Information AboutPallar |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT PALLAR | |
| sri lankan caste system | |
| sri lankan tamil society | |
| tamil society | |
| social groups of india | |
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ORIGIN THEORIES The standard theory is that the word Pallar is derived from ‘’Pallam’’ or low lands thus indicating early domestication as lowland workers with the advent of organized agriculture in ancient Tamilakam Supposedly organized cultivation in South India was spread by force, people would move out into virgin land, which was used by hunter gatherer or tribal people for slash and burn agriculture or for hunting and convert into prime agricultural land. There is very little literature and epigraphic evidence of this cate formation prior to the 15th century unlike the age old Pulayar and Paraiyar caste which find mention in the Sangam literature. There are other theories connecting these people with Pallava rulers and Malla warriors of South India. Based on these theories the caste has Sanskritized itself as the Devendra Kula Vellalar under the political leadership of Putiya Tamilkam Party that is a Dalit oriented political organization created to cater to the caste interest of this community. CONFLICT WITH OTHER CASTES They are in intense competition with upwardly mobile but numerically superior mid level castes such Kallar , Maravar , Nadar and Vellala Gounder across Southern and western Tamil nadu. As the first amongst the Dalits of Tamil nadu in hierarchy as well as numerically, they are using their collective strength to upgrade themselves from the degrading practices of the mid level castes that want to keep them in Slave like servitude. This results in many instances of violence against them as reported by international NGO s. But Pallar's themselves have attacked other Dalit castes considered to be lower than them in the polluting scale such as the Sakkiliar {Link without Title} IN SRI LANKA AND ABROAD In Sri Lanka , they 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. REFERENCE |
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