Vellalar
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Vellalars are a dominant caste of agriculturalists of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Sri Lanka.
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[edit] Origin theories
[edit] From cultivation
The standard theory is that the word Vellalar is from Velanmai or to cultivate. Another one postulates it is derived from Vellam or to control floods.
[edit] From agro-pastoral warriors
A new theory derives the word from Vel, to win to control, to take, as well as a lance, an old and archaic Tamil weapon. Supposedly cultivation in South Asia 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.
This was a honorific title of select few people who would organize such raids and settlements like chiefs who were also called as Vel which spread to all including that of all Ulavar which is Tamil for farmer, the actual Tamil name for cultivators. Today everybody uses it but once it was restricted to village headman or founding chief's lineage. (see also Velama)
[edit] Place within the Varna status
Ritually they were considered by Brahminical literature as Shudras like all dominant peasant or cultivator castes in South and East India (see Vokkaliga, Velama, Maratha, and Bunts).
Historically few elite sub-castes had proclaimed Sat Shudra or Good Shudra status that has no current ritual or social relevance. Currently few of the sub castes self proclaim Kshatriya status in the age old tradition of Sanskritisation where as others do not care about the so called Shudra status and identify with their Jāti without any relationship to the Varna. (See Caste)
[edit] Assimilation of other castes
Most subcastes of Vellalar in general are believed to be the first of the group of Tamils to be Sanskritized. Kallar, Maravar, Agamudai-yar mella- mella vanthu Vellalar anarkal is the popular Tamil proverb about the origin of Vellalars. That is Kallar or thieves, supported the rulers and became soldiers or Maravar, learned and earned and became home owners or Agamudaiyar and eventually became very cultured and respectable in the society and were called Vellalars eventually. Still in Madurai district one can find Mukkulathors slowly identifying themselves as Vellalars or Pillai , given that they are wealthy and educated.[citation needed]
[edit] Common titles
Common titles are Pillai, Mudaliar and Gounder. When southern parts of Tamilnadu came into the control of Telugu Nayak Chieftains, Vellalar were employed by them as accountants, hence they assumed the title Kanakku Pillai, in Kerala they use the title Karnam Pillai.
[edit] Major divisions
Major subdivisions are
There are numerous other subcastes which claim Vellalar roots and identity. Some subdivisions might intermarry yet other will not.
[edit] In politics
There have been major figures in politics involving Vellalar figures. In the Tirunelveli election of 2006 the BJP Party candidate was Sri Sivakumar. Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan was the Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in Tamil Nadu. The Vellalar community has now set up a part of their own Tamil Nadu known as the Tamil Nadu Hindu Vellalar Youth Kazhagam (TNHVYK) which is a Vellalar organization dedicated towards serving the Hindu community, especially the Vellalar community.[citation needed]
[edit] In Kerala and Sri Lanka
In Kerala, there is a signifant population of Tamil and Malayalam speaking Vellalar population. They are believed to have migrated to work in courts of the Travancore kingdom as accountants.
The Vellalars of Jaffna have been chronicled clearly in the Vaipava Malai and other historical texts of Jaffna. These Vellalar chiefs claim descent from traditional minor-kings and chiefs of Thamizhagam. They have been Commanders of Chola and Pandya Armies as well as respected ministers and administrators. A full list can be obtained from the Vaipava Malai. Jaffna is a correct point of reference to study the Vellalar history of last 1000 years. From the 13th century when migration of Vellalar chiefs to Jaffna took place, Tamil Nadu has seen a decline in the traditional power of Vellars. Kongu Nadu is an exception.
[[[reference.http://noolaham.net/library/books/02/101/101.htm ]]]
In Sri Lanka, they are currently estimated to form over fifty (50)% of the population of the Sri Lankan Tamils in the Northern Province and Jaffna. In previous census during the British colonial period, the numbers were as low as 5% indicating a wholesale assimilation of the Vellalar identity by many other castes or social groups during the last 150 years. (See also Hinduism in Sri Lanka and Caste in Sri Lanka). The Aaarunattu Vellar community also prevails in Sri Lanka.
See The Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy Family for the Ponnambalam-Coomaraswamy family centric rise of a Vellala elite in 19th century Sri Lanka.
[edit] References
- ↑ Untouchability and Inter Caste Relations in Rural India: The Case of Southern Tamil Villages by Ramaih
