History of Eastern Tamils

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History of Eastern Tamils of

Batticalo District and Ampara District.[2]

Early settlements

Evidence of a settlement of people with burial practices similar to that found in the

megalithic burial sites at Pomparippu in the western coast and in Kathiraveli in the eastern coast. These are dated between the 2nd century BC and 2nd century AD.[3]

Although it is not known when ethnic Tamils first settled in Sri Lanka, early settlements occurred in the aftermath of repeated

Hindu king and a palace, in the aftermath of the collapse of the classical Sinhala Dry Zone civilisations.[4] By the 11th and 12th centuries, the upper half of the eastern province had a large Tamil community.[5]

Historical Tamil settlements in the East.Tamils and the Tamil-speaking Muslim community formed the majority of the province prior to the Independence of the island

Eastern Tamils had feudal organizations that centered around

Mukkuvar who had originated from South India and had repeatedly invaded Sri Lanka as evidenced by Sinhalese literature of that period called Kokila Sandeśa as the Mukkara Hatana. One of the local traditions that records the landing and settling of eastern Sri Lanka is called Mattakallappu Manmiam (Tamil:மட்டக்களப்பு மான்மியம்).[8]

Local sources

Mattakallappu Manmiyam in reality is the story from a Mukkuva perspective of their settlement of Batticaloa District, although not all Tamils of the east are Mukkuvas. It also explains etymology of place names from a Mukkuva perspective and combines legends with historical facts. From the study of the language used, it is evident that it is a compilation of works written by number of authors over a long period of time.[8]

According Manmiam Mukkuvars came from the

holocaust for the Thimilar.[9]

With the help of another group of people who came to Batticaloa from India called Pattaniar who are believed to be

Muslim traders from South India, for business they defeated the Thimilar and chased them away to Verugal which is a boundary village of between Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts.[9]

The name of some villages are seemed to be the monuments of this war. A village near the modern Batticaloa town called

Eastern University of Sri Lanka is located today.[10]

The place where the Mukkuvar settled the Muslims who assisted them to prevent the Thimilar from returning is called

Eravoor (derived from Erathu= prevent re-immigrant Oor=place or village) which is today a Muslim majority town within the Batticalo district.[10]

Present-day Distribution of Sri Lankan Tamils throughout the Island including the eastern province in Trincomalee (34.3%), Batticaloa (70.8)and Ampara districts (18.4%)

Other social groups such as

Orissa state in India who recruited his soldiers from South India. His invasion is credited by Sri Lankan literature as one of the main causes for the failure of the classical Sinhala Dry Zone civilisations.[13]

Other social group called Seerpadar have been a minority, their conservative worldview has prevailed among the Vellala and similar castes.

Multiple origins

From traditional and legendary sources, it can be ascertained that the immigrants who created the first Tamil settlements in Sri Lanka in general and the east in particular appear to have come not just from the Tamil Nadu region of south India, but from the Kerala coast as well.[14][15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Subramaniam, Folk traditionas and Songs..., p.1-13
  2. ^ Kartithigesu, Sri Lankan Tamil society and politics, p.2-4
  3. ^ de Silva, A History of Sri Lanka, p.129
  4. ^ de Silva, A History of Sri Lanka, p.132
  5. ^ de Silva, A History of Sri Lanka, p.131
  6. ^ The Kokkadicholai massacre and after
  7. ^ McGilvray, Mukkuvar Vannimai: Tamil Caste and Matriclan Ideology in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, p.34-97
  8. ^ a b Subramaniam, Folk traditionas and Songs..., p.20
  9. ^ a b Subramaniam, Folk traditionas and Songs..., p.3
  10. ^ a b Subramaniam, Folk traditionas and Songs..., p.4
  11. ^ Kartithigesu, Sri Lankan Tamil society and politics, p.6
  12. ^ de Silva, A History of Sri Lanka, p.132
  13. ^ Geiger, Culavamsa, Chapter LXXX, p.54-58
  14. ^ Sri Lanka - Kerala link
  15. ^ Subramaniam, Folk traditionas and Songs..., p.11

References

  • de Silva, K. M. (2005). A History of Sri Lanka. Colombo: Vijitha Yapa. p. 782.
    ISBN 955-8095-92-3
    .
  • McGilvray, Dennis (1982). Mukkuvar Vannimai: Tamil Caste and Matriclan Ideology in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, (Caste Ideology and Interaction). Cambridge University Press.
  • Kartithigesu, Sivathamby (1995). Sri Lankan Tamil society and politics. New Century Book House. p. 189.
    ISBN 81-234-0395-X
    .
  • Subramaniam, Suganthy (2006). Folk Traditions and Songs of Batticaloa District. Kumaran Publishing. p. 99.
    ISBN 0-9549440-5-4
    .
  • Geiger, William (1930). Culavamsa; being the more recent part of the Mahavamsa.

External links
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