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Tamil | |
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Tamil people |
Devendrakulam (also referred to as Devendrar and Devendrakula Velalar) is an umbrella term for seven castes in the state of Tamil Nadu such as Devendrakulathar, Kadaiyar, Kalladi, Kudumbar, Pallar, Pannadi and Vathiriyar, after the bill amending the list of Scheduled Castes list belonging to the state in the Tamil Nadu as per the conditions of Article 341 in the Part 16 of the Constitution of India at the Parliament of India in 2021. [1]
The demand of merging castes such as Devendrakulathar, Kadaiyar, Kalladi, Kudumbar, Pallar, Pannadi and Vathiriyar in the Scheduled Castes list and the castes such as Kaladi and Moopar in the Other Backward Class list in the state of Tamil Nadu into an umbrella term called "Devendrakula Velalar" and delisting them to Other Backward Class arose. [2]
Before the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, the Government of Tamil Nadu under M. Karunanidhi constituted an one man commission under the chairmanship of Justice Jannarthanam to study and submit a report on the demand. However post elections, with the change in power in the state, the demand did not proceed further. [3]
But with the increasing agitations and protests from the people and parties like Puthiya Tamilagam, Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam and Anaithinthiya Thamizhaga Munnetra Kazhagam and various caste organisations the demand gained pace. The demand was supported by Pattali Makkal Katchi, Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress. Before the 2019 Indian general election, the Government of Tamil Nadu under Edappadi K. Palaniswami constituted a commission under the chairmanship of Hansraj Varma IAS to study and report on the issue. [4] [5] [6] [7]
The demand even gained pace with the community members boycotting the Nanguneri bypoll in October 2021 where the community had a significant population. [8] [9]
The Hansraj Varma commission submitted the report to the Government of Tamil Nadu with their report justifying the proposal. Then the Parliament of India passed a bill for the merger of the seven sub castes in 2021 with the President of India giving it an assent, making it a law in India. However the opposition parties argued that the decision was made only in favour of attracting the sizeable vote bank of the community in Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Thiruvarur, Tiruchirapalli, Karur, Dindigul, Nagapattianm, Thanjavur, Madurai and Sivaganga districts. [10] [11]
In June 2021, the Government of Tamil Nadu under M. K. Stalin released a G.O to release community certificates under the new nomenclature listed in no.17 of Tamil Nadu Scheduled Caste list with the deletion of entries to Pallar, Kudumbar, Vathiriyar, Kalladi, Kadaiyar and Pannadi. [12] [13] The change was notified in the Indian Union gazette of castes by the Government of India. [14] [15]
However the demand of delisting them to Other Backward Class is not met yet. [16] For the 2024 Indian general election, Pattali Makkal Katchi which was a part of National Democratic Alliance declared in its manifesto for the polls that the community would be delisted from Scheduled Castes to Other Backward Class in the Union list. [17]
The Devendrakulam community traditionally celebrate and initiate the temple car festivals at various major historic temples, such as the
and the decorated flower palanquin at Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram. [24]
Apart from the temple car initiation at the Perur Pateeswarar Temple, the Seedling Planting festival (Tamil : நாற்று நடவு திருவிழா) has been celebrated by the community along the banks of Noyyal River. The festival is conducted in the month of Aani. The ritual forms a part of Indra festival. The festival has its reference from the "Perur Puranam" by Kachiappa Munivar. [25] [26]
Indra Vizha (Tamil : இந்திர விழா), was a historical Hindu festival that was celebrated in Tamilakam during the Sangam period (2nd century BCE – 3rd century CE). It was celebrated in honour of Vendhan (Indra), the deity associated with the Marutham landscape. [27] In the contemporary period, the festivities associated with the agricultural Indra Vila are primarily associated with the occasion of Bhogi Pongal, the day dedicated to Indra, and preserving all the elements of the seasonal festival. [28] [29] Locally, the Indra Vila is conducted at the Kamatchi Amman temple at the Kallimadai locality near Singanallur in Coimbatore every year. [30] The Venkudai (White umbrella) festival, depicting the white umbrella and the Airavata of Indra, is conducted every year at Rajapalayam, in commemoration of the ancient Indra Vila. [31]
As per the 2011 Census of India, the community constitutes 4% of the population of Tamilnadu. [32]
Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam is a political party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was founded in 2000.
Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK), literally meaning Hindu People's Party, also pronounced as Indu Makkal Katchi (IMK), is a right-wing, Hindu nationalist party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Temple cars or Temple chariots are used to carry representations of Hindu deities around the streets of the temple on festival days. These chariots are generally manually pulled by the devotees of the deity.
The Pallar, who prefer to be called Mallar, are an agricultural community from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Pallars traditionally inhabited the fertile wetland area referred to as Marutham in the literary devices of the Sangam landscape. Today, they are the dominant Dalit community of southern Tamil Nadu and have developed a reputation for being assertive about their rights. Due to the demand of the pallar community to classify them under a more dignified generic name Devendrakula Velalar, recently they together with six other related castes have been given the name Devendrakula Velalar; however their original caste name remains valid and they are still part of the Scheduled Caste list.
Anaithinthiya Thamizhaga Munnetra Kazhagam is a political party in Tamil Nadu, India. It is registered with the Election Commission of India. Founded by, Dr Guruswami Siddhan, This is a registered political party aiming to unite Mallars and promote political awareness and unity among Devendra Kula Velalars. The party was launched on October 23, 1995, in Madurai, with around 100,000 participants, marking the largest rally in Madurai at that time, supported by a significant police presence.
Perur is a major residential neighbourhood and cultural hub of the city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located on the banks of Noyyal River, which divides the settlement into equal halves.
The Ramnad riots or the Mudukulathur riots were a series of violent clashes that occurred between July and September 1957 in the Ramnad district and in southern Tamil Nadu, India. The violence was between Thevars supporting the Forward Bloc, and pro-Congress Dalit Devendrakula Velalar, and was triggered by a by-election held in the aftermath of the Madras Legislative Assembly elections of earlier that year. 42 Dalits were killed during the riots.
Hindu Munnani is a right-wing Hindu nationalist organisation based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Hindu Munnani was set up by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) The organisation was founded in 1980 by Ramagopalan, a member of RSS and since its formation served as the platform for RSS and its subsidiaries known as the Sangh Parivar.
Kalladi or Kallady may refer to:
Sundaralinga Kudumbanar, also known as "Veeran" Sundaralingam Kudumbanar, was an 18th-century CE general from Tamil Nadu, India.
Perur Pateeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Perur, in western part of Coimbatore in state of Tamil Nadu in India. The temple was built by Karikala Chola in 2nd century CE. The temple is located on the bank of the Noyyal River and has been patronized by poets like Arunagirinathar and Kachiappa Munivar. Patteeswarar (Shiva) is the presiding deity of this temple together with his consort Pachainayaki (Parvati). The main deity is a Swayambu Lingam.
Ishari K. Ganesh is the founder, chairman and chancellor of Vels University in Chennai, India. He founded the Vel's Educational Trust in 1992 in the memory of his late father Isari Velan, a former Member of Legislative Assembly in the state government of M. G. Ramachandran.
Eachanari Vinayagar Temple is a temple dedicated to Hindu god Vinayagar, situated in the village Eachanari near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is situated about 12 km from the city of Coimbatore on NH 209.
Culture of Coimbatore is based on the culture of the Kongu Nadu region and is distinctly unique. Being a cosmopolitan city, the culture of the city reflects its diverse population which has resulted in a unique blend. Though it is generally considered a traditional city, Coimbatore is more diverse and cosmopolitan than other cities in Tamil Nadu. Traditional music, dance and all other art forms of Tamil Nadu are very popular in the city. One can find a unique blend of culture from traditional foods to fast foods, from ancient temple architecture to modern high-rises and from classical music and dance to the growing nightlife in the city. Popularly called as the Manchester of South India, the city is known for its industries and has developed a reputation for entrepreneurship.
Arulmigu Koniamman Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located on the northern bank of the Noyyal River of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Koniamman, a form of Parvati. The temple is at the center of the city of Coimbatore in the core of the city, Town Hall, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Koniamman is the "Guardian Deity" of the city. This temple is one of the twin historic temples in the city, the other being Perur Pateeswarar Temple.
The 1995 Kodiyankulam violence occurred on August 31, 1995 when a force of 600 policemen attacked the village of Kodiyankulam in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India and destroyed property and took away cash and jewellery worth several lakhs of rupees. The police raid was on the instruction of the dominant caste officials. The raid was reportedly held to destroy the material prosperity of the villagers.
The Coimbatore Metropolitan Area, or Coimbatore Urban Agglomeration, is the sixteenth-most populous metropolitan area in India, the second most populous metropolitan area in the state of Tamil Nadu next only to Chennai. The Coimbatore Metropolitan Area consists of the city of Coimbatore and its suburbs in Coimbatore district.
The 2022 Tamil Nadu urban local body elections to the local government in Tamil Nadu were held in urban areas in February 2022. The Greater Chennai Corporation, alongside 20 other municipal corporations of Tamil Nadu, went to polling on 19 February 2022 to elect councillors to represents the wards in the respective cities; the elected councillors will choose a mayor from amongst themselves.
Indra Vila, sometimes rendered Indra Vizha, was a historical Hindu festival that was celebrated in Tamilakam during the Sangam period. It was celebrated in honour of Vendhan (Indra), the deity associated with the Marutham landscape.
B. John Pandian is an advocate, social worker and an Indian politician from Tamilnadu. He founded the Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam party in 2000.