Pallar
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 theories
- Standard theory
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.
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.[2][3][4]
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.[5] 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%.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Edgar Thurston, The Tribes and Castes of Southern India (7 vols).
- ^ 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