Pallar
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Pallar are a caste of upwardly mobile Tamil agriculturalists and agricultural caste of Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and amongst the Tamil diaspora. There are number of theories as to their origins. There is caste conflict between Pallar and other upwradly mobile groups in Southern Tamil Nadu. In Sri Lanka, Pallar have formed an important component in rebel groups after the civil war.
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[edit] Origin theories
- Standard theory
The standard theory is that the word Pallar is derived from ‘’Pallam’’ or low lands indicating their origins as agricultural workers associated with Paddy cultivation.[1] They are in intense competition with upwardly mobile but numerically superior mid level castes such Kallar, Maravar and Vellala Gounder across Southern and western Tamil nadu.[2][3][4]
- Aboriginal people
There are indications that they may have also descended from aboriginal people of South India.[5]
[edit] In Sri lanka and abroad
In Sri Lanka, Pallar 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.[6]
[edit] Genetics
According to Sengupta et al., 2006 study Pallars have Y-chromosome-Haplogroups that show a curious mix of South Asian haplogroups. Their biggest lineage is R1a1 which forms 24% of their male population. This Y-chromosome lineage predominates North-West of the Indian subcontinent. They also have L1 and L3 where L1 is one of the most common Haplogroup in South India with an appreciable presence in North India and Pakistan, L3 is mostly observed among Pakistanis and almost absent among South Indians. Other pan-Indian Haplogroups like H, R2 and J2 are observed at frequencies greater than 10%.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Kingship, bureaucracy and participation: competing moralities of ‘decentralisation’ in south Indian irrigation
- ^ INDIA: Dalit farmer was humiliated, harassed and tortured by upper caste Hindus
- ^ Pallar attack on Sakkiliar
- ^ Untouchability and Inter Caste Relations in Rural India by A. Ramaih
- ^ The ancient myths of the aborigines
- ^ Caste, the last frontier by Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
- ^ Mitochondrial unity of India’s castes
