Dheevara (caste)

The word "Dheevara" is of Sanskrit origin, and has been used to describe fishermen in Gautama DharmasutraMahabharata. The Dheevara community is a powerful caste in Kerala.[1] These castes were traditionally employed as fisherman.[2] Dheevara Mahasabha ("Dheevara Great Assembly"), which is a politically powerful organization. Guru Veda Vyasa was born into the Dheevara caste. Vyasa, the legendary author of the Mahabharata, Vedas, and Puranas, some of the most important works in the Hindu tradition. He is also called Veda Vyāsa, was born to this community. The community was formed by Arayan, Valan and other castes to lobby for the fishers' rights, and to seek caste-based reservations in government jobs.

Categorization

The following castes are categorized as Dheevara in the Government's list of Other Backward Classes:[3][4]

  • Arayan or Araya
  • Bovi or Bovis Mogayar
  • Arayavathi
  • Mogaveera
  • Mudhiraj
  • Mukaya, Mokaya or Mukayar
  • Mukkuvan, Mukkuva, Mukkuvar
  • Nulayan
  • Koli
  • Paniakkal
  • Valan
  • Valinijiar, Valinjiar or Valinchiar

See also
  • Dhimar and Dhivar, fishing castes of North India, whose names are also derived from the word "Dheevara",and they are not related with malayali dheevarar

References
  1. Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7. Madras: Government Press. pp. 286–7.
  2. Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7. Madras: Government Press. pp. 286–7.
  3. "Central List of OBCs for the state of Kerala" (PDF). National Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  4. "List of Other Eligible Classes in Kerala State". Kerala Public Service Commission. Retrieved 18 May 2016.

Bibliography


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