Pulaya
Caste group in India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pulaya (also called Cheraman, Cheruman, mas. Pulayan; fem. Pulayi, Pulachi; pl. Pulayar/Pulayas, Cherumar/Cheramar/Cherumas, IPA: [pulɐjɐ, tʃerumɐ]) is a caste[1] group mostly found in modern-day Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and historically in Tamil Nadu. They are classified as a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[2][3]
Traditions
Pulayars are noted for their music, craftsmanship, and for certain dances which include Kōlam-thullal, a mask dance which is part of their exorcism rituals, as well as the Mudi-āttam or hair-dance which has its origins in a fertility ritual.[4][5][6] The folk dance Chozhikali is performed by the Pulayar community of central Kerala.[7]
Demography
According to the 2011 Census, the Pulayan population in Kerala was 1,338,008.[8] They are a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in the state of Kerala[2] and Tamil Nadu.[3]
Notable people
- Ayyankali (1863–1941), social reformer
- K. G. Balakrishnan, 37th Chief Justice of India
- Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indian actor[9]
- Chittayam Gopakumar, deputy speaker of 14th Kerala legislative assembly[10]
- Nandanar, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism
- C. T. Ravikumar, judge of the Supreme Court of India
- P. K. Rosy (1903–1988), first heroine of the Malayalam film industry
- Punnala Sreekumar, general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS)
- Kodikunnel Suresh, member of Parliament[11]
- K. P. Vallon (1894–1940), social reformer
- Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912–1978), former member of the Constituent Assembly
- Vinayakan, actor and dancer[12]