar
  3. ^ http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/scordertamilnadu.pdf
  4. ^ 'Mannar Uruvana 'Mallar' Varalaru'
  5. ^ http://www.tamilagaarasiyal.com/ActionPages/Content.aspx?bid=844&rid=45
  6. ^ 'Pallar alla Mallar aam Mannar (Not Pallas but Mallas, Yes Kings)' by Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham
  7. ^ 'Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar ( Adipadai Saandrugal). (Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Basic Facts))' by Thiru Gurusamy siddhar
  8. ^ Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils
  9. ^ 'Dalits in Dravidian land: Frontline reports on Anti-Dalit violence in Tamil' by S. Viswanathan (Journalist)
  10. ^ 'Caste system: myths, reality, challenge' by Sachchidanand Sinha
  11. ^ Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India
  12. ^ Moovendar Yar (Who are the Three Kings) by Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham
  13. ^ 'Moovendar Marabinaraana Devendrar Veelchi' by Thiru R.Deva Asirvatham
  14. ^ 'Moovendar Marabinarana Devendrar Thaal Nilai Eythal' by Thiru R.Deva Asirvatham
  15. ^ 'Pallu ilakiyam maruvasippu' by Thiru Gnanasekran
  16. ^ http://www.tamilvu.org/courses/degree/p103/p1033/html/p103325.htm
  17. ^ http://www.flonnet.com/fl2301/stories/20060127001608400.htm
  18. ^ http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl1626/16260410.htm
  19. ^ Thiru Gurusamy Siddhar. Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Adipadai Saandrugal). {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Tamil Studies ,page 71 By M.Srinivasa Iyangar
  21. ^ Tamil Studies,page 107 By M.Srinivasa Iyangar
  22. ^ Travancore State Manual,1940 By T.K.Velupillai
  23. ^ Dravidans,The Original Inhabitants of India,Page.30 By Dr G.Oppert
  24. ^ Senthamizh Selvi 1975 April Release
  25. ^ N.C.Kanthaiyapillai,Tamilar Sarithiram,Page 206
  26. ^ Untouchability,A Historical Study, p.100 K.R.Hanumanthan
  27. ^ Tamil Studies,Part 2, p.67 A.V.Subramaniya Iyer
  28. ^ Pallar alla Mallar aam Mannar (Not Pallas but Mallas, Yes Kings) Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham
  29. ^ Thembhavani,Naatupadalam, Cheyul 32
  30. ^ Mannar Uruvana 'Mallar' Varalaru
  31. ^ 'Article by Dr.R.Nagaswamy on Meendelum Mallar varalaru'
  32. ^ 'Article by R.P.Karunananthan on Meendelum Mallar varalaru'
  33. ^ 'Article by Mr. Nadana Kasinathan on Meendelum Mallar varalaru'
  34. ^ 'Article by Mr M.Manivel on Meendelum Mallar varalaru'
  35. ^ 'Article by Mr A.Pichai on Meendelum Mallar varalaru'
  36. ^ 'Mallar samuga varalaru' by Dr.D.Gnanasekaran
  37. ^ 'Article by Dr.Gurunathan oon Meendelum Mallar varalaru'
  38. ^ 'Tamilar veeram' by R.P.Sethupillai
  39. ^ [1]
  40. ^ http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-133641.html
  41. ^ Caste, the last frontier by Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
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