Timeline of the Karavas
Encyclopedia
The modern Sri Lankan Karava are the largest Dravidian
caste
in Sri Lanka, outnumbering Tamils of Sri Lanka fourfold. (The Govigama Sinhalese are of Aryan origin.) Modern DNA evidence disproves the Arya-Dravida divide. Traditionally set below the Govigama caste, the Karava of colonial times rapidly allied themselves to the Colonial powers (Portuguese
, Dutch
and English
) who ruled Sri Lanka. Conversion to Christianity was a common phenomenon to castes desiring upward mobility in this era. Also, the interior regions fell to the Europe
ans much later. In the following centuries the Karava created a semi-modern folklore of heraldry, etymology and traditions that attempt to establish them at the apex of the Sri Lankan caste structure. They have on occasion also succeeded.
The Karava version of their ancestry lies in the passing similarity between the terms Kaurava
, Karaiyar
and Karave. However, it has been suggested these terms do not share a common etymology. Rather, the term Karave stems from Kara or salt in vernacular Sinhalese, denoting the fisherfolk of the day. However, this does not explain the usage of the term in Tamil
in reference to them. The claim that these coastal fishermen were migrants from South India during the 15th to 17th Centuries who migrated South from the Northwestern coast of Sri Lanka (Mannar
and Chilaw
) does not answer the question about the traditional Sinhala
fishermen. Also the Sinhalese are not tolerant of undue foreign occupation, so this theory is doubtful. This is evident by their claim that the Karave are hence not of Kshatriya
origin but Dravidian
—a non-Aryan
race altogether. It is interesting to note that many Sri Lankans claim Indian decent.
The following is the Karava version of their timeline. Most superior castes in Sri Lanka
as well as historians find many of these assertions dubious.
The Govigama
Sinhalese, the Vellalar
Ceylon Tamils and the Vellalars—all reject the Karava claims of the origin of their caste. However, Dutch records show vast Vellalar
migration during the Dutch
era and the Sinhalas are very vocal about this during times of conflict. More over in the Jaffna kingdom the Karaiyar were independent of the social structure (caste) to which the landed communities were bound. Most of the evidence given in this article for Karava lineage is based on associative logic. The Independence Struggle of Sri Lanka was initiated by the first political party in Sri Lanka
, the LSSP
, which had representations from all castes. The Ceylon National Association formed in 1880 had been pushing for legislative reforms from an earlier period and was also successful in getting the "paddy tax" levied on farmers abolished. It was primarily formed by members of the Karava caste.
Ancient Period—Kuru Kingdom in India
with its capital at Hastinapur, inhabited by the Kauravas and the Pandavas from the royal line of King Bharata
. Mahabharata
war between the Kauravas and their cousins the Pandavas and the dispersal of Kauravas in the Asia
n region.
Early British scholars such as Dalton discovered several communities spuriously claiming descent from the Kauravas, including Kaorwa in the Punjab and Kaurs in Jasapur; Udaepur; Sirgeya; Korea; Chand; Bhakar and Korba of Chittisgarin (Tod II 256); Gaurava, a Rajput caste practicing widow remarriage (Karewa) in the Delhi district (Elliot quoted by Habib 150); Karaiar, an Karawa in Ceylon (Neville II 9); Curus in Coromandel; and Taprobane. (RAS 157 and 158.)
550 BC
Buddha
visits the Kuru Kingdom, which is by then nothing like the powerful and extensive Kuru kingdom of the Mahabharata. By then it is just another Mahajanapada of India but famed as a kingdom inhabited by an extremely intelligent and clever race. The Buddha preaches the profound Satipattana Sutta, Maha Nidana Sutta, Āneñjasappāya Sutta, Māgaṇḍiya Sutta, Raṭṭhapāla Sutta, Sammasa Sutta and Dutiya Ariyāvāsa Sutta to the Kauravas as they were intelligent and clever enough to understand these higher doctrines.
The Buddha has referred to himself as 'the kinsman of the Sun' in several Suttas
, according to the Karavas, emphasizing his Kshatriya
status. However, it is widely accepted that the Buddha was one of the foremost opponents of the ancient caste system of Hindu India.
500 BC
Migration of a community of Kauravas to Sri Lanka with Prince Karavanti, a minister of prince Vijaya. The putative port of landing of the prince is in northwest Sri Lanka and contagious with the region later known as Kuru Rata with a city named Hastinapura
(Kurunegala
) named after the Mahabharata
capital of the Kauravas.
300 BC
Migration of more Kauravas with Theri Sanghamitta
, the daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka
, who brought the sacred Bo sapling
to Sri Lanka. The Bodhiyabaduge and several other Karava clans ascribe their migration to this event.
Pre-Christian and early Christian era
2nd century
4th century
Anuradhapura
and Polonnaruwa
periods
7th – 8th centuries
11th century
12th century
13th century
14th century
15th century
16th century
17th century
18th century
Late 18th century
A De Saram family of mixed origin Sinhalises
itself by posing as the representatives of the masses and subsequently convinces the British rulers that they are from the numerous Govigama
caste. The De Saram family gains power and position by loyalty, religious conversion and collaboration with the Dutch and British rulers and succeeds in marginalizing the traditional ruling class. The British notion of an inverted caste hierarchy in Sri Lanka is easily traceable to the documents on 'local customs' produced by this family.
The British naturally favor the subservient De Saram family against the belligerent traditional elite. The De Saram family is given increasing patronage and chiefly appointments and grows in power and influence. (See Sri Lankan Mudaliyars
.)
According to Karava lore some of these families were founded by Karavas disowned by the clan for marrying beneath their status. For example the De Saram and Corea families are said to have Karava Patangatim ancestors, respectively, Bandaranaike Suriya Patangatim of Dondra and Domingus Corea Patangatim of Negombo. The first Obeysekera is said to be a Karava from Gandara.
19th century
1890s
Late 19th century
Early 20th century
Dravidian peoples
Dravidian peoples is a term used to refer to the diverse groups of people who natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. Populations of speakers of around 220 million are found mostly in Southern India. Other Dravidian people are found in parts of central India, Sri Lanka,...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
in Sri Lanka, outnumbering Tamils of Sri Lanka fourfold. (The Govigama Sinhalese are of Aryan origin.) Modern DNA evidence disproves the Arya-Dravida divide. Traditionally set below the Govigama caste, the Karava of colonial times rapidly allied themselves to the Colonial powers (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...
, Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) who ruled Sri Lanka. Conversion to Christianity was a common phenomenon to castes desiring upward mobility in this era. Also, the interior regions fell to the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans much later. In the following centuries the Karava created a semi-modern folklore of heraldry, etymology and traditions that attempt to establish them at the apex of the Sri Lankan caste structure. They have on occasion also succeeded.
The Karava version of their ancestry lies in the passing similarity between the terms Kaurava
Kaurava
The term Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means the descendants of Kuru, a legendary king who is the ancestor of many of the characters of the Mahābhārata.The term is used in the Mahābhārata with two meanings:...
, Karaiyar
Karaiyar
Karaiyar, also known as Karayar, Karaiar or Kurukulam, is traditionally both a seafaring and warrior caste found in the Tamil Nadu state of India, coastal areas of Sri Lanka, and globally among the Tamil diaspora.-Origins:...
and Karave. However, it has been suggested these terms do not share a common etymology. Rather, the term Karave stems from Kara or salt in vernacular Sinhalese, denoting the fisherfolk of the day. However, this does not explain the usage of the term in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
in reference to them. The claim that these coastal fishermen were migrants from South India during the 15th to 17th Centuries who migrated South from the Northwestern coast of Sri Lanka (Mannar
Mannar
Mannar may refer to:* Mannar, Alappuzha, a town in Alappuzha district, Kerala, India* Mannar, Kaduthuruthy,a town in Kottayam district, Kerala, India* Mannar, Sri Lanka, a town in northern Sri Lanka* Mannar District, a district in Sri Lanka...
and Chilaw
Chilaw
Chilaw is a western seaboard town on the island of Sri Lanka.It is a bustling town with a famous fishmarket and beach...
) does not answer the question about the traditional Sinhala
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...
fishermen. Also the Sinhalese are not tolerant of undue foreign occupation, so this theory is doubtful. This is evident by their claim that the Karave are hence not of Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
origin but Dravidian
Dravidian peoples
Dravidian peoples is a term used to refer to the diverse groups of people who natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. Populations of speakers of around 220 million are found mostly in Southern India. Other Dravidian people are found in parts of central India, Sri Lanka,...
—a non-Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
race altogether. It is interesting to note that many Sri Lankans claim Indian decent.
The following is the Karava version of their timeline. Most superior castes 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...
as well as historians find many of these assertions dubious.
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...
Sinhalese, the Vellalar
Vellalar
Vellalars were, originally, an elite caste of Tamil agricultural landlords in Tamil Nadu, Kerala states in India and in neighbouring Sri Lanka; they were the nobility, aristocracy of the ancient Tamil order and had close relations with the different royal dynasties...
Ceylon Tamils and the Vellalars—all reject the Karava claims of the origin of their caste. However, Dutch records show vast Vellalar
Vellalar
Vellalars were, originally, an elite caste of Tamil agricultural landlords in Tamil Nadu, Kerala states in India and in neighbouring Sri Lanka; they were the nobility, aristocracy of the ancient Tamil order and had close relations with the different royal dynasties...
migration during the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
era and the Sinhalas are very vocal about this during times of conflict. More over in the Jaffna kingdom the Karaiyar were independent of the social structure (caste) to which the landed communities were bound. Most of the evidence given in this article for Karava lineage is based on associative logic. The Independence Struggle of Sri Lanka was initiated by the first political party 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...
, the LSSP
Lanka Sama Samaja Party
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party is a Trotskyist political party in Sri Lanka....
, which had representations from all castes. The Ceylon National Association formed in 1880 had been pushing for legislative reforms from an earlier period and was also successful in getting the "paddy tax" levied on farmers abolished. It was primarily formed by members of the Karava caste.
The Ancient Period
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...
with its capital at Hastinapur, inhabited by the Kauravas and the Pandavas from the royal line of King Bharata
Bharata (emperor)
Bharata was a legendary emperor of India, and is referred to in Hindu and Jain mythology. He was son of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala and thus a descendant of the Lunar Dynasty of the Kshatriya caste. Bharata conquered all of greater Greater India, uniting it into a single entity which was named...
. Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
war between the Kauravas and their cousins the Pandavas and the dispersal of Kauravas in the Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n region.
Early British scholars such as Dalton discovered several communities spuriously claiming descent from the Kauravas, including Kaorwa in the Punjab and Kaurs in Jasapur; Udaepur; Sirgeya; Korea; Chand; Bhakar and Korba of Chittisgarin (Tod II 256); Gaurava, a Rajput caste practicing widow remarriage (Karewa) in the Delhi district (Elliot quoted by Habib 150); Karaiar, an Karawa in Ceylon (Neville II 9); Curus in Coromandel; and Taprobane. (RAS 157 and 158.)
550 BC
Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
visits the Kuru Kingdom, which is by then nothing like the powerful and extensive Kuru kingdom of the Mahabharata. By then it is just another Mahajanapada of India but famed as a kingdom inhabited by an extremely intelligent and clever race. The Buddha preaches the profound Satipattana Sutta, Maha Nidana Sutta, Āneñjasappāya Sutta, Māgaṇḍiya Sutta, Raṭṭhapāla Sutta, Sammasa Sutta and Dutiya Ariyāvāsa Sutta to the Kauravas as they were intelligent and clever enough to understand these higher doctrines.
Sutta Pitaka
The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the three divisions of the Tipitaka or Pali Canon, the Pali collection of Buddhist writings, the scriptures of Theravada Buddhism...
, according to the Karavas, emphasizing his Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
status. However, it is widely accepted that the Buddha was one of the foremost opponents of the ancient caste system of Hindu India.
500 BC
Migration of a community of Kauravas to Sri Lanka with Prince Karavanti, a minister of prince Vijaya. The putative port of landing of the prince is in northwest Sri Lanka and contagious with the region later known as Kuru Rata with a city named Hastinapura
Hastinapura
Hastinapur is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-History:Hastinapur was the capital of the kingdom of the Kauravas, belonging to the Kuru dynasty of kings. The throne of this city was the prize over which the Kurukshetra War of the epic...
(Kurunegala
Kurunegala
Kurunegala , is the capital of the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was also an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 13th century. The town itself is a busy commercial and a transport hub...
) named after the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
capital of the Kauravas.
300 BC
Migration of more Kauravas with Theri Sanghamitta
Sanghamitta
Sanghamittā was the daughter of Emperor Ashoka and his Buddhist queen Devī. Together with Venerable Mahinda, her brother, she entered an order of Buddhist monks...
, the daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
, who brought the sacred Bo sapling
Sri Maha Bodhi
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened...
to Sri Lanka. The Bodhiyabaduge and several other Karava clans ascribe their migration to this event.
Pre-Christian and early Christian era
- Karavas are influential enough to have their own permanent council terrace. The inscription of Ila Barata, Kuruvira, Karava Navika and others is inscribed on a vertical rock face of a terrace to the north west of the ancient Abhayagiri DagabaAbhayagiri DagabaAbhayagiri vihāra is situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities in the nation. Historically it was a great monastic centre as well as a royal capital, with magnificent monasteries rising to many...
in AnuradhapuraAnuradhapuraAnuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
. (Paranavitana xo 94.)
- BharataBharata (emperor)Bharata was a legendary emperor of India, and is referred to in Hindu and Jain mythology. He was son of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala and thus a descendant of the Lunar Dynasty of the Kshatriya caste. Bharata conquered all of greater Greater India, uniting it into a single entity which was named...
warriors appear as wealthy and prominent patrons of the SanghaSanghaSangha 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...
in BrahmiBrāhmī scriptBrāhmī is the modern name given to the oldest members of the Brahmic family of scripts. The best-known Brāhmī inscriptions are the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka in north-central India, dated to the 3rd century BCE. These are traditionally considered to be early known examples of Brāhmī writing...
rock inscriptions scattered across Sri Lanka right into the deep south. http://www.defonseka.com/k16.htm. Unlike other Brahmi inscriptions, many of these inscriptions bear the symbol of a ship.
- The pre-Christian rock inscriptions of the Kataragama Kshatriyas always bear the fish symbol.
- Recent excavations in the south have uncovered many types of coins from the same period with the fish symbol. The fish symbol and the ship symbol are recurrent symbols on Karava HeraldryKarava HeraldryThe Karavas claim - on the basis of certain European commentaries - to be the only Sri Lankan community traditionally entitled to use flags. British Government Agents studying Sri Lankan flags during the early 20th century have noted that not a single flag could be found even in the residences of...
.
2nd century
- According to the old Sinhala texts Rajavaliya, Janavamsa and Kadaim-Poth, King Gajabahu IGajabahu IGajabahu I , also known as Gajabahuka Gamani was a Sinhalese king of Rajarata in Sri Lanka. He is renowned for his religious benefactions, extensive involvement in south Indian politics, and for possibly introducing the cult of the goddess Pattini to Sri Lanka...
brings a large community of Kauravas among 24,000 second generation Sri Lankan captives and Indian prisnors from Chola, and settles them in Kuru Rata, the present negombo Chilaw region and calls it Aluth Kuru Rata (the new Kuru country) and renames the previous synonymous region Parana Kuru Rata (The old Kuru country). The Sun and Moon Flag of the Kaurava is now called the district flag of this region.
4th century
- A rock inscription by Karava Tissa a mariner in veragala. (H. W. Codrington appendix 193.)
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
and Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa
The second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 AD to reunite the country once more under a local leader.-History:While Vijayabahu's victory and shifting of Kingdoms to the more strategic Polonnaruwa...
periods
- Sri Lanka continues to be ruled by KshatriyaKshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
kings, who claim descent from Indian Solar and LunarLunar DynastyIn Hindu mythology, the Lunar Dynasty is one of the three principal houses of the Kshatriya varna, or warrior–ruling caste...
Dynasties. Their royal symbols are the Sun and the Moon. The Lion was not a royal symbol for these monarchs and they used the lion image on foot-stones at entrances to buildings and on urinal-stones. Whether the lion was a royal symbol even for the KalingaKalingaKalinga is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north...
monarchs of Sri Lanka who claimed to hail from Sinhapura (lion city) is quite debatable. In addition, Kings such as Parakramabahu the Great, Nissankamalla and other kings have also used the Fish symbol on their inscriptions. The Fish symbol too is a recurrent royal symbol on Karava HeraldryKarava HeraldryThe Karavas claim - on the basis of certain European commentaries - to be the only Sri Lankan community traditionally entitled to use flags. British Government Agents studying Sri Lankan flags during the early 20th century have noted that not a single flag could be found even in the residences of...
. - The Overlord's share of tax is called Kara Kadaya in a Sri Lankan royal inscription. (EZ II 59.)
7th – 8th centuries
- Arikesari Maravarman attacks the Paravas who did not submit to him and destroys the people of Kuru Nadu in the Pandyan KingdomPandyan KingdomThe Pandyan dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty. The Pandyas were one of the four Tamil dynasties , which ruled South India until the 15th century CE. They initially ruled their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a seaport on the Southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved...
. (Sastri 52.)
The Mediaeval Period
Mediaeval period- More Karavas fishermen claim to settle in Sri Lanka as independent migrants and settlers from invading armies of Pandya, Chola, and KalingaKalingaKalinga is a landlocked province of the Philippines in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon. Its capital is Tabuk and borders Mountain Province to the south, Abra to the west, Isabela to the east, Cagayan to the northeast, and Apayao to the north...
from the Kuru-Mandala coastCoromandel CoastThe Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
(i.e. The region of the KurusKurusKuruş is a Turkish currency subunit. Since 2005, one new Turkish lira is equal to 100 kuruş. The kuruş was also the standard unit of currency in the Ottoman Empire until 1844, and from that date until the late 1970s was a subdivision of the former lira. It was subdivided into 40 para , each of...
) stretching across Andra Pradesh and Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
- The capital of the Pandyan Kingdom was KorkaiKorkaiKorkai is a small village in the Srivaikuntam taluk of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 3 km north of the Thamirabarani River and about 6 km from the shore of Bay of Bengal. Korkai was the capital, principal center of trade and important port of the Early Pandyan...
before it was shifted to MaduraiMaduraiMadurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
. Madura in the south was sometimes called Dakshina Madura (Southern Madura) to differentiate it from the northern Uttara MadraMadraMadra, Mada or Madraka is the name of an ancient region and its inhabitants, located in the north-west division of the ancient Indian sub-continent.-Uttaramadra division:...
. - Sangam literature refers to the Pandyans as Kauriyar.
- The KalingasKalinga (India)Kalinga was an early state in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa/Utkal , as well as the Andhra region of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh. It was a rich and fertile land that extended from the river Damodar/Ganges to Godavari and from Bay of Bengal to...
had fought in the Mahabharat war for the Kauravas and KharavelaKharavelaKhārabēḷa was the third and greatest emperor of the Mahāmēghabāhana Dynasty of Kaḷinga . The main source of information about Khārabeḷa is his famous seventeen line rock-cut Hātigumphā inscription in a cave in the Udayagiri hills near Bhubaneswar, Orissa.During the reign of Khārabēḷa, the Chedi...
was a famous king of Kalingas. - CholaChola DynastyThe Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
armies led by Generals such as Aditya KarikalanAditya KarikalanAditya Karikalan or Aditya II was a Chola prince who lived in the tenth century in South India. He was the eldest son of Sundara Chola and the brother of Rajaraja Chola I....
.
11th century
- Many Kurukularajas all over the Tamil country. (BITC 1.)
- A commander in the Sri Lankan king Vijayabahu IVijayabahu IVijayabahu I was a medieval king of Sri Lanka. Born to a royal bloodline, he grew up at a time which parts of the country were ruled by the invaders from the Chola dynasty of India. He assumed rulership of the Ruhuna principality in the southern parts of the country in 1055...
's army is referred to as Kurukulattarayan who wore the golden anklet. (EI No. 38 XXI 5.) - Several references to Kurukulattarayans and Kurukularayans in Chalukya Chola inscriptions. (Sastri The Cholas 592, Travancore archaeological series I, 247 and South Indian Inscriptions No. 53 VII 126.)
12th century
- An inscription of Kullotunga says that he invaded Madura on behalf of his nephew Karadeva. (Madras epigraphy collection of 1928, No. 336.)
13th century
- Several inscriptions refer to Gurukulattarayan (Kurukulattarayan) in the Pandya Kingdom. (Madras Government Epigraphy Inscriptions 548, 549, 550, 553, 572, 575.)
- A Gurukulattarayan in the Chola Kingdom eulogized as lord of Tadangauni. (Madras Government Epigraphy Inscription 554.)
- A division of Trichinopoly district was known as Kurunagai Nadu. (Rangacharya 1512.)
- Kaurava Adittya (Kurukulasuriya) Arasa Nila Yitta (bearing kingly position) Elenaga, Mahanaga http://www.defonseka.com/k10.htm and other Patabenda Karava sub kings rule regional kingdoms of Sri Lanka. (Valignano 1577, Perniola 82, Valentyn 1726.)
14th century
- According to an inscription dated 1353, the city of VijayanagarVijayanagaraVijayanagara is in Bellary District, northern Karnataka. It is the name of the now-ruined capital city "which was regarded as the second Rome" that surrounds modern-day Hampi, of the historic Vijayanagara empire which extended over the southern part of India....
was called Kurukshetra- Vidyanagari. Other inscriptions from the periods of Harihara I and Bukka I say that it was also called Hastinavati reminiscent of Hastinapur. (Ramanayar 52.)
15th century
- Migration of several Suriya clans of the Karavas in the reign of King Parakrama Bahu VI (1412–1467) as documented in the Mukkara HatanaMukkara HatanaThe Mukkara Hatana is an old palm leaf manuscript from Sri Lanka now in the British Museum. It is in the Hugh Neville collection of the British Museum and is catalogued as Or. 6606 . It is in the style of other local histories such as Kadaim-poth, Vitti-poth etc.The story in the Mukkara Hatana is...
palm leaf manuscriptPalm leaf manuscriptPalm leaf manuscripts are manuscripts made out of dried palm leaves. They served as the paper of the ancient world in parts of Asia as far back as the fifteenth century BCE. and possibly much earlier. They were used to record actual and mythical narratives in South Asia and in South East Asia...
now in the British Museum. Valentyn states that Parakrama Bahu VI is from Kurukule. Parakrama Bahu VI describes himself as "descended from King Bharatha" in his Padákada Sannasa. (JRASCB XXXVI 132.)
16th century
- Arrival of PortuguesePortugalPortugal , 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...
followed by the subsequent division of the community into two rival groups fighting with and against the Portuguese. - Collapse of the VijayanagarVijayanagara EmpireThe Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
empire with adverse consequences to its army and navy. - The Karava Singhe Dynasty rules Jaffna.
- The VijayanagarVijayanagara EmpireThe Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
Rulers had the practice of appointing provincial governors or viceroys such as the Nayaks of Madurai and Nayaks of Tanjore to administer provinces. They regained independent authority in the areas governed as the power of the Vijayanagar empire waned. (See VadugeVadugeBadugé and Vadugé are two ancestral family names used todate by Karava families of Sri Lanka. Their ancestors were humble Vaduvás ....
.) The 17th century Portuguese historian Queyroz's observation that Chem Nayque, the naval commander of the Nayque of Tanjore, was a Karáva. (Queyroz, 638.)
The Colonial Period
Early 17th century- 1606—Portuguese missionaries first concentrate on converting the Karava Patabändas. This practice of offering upward social mobility through conversion to Christianity has been the foundation of Karava domination in Sri Lanka. They are used as examples for other low castes to follow (e.g. SalagamaSalagamaSalagama 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...
(cinnamon peeler) families receiving names such as De Silva etc.) (Jesuit annual letter of 29 December 1606 from Cochin, Perniola II. 254.)
- 1623—Baptism of King Pararajasekaran's two queens as Dona Clara da Silva and Dona Antonia da Silva, several nephews of the king, nine Patangatims and all other chief persons of the Karava caste.(Perniola Portuguese period III.)
- Maha Patabendige Dona Catherina is the sole heiress of the Kandyan kingdom and by virtue of that she is officially the Empress of Sri Lanka. Karava Kuruvita Rala known as the Prince of Uva and the Prince of Negombo are appointed Guardians of the Crown prince by Dona Catherina and later again by King Senarath of Kandy http://www.defonseka.com/k20.htm
- The locals adopt Portuguese modes of dress, in keeping with the local custom of only the upper classes being permitted to cover the upper body. (For example the Govigama Siyam Nikaya monks still customarily keep one shoulder exposed). Until recent times the Kabakuruttu (Portuguese Kaba Kurtu), a tight fitting white blouse with long sleeves, lace trimmings and a V neck-line, was worn only by Karava women.
17th century
- Dodda Deva Raja (1659–1672) of Mysore claims to have subjugated the Kurus. (Rice 128.)
- Many Karavas refuse to give up CatholicismCatholicismCatholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
. Persecution of Karava Catholics by the Dutch, loss of life, livelihood displacement and large numbers from the Karava community taking to non traditional occupations. Loss of warriors and leaders on both sides in the many Dutch wars.
18th century
- The Vaduga Dynasty rules the Kandyan kingdom. See VadugeVadugeBadugé and Vadugé are two ancestral family names used todate by Karava families of Sri Lanka. Their ancestors were humble Vaduvás ....
. Pybus notes that the Cloth worn by the chiefs is called Karaveniya.
Late 18th century
A De Saram family of mixed origin Sinhalises
Sinhalisation
Sinhalisation is a term that has number of meanings in Sri Lanka. Etymologically it is derived from Sinhala.-Sociological:From a sociological point of view it could mean the assimilation of ethno cultural minorities in Sri Lanka such as the Sri Lankan Tamils, Colombo Chetties and indigenous Veddas...
itself by posing as the representatives of the masses and subsequently convinces the British rulers that they are from the numerous 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. The De Saram family gains power and position by loyalty, religious conversion and collaboration with the Dutch and British rulers and succeeds in marginalizing the traditional ruling class. The British notion of an inverted caste hierarchy in Sri Lanka is easily traceable to the documents on 'local customs' produced by this family.
The British naturally favor the subservient De Saram family against the belligerent traditional elite. The De Saram family is given increasing patronage and chiefly appointments and grows in power and influence. (See Sri Lankan Mudaliyars
Sri 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...
.)
According to Karava lore some of these families were founded by Karavas disowned by the clan for marrying beneath their status. For example the De Saram and Corea families are said to have Karava Patangatim ancestors, respectively, Bandaranaike Suriya Patangatim of Dondra and Domingus Corea Patangatim of Negombo. The first Obeysekera is said to be a Karava from Gandara.
19th century
- British methods of administration, divide and ruleDivide and ruleIn politics and sociology, divide and rule is a combination of political, military and economic strategy of gaining and maintaining power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into chunks that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy...
policies, census taking methods and mandatory declaration of one's 'Race' on official documents forces the Sri Lankan population of diverse ethnic origins to become either SinhaleseSinhalese peopleThe 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...
or Tamils based on the language they spoke at that point in time. This splits the Karava community into two so called races. The European concept of 'Race' was an alien concept for Sri Lanka. The Sinhala language previously did not even have an equivalent word to convey the meaning of 'race' and the Sinhala word Jaathi now used for that purpose previously only meant 'caste' or 'birth'. The words Jaathi or Jaathiya has never been used in history to refer to a mega Sinhala race.
1890s
- Establishment by the British of a predominantly Govigama Mudaliar classSri Lankan MudaliyarsMudali 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...
and restricting high appointments only to the Govigama caste in 1897.
Late 19th century
- Religious controversy led by GovigamaGovigamaGovi, 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...
s result in sharply dividing the Buddhist and Christian Karavas and both factions spend their wealth on fighting each other and moving away from the previous Kara-Govi caste conflict.
- Temperance movement, against the Karavas who by then were dominating the liquor industry. Movement led by D.R Wijewardene, D.S. Senanayake and his two brothers F.R and D.C from families that had risen through arrack renting but were out of the liquor trade by then. The movement is funded by Buddhist Karavas.
Early 20th century
- Introduction of a spurious Lion Flag as the Royal Flag of Sri Lanka by D. R. Wijewardene, thereby obliterating the real royal symbols of Sri Lanka, the Sun and the Moon, the symbols traditionally also used by the Karava community. (See Lion Flag.)
The 'Democratic' Period
Post-independence period- Paddy Lands Act, which empowered the cultivators and made paddy lands useless to the owners.
- Establishment of the state owned CWE (Co-operative Wholesale Establishment) to compete with the southern traders in regional towns and driving them to bankruptcy.
- State control of the liquor industry.
- Private Schools established by Karava philanthropists in predominantly Karava regions taken over by the state and then neglected. Educational opportunities thereby deprived to rural Karava youth.
- Promotion of the Karava Supremacy Myth by Sri Lankan Karaves.
- Premier position given by GovigamaGovigamaGovi, 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...
dominated governments to the GovigamaGovigamaGovi, 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...
only Siyam Nikaya Buddhist sect. (The Siyam Nikaya has been an exclusive Govigama sect from the time of the Kings of Sri Lanka, giving lie to the myth of a Karava supremacy predating the arrival of Colonials.) - Electoral divisions redrawn many times and the new divisions return more Govigama candidates than before.
- 1971—Anarchist Insurrection and the summary execution of large numbers of future Karava leaders.
- 1972—State acquisition of plantations targeting the Karava landed gentry class and the overnight impoverishment of that class. State acquisition of additional houses targeting Karava residential property owners. Prior to this process the Karave controlled vast areas of fertile plantations that were bequeathed to them by the British. The Government established that these lands were held by the traditional landholders of Sri Lanka—the Govigama—prior to the Western invasion of Sri Lanka. The Western conquerors were liberal in their rewards to the turncoats of Sri Lanka—the Karaves. They bequeathed this captured booty to the Karaves and elevated them in rank as a reward for their allegiance to the Colonials. The ancestors of the Govigama Sinhalese who lost their land to such rapacity displayed by their own disloyal countrymen finally reclaimed farm land through the Government land reforms.
- State acquisition of Karava businesses.
- Neglect of low caste Karava majority regions with no development and no opportunities for the people.
- Discreet manoeuvres to keep Karava politicians from reaching the top.
- 1980s onward—The nature of the Karava propels many Karava youth to lead Marxist/Anarchist movements against the Government.