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Demalagattara (lit. Tamil serf) are a social group or caste amongst the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka. Demalagattara are mostly Theravada Buddhists by religion. They are generally considered Sinhalese but proclaim their Tamil ethnic origins, whereas all other South India-derived castes such as Karave, Salagama, Durave and Berava do not emphasise their Tamil links as part of their assimilation into Sinhalese society.

Origins

As the mainstream Sinhalese speakers claim North Indian ethnic origins the presence of many South Indian type Jatis like the Demalagatara indicate a complex migration history from India to Sri Lanka. Demalagatara do not indicate any tribal origins like the other, formerly untouchable, caste of Rodiyas. Their place in the caste structure is related to a primary function associated with formerly martial origins. They were classed as a sub-caste of the Govigama during the British period. Many are agriculturalists and workers throughout the country.

South Indian roots

Some anthropologists believe that the early society of Sri Lanka has looked to neighboring South India for manpower to fulfill functional needs as land was cleared and many new villages found. Demalagatara are believed to be descended from Maravar or Kallar like martial castes of South India who also play an important role as mercenaries medieval Sinhalese kingdoms. Similar caste exist in Kerala as Tamil padai nayar has roots from Maravar caste of Tamil Nadu.

Etymology of Demalagattara

‘Demala’ is the Sinhala word for Tamil and ‘Gattara’ is the word used in ancient Sri Lankan rock inscriptions and literature to refer to serfs. Thus Demalagattara translates into English as ‘Tamil serfs’. ‘Agricultural serfs’ were part of the feudal land tenure system of Sri Lanka. There were also ‘domestic serfs’.

Origin myths

The community says that they descended from soldiers who accompanied a 2nd-century BCE Tamil Chola King named as Ellara. But in reality the story is partly true, they are South Indian soldiers who got to settle down due royal grants but the actual time and the king(s) who granted them these privileges happened much later than indicated by their origin myth. Research on origins was carried out during the British Colonial period and is dated. (See Caste in Sri Lanka)

References

Bryce Ryan, Caste in Modern Ceylon, Rutgers University Press, 1953.

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+{{Short description|Caste amongst the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka}}
+{{multiple issues|
 {{Disputed|date=March 2011}}
 {{Original research|date=March 2011}}
+{{No footnotes|date=March 2013}}
-'''Demalagattara''' are a [[social group]] or [[caste]] amongst the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. It is a unique caste, because although they are ethnically Sinhalese but proudly proclaim their [[Tamil people|Tamil]] ethnic origins, whereas all other [[South India]] derives castes such as [[Karave]], [[Salagama]], [[Durave]] and [[Berava]] go to extreme lengths to deny the obvious links as part of their assimilation with the dominant Sinhalese society.
+{{Speculation|date=March 20113}}
+}}
+'''Demalagattara''' ({{lit}} [[Tamils|Tamil]] serf) are a [[social group]] or [[caste]] amongst the [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. Demalagattara are mostly Theravada Buddhists by religion. They are generally considered Sinhalese but proclaim their [[Tamil people|Tamil]] ethnic origins, whereas all other [[South India]]-derived castes such as [[Karave]], [[Salagama]], [[Durave]] and [[Berava (people)|Berava]] do not emphasise their Tamil links as part of their [[Sinhalization|assimilation into Sinhalese society]].
 ==Origins==
-As the mainstream Sinhalese speakers claim [[North Indian]] ethnic origins the presence of many South Indian type [[Jatis]] like the Demalagatara indicate a complex migration history from India to Sri Lanka. Demalagatara do not indicate any tribal origins like the other formerly untouchable caste of [[Rodiyas]]. They are part and parcel of the caste structure albeit with a primary function associated with formerly martial origins.  Yet today they are also agriculturalists and workers throughout the country. They were classed as a sub-caste of the [[Govigama]] during the [[British East India Company|British]] period.
+As the mainstream Sinhalese speakers claim [[North Indian]] ethnic origins the presence of many South Indian type [[Jatis]] like the Demalagatara indicate a complex migration history from India to Sri Lanka. Demalagatara do not indicate any tribal origins like the other, formerly untouchable, caste of [[Rodiyas]]. Their place in the caste structure is related to a primary function associated with formerly martial origins.  They were classed as a sub-caste of the [[Govigama]] during the [[British East India Company|British]] period. Many are agriculturalists and workers throughout the country.
 ==South Indian roots==
-Some [[anthropologists]] believe that the early society of Sri Lanka has looked to neighboring South India for manpower to fulfill functional needs as land was cleared and many new villages found. Demalagatara are believed to be descended from [[Maravar]] or [[Kallar(caste)|Kallar]] like martial castes of South India who also play an important role as mercenaries medieval Sinhalese kingdoms.
+Some [[anthropologists]] believe that the early society of Sri Lanka has looked to neighboring South India for manpower to fulfill functional needs as land was cleared and many new villages found. Demalagatara are believed to be descended from [[Maravar]] or [[Kallar (caste)|Kallar]] like martial castes of South India who also play an important role as mercenaries medieval Sinhalese kingdoms. Similar caste exist in Kerala as Tamil padai nayar has roots from Maravar caste of Tamil Nadu.
 ==Etymology of Demalagattara==
-‘Demala’ is the [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]] word for [[Tamil people|Tamil]] and ‘Gattara’ is the word used in ancient Sri Lankan rock inscriptions and literature to refer to [[serfs]]. As such Demalagattara translates into English as ‘Tamil serfs’. ‘Agricultural serfs’ were part of the feudal [[land tenure]] system of Sri Lanka. There were also ‘domestic serfs’. Gattara is generally believed to indicate lower caste or tribal status but the community does not generally accept this identification by their Sinhalese neighbors (See [[Govigama]]). The name indicate a late arrival and domination. The group was looked down upon by the neighboring Govigama but due to their martial background was able to maintain their land grants and general wellbeing.
+‘Demala’ is the [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]] word for [[Tamil people|Tamil]] and ‘Gattara’ is the word used in ancient Sri Lankan rock inscriptions and literature to refer to [[serfs]]. Thus Demalagattara translates into English as ‘Tamil serfs’. ‘Agricultural serfs’ were part of the feudal [[land tenure]] system of Sri Lanka. There were also ‘domestic serfs’.
 ==Origin myths==
-The community in order to ingratiate itself with the country as an age community believes tells everyone they descended from soldiers who accompanied a 2nd century BCE Tamil [[Chola]] King named as [[Ellara]]. But in reality the story is partly true, they are South Indian soldiers who got to settle down due royal grants but the actual time and the king(s) who granted them these privileges happened much later than indicated by their origin myth.
+The community says that they descended from soldiers who accompanied a 2nd-century BCE Tamil [[Chola]] King named as [[Ellara]]. But in reality the story is partly true, they are South Indian soldiers who got to settle down due royal grants but the actual time and the king(s) who granted them these privileges happened much later than indicated by their origin myth. Research on origins was carried out during the [[British Empire|British]] [[Colonialism|Colonial]] period and is dated.  (See [[Caste in Sri Lanka]])
-==Current status==
-They have a reputation for violence as violence is seen as a method by which to maintain their high social status while everyone around them would like to see them treated as  a lower caste as the name indicates. Their belief in a martial past as well as their reputation for violence has enabled the numerically small community surrounded by larger Govigama caste to survive and succeed in the modern nation state.
-They are Theravada Buddhists by religion and not much of research is done by any modern [[sociologists]], [[anthropologists]] or even [[linguists]] amongst this unique community. The original research done was during the [[British Empire|British]] [[Colonialism|Colonial]] period and is dated.  (See [[Caste in Sri Lanka]])
 ==References==