EVOLUTION AND REHABILITATION OF SCHEDULED CASTE AND SCHEDULED TRIBES IN MEDIEVAL THAGADUR NADU (INDIA)

The paper focuses on Evolution and Rehabilitation of Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribes in Medieval Thagadur Nadu, Tamil Nadu, India. Thagadur Nadu is one of the economically backward districts in Tamil Nadu state and therefore the social status of the people is also determined by this economic backwardness. Integral caste system deeply entrenched in Indian society. Mr. Nesfield defines a caste as “a class of the community which disowns any connection with any other class and can neither intermarry nor eat nor drink with any but persons of their own community.”(qtd. in Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development) The word ‘caste’ comes from the Portuguese word ‘caste’ signifying breed, race or kind. In the Indian context, it refers to social divisions signifying rigid separate identities for each caste. Tolkapiyam, the first Tamil grammar work of the ancient Tamil also acknowledged the occupational division of the people, but though such a division was based on occupation, it later became a manner of social identity. Manu, the law giver, interpreted four Varnas, viz, Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Shudra. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, caste division was further based on physiographic divisions called in Tamil language ‘thinai during Sangam period. Later, casteism based on birth began to be practiced with increase in contact with other regions. During Cholas period rigidity became permanent and rules came to be practiced strictly. Simultaneously, different castes and subgroups emerged due to inter-caste marriages in the post Sangam period and became highly established in course of time giving separate identity to each caste, some adopting Brahmanical practices and others following their own.