The Pulayar IPA: [pulɐjɐr] (also Pulaya, Pulayas, Cherumar, Cheramar, and Cheraman) is a caste[1] group mostly found in modern-day Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and historically in Tamil Nadu. They are a classified as a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[2][3]
| Pulayar | |
|---|---|
| Religions | Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism |
| Languages | Malayalam, Kannada |
| Country | India |
| Populated states | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu |
| Ethnicity | Malayali |
| Notable members | Ayyankali, P. K. Chathan Master |
Traditions
Pulayars 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.[4][5][6] The folk dance Chozhikali is performed by the Pulayar community of central Kerala.[7]
Demography
According to the 2011 Census, the Pulayan population in Kerala was 1,338,008.[8] They are a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in the state of Kerala[2] and Tamil Nadu.[3]
Notable people
- Nandanar, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism
- Ayyankali (1863–1941), social reformer
- K. P. Vallon (1894–1940), social reformer
- P. K. Rosy (1903–1988), first heroine of the Malayalam film industry
- Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912–1978), former member of the Constituent Assembly
- Punnala Sreekumar, general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS)
- K. G. Balakrishnan, 37th Chief Justice of India
- C. T. Ravikumar, judge of the Supreme Court of India
- Kodikunnel Suresh, member of Parliament[9]
- Chittayam Gopakumar, deputy speaker of 14th Kerala legislative assembly[10]
- Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indian actor[11]
See also
Arts of Pulayar caste:
References
- ^ Moffatt, Michael (2015). An Untouchable Community in South India: Structure and Consensus. Princeton University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-40087-036-3.
- ^ a b "List of Scheduled Castes in the Kerala State". Kerala Public Service Commission, State Government of Kerala. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Tamil Nadu". Ministry of Social Justice. 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ "PRIMAL ELEMENTS:THE ORAL TRADITION".
- ^
"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".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ http://www.soas.ac.uk/research/publications/journals/ijjs/file46109.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "ചോഴികളി" (in Malayalam). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ "Cong MP loses seat over fake SC claim". The Economic Times.
- ^ "CPI functionary suspended for casteist remarks". 19 February 2017.
- ^ "Actor Dharmajan says two Congress leaders worked for his poll defeat".