Saurashtra people

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
India Saurashtra People
Total population
c. 510,000 (1997 IMA), although the actual number could be double this figure or even more.
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Saurashtra
Religion
Hinduism

Sourashtra or "Patnūlkarar" refers to a community of people who speak the Saurashtra language. They had their original homes in Gujarat and migrated to Madurai and other places of Tamil Nadu. The origin of the name date backs to the time when the ancestors of theses people inhabited the kingdom of Sourashtra in Gujarat State.[1] The Tamil name by which these people is known in Southern India is Patnūlkarar, that is silk-thread workers or weavers who speak "Pattunuli" or "Khatri", a dialect of Gujarati.[2] The details about Sourashtra community is discussed by A.J. Saunders.[3] The Bhagavata calls the Abhiras as Saurastra.The Bhagavata calls the Abhiras as saurastra and Avantyas rulers (saurastra-avantya-abhira) and the Vishnu treats the Abhiras as occupying the saurastra and Avantil provinces.[4][5] Sourashtra-Patnūlkarar wear the sacred thread and they do the rituals that all the Brahmins do. Some use surnames such as Sharma, Rao, and are prominently known by their house names and Gotras.The famous house name was known Ambalam or called between them as Soulim,They were given first preferences in every important functions in between Sourashtra people.

History

The word Patnūlkaran means "silk-thread people". These people are first mentioned as Pattavayaka, the Sanskrit equivalent of Patnulkaran in the Mandasor inscriptions of Kumaragupta belonging to the 5th century AD. They are also mentioned by the same name in the inscriptions of Rani Mangamma of Madurai. However, from the 19th century onwards, they have often preferred to be called "Saurashtra Brahmins".

Oral tradition says that, Saurashtrians migrated after the fall of 'Somnath Temple' when Ghazini Mohammed invaded India. It is said that the Saurashtrians lived for about two centuries in northern regions of modern day Maharashtra and later moved to Vijayanagar Empire by the invitation of the Kings. Saurashtrians were highly skilled manufacturers of fine silk garments and were patronized by the Kings and their families. They were welcomed by the Naicker Kings of Madurai and were allowed to settle near the King's palace.

Geographical Distribution

The speakers of the Saurashtra language, known as Saurashtrians, maintain a predominant presence in Madurai, a city, also known as 'Temple City' in the southern part of Tamil Nadu. Though official figures are hard to come by, it is believed that the Saurashtra population is anywhere between one-fourth and one-fifth of the city's total population. They are also present in significant numbers in Ambur, Dindigul, Periyakulam, Paramakudi, Erode, Palani, kancheepuram, Rajapalayam, Nilakottai, Salem, Namakkal, Singapore, Chennai, Trichy, Pudukkottai, Kumbakonam, Thiruvarur, Ayyampettai, Ammapettai,Dharasuram,Thirubhuvanam,Ammayappan, Walaja, Arni, Tiruvannamalai, Palayamkottai, Krishnapuram, Veeravanalur,Vellanguli Tirunelveli,kanniya kumari and Kottar in Nagercoil. Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is said to house several Saurashtrian families, known as Pattusali or Saurastrian Brahmins.

Saurashtras in Tamil Nadu

Patnūlkaras are mostly concentrated in the city of Madurai. H. A. Stuart writes that there were also large Patnūlkara communities in Tirupathi, Arni, Vellore, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur. There are three group of migrants living Tamil Nadu. First migrants came to Salem Second migrant group settled Tanjore and surrounding places and third later migrants settled Madurai and surrounding places.

The noted Tamil playback and devotional music singer, T.M. Soundararajan, cited his Saurashtrian roots and upbringing for his mellifluous enunciation and rendition of Tamil music on a Television interview in the 1990s.

Renowned Saurashtra People

Government Service: S S Jawahar IAS; Shyam Sunder IPS ; Kishore Kumar IPS ; M.M.Parthibhan IRS ; P.K.Ashok Babu IFS ; and Kamlesh Mahadevan Jutty (Ulzhagam Suttrum Valiban)Accounting professional - Travelled and worked in more than 26 countries

Film industry

    • --PHOTOGRAPHY**--
  • Bangalore S.Sundaram International Photograph Award Winner.

Cine field

Freedom fighter

  • "Madurai Gandhi", N.M.R. Subburaam
  • L.K.Thulasiram, (Go Back Simon)
  • K.V.Ramachary
  • T.K.Rama
  • K. A. Venkatraman

Literature

Industrialist

  • KLN Krishnan 
              - Founder,Krishna Foundary, Madurai
              - Founder,KLN Engineering, Madurai
  • A.R.Rajasimman,SRS Electronic Service Centre
  • K.R.M.Niranjan Kumar, Niranjan Ultrasound India (P) Limited, Kozhikode, Kerala, India
  • K.K.Dinakaran,Pandian Surfactants Private Limited , Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamilnadu ,India
  • K.K.Surendranath,Varuni chemical,Madurai,Chennai
  • K.K.Gnanaprabhakaran.Kuttuva Silicate Madurai

Politicians

  • L.K.Thulasiram, Former M.L.C., & Chairman, Madurai Municipal Council
  • K.V.Ramachary, Former M.L.C., & Chairman, Madurai Municipal Council
  • N.M.R.Subbaraman Former M.P., of Loksabha, Madurai
  • T.K.Rama, Former M.L.A., Madurai East
  • R.V.Siddha, Communist Party of India
  • S.R Radha, Former AIADMK Minister, Kumbakonam
  • A.G Subburaman, Former M.P., of Loksabha, Madurai
  • A.G.S Ram Babu, Former M.P., of Loksabha, Madurai
  • Kuppal Ramakrishnan, Former M.L.A.,Madurai East and Chairman, Madurai Municipal Council
  • K.N.Lakshmanan, Former M.L.A., Mylapore, Chennai, BJP*
  • O.S.Amarnath, Former M.L.A., Madurai East
  • Nagalammal Chaiman Dindigul Municipality.
  • P.K.R.LAKSHMMIKANTHAM Former M.L.A. Madurai East

___DOCTORS---

  • DR.S.S.Rengachary Best outgoing Student Madurai medical College,Neuro Surgeon,Author of neurosurgery Book
  • Dr.K.N.Vasudevan,Professor,Surgeon
  • Dr.T.V.Sadhananthan,Surgeon
  • Dr.K.K.Avanthikabai,M.D.Dch Paediatrician
  • Dr.K.V.Radhakrishnan,E.N.T.Specialist
  • Dr.V.K.SAMILAL.PSYCHIATRIST Professar Head of DEPT. Psychiatry Medicine Madurai Medical College.
  • Dr.B.R.Santharam,M.D.Physician
  • Dr.T.S.Chandrasekar,Gastro Entralogist,Tamilnadu Govt.Best Doctor Awardee
  • Dr.Dr.Ramilla Sivanath,Obstrics& Gynaecologist,
  • Dr.T.G.K. Krishnapriya,M.D.S. Pedodontist.
  • === Sportsperson ===
  • S.S.M.Satheeshkanth [6]
  • Konda Bhaskir Arun Karthik [7]
  • N.V.G.B.R. Manohar, Dindigul [8]

Hariharan v s

Language

Main article: Saurashtra language

The mother tongue of Patnūlkaras is Khatri or Patnūli or Saurashtra, a dialect of Gujarati with the mix of marathi but most of them can speak Tamil and Telugu.

Magazines

In recent times, the rising awareness about Saurashtra language among the young generation has led to the publication of magazines in Saurashtra language. The following is the list of magazines currently published in Saurashtra language

  • Bhashabhimani
  • Zeek
  • Jaabaali
  • Sourashtra Mithran
  • Sourashtra Time(now www.sourashtratime.com)
  • Jutti Sons AD Page

References

  1. ↑ J.S. Venkatavarma, Sourashtra Charitra Sangraham (Madura, 1915)
  2. ↑ Gazetter of the Madura District (Madras, 1914), I, 74, 110.
  3. ↑ "The Sourashtra Community in Madura, South India", Albert James Saunders, The American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 32, No. 5 (Mar. 1927) PP. 787-799, published by: The University of Chicago Press.
  4. ↑ http://books.google.co.in/books?ei=uG2RTb3xCYXQcZeeuUA&ct=result&id=xJNHAAAAMAAJ&dq=abhira+yadav&q=The+Bhagavata+calls+the+Abhiras+as+Saurastra+
  5. ↑ Yadavas Through the Ages-page146
  6. ↑ http://www.maduraimessenger.org/printed-version/2010/august/young-achiever/
  7. ↑ http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/player/319745.html
  8. ↑ http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/12/stories/2009021260982000.html

External links

  • Saurashtra Sevasangamam
  • Website of Saurastrians and
  • Saurashtra: A Langugage, Region, Culture and Community
  • History of Saurashtrians of South India
  • Award for development of Saurashtra Language (Bhasha Samman Award) by Sahitya Akademi, to Thada.Subramanian and K.R.Sethuraman ≠
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