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The famous Tamil Saying mentioned above shows that Caste is a slow evolutionary process. Therefore, the term Caste, in
the past was just used to Describe or Categorize a person according to one's job, duty or a way of life & once they
accumulate enough wealth, there must have been CASTE REFINEMENT -UPGRADATION in the old days, unlike now.
KARKATHAR or KARKARTHAR PILLAI / VELLALAR
-THEY SAFEGUARDED THE "KAR" -THE CLOUD. THAT MEANS THEY
BUILT DAMS TO SAVE RAIN WATER, GUARD THE WATER SOURCE, ABLE TO CREATE OR CALL UPON THE RAINWATER; MAYBE THROUGH RITUALS (Like
the Rain Dance of the American (Red) Indians).
VEERA KUDI VELLALAR
THEY ARE A SMALL COMMUNITY OF FIGHTERS WHO FOUGHT TO SAFEGUARD THEIR HOMELAND.
MUSUGUNDAN OR MUSUGUNTHAN COMMUNITY IN SINGAPORE
MUSUGUNDAN people are EITHER KARKATHA OR VEERA KUDI VELLALARS. They are mostly located in PATTUKKOTAI in TANJAVUR. People of the community formed a translocal forms of citizenship amongst members of the Neighbouring Villages
& fellow Karkatha Vellalar or Veera Kudi Vellalar caste members now in Singapore. Like all transnational communities
involved in the production of locality, identity and social viability, these villagers now based in Singapore (immigrant city-state
consisting of a diverse ethnic population with the Indians making up the third major group), maintain strong social and cultural
ties with their villages in South India.
WHAT'S UP WITH EITHER KARKATHA OR VEERA KUDI?
There seem to be abit of confusion going on in our community people regarding our Exact Name of the caste we belong to;
whether we are KARKATHA VELLALAR or VEERA KUDI VELLALAR. Many of our caste members call themselves KARKATHA VELLALAR (Especially
the older generation members of our commmunity, both in Singapore and in India). Yet, many of the younger generation call
themselves VEERA KUDI VELLALARS (As its written in their Caste Certification or mentioned in documents). I was told by many
of the older generation caste members that this change in caste from KARKATHA VELLALARS to VEERA KUDI VELLALARS came about
when there was NEW LAWS SET ASIDE BY THE TAMIL NADU STATE GOVERNMENT, which were Favouring towards the so-called
"LOW CASTE" MEMBERS of TAMIL NADU. In order to get better or equal treatment by the government regarding many issues,
many set up a meeting somewhere in the past and changed their caste, in fear of losing out to the lower caste groups (They were many
who refused to follow and still maintain their KARKATHA VELLALAR identity; such as those from my mother's village, SOORAPALLAM).
MUSUGUNDAN COMMUNITY VILLAGES:
Thittakudi, Alathur, Mathukkur, Soorangadu, Alampalam, Moothakuruchi, Smbalur, Pattikkadu,
Silambavelankadu, Soorapallam, Karuppur, Seventhanpatti, Sedangadu, Pulavanchi, Andami, Aladikkumulai, Palamuthi, Sundampatti,
Anathi, Vikramam, Keelakuruchi, Thamarankottai, Nattuchalai, Sengapaduthankadu, Kasankadu, Mattankal, Pudukkotai Ulur, Keerathur,
Athikkottai, Nemmeli, Sendakkottai, Pallathur, Mannangadu, Vattukudi, Kattayankadu, Sirankudi.
CLICK TO DISCOVER THE ORIGIN, EVOLUTION OF VELLALAR CASTE & ABOUT MUSUGUNTHAN MAHARAJAH
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