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{{Short description|Ethnicity in Sri Lanka}}
:''"Baratha" and "Bharatas" redirect here. For the Vedic tribe, see [[Bharatas (tribe)]]. For the [[noctuid moth]] [[genus]] ''Baratha'', see ''[[Mocis]].
{{redirect-several|Bharat}}

{{EngvarB|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Bharatha People
| group = Bharatha People
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| population = Greater than 1,500
| population = Greater than 1,500
| regions = {{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}}{{nbsp|6}} 1,688 (.008%)<br>(2012)<ref>{{cite web|title=A2 : Population by ethnic group according to districts, 2012|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop42&gp=Activities&tpl=3|publisher=Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka}}</ref>
| regions = {{nbsp|6}} 1,688 (2012) (0.008% of [[Demographics of Sri Lanka|total]]) <ref>{{cite web|title=A2 : Population by ethnic group according to districts, 2012|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop42&gp=Activities&tpl=3|publisher=Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka|access-date=2012-10-23|archive-date=2017-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428063924/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop42&gp=Activities&tpl=3|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| region1 =
| region1 =
| pop1 =
| pop1 =
Line 12: Line 15:
| ref2 =
| ref2 =
| languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]]
| languages = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Sinhalese language|Sinhala]]
| religions = [[Roman Catholic]], [[Hindu]]
| religions = <!-- Must also be in article body per [[MOS:INFOBOXPURPOSE]] -->
| related = [[Paravar]], [[Negombo Tamils]], [[Sri Lankan Chetty]]
| related = [[Paravar]], [[Negombo Tamils]], [[Sri Lankan Chetty]]
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''Bharatha People''' ({{Lang-si|භාරත|translit=Bhārata}}, {{Lang-ta|பரதர்|translit=Paratar}}) also known as '''Bharatakula''' and '''Paravar,''' is an ethnicity in the island of [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop42&gp=Activities&tpl=3|title=Census of Population and Housing 2011|website=www.statistics.gov.lk|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref> Earlier considered a caste of the [[Sri Lankan Tamils]], they got classified as separate ethnic group in the 2001 census.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=CfWHAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA99&dq=bharatha+caste+sri+lankan+tamil&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_9N_SxfzYAhVohaYKHaUFDzEQ6AEIMDAB#v=onepage&q=bharatha%20caste%20sri%20lankan%20tamil&f=false|title=The Identity Politics of Peacebuilding: Civil Society in War-Torn Sri Lanka|last=Orjuela|first=Camilla|date=2008-09-16|publisher=SAGE Publications India|isbn=9788132100249|language=en}}</ref> They are descendant of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] speaking [[Paravar]] of [[South India|Southern India]] who migrated to Sri Lanka under [[Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese rule]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?hl=no&id=CwhDAAAAYAAJ&dq=sri+lanka+bharathas+caste+tamil&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=bharatha|title=People Inbetween: The burghers and the middle class in the transformations within Sri Lanka, 1790s-1960|last=Roberts|first=Michael|last2=Raheem|first2=Ismeth|last3=Colin-Thomé|first3=Percy|date=1989|publisher=Sarvodaya Book Pub. Services|year=|isbn=9789555990134|location=|pages=253|language=en}}</ref> They live mainly on the western coast of Sri Lanka and mainly found in the cities of [[Negombo]] and [[Colombo]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=50igCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA55&dq=bharatha+sri+lanka&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj746iOn_3YAhXECywKHe_rAcUQ6AEINzAC#v=onepage&q=bharatha%20sri%20lanka&f=false|title=Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka|last=Peebles|first=Patrick|date=2015-10-22|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=|isbn=9781442255852|location=|pages=55|language=en}}</ref>
'''Bharatha People''' ({{Langx|si|භාරත|translit=Bhārata}}, {{Langx|ta|பரதர்|translit=Paratar}}) also known as '''Bharatakula''' and '''Paravar,''' is an ethnicity in the island of [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop42&gp=Activities&tpl=3|title=Census of Population and Housing 2011|website=www.statistics.gov.lk|access-date=2018-01-24|archive-date=2017-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428063924/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=pop42&gp=Activities&tpl=3|url-status=dead}}</ref> Earlier considered a caste of the [[Sri Lankan Tamils]], they were classified as separate ethnic group in the 2001 census.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CfWHAwAAQBAJ|title=The Identity Politics of Peacebuilding: Civil Society in War-Torn Sri Lanka|last=Orjuela|first=Camilla|date=2008-09-16|publisher=SAGE Publications India|isbn=9788132100249|language=en}}</ref> They are descendant of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] speaking [[Paravar]] of [[South India|Southern India]] who migrated to Sri Lanka under [[Portuguese Ceylon|Portuguese rule]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CwhDAAAAYAAJ&q=bharatha|title=People Inbetween: The burghers and the middle class in the transformations within Sri Lanka, 1790s-1960|last1=Roberts|first1=Michael|last2=Raheem|first2=Ismeth|last3=Colin-Thomé|first3=Percy|date=1989|publisher=Sarvodaya Book Pub. Services|isbn=9789555990134|pages=253|language=en}}</ref> They live mainly on the western coast of Sri Lanka and mainly found in the cities of [[Mannar, Sri Lanka|Mannar]], [[Negombo]] and [[Colombo]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50igCgAAQBAJ|title=Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka|last=Peebles|first=Patrick|date=2015-10-22|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442255852|pages=55|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3VuAAAAMAAJ|title=Ethnicity and Social Change in Sri Lanka: Papers Presented at a Seminar Organised by the Social Scientists Association, December 1979|last=Lanka|first=Social Scientists Association of Sri|date=1984|publisher=Social Scientists' Association|pages=146|language=en}}</ref>


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
Scholars derive ''Bharatha'', also pronounced as ''Parathar'', from the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] root word ''para'' meaning "expanse" or "sea".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=dh5HDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT75&dq=sri+lanka+bharatha+portuguese&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjoh96px_zYAhVHjiwKHWPtCR84ChDoAQg6MAM#v=onepage&q=sri%20lanka%20bharatha%20portuguese&f=false|title=Between Water and Fire: Aspects in the History of the Parathavar Community (Collected Articles)|last=Rajesh|first=Vinod Vincent|date=2018-01-16|publisher=Notion Press|isbn=9781948372466|language=en}}</ref> The word has been documented in ancient [[Sangam literature]], describing them as maritime people of the ''Neithal'' [[Sangam landscape]]''.''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=kz9uAAAAMAAJ&q=parathavar&dq=parathavar&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZgt_IzfzYAhUDVywKHV-aA4sQ6AEIVDAG|title=Being a Tamil and Sri Lankan|last=Civattampi|first=Kārttikēcu|date=2005|publisher=Aivakam|isbn=9789551132002|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?hl=no&id=9-RtAAAAMAAJ&dq=parathavar+sangam&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=parathavar|title=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|last=Congress|first=Indian History|date=1981|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=84|language=en}}</ref> Colonial archives refer them as ''Paruwa'', a corrupted form of "Paravar".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=GJRHAAAAMAAJ&q=paravar+bharatha+sri+lanka&dq=paravar+bharatha+sri+lanka&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjFp9OxoP3YAhXMXCwKHQggBqkQ6AEIMDAB|title=The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka: the Dutch period : original documents|date=1983|publisher=Tisara Prakasakayo|language=en}}</ref>
Scholars derive ''Bharatha'', also pronounced as ''Parathar'', from the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] root word ''para'' meaning "expanse" or "sea".<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Korean Studies|date=1984|publisher=Center for Korean Studies|volume=8|location=University Press of Hawaii|pages=47|language=en}}</ref> The word has been documented in ancient [[Sangam literature]], describing them as maritime people of the ''Neithal'' [[Sangam landscape]]''.''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kz9uAAAAMAAJ|title=Being a Tamil and Sri Lankan|last=Civattampi|first=Kārttikēcu|date=2005|publisher=Aivakam|isbn=9789551132002|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9-RtAAAAMAAJ|title=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|last=Congress|first=Indian History|date=1981|pages=84|language=en}}</ref> Colonial archives refer them as ''Paruwa'', a corrupted form of "Paravar".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GJRHAAAAMAAJ|title=The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka: the Dutch period : original documents|date=1983|publisher=Tisara Prakasakayo|language=en}}</ref>


According to other scholars is ''Bharatha'' a name the community took from the [[Hindu]] epic [[Mahabharata]], the clan of [[Bhāratas]], who were the ancestor of the heroes in the epic, following their origin myth from [[Ayodhya]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=cOptAAAAMAAJ&q=bharatha+paravar+sri+lanka&dq=bharatha+paravar+sri+lanka&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiIy5jDy_zYAhUIDiwKHcsgDXAQ6AEIPDAD|title=Peoples of South Asia|last=Maloney|first=Clarence|date=1974|publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston|year=|isbn=9780030849695|location=|pages=234|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=w2AwAQAAIAAJ&q=parathavar+sangam&dq=parathavar+sangam&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjn15ngzvzYAhWHkiwKHZs1BToQ6AEILzAB|title=Tamil Nadu State: Thoothukudi District|last=Sinnakani|first=R.|date=2007|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu, Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=276|language=en}}</ref>
According to other scholars{{who|date=December 2024}} is ''Bharatha'' a name the community took from the [[Hindu]] epic [[Mahabharata]], the clan of [[Bhāratas]], who were the ancestor of the heroes in the epic, following their origin myth from [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cOptAAAAMAAJ|title=Peoples of South Asia|last=Maloney|first=Clarence|date=1974|publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston|isbn=9780030849695|pages=234|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2AwAQAAIAAJ|title=Tamil Nadu State: Thoothukudi District|last=Sinnakani|first=R.|date=2007|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu, Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research|pages=276|language=en}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{See also|Paravar}}
{{See also|Paravar}}
[[File:Pearling boat divers.jpg|thumb|Paravars diving for [[Pearl|pearls]] in the [[Gulf of Mannar]]|316x316px]]
[[File:Pearling boat divers.jpg|thumb|Paravars diving for [[pearl]]s in the [[Gulf of Mannar]]|316x316px]]
{{Historical populations
{{Historical populations
|type =
|type =
|footnote = Source:[[Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka|Department of Census<br>& Statistics]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Population by ethnic group, census years|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/abstract2010/chapters/Chap2/AB2-10.pdf|publisher=Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka|accessdate=23 October 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113175023/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/abstract2010/chapters/Chap2/AB2-10.pdf|archivedate=13 November 2011|df=}}</ref><br>Data is based on <br>[[Sri Lankan Government]] Census.
|footnote = Source:[[Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka|Department of Census<br>& Statistics]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Population by ethnic group, census years|url=http://www.statistics.gov.lk/abstract2010/chapters/Chap2/AB2-10.pdf|publisher=Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka|access-date=23 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113175023/http://www.statistics.gov.lk/abstract2010/chapters/Chap2/AB2-10.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2011}}</ref><br>Data is based on <br>[[Sri Lankan Government]] Census.
|2001 | 2200
|2001 | 2200
|2011 | 1688
|2011 | 1688
}}They were traditionally occupied in seatrade, [[Pearl hunting|pearl diving]] and fishing. They included the chiefs of the coastal regions, who ruled there as subordinates of the [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandyan kings]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=kZFyWoQ5xjgC&q=paravar+pandya&dq=paravar+pandya&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6yL-Sq_3YAhUKlCwKHWxJAQ04ChDoAQg9MAM|title=Role of Exclusive Credit Linkage Programme for Occupational Dynamics Among Fisherwomen: A Study in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu States|last=Ramaiah|first=T. G.|date=2013|publisher=National Institute of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India|year=|isbn=9788185542898|location=|pages=15|language=en}}</ref> The Muslims of [[Kayalpatnam]] obtained a lease on pearl fishery by [[Marthanda Varma]]. The Bharatas aligned with the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] and overthrew the overlordship by the Muslims and for return were over 20,000 Bharathas converted to [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] by the saint [[Francis Xavier]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=TjVuAAAAMAAJ&q=paravar+xavier&dq=paravar+xavier&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-ttuKrf3YAhXD2SwKHcT-AJAQ6AEIPzAD|title=A handbook of Kerala|last=Menon|first=T. Madhava|last2=Linguistics|first2=International School of Dravidian|date=2002|publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics|year=|isbn=9788185692319|location=|pages=653|language=en}}</ref>
}}They were traditionally occupied in seatrade, [[Pearl hunting|pearl diving]] and fishing. They included the chiefs of the coastal regions, who ruled there as subordinates of the [[Pandyan dynasty|Pandyan kings]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kZFyWoQ5xjgC|title=Role of Exclusive Credit Linkage Programme for Occupational Dynamics Among Fisherwomen: A Study in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu States|last=Ramaiah|first=T. G.|date=2013|publisher=National Institute of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India|isbn=9788185542898|pages=15|language=en}}</ref> The Muslims of [[Kayalpatnam]] obtained a lease on pearl fishery by [[Marthanda Varma]]. The Bharatas aligned with the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] and overthrew the overlordship by the Muslims and for return were over 20,000 Bharathas converted to [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] in 1535.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TjVuAAAAMAAJ|title=A handbook of Kerala|last1=Menon|first1=T. Madhava|last2=Linguistics|first2=International School of Dravidian|date=2002|publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics|isbn=9788185692319|pages=653|language=en}}</ref>


Several hundreds of Christian converted Bharathas were brought from Indian mainland to the western shores of Sri Lanka by the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] to wrest control on the pearl trade. [[Cankili I]], king of [[Jaffna Kingdom]], ordered the death of 600 Christian Bharathas who were settled in the [[Mannar District]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=xEVuAAAAMAAJ&q=cankili+600+convert&dq=cankili+600+convert&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwifpuLmsv3YAhWFkSwKHdFkAfgQ6AEILzAB|title=Primary Sources for History of the Sri Lankan Tamils: A World-wide Search|last=Gunasingam|first=Murugar|date=2005|publisher=M.V. Publications for the South Asian Studies Centre, Sydney|year=|isbn=9780646454283|location=|pages=62|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.no/books?id=VrZDDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA290&dq=paravar+sri+lanka&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjIxuj3n_3YAhUGhywKHaOYClYQ6AEIOzAD#v=onepage&q=paravar%20sri%20lanka&f=false|title=Sri Lanka|last=Briggs|first=Philip|date=2018-01-02|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|year=|isbn=9781784770570|location=|pages=290|language=en}}</ref>
Several hundreds of Christian converted Bharathas were brought from Indian mainland to the western shores of Sri Lanka by the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] to wrest control on the pearl trade. [[Cankili I]], king of [[Jaffna Kingdom]], ordered the death of 600 Christian Bharathas who were settled in the [[Mannar District]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xEVuAAAAMAAJ|title=Primary Sources for History of the Sri Lankan Tamils: A World-wide Search|last=Gunasingam|first=Murugar|date=2005|publisher=M.V. Publications for the South Asian Studies Centre, Sydney|isbn=9780646454283|pages=62|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VrZDDwAAQBAJ|title=Sri Lanka|last=Briggs|first=Philip|date=2018-01-02|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=9781784770570|pages=290|language=en}}</ref>


Paravar are to be found all over Sri Lanka. Amongst [[Sri Lankan Tamils]] Paravar are still a fishing and trading caste although commonly confused with the [[Karaiyar]]. The Bharatas or Bharatakula identity is maintained by a relatively prosperous merchant group from India that settled amongst the Sinhalese in the Negombo area.<ref name="thawfeeq">[http://www.nation.lk/2007/08/19/special9.htm imitri Mascarenhas and the Negombo connection] The Nation - August 19, 2007</ref>
Paravar are to be found all over Sri Lanka. Amongst [[Sri Lankan Tamils]] Paravar are still a fishing and trading caste although commonly confused with the [[Karaiyar]]. The Bharatas or Bharatakula identity is maintained by a relatively prosperous merchant group from India that settled amongst the Sinhalese in the Negombo area.<ref name="thawfeeq">[http://www.nation.lk/2007/08/19/special9.htm imitri Mascarenhas and the Negombo connection] The Nation - August 19, 2007</ref>
Line 47: Line 50:


==Names==
==Names==
Common last names adopted by Bharatkulas include Corera's, Croos, de Croos, Fernando, Ferdinandes, Paiva, Peeris, Miranda, Motha, Corera, Costa, Rayan, Rayen, Rodrigo, Leon, Vaz, and Rubeiro. Fernando is the commonest last name. The related Paldanos are descended from the Portuguese military officers (''[[Paladin|Paladinos]]'') who married into the community.
Common last names or family names of Bharatakulas include Machado, Perez, Coonghe, Cruz, de Cruz, Pereira, Mascarenhas, Fernando, Ferdinandes, Fernandez, Paiva, Miranda, Motha, Corera, Costa, Rayan or Rayen, Rodrigo, Leon, Vaz, Gomez, Victoria, Kagoo, Carvalho, Almeida and Rubeiro. Fernando is one of the most common last names.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 54: Line 57:
* [[Colombo Chetty]]s
* [[Colombo Chetty]]s
* [[Negombo Tamils]]
* [[Negombo Tamils]]
* [[Paravar]]
* [[Karave]]
* [[Karave]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
* {{note|1}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20040327082847/http://www.tamilcanadian.com/northeastern_herald/pageview.php?ID=1253&SID=287 The Census Department's contribution to Sri Lanka's political arithmetic]
* {{note|1}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20040327082847/http://www.tamilcanadian.com/northeastern_herald/pageview.php?ID=1253&SID=287 The Census Department's contribution to Sri Lanka's political arithmetic]
* {{note|2}}[http://www.kanyakumari.tn.nic.in/coastal.htm Bharathas and Mukkuvas in India]
* {{note|2}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20060602151045/http://www.kanyakumari.tn.nic.in/coastal.htm Bharathas and Mukkuvas in India]


==References==
==References==
Line 65: Line 67:


{{Immigration to Sri Lanka}}
{{Immigration to Sri Lanka}}
{{NRI-PIO}}
{{Indian diaspora}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bharatakula People}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bharatakula People}}
[[Category:Bharatha people|*]]
[[Category:Bharatha people| ]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil castes]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil castes]]

Latest revision as of 14:26, 3 December 2024

Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Bharat (disambiguation).

Bharatha People
Total population
Greater than 1,500
Regions with significant populations
       1,688 (2012) (0.008% of total) [1]
Languages
Tamil, Sinhala
Related ethnic groups
Paravar, Negombo Tamils, Sri Lankan Chetty

Bharatha People (Sinhala: භාරත, romanized: Bhārata, Tamil: பரதர், romanized: Paratar) also known as Bharatakula and Paravar, is an ethnicity in the island of Sri Lanka.[2] Earlier considered a caste of the Sri Lankan Tamils, they were classified as separate ethnic group in the 2001 census.[3] They are descendant of Tamil speaking Paravar of Southern India who migrated to Sri Lanka under Portuguese rule.[4] They live mainly on the western coast of Sri Lanka and mainly found in the cities of Mannar, Negombo and Colombo.[5][6]

Etymology

[edit]

Scholars derive Bharatha, also pronounced as Parathar, from the Tamil root word para meaning "expanse" or "sea".[7] The word has been documented in ancient Sangam literature, describing them as maritime people of the Neithal Sangam landscape.[8][9] Colonial archives refer them as Paruwa, a corrupted form of "Paravar".[10]

According to other scholars[who?] is Bharatha a name the community took from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the clan of Bhāratas, who were the ancestor of the heroes in the epic, following their origin myth from Ayodhya.[11][12]

History

[edit]
See also: Paravar
Paravars diving for pearls in the Gulf of Mannar
Historical population
YearPop.±%
2001 2,200—    
2011 1,688−23.3%
Source:Department of Census
& Statistics[13]
Data is based on
Sri Lankan Government Census.

They were traditionally occupied in seatrade, pearl diving and fishing. They included the chiefs of the coastal regions, who ruled there as subordinates of the Pandyan kings.[14] The Muslims of Kayalpatnam obtained a lease on pearl fishery by Marthanda Varma. The Bharatas aligned with the Portuguese and overthrew the overlordship by the Muslims and for return were over 20,000 Bharathas converted to Roman Catholicism in 1535.[15]

Several hundreds of Christian converted Bharathas were brought from Indian mainland to the western shores of Sri Lanka by the Portuguese to wrest control on the pearl trade. Cankili I, king of Jaffna Kingdom, ordered the death of 600 Christian Bharathas who were settled in the Mannar District.[16][17]

Paravar are to be found all over Sri Lanka. Amongst Sri Lankan Tamils Paravar are still a fishing and trading caste although commonly confused with the Karaiyar. The Bharatas or Bharatakula identity is maintained by a relatively prosperous merchant group from India that settled amongst the Sinhalese in the Negombo area.[18]

Assimilation

[edit]

Along with Colombo Chetty and other relatively recent merchant groups from South India, there is rapid Sinhalisation or assimilation with the Sinhalese majority. But unlike the Colombo Chettys many still speak Tamil at home and even have marital relationships in India.

According to recent Sri Lankan census categories in July 2001, Bharatakula has been moved out of Sri Lankan Tamil category to simply as a separate ethnic group Bharatha. [1]

Areas of inhabitation

[edit]

They are primarily found in capital Colombo and in towns north of it, namely Negombo in the Western Province.

Names

[edit]

Common last names or family names of Bharatakulas include Machado, Perez, Coonghe, Cruz, de Cruz, Pereira, Mascarenhas, Fernando, Ferdinandes, Fernandez, Paiva, Miranda, Motha, Corera, Costa, Rayan or Rayen, Rodrigo, Leon, Vaz, Gomez, Victoria, Kagoo, Carvalho, Almeida and Rubeiro. Fernando is one of the most common last names.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "A2 : Population by ethnic group according to districts, 2012". Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  2. ^ "Census of Population and Housing 2011". www.statistics.gov.lk. Archived from the original on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  3. ^ Orjuela, Camilla (2008-09-16). The Identity Politics of Peacebuilding: Civil Society in War-Torn Sri Lanka. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 9788132100249.
  4. ^ Roberts, Michael; Raheem, Ismeth; Colin-Thomé, Percy (1989). People Inbetween: The burghers and the middle class in the transformations within Sri Lanka, 1790s-1960. Sarvodaya Book Pub. Services. p. 253. ISBN 9789555990134.
  5. ^ Peebles, Patrick (2015-10-22). Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 55. ISBN 9781442255852.
  6. ^ Lanka, Social Scientists Association of Sri (1984). Ethnicity and Social Change in Sri Lanka: Papers Presented at a Seminar Organised by the Social Scientists Association, December 1979. Social Scientists' Association. p. 146.
  7. ^ Korean Studies. Vol. 8. University Press of Hawaii: Center for Korean Studies. 1984. p. 47.
  8. ^ Civattampi, Kārttikēcu (2005). Being a Tamil and Sri Lankan. Aivakam. ISBN 9789551132002.
  9. ^ Congress, Indian History (1981). Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. p. 84.
  10. ^ The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka: the Dutch period : original documents. Tisara Prakasakayo. 1983.
  11. ^ Maloney, Clarence (1974). Peoples of South Asia. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p. 234. ISBN 9780030849695.
  12. ^ Sinnakani, R. (2007). Tamil Nadu State: Thoothukudi District. Government of Tamil Nadu, Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research. p. 276.
  13. ^ "Population by ethnic group, census years" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  14. ^ Ramaiah, T. G. (2013). Role of Exclusive Credit Linkage Programme for Occupational Dynamics Among Fisherwomen: A Study in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu States. National Institute of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. p. 15. ISBN 9788185542898.
  15. ^ Menon, T. Madhava; Linguistics, International School of Dravidian (2002). A handbook of Kerala. International School of Dravidian Linguistics. p. 653. ISBN 9788185692319.
  16. ^ Gunasingam, Murugar (2005). Primary Sources for History of the Sri Lankan Tamils: A World-wide Search. M.V. Publications for the South Asian Studies Centre, Sydney. p. 62. ISBN 9780646454283.
  17. ^ Briggs, Philip (2018-01-02). Sri Lanka. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 290. ISBN 9781784770570.
  18. ^ imitri Mascarenhas and the Negombo connection The Nation - August 19, 2007
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