Kurumbar
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Kurumbar or Kurumans or Kurubar caste are shepherds of South India. They are indigenous people of India. Even though they are called in different names like Kurumans, Kurubar, Kurumba, Kuruba, Dhangar these names are synonyms and one and the same. They speak Kuruman tribal Kannada language. Their God is Veerabadra (Beera dhevaru). They celebrate the God by breaking coconuts on their heads. Their surnames are Gounder, Gowder, Heggade, Naiker, and others.
[edit] History
Pallavas are descendants of Kurumans. Mahabalipuram sculpture, adjacent to Madras is their legacy. They ruled South India for more than 500 years, from the 4th century to the 9th century, and left a permanent mark in the field of art and architecture.
As Pallava rule declined, the Kurumans forefathers scattered over a wide area of southern India and became culturally distinct. During this time, the Kurumans survived by hunting, gathering food from the forests, or small-scale farming. Some even became slaves. In time, the majority of Kurumans settled on the plains as small landowners or herdsmen. Today the descendants of the Pallavas have become orphans and living in a very bad socio-economic conditions in places like Dharmapuri, Natrampalli, Thandrampattu, Thiruvannamalai, Sengam, Hosur, Vaniyambadi, Alangayam, Ambur, Vellore, Salem, Tiruppatur, Krishnagiri and other parts of Tamil Nadu. Their livelihood depends on rearing sheep and weaving woollen blankets.
The British Government had given certain privileges to these neglected people. A reserved constituency, free lands and reservation in government jobs were offered under Indian (British) Constitution Act 1935. But today, their own government in Tamil Nadu has been denying community certificates and depriving the privileges conferred to tribals under Constitution of India. Because of this, yesteryear's rulers have been leading a distressed, painful and untold misery of life today.
Because of lack of unity and good leaders among them, they are subjected to harassment by vested interest. Few educated Kurumans have become assertive and demanding in getting their rights.
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