The Pulayar (also Pulaya, Pulayas, Cherumar, Cheramar, and Cheraman) is a caste group mostly found in the southern part of

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

, forming one of the main social groups in modern-day

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO 15919, ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reor ...

and historically in

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

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 Mudi-āttam is an art form once prevalent, but now disappearing, in Central Travancore in Kerala. This is performed by the Pulaya and Paraya (Sambava) castes. Originally a fertility-dance, this is now staged as a community entertainment. Young ...

or hair-dance which has its origins in a fertility ritual.

Demography

According to the 2011 Census, the Pulayan population in Kerala was 1,338,008. They are a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Notable people

Nandanar Nandanar (also spelt as Nantanar), also known as Tirunalaippovar (Thirunaallaippovaar (The one who will go tomorrow)) and Tiru Nalai Povar Nayanar,Other names include: Nandan (Nanda, Nantan), Tirunalaipovanar, Nalaippovar, Nalaippovan was a ...

, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism * Ayyankali (1863–1941), social reformer *

K. P. Vallon Kolote P. Vallon (2 January 1900– 14 April 1940) was a social reformer and leader of the Pulaya community in the Cochin State of Kerala. Along with Pandit Karuppan and Chanchan, he played a transformative role in the upliftment of the P ...

(1894–1940), social reformer *

P. K. Rosy P. K. Rosy (Rajamma, Rosamma, Rajammal) was an Indian actress in Malayalam cinema. Her Pulaya (Dalit) caste background caused controversy. She was the heroine of Vigathakumaran (The Lost Child), directed by J. C. Daniel. She was the first h ...

(1903–1988), first heroine of the Malayalam film industry *

Dakshayani Velayudhan Dakshayani Velayudhan (4 July 1912 – 20 July 1978) was an Indian parliamentarian and leader of the Oppressed classes. Belonging to the Pulayar community, she was among the first generation of people to be educated from the community. She ...

(1912–1978), former member of the Constituent Assembly *

Punnala Sreekumar Punnala Sreekumar is the general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha. He was re-elected during the 51st State Conference held at Kozhikode Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of ...

, general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS) * K. G. Balakrishnan, 37th Chief Justice of India *

C. T. Ravikumar Chudalayil Thevan Ravikumar (born 6 January 1960) (Malayalam: ചുടലയിൽ തേവൻ രവികുമാർ) is a judge of the Supreme Court of India. He is former judge of the Kerala High Court. Career Ravikumar enrolled as an adv ...

, judge of the

Supreme Court of India The Supreme Court of India ( IAST: ) is the supreme judicial authority of India and is the highest court of the Republic of India under the constitution. It is the most senior constitutional court, has the final decision in all legal matters ...

* Kodikunnel Suresh, member of Parliament *

Chittayam Gopakumar Chittayam Gopakumar (born 30 May 1965) is an Indian politician who belongs to the Communist Party of India. He got elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly for the first time in 2011 as a candidate from Adoor constituency in Pathanamthitta D ...

, deputy speaker of 14th Kerala legislative assembly * Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indian actor

References

{{reflist Scheduled Castes of Kerala Malayali people Telugu society Scheduled Castes of Tamil Nadu Social groups of Karnataka

Traditions

Demography

Notable people

See also

References