Pulayar Explained

Caste Name:	Pulayar
Languages:	Malayalam, Kannada
Religions:	Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism
Country:	India
Populated States:	Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu
Ethnicity:	Malayali
Notable Members:	Ayyankali, P. K. Chathan Master

The Pulayar in Malayalam pronounced as /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 classified as a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

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.^{[2] [3] [4]} The folk dance Chozhikali is performed by the Pulayar community of central Kerala.^[5]

Demography

According to the 2011 Census, the Pulayan population in Kerala was 1,338,008.^[6] They are a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in the state of Kerala^[7] and Tamil Nadu.^[8]

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

• Caste system in Kerala

Arts of Pulayar caste:

• Chimmanakali
• Mangalamkali

Notes and References

1. Book: Moffatt, Michael . An Untouchable Community in South India: Structure and Consensus . Princeton University Press . 2015 . 978-1-40087-036-3 . 42 . 26 September 2020 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111191120/https://books.google.com/books?id=L4t9BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA42 . live .
2. Web site: PRIMAL ELEMENTS:THE ORAL TRADITION. 27 March 2006. 9 February 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060209005528/http://ignca.nic.in/ps_01021.htm. live.
3. Book: Early Evidence for Caste in South India . 467-492 . Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G. Mandelbaum . Paul Hockings . Mouton de Gruyter . Berlin, New York, Amsterdam . 1987.
4. Palaniappan . Sudalaimuthu . 2008 . On The Unintended Influence Of Jainism On The Development Of Caste In Post-Classical Tamil Society . live . International Journal of Jaina Studies . en . 4 . 2 . 1748-1074 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409020633/https://www.soas.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/On%20The%20Unintended%20Influence%20Of%20Jainism%20On%20The%20Development%20Of%20Caste%20In%20Post-Classical%20Tamil%20Society%20file46109.pdf . 9 April 2024 . 2024-05-03.
5. Web site: ചോഴികളി. 2023-03-13. ml. 13 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230313053530/https://www.deshabhimani.com/special/news-18-11-2018/764585. live.
6. Web site: Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. www.censusindia.gov.in. 2019-08-31. 27 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210227124213/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/SC.html. live.
7. Web site: List of Scheduled Castes in the Kerala State . Kerala Public Service Commission, State Government of Kerala . 2020-06-30 . 13 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200513005014/https://keralapsc.gov.in/list-scheduled-castes-kerala-state . live .
8. Web site: Tamil Nadu . Ministry of Social Justice . 2017 . 2020-07-20 . 18 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161118235649/http://socialjustice.nic.in/UserView/index?mid=76750 . live .
9. News: Cong MP loses seat over fake SC claim . The Economic Times . 22 April 2024 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111191738/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cong-mp-loses-seat-over-fake-sc-claim/articleshow/6221433.cms . live .
10. Web site: CPI functionary suspended for casteist remarks . 19 February 2017 . 11 March 2022 . 11 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220311024656/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-cpi-functionary-suspended-for-casteist-remarks-4532306/ . live .
11. Web site: Actor Dharmajan says two Congress leaders worked for his poll defeat . 11 March 2022 . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111192622/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/05/22/dharmajan-bolgatty-accuses-congress-leaders-of-sabotage-election.html . live .