Durava
Encyclopedia
Durave or Durava are Southern Sinhalese caste
in Sri Lanka
.
claim India
n ethnic origins and are primarily engaged in agriculture. The presence of service type castes or Jatis like the Durave indicate a complex migration history from India to Sri Lanka.
Durave are part of the caste structure of the coastal Sinhalese
with formerly limited regional spread specially in the southern part of the country. Today they are also entrepreneurs, professionals, agriculturists and workers throughout the country.
Many prominent lineages claim martial
origins due to their service as soldiers and mercenaries from South India
for Sinhalese kingdoms.
They were wrongly associated with Toddy tapping by the Portuguese
colonial power. The fact that durawe caste owned large swathes of coconut lands in Matara
& Galle
districts could have contributed to this wrong assumption. In fact toddy tapping is not limited to a particular caste in Sri Lanka and many social researches done by eminent sociologists reveal the fact that toddy tapping is done by members of many castes including the Govigama caste. The durave caste is a land owning caste from time immemorial and was held in high esteem by the Sinhalese Kings due to their administrative skills. Further the durave caste members held high positions in the armies of the Sinhala kings and were noted for their bravery in wars.
and Yakkas of the country, retinue of Pandyan consorts of Sri Lankan kings as well as early aristocratic families. The royal connection could be derived from their role as mercenaries in Sinhala Kingdom
days. Along with other coastal castes, they too have Ge or house names.
class by the British in the 19th century, it’s restriction only to the Govigama
caste, production of spurious caste hierarchy lists by this class and changes to the land tenure
system, resulted in this caste too being placed next in line to the hierarchy during this period.
The influential Mudaliyar class attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. They also used all possible means to economically and socially marginalise and subjugate all other communities. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community.
Despite the above setbacks, several members of this caste emerged as successful entrepreneurs in the British colonial market economy and were recognised as members of the local elite. They were involved in the freedom movement and early political reforms.
colonials in 1505 ACE. Using this opportunity they have upgraded themselves viz. a vie the dominant Govigama
caste. They along with other southern Sinhalese castes such as Karave
and Salagama
have played an important role in the historically left political and right parties. They are mostly Theravada
Buddhists today and were instrumental in the revival of Buddhism during the British colonial period. The un-Buddhistic practice of caste discrimination introduced into the Sangha
by the Siyam Nikaya in the late 18th century has been overcome by patronising the Amarapura Nikaya
and the Ramanna Nikaya
s. The community leaders have an influential say in modern Sri Lankan politics.
Along with these names they also use Iberian
derived surnames such as Perera, De Mel and Peiris along with countless others.
Caste system in Sri Lanka
The Caste system in Sri Lanka is a division of society into strata, differing somewhat from the classic Varnas of North India but is similar in nature to the Jāti system found in South India...
in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Origins
Sinhalese peopleSinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
claim India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n ethnic origins and are primarily engaged in agriculture. The presence of service type castes or Jatis like the Durave indicate a complex migration history from India to Sri Lanka.
Durave are part of the caste structure of the coastal Sinhalese
Sinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
with formerly limited regional spread specially in the southern part of the country. Today they are also entrepreneurs, professionals, agriculturists and workers throughout the country.
Many prominent lineages claim martial
Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis , was a Latin poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan...
origins due to their service as soldiers and mercenaries from South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
for Sinhalese kingdoms.
They were wrongly associated with Toddy tapping by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
colonial power. The fact that durawe caste owned large swathes of coconut lands in Matara
Matara, Sri Lanka
Matara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
& Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
districts could have contributed to this wrong assumption. In fact toddy tapping is not limited to a particular caste in Sri Lanka and many social researches done by eminent sociologists reveal the fact that toddy tapping is done by members of many castes including the Govigama caste. The durave caste is a land owning caste from time immemorial and was held in high esteem by the Sinhalese Kings due to their administrative skills. Further the durave caste members held high positions in the armies of the Sinhala kings and were noted for their bravery in wars.
Origin myths
The community connects itself with the tribes such as the NagasNaga (clan)
The Naga were one of the ancient most kshatriya tribes of India who ruled large parts of the world at different times. They spread throughout India during the period of the epic Mahabharata. Anthropologist Gelek Lonbsang believes they have distant ancestry with East Asians based on their similar...
and Yakkas of the country, retinue of Pandyan consorts of Sri Lankan kings as well as early aristocratic families. The royal connection could be derived from their role as mercenaries in Sinhala Kingdom
Sinhala Kingdom
Sinhala was a kingdom in the island Lanka, modern day Sri Lanka, mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. From 'Sinhala Diva' are derived the Tamil 'Eelam', Persian/Arabic Serendipor Sarandib, and the European 'Ceilao', 'Zeylan' and 'Ceylon'....
days. Along with other coastal castes, they too have Ge or house names.
British Period
The creation of a powerful MudaliyarSri Lankan Mudaliyars
Mudali was a colonial title & office in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese colonials created the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes form the coastal areas, who were most likely to serve the Portuguese masters with utmost loyalty. The Dutch continued the practice of...
class by the British in the 19th century, it’s restriction only to the Govigama
Govigama
Govi, Govigama, Goigama, Goygama, Goyigama, Goviyo is the most influential and the dominant Caste in Sri Lanka and certainly comes as the leading cast in the hierarchy of cast system in Sri Lanka.The term Govi denotes farmer.From time immemorial the Govigama have been the landlords and have been...
caste, production of spurious caste hierarchy lists by this class and changes to the land tenure
Land tenure
Land tenure is the name given, particularly in common law systems, to the legal regime in which land is owned by an individual, who is said to "hold" the land . The sovereign monarch, known as The Crown, held land in its own right. All private owners are either its tenants or sub-tenants...
system, resulted in this caste too being placed next in line to the hierarchy during this period.
The influential Mudaliyar class attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. They also used all possible means to economically and socially marginalise and subjugate all other communities. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community.
Despite the above setbacks, several members of this caste emerged as successful entrepreneurs in the British colonial market economy and were recognised as members of the local elite. They were involved in the freedom movement and early political reforms.
Current status
They were converted to Catholic religion soon after arrival of PortuguesePortuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
colonials in 1505 ACE. Using this opportunity they have upgraded themselves viz. a vie the dominant Govigama
Govigama
Govi, Govigama, Goigama, Goygama, Goyigama, Goviyo is the most influential and the dominant Caste in Sri Lanka and certainly comes as the leading cast in the hierarchy of cast system in Sri Lanka.The term Govi denotes farmer.From time immemorial the Govigama have been the landlords and have been...
caste. They along with other southern Sinhalese castes such as Karave
Karave
Karava also Karave, Kara, Karavaa, Kaura is a significant Sinhalese community who are considered secondary in caste to the Govigama. The Tamil equivalent is Karaiyar.- General :...
and Salagama
Salagama
Salagama is the name of a caste in Sri Lanka. The community was traditionally associated with the cultivation and management of cinnamon, and also as soldiers,and are found mostly in Southern coastal areas, especially in the villages around Rathgama , Boossa and Balapitiya in Galle...
have played an important role in the historically left political and right parties. They are mostly Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Buddhists today and were instrumental in the revival of Buddhism during the British colonial period. The un-Buddhistic practice of caste discrimination introduced into the Sangha
Sangha
Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose...
by the Siyam Nikaya in the late 18th century has been overcome by patronising the Amarapura Nikaya
Amarapura Nikaya
The Amarapura Nikaya is a Sri Lankan monastic fraternity founded in 1800. It is named after the city of Amarapura, Myanmar , the former capital of the Burmese kingdom...
and the Ramanna Nikaya
Ramanna Nikaya
Ramanna Nikaya is one of the most orthodox Buddhist orders in Sri Lanka. It was founded in 1864 when Ambagahawatte Saranankara, returned to Sri Lanka after being ordained by the Neyyadhama Munivara Sangharaja of Ratnapunna Vihara in Burma.-Similar orders:Ramanna Nikaya is said to be similar to the...
s. The community leaders have an influential say in modern Sri Lankan politics.
Some Ge names
- Hevage House of the soldier in such forms as Golu Hevage, Mamu Hevage and Punchi Hevage.
- Panikkalage
- Ranavirage House of the war hero
- Henanayakage House of the Commander-in-chief
- Bettage House of the bard
- Thantirige House of the thrice honoured
- Lansage House of lance-bearers
- Kodikarage House of the flag-bearers
- Kodituvakkuge House of the gunners
- Dunu Vidi Hevage House of the archers
- Vedage House of the physician, House of the teacher
- Hettige House of the merchant
- Kovilage House of the temple or Kovil
- Enderage House of the herdsman
- Liyanasekara House of the scribe
- Manage ...
- Hewamanage ....
- Gajanayake ...
- Witharanalage ...
- Biyanvilage ...
- Agalagamage ...
- Suduweli Kandage(S.K.).......
- Samaraweera.......
- Wickramasinghe.......
- Wellalage.......
- Gajadeera.......
- Gallage.......
Along with these names they also use Iberian
Iberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
derived surnames such as Perera, De Mel and Peiris along with countless others.
Notable people
- Most Venerable Palane Siri Vajiranana Maha Nayaka Thera (He was the greatest Exponet of the Buddha's Doctrine in the 20th Centuary 1878-1955)
- Rajakiya Panditha Madihe Pannaseeha Maha Nayaka TheraMadihe Pannaseeha theroMadihe Pannaseeha Thero was an eminent Sri Lankan Buddhist monk, who was the head of Amarapura sect from July 13, 1969 until his death on September 9, 2003.-Early life:...
- Poetess Gajaman NonaGajaman NonaDona Isabella Koraneliya was a Sri Lankan author who was noted for having the ability to write and recite impromptu Sinhala poetry. She was born in Kollupitiya, Ceylon as the second daughter of Don Francisco Senaratna Kumara Perumal and Fransina Jasenthu Graivo...
- Cumaratunga MunidasaCumaratunga MunidasaKumaratunga Munidasa was a pioneer Sri Lankan linguist, grammarian, commentator, writer, poet, and journalist. He founded the Hela Havula movement which sought to remove Sanskrit influences in the Sinhala language promote its correct usage. He was one of the most eminent scholars Sri Lanka has...
- C.V. GunaratneC.V. GunaratneClement Victor Gunaratne was Sri Lanka's Cabinet Minister of Industries Development. Minister Gunaratne and his wife along with 20 others were killed by a suicide bomber of the LTTE terrorist organization on June 7, 2000.He was educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo where was captain...
- Former Cabinet Minister - Dr. A. T. AriyaratneA. T. AriyaratneSri Lankabhimanya Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne is the founder and president of the Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement in Sri Lanka.-Biography:...
- Founder of the SarvodayaSarvodayaSarvodaya is a term meaning 'universal uplift' or 'progress of all'. The term was first coined by Mahatma Gandhi as the title of his 1908 translation of John Ruskin's tract on political economy, Unto This Last, and Gandhi came to use the term for the ideal of his own political philosophy...
movement - Gamini FonsekaGamini FonsekaSembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka was a Sri Lankan film actor and politician.Fonseka was born on March 21, 1936 in Dehiwela the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, Gamini moved on to S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia...
- Movie star, former Governor of Western Province - Vijaya KumaranatungaVijaya KumaratungaKovilage Anton Vijaya Kumaranatunga was a popular Sri Lankan film actor and politician, married to former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga from 1978 to his assassination in 1988.- Family life :In 1978, Kumaratunga married Chandrika Bandaranaike, daughter of the...
- Movie star,politician and married to former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga - Milinda MoragodaMilinda MoragodaAsoka Milinda Moragoda is a Sri Lankan politician and businessman. He is Opposition Leader of the Colombo Municipal Council and was, until recently, a Senior Adviser to President Mahinda Rajapakse. He was a former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament representing the Colombo District...
- Former Cabinet Minister of Justice and Law Reforms - Mangala SamaraweeraMangala SamaraweeraMangala Pinsiri Samaraweera MP is a Sri Lankan politician and current member of parliament who served as the Cabinet Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007...
- Former Cabinet Minister and Matara district MP - Jeewan KumaranatungaJeewan KumaranatungaJeewan Kumaranatunga is a Sri Lankan politician, a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and a government minister.-References:...
- Cabinet Minister and MP - Mervyn SilvaMervyn SilvaHewa Koparage Mervyn Silva is a controversial Sri Lankan politician, Member of Parliament and government minister.-Political career:...
- Cabinet Minister and Gampaha district MP - Chandrasiri GajadeeraChandrasiri GajadeeraChandrasiri Gajadeera is a Sri Lankan politician, a member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka and a government minister.-References:...
- Cabinet Minister and Matara district MP - Mahinda AmaraweeraMahinda AmaraweeraMahinda Amaraweera is a Sri Lankan politician. He was the Cabinet Minister of Water Supply. He is a representative of Hambantota District for the United People's Freedom Alliance in the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He resides in Colombo.- Birth and Education :He was born in a remote village called...
- Cabinet Minister and Hambantota district MP - Ranjan RamanayakeRanjan RamanayakeRanjan Ramanayake is an actor and director from Sri Lanka. He rose to fame with a leading role in the commercial film Jaya Kothenada and mainted his status a commercial film star through the 1990s...
- Movie star and Ratnapura district MP - Professor.Chandra WickramasingheChandra WickramasingheVidya Jothi Nalin Chandra Wickramasinghe , FIMA, FRAS, FRSA is Professor at Cardiff University and Honorary Professor at the University of Buckingham. He is the Director of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology...
- Dr.Lal Jayawardena Lal JayawardenaLal Jayawardena was a noted Sri Lankan economist and diplomat, and was the first director of the World Institute for Development Economics Research...
- Economist and ex High Commissioner to United Kingdom - Anoja WeerasingheAnoja WeerasingheAnoja Weerasinghe is an award-winning Sri Lankan film actress.- Career :Weerasinghe rose to popularity in cinema after winning the Silver Peacock Award for the Best Actress at the New Delhi International Film Festival in 1987 for the film Maldeniye Simion, directed by D.B. Nihalsinghe.- External...
(nee Siriwardana) - Movie star
See also
- BillavaBillavaThe Billava, or Ilava people make up one of the largest Hindu communities of the Tulu ethnic group in India. They are also found in the Kannada-speaking Kundapura region of Karnataka and some parts of Kerala, including Kasaragod district...
A Tulu community - EzhavaEzhavaThe Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
A Malayalam community of KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions.... - GoudGoudThe Goud are caste found mostly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Maharastra. Gouds were involved in soma development in ancient days.-Origin:...
A TeluguTelugu peopleThe Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
community - Ediga A Kannada community
- NalavarNalavarNalavar also Nalava is a Sri Lankan Tamil caste of traditional agriculturalists and toddy tapers. But today they are found in all aspects of the society. They are part of a new amalgamation of castes in Jaffna peninsula called as Panchamar or Fives...
A TamilTamil peopleTamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
community found only in JaffnaJaffnaJaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
, Sri Lanka
External links
- Naga KingdomNaga KingdomNaga Kingdom refers to the territory of a tribe called Nagas who were a group of hardy and warlike people spread throughout India during far ancient history. They were also considered as one of the supernatural races like Kinnaras and Yakshas...
- Cobra: the most spiritual of animals
- The original inhabitants of Lanka: Yakkas & Nagas
- The story of Lanka: sifting facts from folklore and legend
- Nagadipa or Naka-diva was the ancient name of the Jaffna peninsula
- PAXLanka
- Nallur Rajadhani: City Layout
- Sojourn in Jaffna : A traveller's paradise
- The 16 PLACES OF VENERATION
- LankaLibrary Forum
- THE JAFFNA PENINSULAR