Dheevara is a grouping of fishing castes from the Kerala state of South India.

They are designated as Other Eligible Community by the State Govt of Kerala.

Etymology edit

The word Dheevara is of Sanskrit origin, and has been used to describe fishermen in Gautama Dharmasutra and Mahabharata.[1] The Dheevara community was formed by Arayan, Valan and other castes to lobby for the fishers' rights, and to seek caste-based reservations in government jobs.[2] The members of the community formed "Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha"(AKDS) andDheevara Mahasabha ("Dheevara Great Assembly"), which are politically powerful organizations. [3]

Listed castes edit

The following castes are categorized as "Dheevara" in the Government's list of Other Backward Classes:[4][5]

  • Arayan or Araya
  • Bovi or Bovis Mogayar
  • Arayavathi
  • Mogaveera
  • Mukaya, Mokaya or Mukayar
  • Mukkuvan
  • Nulayan
  • Koli
  • Paniakkal
  • Valan
  • Valinijiar, Valinjiar or Valinchiar

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Singh 2003, p. 292.
  2. ^ Sathyapalan 2015, p. 90.
  3. ^ Sathyapalan 2015, p. 95.
  4. ^ "Central List of OBCs for the state of Kerala" (PDF). National Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  5. ^ "List of Other Eligible Classes in Kerala State". Kerala Public Service Commission. Retrieved 18 May 2016.

Bibliography edit