Muhandiram Explained
Muhandiram (si|මුහන්දිරම්, ta|முகாந்திரம்) was a post in the native headmen system in the lower-country (coastal districts) of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) during the colonial era. It was awarded as a title of honor until suspension of Ceylonese honours in 1956.
History
The post originated from the Portuguese colonial administration in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes from the coastal areas. The post continued throughout the Dutch East India Company administration and the British colonial administration until the abolition of the native department in the 1930s.[1] It was awarded as a title of honor until the suspension of Celonese honors in 1956.
During the British administration official and titular appointments were made by the government agent of the district to a korale which was a revenue district; a muhandiram had several vidane arachchies that may come under his supervision. He would report to the mudaliyar of the korale or atapattu (district) and was subordinate to the assistant government agents and other civil servants. Appointments were non-transferable and usually hereditary, made to locals, usually from wealthy influential families loyal to the British Crown. This was an influential post, as the holder had much control over the populace of a korale and wielded quasi-judicial powers since he was responsible for keeping the peace, carrying out revenue collection and assisting in judicial functions.[2] [3] [4] [5]
Their uniform was similar to that of the mudaliyars, with a long black tunic buttoned up to the neck with golden loops and buttons, a gold lave sword belt and decorated sword.[1]
Ranks of the British Muhandirams
Muhandirams had several classes:[1]
- Awarded as an honor (titular)
- Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate (titular) - awarded as an Honor
- Muhandiram (titular) - awarded as an Honor
- Vidane Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an Honor[6]
- Veda Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an honor for native physicians
- Guru Muhandirams (titular) - awarded as an honor for native teachers
- Official
- Muhandiram of the atapattu - in charge of a jurisdiction of a district
- Muhandiram of the korale - in charge of a jurisdiction of a korale
- Ex-offico posts attached to other public departments or ceremonial roles
- Gravets muhandiram - jurisdiction of a town and gravets
- Basnayaka muhandiram - command of a Lascoreen Guard Liyana muhandiram - head of the clerks
- Madige muhandiram - regional transportation representative for the governor
- Singular appointments
- Padikara muhandiram
- Mohotti muhandiram
- Dadayakkare muhandiram
List of prominent Muhandirams
Official
Madige Muhandiram
- Madige Muhandiram Haji Marikkar Travala (d:1817) of Wellassa - Killed by rebels during the Great Rebellion of 1817–18[7] [8]
- Madige Muhandiram Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar (1840-1939) of Kandy[9]
- Madige Muhandiram M. K. Abdul Hameed of Kurunegala
- Madige Muhandiram Mohammed Salie of Kotiyakumbura
Awarded as an honor (titular)
Muhandiram of the Governor's Gate
Muhandiram
- Muhandiram Wickrema Arachchige Don Thomas Wickremasinghe
- Muhandiram Andiris Perera Dharmagunawardhana (1809–1890)
- Muhandiram Auwakkar Isse of Sammanthurai [13]
- Muhandiram James Alfred Corea (1871-????) of Madampe
- Muhandiram T. Sathasiva Iyer (1882-1950)
- Padikara Muhandiram Don Pedris Francis Abeywickrama (1886-1966) of Morawaka Korale. Writer and Poet.[14]
- Muhandiram Tuan Kitchil AbuCassim Burah [15]
- Muhandiram Ibra Lebbe Sulaiman Lebbe (1893-1964) of Kurikotuwa Maddeketiya Korale
- Muhandiram Don Justin Peter Senarathna (1899-1985)
- Muhandiram M. K. Mahmood Lebbe alias Thalama of Ibbagamuwa. (1910-1981)
- Muhandiram Brahmanawatte Mawathage Lloyd Seneviratne - Founding Chairman of Dehiwela Mt Lavinia Council
See also
References
Notes and References
- https://books.google.com/books?id=eUF_rS8FEoIC&pg=PA638 Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: The Native Headman System
- http://www.defonseka.com/ref_chieftains.htm The Chieftains of Ceylon, J. C. Van Sanden
- http://www.sundaytimes.lk/971012/plus8.html Murders and other crimes
- https://archive.org/details/underbotreestudi0000yalm/page/157 Under the Bo Tree; Studies in Caste, Kinship, and Marriage in the Interior
- https://books.google.com/books?id=nkr3ra6gR2YC&pg=PA92 Electoral Allegiance in Sri Lanka
- Web site: CEYLON GOVERNMENT GAZETTE . National Archives of Sri Lanka . 14 July 2021.
- Web site: Family # 219 AhmeduLebbe Kariapper Family.
- https://books.google.com/books?id=7Vb0DAAAQBAJ&dq=Madige+Muhandiram&pg=PA26 Buddhist Extremists and Muslim Minorities
- Web site: Family #209 Galagaha Vidanalagegedara Seyed Mohamed Lebbe Marikar Madige Muhandiram (1840-1939) of Kandy. Sri Lankan Muslim Family Genealogy. rootsweb.
- Web site: Family #1001 Bandaranaike . 2024-01-19 . www.worldgenweb.org.
- Web site: Features Online edition of Daily News - Lakehouse Newspapers . 2024-01-19 . archives.dailynews.lk.
- Web site: De Saram Family # 3126 De Saram .
- Web site: Proclamation 4th june 1804. Ceylon. 1853.
- Book: Wimalaratne, K. D. G. Personalities, Sri Lanka: A Biographical Study (15th-20th Century), 1490-1990 A.D., A-Z.. 1994. 9559287001.
- Web site: Family # 245 Raden Singha Noori.