Pulayar

Pulayar
Religions	Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism
Languages	Malayalam, Kannada
Country	India
Populated states	Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu
Ethnicity	Malayali
Notable members	Ayyankali, P. K. Chathan Master

Pulaya (also called Cheraman, Cheruman, mas. Pulayan; fem. Pulayi, Pulachi; pl. Pulayar/Pulayas, Cherumar/Cheramar/Cherumas, IPA: [pulɐjɐ,tʃerumɐ] ) 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. ^{[2] [3]}

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

• Ayyankali (1863–1941), social reformer
• K. G. Balakrishnan, 37th Chief Justice of India
• Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indian actor ^[9]
• Chittayam Gopakumar, deputy speaker of 14th Kerala legislative assembly ^[10]
• Nandanar, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism
• C. T. Ravikumar, judge of the Supreme Court of India
• P. K. Rosy (1903–1988), first heroine of the Malayalam film industry
• Punnala Sreekumar, general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS)
• Kodikunnel Suresh, member of Parliament ^[11]
• K. P. Vallon (1894–1940), social reformer
• Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912–1978), former member of the Constituent Assembly
• Vinayakan, actor and dancer ^[12]

See also

• Caste system in Kerala

Arts of Pulayar caste:

• Chimmanakali
• Mangalamkali

References

1. Moffatt, Michael (2015). An Untouchable Community in South India: Structure and Consensus. Princeton University Press. p. 42. ISBN   978-1-40087-036-3. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
2. "List of Scheduled Castes in the Kerala State". Kerala Public Service Commission, State Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
3. "Tamil Nadu". Ministry of Social Justice. 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
4. "PRIMAL ELEMENTS:THE ORAL TRADITION". Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2006.
5. Paul Hockings, ed. (1987). "Early Evidence for Caste in South India". Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G. Mandelbaum. Berlin, New York, Amsterdam: Mouton de Gruyter. pp. 467–492.
6. Palaniappan, Sudalaimuthu (2008). "On The Unintended Influence Of Jainism On The Development Of Caste In Post-Classical Tamil Society" (PDF). International Journal of Jaina Studies. 4 (2). eISSN   1748-1074. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
7. "ചോഴികളി" (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
8. "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
9. "Actor Dharmajan says two Congress leaders worked for his poll defeat". Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
10. "CPI functionary suspended for casteist remarks". 19 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
11. "Cong MP loses seat over fake SC claim". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
12. "I am someone who thinks in an Ayyankali thought: Vinayakan, best actor – Round Table India". Round Table India. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2025.