Pallar

Mallar/Devendra Kula Vellalar/Pallar

Immanuvel Devendrar Thalapathi Sundaralinga Devendrar
Total population
814, 989 in 1891[1]
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.^[2] They prefer to call themselves Mallar or Devendra Kula Vellalar.

History

The origin of the Pallar is a disputed topic; a number of historians 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]}

Origin

Devendran

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.^[15] 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".^[16][17]

The ancient people were described as warriors and farmers. ^[18][19] Their leader of the group, called the vendan later was called the god of their land.^{[20][21][22][23]}

Three dynasties

See also: Chera Dynasty, 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.^[24]

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.^[25][26]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'. 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.^[27]

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.^{[citation needed]} Both the names Pallar and Mallar denotes the same people.^[28]

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.^[29]

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.^[30]

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.^[31]

Sports

Mallar Kambam

• Malla-yuddha
• Malladal: This sport was a fighting contest between the Mallars.^[32]
• 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^[33]

Name change

Some Pallar consider the term Pallar to be derogatory, instead prefering 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.^[34][35][15]

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.^[36]

The Pallars also demand the Tamil Nadu government change the name Adi Dravidar (which is used to denote the people of Scheduled caste in Tamilnadu) 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.^[37]

See also

• Malla (Nepal)
• Malla (India)
• Mallabhum
• Malla-yuddha
• Mallakhamb
• Paramakudi Riots

External links

• Pallar.org
• Devendrakural
• DevendraKulaVellalar.org

References

1. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1891_Census_of_India
2. ^ Edgar Thurston, The Tribes and Castes of Southern India (7 vols)Template:Wherea
3. ^

   '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
4. ^ The Pallar correctly Mallar formed the Pandian army - Tamil Studies,page 107 By M.Srinivasa Iyangar
5. ^ Travancore State Manual,1940 By T.K.Velupillai
6. ^ 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
7. ^ Senthamizh Selvi 1975 April Release
8. ^ N.C.Kanthaiyapillai,Tamilar Sarithiram,Page 206
9. ^ 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
10. ^ Tamil Studies,Part 2, p.67 A.V.Subramaniya Iyer
11. ^ Pallar alla Mallar aam Mannar (Not Pallas but Mallas, Yes Kings) Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham
12. ^ Thembhavani,Naatupadalam, Cheyul 32
13. ^ Mannar Uruvana 'Mallar' Varalaru
14. ^ Articles by the following scholars in Meendelum Mallar Varalaru: R. Nagaswamy, R. P. Karunananthan, Nadana Kasinathan, M. Manivel, A. Pichai, D. Gnanasekaran, Gurunathan
15. ^ ^{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
16. ^ 'Mannar Uruvana 'Mallar' Varalaru'
17. ^ http://www.tamilagaarasiyal.com/ActionPages/Content.aspx?bid=844&rid=45
18. ^ 'Pallar alla Mallar aam Mannar (Not Pallas but Mallas, Yes Kings)' by Thiru.R.Deva Asirvatham
19. ^ 'Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar ( Adipadai Saandrugal). (Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Basic Facts))' by Thiru Gurusamy siddhar
20. ^ N. Subrahmanian. Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils. Ennes, 1996.
21. ^ S. Viswanathan. Dalits in Dravidian land: Frontline reports on Anti-Dalit violence in Tamil. Navayana, 2005. ISBN 818905905X, 9788189059057
22. ^ Sachchidanand Sinha. Caste system: myths, reality, challenge. Intellectual Pub. House, 1982
23. ^ Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India. Mittal Publications
24. ^ Moovendar Yar (Who are the Three Kings) by R. Deva Asirvatham
25. ^ Devendrar Thaal nilai yeithal by Deva asirvatham
26. ^ Tamil ilakiyathil Mallar by Gurusamy siddhar
27. ^ Devendrar Thaal nilai eyithal by Deva asirvatham
28. ^ Thiru Gurusamy Siddhar. Tamil Elakiyathil Pallar yendra Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Adipadai Saandrugal) [Tamil Literature portraying Pallar alias Mallar, Devendrakula Vellalar (Basic Facts)]. 
29. ^ 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
30. ^ 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
31. ^ http://socialjustice.nic.in/pdf/scordertamilnadu.pdf
32. ^ 'Tamilar veeram' by R.P.Sethupillai
33. ^ http://www.viswamurugu.com/link4.html.
34. ^ Political Change and Agrarian Tradition in South India. Mittal Publications. pp. 51–. GGKEY:G5HUNAS9SN3. http://books.google.com/books?id=i8dp_b7GBrEC&pg=PA51. Retrieved 18 September 2011. 
35. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=2SkbAAAAIAAJ&q=Pallar+Mallar&dq=Pallar+Mallar&hl=en
36. ^ http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-133641.html
37. ^ Caste, the last frontier. Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole. Daily News.lk

External links