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HISTORY The Caste as we know appears to have been introduced to Sri Lanka by Prakrit -language-speakers from North India . Whether the similar Jati like separation of society existed prior to this invasion is unknown. There is evidence, in early historical chronicles, of the main Vedic castes in the early Anuradhapura era, although it is possible that these categories were used as a literary convention. It has been posited by Bryce Ryan and others that the system as it exists in Sri Lanka is a preservation of that of early or pre- Vedic India , which bore little relation to the classic '' Varna '' model. The introduction of Buddhism in the 3rd century BCE blunted the edge of the system somewhat. However, there is a reference to King Dutugemunu Abhaya's son, Saliya choosing to lose caste by marrying Asokamala , a Chandala or outcaste woman, in the 2nd Century BCE , indicating that caste Taboo s remained in place. The later caste system seems to have evolved as much through waves of Ethnic Migration as by delineation by occupation. Also Sri Lankan monarchs seem to have overwhelmingly depended on South Indian manpower for functional needs such as weaving, crafts and ritual drumming. Among the present-day Sinhalese the Vedic categories no longer exist, while among the Sri Lankan Tamils , the only Vedic category to persist is that of Brahmins ; these ethnic groups share many categories. SINHALESE CASTES The dominant caste among the Sinhalese population is the Govigama . It appears that they comprise at least half the Sinhalese population. The traditional occupation of this caste is agriculture, and most members are still peasant farmers in villages almost everywhere in Sri Lanka. In traditional Sinhalese society, they monopolized the highest positions at royal courts and among the landowning elite. In the democratic society of the twentieth century, their members still dominate the political scene. In most villages they might be no richer than their non-Goyigama neighbors, but the richest landlord groups tend to be Goyigama, while the poorest agricultural laborers tend to include few Goyigama. The Sinhalese system is divided between the Kandyan and Low country. Kandyan Sinhalese Castes In the Central Highlands, some traditions of the Kingdom of Kandy survived after its collapse in 1818, preserved in unique forms of the caste system until the post independence period. The most important feature of the old system was rajakariya, or the "king's work," which linked each caste to a specific occupation and demanded services for the court and religious institutions. The connection of caste and job is still stronger in the Central Highlands, and at events such as the Kandy Perahera, an annual festival honoring Hindu gods and the Buddha, the various castes still perform traditional functions. The Goyigama in the highlands differ from those of the low country because they preserve divisions within the caste that derive from the official ranking of noble and commoner families in the old kingdom. Honorific titles hearkening back to ancestral homes, manors or vasagama, or noble houses or gedara still marked the pedigrees of the old aristocracy in the 1980s, and marriages between members of these families and common Goyigama were rare. In the low country, these sub castes within the Goyigama have faded away, and high status is marked by European titles and degrees rather than the older, feudal titles. In the Kandy District of the highlands live the Batgam or Padu, a low caste of agricultural laborers. Also untouchable Rodiya and the Kinnara who display the vestiges of a hunter gather tribe, were traditionally segregated from other groups because of their menial status. Living in all areas are service groups, such as the Hena or Radala , traditional washer men who still dominate the laundry trade; the Berava , traditional temple drummers who work as cultivators in many villages; and the Navandanna or Acari types are traditional artisans. Low Country Sinhalese Castes There are still major differences between the caste structures of the highlands and those of the low country, although some service groups are common to both. The southwest coast is home to three major castes whose ancestors are believed have migrated from or fishers, the Durava or Toddy Tappers , and the Salagama or Cinnamon peelers. Originally of marginal or low status, these groups exploited their traditional occupations and their coastal positions to accumulate wealth and influence during the colonial period. By the late twentieth century, members of these castes had moved to all parts of the country, occupied high business and academic positions, and were generally accorded a caste rank equal to or slightly below the Goyigama. The highland interior is home to the Vahumpura, or traditional makers of jaggery (a sugar made from palm sap), who have spread throughout the country in a wide variety of occupations, especially agriculture. Formerly untouchable Rodiya and Kinnara are also found in the low country. CASTES AMONGST SRI LANKAN TAMILS Currently among the Sri Lankan Tamils , some of the Sinhalese castes are duplicated: They are
These duplications might have arisen due to similar social structure of caste throughout South India n cultural zone as well as migrations and fusions in the past. There is also a caste called '' Koviar '', the some members of which claim to be Sinhalese ''Govigama'' isolated in Tamil areas after the Jaffna Kingdom conquest of the North. Just like amongst the Sinhalese, the caste structure of the Northern Tamils is somewhat different compared to the Eastern Tamils. Northern Tamil caste system is mostly dominated by the Vellalar except in some coastal regions where Karaiyar have numerical and ritual superiority over others. In the East coast, the fisher castes are dominant numerically that they have used to create ritual superiority over other castes except the Vellalar who seem to be newer arrivals from the North. Paradoxically, Mukkuvar s who are at the bottom of the caste hierarchy in the North are almost at the top in the East. CASTES AMONGST HILL COUNTRY TAMILS The Tamils of Indian origin or Hill Country Tamils who were brought over by the British as Indentured Labour were mainly from the lower Indian Castes ; the South Indian categories came over with them. Their caste structure resembles that of a Tamil Nadu village. Those who are considered to be of higher castes such as Vellala s, Kallar , Agamudaiyar , Maravar , Naidu s, Reddiar s and Nair s occupied the first row of line rooms. They performed respectable jobs such as factory work and grinding of Tea. They worked as minor employees too. Even though they belong to the labor category they were influential among conductors, tea makers, Kanganies or supervisors and other officials. The workers considered low castes lived in the dwellings that are away from the center and these dwellings are called distant or lower Lines. This group consists of Pallar , Paraiyar s, Sakkiliar , Washers and Barbers. The yard sweepers and changers of clothes are in the lowest rank. NON SINHALESE AND TAMIL CASTES There area also Social groups such as Bharatakula and Colombo Chetties while maintaining caste like endogamy declining to be considered either Sinhalese or Tamil. Both the groups descent from South Indian immigrants. IMPORTANCE OF ETHNICITY VERSUS CASTE It appears that caste was more important than Ethnicity until comparatively recently. In pre-British times, the ''Govigama'' were classed as ''Vellala'' by the colonial authorities. Eurasians and South Indian '' Chetties '' were absorbed into the ''Govigamas''. Cross-ethnic marriage was fairly common. Several leading 'aristocratic' (i.e. those of the ranks of 'superior headman') Sinhalese families are descended from Tamils or Keralites . Many '' Karava s'' speak Tamil language at home and have relatives among the 'Tamil' '' Karaiyar s''. RELIGION AND CASTE Religious Practice tends to reinforce the caste system. In the Feudal era, people of low castes were not allowed into the Shrine s of the major gods or into the Buddhist Clergy . The priests of the gods or ''Kapuralas'' had to be ''Govigama'' among the Sinhalese , ''Brahmin'' or other native priests among the Tamils . However, the ''Devil Dancers'' such as exorcists, healers and sorcerers were drawn from the caste of tom-tom-beaters or Berava . In the 19th Century the Amarapura and Ramanna sects were formed to allow non-Govigama priests to be ordained, in opposition to the casteist Siam sect. In the late 1960s , there were a series of ''Temple Struggles'' in the northern Jaffna district, during which members of lower castes forced their way into Hindu Temples , establishing their right of entry. LIST OF SRI LANKAN CASTES See List Of Sri Lankan Castes SINHALESE SYSTEM Traditional Upcountry Sinhalese castes
Traditional Low country Sinhalese
SRI LANKA TAMIL SYSTEM Due to modernization and assimilation, most northern Tamil castes are no longer found. Northern Tamil based caste Northern Tamil system
A special category called Kudimakkal was divided along
Eastern Tamil System
A special category called Siraikudi or enslaved groups similar to northern Kudimakkal is divided along
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