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Pallar

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Mallar/Devendra Kula Vellalar/Pallar
File:Tyagi Immanuvel Devendrar-5.JPG
Immanuvel Devendrar
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka
Languages
Tamil
Religion
Hinduism, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Tamil people

The Pallar (Tamil: பள்ளர்) are 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 prefer to call themselves Mallar or Devendra Kula Vellalar.[2]

History

A number of historians[who?] support the argument that the Pallar are the same community as that formerly called Mallar in the region.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]

Origin

Mallar and Mallathi

According to ancient Sangam literature, the Pallar 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.[16] 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 Tamil Nadu. So they call themselves as "Devendra Kula Vellalar".[17][18]

The ancient people were described as warriors and farmers.[19][20] Their leader of the group, called the vendan later was called the god of their land.[21][22][23][24]

In Tamil literature

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 Tirukkuṛaḷ. The name Pallar is mentioned only in pallu poems and later poems.[25] Both the names Pallar and Mallar denotes the same people.[26]

Pallu poetry

The Pallar are the focus of a genre of Tamil poetry known as pallu. The genre developed in the 17th and 18th centuries, and depicts the Pallar hero dealing with the jealousies of his two wives and the oppression of his landlord, in a satirical depiction of Pallar zeitgeist. The pallu, while maintaining its basic storyline, developed into many forms, with the Mukkudal pallu the oldest, including depiction of the struggles between Shaivites and Vaishnavites.[27]

Among the Christian Tamils, the genre has been modified into nanapallu, a genre where the same story is told, but with the satirical and erotic elements replaced by Christian religious themes.[28]

Social organisation

The Pallar are listed as a Scheduled Caste by the government of India, and are denoted by the names: Pallan, Devendra Kulathan, Kudumban, Kaaladi, Kadaiyan, Kootan, Pannadi.[29]

Sports

Mallar Kambam
  • Malla-yuddha
  • Malladal: This sport was a fighting contest between the Mallars.[30]
  • 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[31]

Name change

Some Pallar consider the term Pallar to be derogatory, instead preferring to be known as Mallar (Tamil: மள்ளர்) (a term also used by an ancient tribe that lived in the region), or by the name Devendra Kula Vellalar, a name connoting they were created by Devendra.[16][32][33]

Many Pallar reject the term Pallar, which they say was introduced in the 17th century by Nayak kings to discriminate against them. They claim that prior to that they were known as Mallar, and wish to be called Devendra Kula Vellalar (DKV). In support of a name change to DKV, Pallars have undertaken hunger strikes and rallies. In January 2011, the government of Tamil Nadu appointed a one man commission to change their name as Devendra Kula Vellalar.[34]

The Pallars also demand the Tamil Nadu government change the name Adi Dravidar (which is used to denote the people of Scheduled caste in Tamil Nadu) to Pattiyal sathigal (the Tamil translation of "Scheduled caste"). They argue that Adi Dravidar is the name of a caste which is present in the Scheduled caste list.

Outside India

In Sri Lanka, Pallars 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. In Sri Lanka, Pallar have formed an important component in rebel groups after the civil war.[citation needed]

Today amongst the Tamil diaspora across the world Pallars are found as part of the greater Tamil community and caste distinctions are minimal.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ Edgar Thurston, The Tribes and Castes of Southern India (7 vols)Template:Wherea
  2. ^ [1]
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^

    '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'.

    - Tamil Studies ,page 71 By M.Srinivasa Iyangar
  5. ^ The Pallar correctly Mallar formed the Pandian army - Tamil Studies,page 107 By M.Srinivasa Iyangar
  6. ^ Travancore State Manual,1940 By T.K.Velupillai
  7. ^ 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 - Dravidans,The Original Inhabitants of India,Page.30 By Dr G.Oppert
  8. ^ Senthamizh Selvi 1975 April Release
  9. ^ N.C.Kanthaiyapillai,Tamilar Sarithiram,Page 206
  10. ^ 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 -- Untouchability,A Historical Study, p.100 K.R.Hanumanthan
  11. ^ Tamil Studies,Part 2, p.67 A.V.Subramaniya Iyer
  12. ^ Pallar alla Mallar aam Mannar (Not Pallas but Mallas, Yes Kings) Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham
  13. ^ Thembhavani,Naatupadalam, Cheyul 32
  14. ^ Mannar Uruvana 'Mallar' Varalaru
  15. ^ Articles by the following scholars in Meendelum Mallar Varalaru: R. Nagaswamy, R. P. Karunananthan, Nadana Kasinathan, M. Manivel, A. Pichai, D. Gnanasekaran, Gurunathan
  16. ^ 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
  17. ^ 'Mannar Uruvana 'Mallar' Varalaru'
  18. ^ http://www.tamilagaarasiyal.com/ActionPages/Content.aspx?bid=844&rid=45
  19. ^ 'Pallar alla Mallar aam Mannar (Not Pallas but Mallas, Yes Kings)' by Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham
  20. ^ 'Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar ( Adipadai Saandrugal). (Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Basic Facts))' by Thiru Gurusamy siddhar
  21. ^ N. Subrahmanian. Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils. Ennes, 1996.
  22. ^ S. Viswanathan. Dalits in Dravidian land: Frontline reports on Anti-Dalit violence in Tamil. Navayana, 2005. ISBN 818905905X, 9788189059057
  23. ^ Sachchidanand Sinha. Caste system: myths, reality, challenge. Intellectual Pub. House, 1982
  24. ^ Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India. Mittal Publications
  25. ^ http://www.hindu.com/br/2006/07/25/stories/2006072500231501.htm
  26. ^ Thiru Gurusamy Siddhar. Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Adipadai Saandrugal). {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=PA531&dq=pallu+poetry&hl=en&ei=3pV7TpfHH_DJ0AG42IDNAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEsQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=pallu%20poetry&f=false
  28. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=LspBFqePhpwC&pg=PA44&dq=pallu+poems+pallar&hl=en&ei=xJB7Tqr-G4fm0QGp4J2mAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
  29. ^ http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/scordertamilnadu.pdf
  30. ^ 'Tamilar veeram' by R.P.Sethupillai
  31. ^ http://www.viswamurugu.com/link4.html.
  32. ^ Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India. Mittal Publications. pp. 51–. GGKEY:G5HUNAS9SN3. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  33. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=2SkbAAAAIAAJ&q=Pallar+Mallar&dq=Pallar+Mallar&hl=en
  34. ^ http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-133641.html
  35. ^ Caste, the last frontier. Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole. Daily News.lk
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