Cheramar Christians: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 08:09, 3 June 2015 editSitush (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers260,192 edits →The Economic, Educational and Occupational History: this is about the Pulayars and the sources say as much← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 08:27, 3 June 2015 edit undoSitush (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers260,192 edits I was right to redirect earlier: there is nothing here and more or less nothing available about the Cherumar as Christians
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	{{Infobox ethnic group
	\|image =
	\|caption = The Cheramar Christians in ancient days
	\|group = Cheramar Christians
	\|pop =
	\|popplace = India ], ], ]
	\|religions =
	:]
	\|related = ],
	\|langs = Vernacular: ]
	}}

	'''Cheramar Christians''' is a Christian-Converted ] people living mostly in ] State and also in ] and ] of ]; and they belong to the “]” communities (not factually, for they have no ] and privileges as of other Dalits) or “Dalit Christians” called in India and in its ] referring to castes categories and sub-castes of India as one among the thousands of thousands castes of India, but with lower levels irrespective of their long back historical existence and contributions as of any castes in Kerala and India.

	==Etymology and Nomenclature==

	The names commonly used for Cheramars are Pulayan, Cheramar, Pulaya, ], Cherama, Cheraman, Cheruman, Cheran, ] Pulayan, Wayanadan Pulayan, Matha, Matha Pulayan. They are the names generally used for the particular scheduled caste group of people whose lineage or existence could be found as powerful rulers of ancient BC and loyal land owners and working force.<ref>Sreedhara Menon, Kerala Charithram, Vol. 1, 1964, p. 78.</ref>

	==Cheramar - Name==

	Fundamentally these caste people belong to the ] Community called “]” or “Pulayans” ] who also were called Cheramans styled in the vernacular Cherumakkal. The term 'Cheruman' from the word 'Cheru' which means 'small' in ] and also the Cheruman denoted the short physical stature of these people. And ‘Cheru’ has another meaning “Cheli or Mannu” (Mud or Clay or Soil) and “Makkal” (Sons) which means the sons and daughters of soil or land. They belong to the agricultural community, as in ancient Kerala and south India; having own –caste-bound livelihood and works.<ref>A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PULAYAS OF KERALA 08_chapter1. pdf</ref>{{Full}} They have dark complexion and strong physique.

	And in the modern century, the name 'Cheramar' was officially given to the Pulayas as per their request to the Government because they claimed that they were the descendants of ']' who ruled over Kerala in the AD 1st century. The name came into official use from the time of ] Thirunal Maharaja.<ref>A memorandum signed by one of the Pulaya leaders—John Joseph08_chapter1. pdf</ref>{{full}} Now their official Government Records and certificates or wherever or in whichever refers to caste, it is written “Cheramar Christian”.

	==The Socio-Historical-Political Evolvement and Existence of Cheramars==

	===The Religious History – Cheramars and Hinduism===

	On denial of entry and worship the “high-Caste Gods”, they worshipped at places called Kavu (groves). They believed in a non-empirical world of supernatural beings called ‘Pishachukkal ‘ – demons, which emphasizes propitiation from human beings in various forms. The principal Pishachukkal (Demon-gods) which the Pulayas worshipped were Kali, Chathan, Apasmaram, Parukutty, Karimkutty, Murudha, and Mallan. They were worshippers of serpents, ancestral spirits and performers of witchcrafts and called ‘Manthravadhikal”.<ref>Alexander, K. C., “Changing Religious Beliefs and Practices of the Pulayas of Kerala,” m a 1 Action, No. 5, September–October 1968.</ref> And not only the ancient period, the Cheramars were discriminated and tortured even after the famous Travancore Temple Entry Proclamation was made in 1936 and even after eleven years, such a proclamation was made in Cochin too.<ref>Velayudhan, P. S., SNDP Yoqa Charithram (Malayalam), 1918, p. 201.</ref><ref>Alexander, K. C., Social Mobility in Kerala, Deccan Colleq- e of Post Graduate Research Institute, Poona, 1968, pp. 228-230.</ref> Still now there are temples in which the Cheramars or Hindu Pulayas cannot perform rituals as of others.

	==The end of Slavery and Reformism==

	“The scares” (Paraya scare, Mannan Scare etc.) were ended in Malabar during British rule. But it was banned in Travancore in 1695 AD by Unny Kerala Varma. The anti-slavery campaigns along legal proclamations during the 1800s (mainly by Missionaries and foreign rulers) spread great fear among the high castes that felt that the missionaries had usurped the landlord’s position of authority over the Pulayas. Thus by 1850 and 1855 it was declared that owning slaves was illegal. The missionaries’ anti-slavery campaign and their continued pressure on the Travancore government finally ended in the emancipation of the slaves. On 24 June 1855 in a prominent case in Kottayam, a Syrian Christian landlord was fined and punished for kidnapping a Pulaya convert (Cheramar Christian) as a result of the united action of a group of Pulayas. The missionaries gave support to the Pulayas in their opposition to the landlord’s action with the permission of Travancore Dewan.

	Following the emancipation of the slaves in Travancore in 1855, a significant number of Pulayas from different parts of Central Travancore approached missionaries (LMS, CMS and others) with requests for "Christian instruction" and "slave schools," clearly indicating their readiness to move to a new religion and further their alliance with the missionaries. Form 1800 and succeeding years the annual numbers of adult baptisms were from 100 to 500 in a year.

	==Also Read==
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	==References==
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	==External links==
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	{{Topics related to Kerala}}
	{{History of India by State}}

	{{History of Kerala}}
	{{Portalbar\|Kerala\|Dravidian civilizations\|India}}

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Latest revision as of 08:27, 3 June 2015

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