Thimilar
ReligionsChristianity, Hinduism
LanguagesTamil
Related groupsTamils, Sri Lankan Tamils

Thimilar (Tamil: திமிலர்) is a Sri Lankan Tamil caste found in the northern and eastern coastal areas of Sri Lanka, and globally among the Tamil diaspora. They are traditional artisanal fishers primarily engaged in shallow-water fishing.[1][2] In Eastern Sri Lanka are they also involved in cattle cultivation.[3]

Historically, they have also been known as Sindhu nāttar (people of Sindh), following their own myth origins.[4]

Etymology

The word Thimilar is derived from the word thimil, a Tamil word for boat, and the honorific suffix -ar, thus Thimilar is literally translated as Boatmen.[5] The Akanaṉūṟu of the Sangam literature, mentions Thimilan, as a boat using fisherman.[6]

History

The Vaiyapadal mentions the Sindhu Natar, a name of the Thimilar, as one of the communities inhabiting the Jaffna Peninsula.[7] They are mentioned in the Mattakallappu Manmiyam as one of the fishing tribes living in the eastern part of Sri Lanka, who lost a battle to the Mukkuvar who were in alliance with the Pathans.[8] Place names in the Batticaloa region are derived from the battle such as Sathurukondan (meaning "were enemy was killed", referring to the execution of the Thimilar chief) and Pathiyai-thookia-palai (where the Thimilar chieftess was hanged).[4][9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "WWW Virtual Library Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Caste System". www.lankalibrary.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  2. ↑ Ragupathy, Ponnampalam (1987). Early Settlements in Jaffna: An Archaeological Survey. Thillimalar Ragupathy. p. 208.
  3. ↑ Dart, Jon Anderson (1985). Ethnic Identity and Marginality Among the Coast Veddas of Sri Lanka. University of California, San Diego. p. 83.
  4. 1 2 McGilvray, Dennis B. (2008-05-07). Crucible of Conflict: Tamil and Muslim Society on the East Coast of Sri Lanka. Duke University Press. pp. 75, 76, 375. ISBN 978-0822341611.
  5. ↑ Holmes, Walter Robert (1980-01-01). Jaffna, Sri Lanka 1980. Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society of Jaffna College.
  6. ↑ TamilNet. "TamilNet". tamilnet.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  7. ↑ Sitrampalam, Dr. S.K. Yāḻppāṇa Irācciyam. University of Jaffna: Department of History. p. 152.
  8. ↑ Subramaniam, Suganthy (2006). Folk Traditions and Songs of Batticaloa District. Kumaran Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 0-9549440-5-4.
  9. ↑ (Jaffna), University Teachers for Human Rights (1993). Land, human rights & the eastern predicament. UTHR (Jaffna), University of Jaffna, Thirunelvely. p. 89.
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