|
|
|
|
|
Author: T. Ramakrishnan
Publication: The Hindu
Date: February 15, 2006
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/15/stories/2006021504881200.htm
They challenged the hierarchical caste system, says Tokyo professor
Several Tamil inscriptions of the medieval era have revealed the existence of a social formation, which had emerged as a challenge to the hierarchical caste system based on Brahminical ideology, according to Noboru Karashima, Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo and Professor of Indian Studies, Taisho University.
The social formation, called "valangai" (meaning right hand) and "idangai," (left hand) was made up of lower classes, consisting mostly of artisans, merchants and hill-tribe soldiers. The groups were of horizontal nature and they had existed for nearly five centuries, Prof. Karashima told The Hindu in an interview here on Tuesday.
Comparing imprecations in inscriptions of the 5th century to 11th century with those of the 13th century, the expert explained that while the former were in accordance with the Brahminical ideology prescribed in `Manusmriti,' the latter represented a challenge to the "hegemony of the Brahmins and Vellalas", the two groups that were interdependent.
The emergence of the "valangai" and "idangai" took place during the latter part of the Chola rule. During the 13th and 14th centuries, they became more powerful. The two groups cooperated with each other in 1429 in the middle Tamil Nadu against Vijayanagar rulers and landlords belonging to the Brahmin and the Vellala communities. However, from the latter half of the 15th century, no such revolt was recorded, Prof. Karashima said.
The appearance of many new "jatis" whose members gradually organised themselves into groups such as "chitrameli-periyanadu" (farmers' organisation), "valangai-idangai" and "ainurruvar" (merchants' organisation) marked a social change. Coinciding with the decline of the central power, the new groups had formed supra-local organisations and recorded in inscriptions various agreements or resolutions they made in large assemblies.
"Most of them were in Cholamandalam [meaning central parts of the State]," he said.
Prof. Karashima, who had authored numerous books on south Indian history, said there was migration of some constituents of "valangai - idangai" into each other. Though the two groups were against the hierarchical system, there was caste hierarchy within each group. Despite posing a challenge, they did not overturn the Brahminical ideology. Also, in 17th and 18th centuries, the two groups had fought against each other.
The expert, who lives in Japan, regretted that there were no young scholars taking up Indian epigraphy.Prof. Karashima, who is also the president of the International Association of Tamil Research, notes that proceedings of the Eighth International Tamil Conference held at Thanjavur in 1995 will be published shortly thanks to the efforts of the State Government and Tamil University.
 |
|
|
