Karaiyar
Encyclopedia
Karaiyar, also known as Karayar, Karaiar or Kurukulam, is traditionally both a seafaring and warrior caste
found in the Tamil Nadu
state of India
, coastal areas of Sri Lanka
, and globally among the Tamil diaspora
.
, are one of the oldest groups of the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, Kerala
and Sri Lanka. They are predominantly found in the area known as Coromandel Coast
. These three seafaring related social groups are regionally distributed, with each group dominating a certain coastal belt. Seafaring activities include trading, coastal fishing, and naval activities. They are mentioned by Ptolemy
as Kareoi – the tribe inhabiting the eastern coast that once extended south of Cape Comari
in ancient Tamilakam
. In Tamil, Karaiyar means "coast men".
Karaiyar culture in Ceylon has historically extolled Corsican virtues of refined far-sighted justice along with martial courage and defiance against foreign impositions. Karaiyar are also found north of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu and well into the Andhra Pradesh
coastal areas. Moreover, there has been significant intermarriage among the Karaiyar,Paravar and Marawar castes, other warrior castes of Tamil Nadu. The ancient coinage and flags of the Pandyan dynasties had as their most significant symbol that of the Carp, in reference to their maritime origins and whose seafaring led to trade with the Greeks and the Romans. They had an expansive and powerful empire, holding sway and dominating South India and Ceylon, and at one point in time, one of the Pandyan dynasties was in power continuously for six centuries. Some of their descendants, reside in the Karaiyar Caste, quite unaware of their bloodline, history, and descent, unfortunately through the ravages of time and internecine wars, but evident through its not so infrequent atavisms.
A significant part of this community came to consist of the traditional warrior
and naval community of Sri Lanka, which were disempowered after the fall of the northern and southern kingdoms to Europeans. For more information about the corresponding martial caste of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, see Karava.
. The British rule promoted the more numerous, commercial, and obedient caste, namely the Vellalars (farming and agricultural caste), to positions of civil power(see Caste in Sri Lanka), at the expense of the Karaiyar's. Analysis of family names and traditions of Karave in Sri Lanka indicates that it has accepted within its fold many indigenous and migrant peoples from India and abroad.
. Karave are also very vocal about their Sinhala
Buddhist identity and are involved in nationalistic political parties such as the SLFP and JVP
.
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in the Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
state of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, coastal areas of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, and globally among the Tamil diaspora
Tamil diaspora
The Tamil diaspora is a demographic group of Tamil people of Indian or Sri Lankan origin who have settled in other parts of the world. Significant Tamil diaspora populations can be found in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Middle East, Réunion, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Fiji, Guyana,...
.
Origins
The Karaiyar, along with Paravar and MukkuvarMukkuvar
Mukkuvar also Mukkuva are a social group or caste primarily a fishing community, living in the coastal districts of Kerala, south Tamil Nadu in India and also in Sri Lanka. It is a community that has differing ethnic identities based on the state or country of domicile...
, are one of the oldest groups of the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and Sri Lanka. They are predominantly found in the area known as Coromandel Coast
Coromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
. These three seafaring related social groups are regionally distributed, with each group dominating a certain coastal belt. Seafaring activities include trading, coastal fishing, and naval activities. They are mentioned by Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
as Kareoi – the tribe inhabiting the eastern coast that once extended south of Cape Comari
Kumari Kandam
Kumari Kandam is the name of a supposed sunken landmass referred to in existing ancient Tamil literature...
in ancient Tamilakam
Ancient Tamil country
The Sangam period is the classical period in the history of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other parts of South India, spanning about the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE...
. In Tamil, Karaiyar means "coast men".
Karaiyar culture in Ceylon has historically extolled Corsican virtues of refined far-sighted justice along with martial courage and defiance against foreign impositions. Karaiyar are also found north of Tanjore in Tamil Nadu and well into the Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
coastal areas. Moreover, there has been significant intermarriage among the Karaiyar,Paravar and Marawar castes, other warrior castes of Tamil Nadu. The ancient coinage and flags of the Pandyan dynasties had as their most significant symbol that of the Carp, in reference to their maritime origins and whose seafaring led to trade with the Greeks and the Romans. They had an expansive and powerful empire, holding sway and dominating South India and Ceylon, and at one point in time, one of the Pandyan dynasties was in power continuously for six centuries. Some of their descendants, reside in the Karaiyar Caste, quite unaware of their bloodline, history, and descent, unfortunately through the ravages of time and internecine wars, but evident through its not so infrequent atavisms.
A significant part of this community came to consist of the traditional warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
and naval community of Sri Lanka, which were disempowered after the fall of the northern and southern kingdoms to Europeans. For more information about the corresponding martial caste of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka, see Karava.
Traditional occupation
Karaiyars have traditionally been naval warriors, but engaged in activities related to boat building, overseas trading, and fishing during peacetime. They have also provided mercenary forces and considered most valorous by local kings in India and Sri Lanka. A great many of them after foreign impositions by Europeans (18th century CE) led lives as coastal fishermen and a significant minority became petty and wealthy chiefs and merchants in both countries.Sanskritisation
Along with South Indian groups such as the Pandyans, who historically claim a lineage of the Pandavas according to tradition, it appears Kurukulam comes from the Kurus in Mahabharata and Kshatriya origin. The concept of Sanskritisation has been widely discredited, as phylogenetically and culturally, members of the Dravidian and Indo-Aryan groups have been mixing and similarly the lexicons and myths, since 200 BCE at the very latest.Position in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, where Tamils form over 10% of the country's total population. Nevertheless, Catholicized Karaiyar have made up a significant portion of the police force and navy, proportionally of any caste during British rule. Amongst the Sinhalese, Karaiyar's are known as the KaraveKarave
Karava also Karave, Kara, Karavaa, Kaura is a significant Sinhalese community who are considered secondary in caste to the Govigama. The Tamil equivalent is Karaiyar.- General :...
. The British rule promoted the more numerous, commercial, and obedient caste, namely the Vellalars (farming and agricultural caste), to positions of civil power(see Caste in Sri Lanka), at the expense of the Karaiyar's. Analysis of family names and traditions of Karave in Sri Lanka indicates that it has accepted within its fold many indigenous and migrant peoples from India and abroad.
Karaiyar and their politics
The Karaiyar amongst Sri Lankan Tamils form a large part of the Tamil rebel group LTTE who took up arms following introduction of legislation that targeted the Tamils of Ceylon soon after the country gained its independence from BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Karave are also very vocal about their Sinhala
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
Buddhist identity and are involved in nationalistic political parties such as the SLFP and JVP
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna
The Janathā Vimukthi Peramuṇa is a Marxist-Leninist, Communist political party in Sri Lanka. The party was involved in two armed uprisings against the ruling governments in 1971 and 1987-89...
.
External links
- http://www.tamilelibrary.org/teli/slhist.htmlKaraiyar in the service of Jaffna KingdomJaffna KingdomThe Jaffna kingdom , also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka was a historic monarchy that came into existence around the town of Jaffna on the Jaffna peninsula after the invasion of Magha, who is said to have been from Kalinga, in India...
] - http://www.tamilnation.org/forum/sivaram/920701lg.htmTamil militarism of Karaiyar due to Maravar mixing in JaffnaJaffnaJaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
by late journalist Taraki Sivaram]