Pulayar

The Pulayar also Pulayar, Pulaya,or Pulayas or Holeya are one of the main social groups found in Kerala, Karnataka and in historical Tamil Nadu or Tamilakam. Currently they are referred to as Dalits.

History

The origins of Pulayar or the word Pulai in Archaic Tamil in itself may indicate the origins of Caste or Jāti system in South India. Although currently in Tamil, Pulai stands for meatFact|date=January 2008 but in Kannada Hole the root for a similar caste title Holeya stands for menstrual blood Fact|date=September 2008. There is also a possibility that the word Pulaya is derived from Pulam or paddy-thus the word Pulaya means 'the one who is related with paddy' or to put it in simpler words -an agricultural worker. With the advent of agriculture and North Indian religious norms in South India in general and Tamilakam particularly such as Jainism, Buddhism and early Vedic Brahmanism similar functional groups and lineages or tribes came to be identified as untouchables viz a vie the dominant land holding elites of the rural landscape. [cite web|url=http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~dludden/Dharma.htm|title=Spectres of Agrarian Territory] [cite web|url=http://www.tamilnation.org/caste/hart.pdf|title=Prof Hart's theory on origin of caste in South India] [cite web|url=http://listserv.emich.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0103&L=indology&D=1&O=A&F=&S=&P=42300|title=Pulaitti in Sangam anthologies] [cite web|url=http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:MFT3s6bf664J:www.indoeuropean.nl/cgi-bin/response.cgi%3Froot%3Dconfig%26morpho%3D0%26basename%3D%255Cdata%255Cdrav%255Csdret%26first%3D1821+pulaitti&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=4|title=Dictionary Meaning of Archaic Tamil word Pulaitti]

The name of this caste is mentioned in the Sangam anthologies which were composed during a period of 500 years (est.) during the early Christian era. Pulaian (male) and Pulaitchi (female) are mentioned as a group of people who are attached to the households of village chiefs and were performing tasks that were menial or degraded.

However, Pulayas in the Trivandrum district claim that they ruled that area beforeFact|date=September 2008. Some ethnographers, like Edgar Thurston, support the idea that the Pulayar are a remainder of the original aboriginal inhabitants of Southern India and that they were displaced and enslaved by invaders.Fact|date=September 2008

Traditions

The Pulayar people have their separate and exclusive traditions and beliefs, partly due to their segregation from the mainstream community at the bottom end of the caste system in Kerala and Tamil NaduFact|date=September 2008. Thus they have maintained their local Folklore or pre-Hindu belief systems that were unique to that age and area.

Their marriage rituals were described by Edgar Thurston, who highlighted the fact that the bride's face was painted with a red and white pattern. Nowadays many of these customs have fallen into disuse.

The spiritual life of the Pulaya includes certain ancient magic rituals and practices that have a certain reputation. Members of the mainstream community may consult Pulaya sorcerers (Manthrikavadi) in Kerala, for advice.

Pulayas are noted for their music, craftsmanship, and for certain dances which include Kōlam-thullal, a mask dance which is part of their exorcism rituals, as well as the Mudi-āttam or hair-dance which has its origins in a fertility ritual. [cite web|url=http://www.ignca.nic.in/ps_01021.htm|title=PRIMAL ELEMENTS:THE ORAL TRADITION] [Cite book|title=Edgar Thurston, The Tribes and Castes of Southern India (7 vols)] [cite journal|title=Early Evidence for Caste in South India, p. 467-492 in Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G. Mandelbaum, Edited by Paul Hockings and Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam, 1987]

Other Pulayar traditions include the Theyyannam, a ritualistic dance performed by the Pulaya and Kurava communities. Theyyannam is found in Mavelikara, Pandalam and some places in Alappuzha District. When man turned to cultivation, his liking and respect for it began to increase. Though he cultivates different crops, he has a partiality for paddy cultivation. This is the theme of Theyyannam.

Bhadrakali thullal is a devotional offering of Pulayas for the deity Bhadrakali. Special pandals are constructed in the fields after the harvest and the dances are performed. They are quite drawn-out and have numerous phases.

Current condition

The status of the Pulayar as a group is the barometer of the success or failure of the caste reformation process that is going on in pre-independence India in general and Kerala in particular.

In the 19th century,Ayyankali was influential in the upliftment of this downtrodden group. The followers of Ayyankali have an organization called Kerala Pulaya Maha Sabha (KPMS).

In general the Pulayar still suffer discrimination and their life expectancy, nutrition levels, education levels and child mortality rates are below the average Kerala standards.Fact|date=September 2008

In neighbouring Tamil Nadu state, the word Pulayar was replaced by Paraiyar and Pallar.

In Karnataka the etymologically related Holeya caste's social status is still at the bottom with little or merely marginal improvements since Indian independence.

Due to affirmative actions including Land Reforms and better educational avenues in Kerala, Pulayas are making some progress. Although one can find members of this caste in many walks of life today, the majority of them are still engaged in menial jobs such as day laborers. [cite web|url=http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1119|title=Conversion of Pulayas to Christianity] [cite web|url=http://jjpallath.ahrchk.net/mainfile.php/work/38/|title=Subaltern Christian Groups and the Crisis of Cultural] [cite web|url=http://www.hrsolidarity.net/mainfile.php/2002vol12no06/2251/|title=CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION: Kodungallur Bharani and Human Rights]

See also

* Ayyankali
* Early Pandyan Society

Arts of Pulayar caste:
* Chimmanakali
* Mangalamkali
* Berava

References