Parava or Paravas - Small Description
Paravas
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Classification:
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Total population:
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2006: (approx) 1,100,000 In in Tamil Nadu and 75000 in Kerala
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Significant populations in:
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Language
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Mother tongue is Tamil in Tamil Naduand Malayalam in Kerala.
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Religion
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Related Communities
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Parava or Paravas (பரவர்), also known as Parathavar (பரதவர்),Bharathar(பரதர்),Bharatha Pandiyar (பரத பாண்டியர்) or Bharathakula Kshathriyar (பரதகுல சத்ரியர்). Paravar is one of the ancient aristocratic, seafaring warrior castes of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are the prideful heirs of
ancient Pandya Kings. They founded the Pandyan Empire and hoisted their Fish
flag.They are the descendants Bharatha Vamsa of the Lunar Dynasty (Chandra
Vamsam) and also called as Nila Paravar.The Pandyan empire was dominated by the
Paravars. Later, due to geographical changes the boundaries of Pandyan Empire
changed. Also,another predominant caste called, the Maravars(Devars) were also
from the same clan. The earlier Pandya kingdom was under control of Paravas and
Maravas. For centuries the Paravas had been pearl divers. However in the 19th
century pearl oysters in the Gulf
of Mannar, between India
and Sri Lanka, became scarce.They controlled the entire tamil navy at all times
and their armed forces were called as Parathavar Padai (பரதவர் படை). Tuticorin city in Tamil Nadu, India which is
still a stronghold of the Parava community was the centre of the pearl trade.
The Paravas later diversified into fishing, salt-making and other maritime
professions.
Paravar also refers to the people living on the coast of the
Indian states of Tamilnadu , Kerala and in parts of northern and western
Sri Lanka (Ceylon). In Tamil language and literature, the coastal areas where
they lived were called 'Neythal Thinai'. Significant numbers of well-educated
Paravas, many of whom have diversified into major professions and business also
live in the major cities of southern Tamil Nadu and in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Paravas in Sri Lanka migrated from India during the British
colonial days; many prospered in trade and business in Sri Lanka and now
generally speak Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka. (see Bharatakula)
Paravas were the first whole community in India to
convert to Christianity in the mid 16th century. The name 'Fernando', a
predominant surname and other surnames were acquired from the Portuguese, who influenced the Paravas. There are
as many as 100 or more of these surnames - Fernando, Fernandez, Motha,
Mascarenhas, Victoria, Miranda, Devotta, De Cruz, De Souza, Gomez, Dalmeida,
Vaz, Desoyza, Rodrigo, Rodriguez etc., which were given by St.
Francis Xavier, other
missionaries and Portuguese officers during the 16th century.
The Portuguese called the area where the Paravas lived as
"Costa da Pescaria" - or Land of the Pearls. Their spiritual,
cultural and literary excellency brought out the first Tamil book to modern
print media. The Tamil Bible, 'Cardila', was printed in 1554 and made Tamil the
first language into print for any Indian language. This was even before the
first printing machine arrived Goa, India in 1556. Cardila was printed at
Lisbon by the command of the Portuguese government with the motivation by the
visits of three Paravars Vincent Nasareth, Joj Kavalko and Thomas Cruz from
Tuticorin, India to Portugal. The funding for the press came from the Parvar
community of Tuticorin.
Traditionally the Paravars had sea based professions
including pearl diving, fishing, navigating, and salt making. They were excellent shipbuilders.
Their catamarans were the first type of ship encountered
by the English with two hulls; the Tamil word for it was adopted into the
English language as a loanword. Additionally, the Paravars grew palms
and other dry plantation crops. The Paravars have a long tradition of learning
and are one of the earliest communities to have a high literacy rate. This is
attributed to their traditional profession of navigator and the influence of
Christian missionaries. The riches brought through sea trips were incorporated
into houses, including expensive woods such as teak.
Paravars are proud about their caste heritage. There are
many historic reasons for the closer relations with the Pandiyan kingdom ofMadurai. Tuticorin the port city of the Pandiyan kingdom,
has always been a stronghold of the Paravars. The Paravars were the chiefs of
the coastal region and they ruled their areas as subordinates of the Pandyas of the Sangam age.[1] The Paravars headquarters was Korkai harbourduring the regime of Pandiyan Kingdom
and they all spread into 22 fishing hamlets namely Muttom,Pillaithoppu,Rajakka
Mangalam thurai, Periyakadu, Pozhikkarai, Kesavan Puthanthurai, Puthanthurai,
Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Kumari muttam, Kootapuli, Perumanal, Idinthakarai, Kuthenkuly, Uvari, Periathalai, Pudukarai, Manapad,
Alanthalai, Thiruchendur, Virapandianpatnam, Thalambuli, Punnaikayal,
Palayakayal,Tuticorin, Vaippar, Chethupar, Vembar &
Mookur in the pearl fishery coast of Gulf
of Mannar and adjacent Comerin coast. The paravas once a very powerful people and no
doubt derived much of their ascendancy over other tribes from their knowledge
of navigation and pearl fishery. They had a succession of kings among them,
distinguished by the title Adiarasen Some of these chiefs seem to have resided at Uttara Kosmangay near Ramnad. The story of this city itself is
clear evidence to this fact. Later, the leaders were called by names Thalaivan, Pattankattiyars, and Adappannars.
Parvars lived along with maravar (devar) in harmony, since they were blood
related. Famous titles of"Rayar", has been shared by members of these
two royal kshathriya clans of Pandya kingdom. As Muttom is the western boundary
for the community. Villages Pillaithoppu and Muttom, there was a small
settlements of Mukkuvar, which earlier multiplied and Parava community numbers
at present are small. Apart from Tuticorin Manapadu and Pillaithoppu had the
privilege of having the Vicariate of Jesuit Missionaries for sometime during
the Dutch period
The first well-documented history of the Tamil land is
reflected in the literature of sangam which is found grouped in Ettuthogai and
Pathupattu. These first three centuries sangam age works talk a lot about
Paravar or Parathar community which extended from Rameswaram to Kanniyakumari.
The main profession of paravars is fishing in the sea. In olden days they were
even involved in manufacturing salt. They were experts in pearl and chank fishing.
Ahananooru of the Sangam literature depicts of Paravar profession. Korkai, the
famous harbour town of Pandya kingdom was thickly populated by paravars. In
olden days paravars were engaged in trading with Greece, Rome, Egypt, China,
Java, Burma and Ceylon. Korkai pearl was the most famous item exported from
Tamil land.
Paravars worshipped Varunan. Pattinappaalai (200 AD) gives a vivid picture of
Varunan cult of Paravars. The fisherfolk call the sea as Mother Sea and revere
her as Goddess. Ahananooru talks about sea Goddess. The records of the
Travancore Census Report 1931 mentions about the inscription at the Cape
Comorin temple. It talks about a Paravar King Villavaraya of Cape who ruled the
coastal land for about 800 years. It is also believed that the temple at Cape
was built by the Paravars for their Sea Goddess. The Paravars' natural
attachment to Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple also can be attributed as a great sign
of their reverence to their Mother Goddess.
When the southern people started changing their religion
under the northern influence, paravars also followed the suit. During the
Cholas and later Pandiya kings regime Paravars were believers of Saivisim. There
were many highly learned and spiritually bolstered Saivites in Paravar
Community.
From 1311 onward the Muslim rulers began to invade
Pandiyan Empire and continued repeated onslaught on them. In 1323 they captured
the Pandian Kingdom. The Muslims being very powerful at sea and having the
support of local Kings started forcing the Paravars to embrace Islam. But they
failed every time. In 1516 the Muslims captivated whole pearl fishery on lease
from Udaya Marthanda Varma and Paravars were brinked to the state of slavery.
And for the first time ever in the history the Paravars lost their right over
the pearl fishery.
Day by day the Muslims and their arrogance became more
stronger and the parava community was left helpless. Unaided by the neighbours
and exposed to the danger of being wiped out by the tyrannical Muslims,
Paravars found timely help from an unexpected quarter. The Portuguese expressed
their willingness to help if they consented to become Christians. After
studying the suggestion Paravar community decided to embrace Christianity en
masse. Thus, in 1533, nearly 30,000 Paravars got back their right over Pearl
fishery. In 1542 Saint Francis
Xavier came to Pearl Coasts to strengthen their Christian faith.
During the baptism of Paravars, the Portuguese happened
to be God-fathers. So they had given their names to Paravars. Even after 460
years these surnames are still prevalent in the Paravar community. 68 such names
are existing amongst which Fernando, Fernandes are mostly used.
In Kerala, Paravans are part of Hindus caste unlike Tamil Nadu. They are inland fishermen, mostly
found in central and southern parts of the state. The President
of India, K.
R. Narayanan, served from
1997 until 2002 and was born to a Paravan family of Kottayam, Kerala. There are many place names derived
from Paravan, like Paravoor in Kollam and Vadakkan Paravoor and Parur in Ernakulam.
In Sri Lanka, members of this caste are mostly
known by the surnames Fernando, Coonghe, Poobalrayer, and Costa.
History of Conversion of Paravas to Christianity in Tamil
Nadu
The Paravas were a Tamil fisher caste who inhabited the
fishery coast extending from Cape Comorin Kanya Kumari to the isle of Mannar
(Rameswaram) along the gulf that bears the name. The Paravas plied the trade of pearl
fishing, diving for
pearls to the bottom of the deep where they could stay for many hours. The
season for pearl-fishing came round once in three years in the months of march
and November when, in the absence of the strong winds, they were able to carry
on their operations undisturbed- for pearls in March and for seed-pearls in
November. They undertook these expeditions after elaborate preparations
consisting of examination and sounding of the ocean. At the spots where they
selected for beginning their operations- which generally in the vicinity of the Mannar and Tuticorin – there they would establish whole
colonies of pearl-fishers which would be abandoned at the end of the season.
(Silva Rego Documentação Vol.-II pp359–60)
The Paravas paid a small tax to the state for permission
to scour the deep for pearls. In the first quarter of the 16th century, this
contribution which was paid to the Pandyas (Tamils) till then, came to be
shared by the two powers between whom the coast was divided – the king of Travancore, Chera Udaya Martanda, who annexed the
southern half of the coastal territory and the Vanga Tumbichi Nayak, who
possessed himself to the north. In 1516, however the state dues were farmed out
by a Muslim who on account of the profits he has realized, became the virtual
master of the coast Documentacao vol.- II p361).
According to Barbosa, he was so rich and powerful that the
people of the land honored him as much as the king. He executed judgement and
justice on the Muslims without interference from the constituted authority. The
fishers (parathavars) toiled for him for a whole week at the close of the
season, and for themselves for the rest of the time except on Fridays when they
worked for the owners of the boats (Dames, The book of Duarte
Barbosa Vol.-II pp123–24).
The Portuguese, who were the masters of the seas, coveted
this business and soon wrested it from the Muslims. In 1523, João Froles, whom
the Portuguese king appointed as Captain and Factor of the fishery coast,
succeeded in farming out the dues of 1,500 cruzados a year (Corea oriente
Portuguese vol.-II PP 778–79,786-87). The Muslims wouldn't yield to their
rivals without a struggle. But the brunt of their attacks was visited upon the
Paravas. For in their attempt to baulk the Portuguese of their gains, they
constantly harassed the poor fishers. In consequence, the Portuguese had to
maintain a flying squadron to beat off the attacks of the Muslim Corsairs-as
they termed their enemies. Just at this juncture, Vijayanagar, which had
earlier connived at the occupation of the coast by the King of Travancore and Tumbichi Nayak, vigorously
intervened in support of the Pandya king. The Vijayanagar forces inflicted severe defeat on the
Travancore army, and with the appearance of Vijayanagar on the fishery coast there was
cessation of hostilities between the Portuguese and the Muslims (Silva Rego
–Oriente Portuguese Vol.-II pp362–65). About the year 1536 an incident occurred
which threatened to throw the coastal people into the throes of a violent
internecine warfare. In a scuffle between a Muslim and a Parava at Tuticorin, the Parava had his ear torn out by
his adversary, who out of sheer greed for the ring it bore, carried with him.
Now there was in the estimation of the Paravas no greater affront than to have
one's ears boxed and much worse, to have the rings torn off. The incident
sparked off a civil war between the Paravas and the Muslims, and it was soon
apparent that the Paravas would be beaten in the struggle. A Muslim flotilla
guarded the coast making it impossible for the Paravas to ply their trade, and
offering five fanams (panam, the then currency, even today in Tamilnadu its common for the Tamil to term money
as panam) for a Parava head (Luceana , Historia da Vida do padre S.Francisco
Xavier , vol.-I liv II , cap .VII).
Happily for the Paravas, there happened to arrive at Cape Comorin (present day Kanya
Kumari) at this time
João da Cruz, a horse dealer who was high in Portuguese favour. He was a page
of the Zamorin who had sent him to Portugal towards
the end of 1512, when he was negotiating a treaty with Albuquerque. He was converted to Christianity while he was there and was admitted to
the order of the Christ. He was now no longer in the service of the Zamorin,
having incurred his displeasure for changing his religion. João da Cruz, who
was waiting payment for his deal at the cape (Kanya Kumari), was approached by
the Paravas for advice. Cruz could see no way of saving them from their
predicament other than conversion to Christianity. For then they would be
entitled to the protection of the Portuguese and could, as a matter of right,
invoke the aid of the Portuguese Padroado. The Paravas had no alternative but to
agree and Cruz led a deputation of twenty pattankattis (leaders) of the Paravas
to cochin to wait on Pero Vaz, the Vedor da Fazenda (Reeve), and Miguel Vaz, the Vicar-General.
These pleaded the case of the Paravas before Nuno da Cunha, the Governor, and
it was decided that they be helped against their Muslim opponents. Accordingly
a Portuguese squadron appeared before Cape Comorin (Kanya kumari).
The Muslim flotilla sought safety in flight and the
Paravas freed from bondage could from now on ply their trade independently of
the farmers, both Muslim and Portuguese. In the meanwhile, Cruz persuaded the
King of Travancore not to object to the conversion of the Paravas in a body to
the Christian religion, assuring him that if he was friendly with the
Portuguese he could depend on his supply of war steeds, the mainstay of the
army in those days.
The Paravas apart from getting converted also had to
shell out 60,000 fanams to Portuguese as protection money. This was further
used to induce more conversions. Miguel Vaz thereupon visited the Paravas
accompanied by four priests and administered baptism to about twenty thousand
people. In a few years, the number rose to eighty thousand men, women, and
children and the Christianity spread among these people, settled both on the
Malabar and Coromandel
coasts (Documentação Vol.-II PP 257–59; Schurhammer ,art cit. pp304–07). The
Paravas now had the protection of the Portuguese fleet and could follow their
profession undisturbed.
The Tuticorin, also called as muthukulithurai
(pearlharbour) was in the stronghold of the paravars, where first indigenous
ship was set to sail by V.O. Chidhambaram during the British rule in India. This was an attempt to
check the dominance of British in the export and imports by sea.Holding very
strong Catholics tradition from Portuguese and later by Saint Xavier, paravars
had to face to British as both as Indians and also as a Catholics. The British tried hard to impose
their Anglican sect.
Surnames in Tamil pronunciation Algungem (a Portuguese
word) existing among Paravars (Bharathars). To mention a few among them:
Main article: List
of Paravar last names
The above are only family names and not Caste names. The
above names are used not only by Paravars. The names are also used by those who
were converted to Christianity by the Portuguese. Mainly people who live in
Tamil Nadu (Paravars), Sri Lanka (Bharatakula and others), Kerala, Goa &
Philippines.
The famous Pandya king Thalayalanganathu seru vendra Pandiyan Nedunchezian was given an apraisal as Then Parathavar Pore Yerei,which means,the royal war lion of
southern Parathavar clan. Also,the chilapathikaram verses glorifies its hero
as,Arasar murayo Bharathar murayoMavendar kulamo,this gives a
clear cut evidence that bharathar werein a highly esteemed noble position.
Tamil dictionaries provide the same meaning for the word Parathavar. Also
evidences say that a sub clan of Paravars,called Chavalakarars werethe spearmen
of the Pandyan army.
Main article: Bharatakula
Paravar an important community of fishers in Sri Lanka
also known as Bharatakula amongst the Sinhalese gets mentioned in a 3rd century
B.C inscription in Tamil Nadu.
MADURAI
SEPT.14. A rare 3rd century B.C. Tamil Brahmi inscription found near Madurai
recently has brought to light the fact that not only Pandyas and Cheras but the
chiefs of the coastal region in the State also patronised Jainism in the early
period. The discovery by a team of epigraphists, who undertook a survey at
Arittapatti in Melur taluk, is a remarkable evidence of history of early Tamil
politics, culture and language, State Archaeology department sources said here
recently.
The inscription was found engraved in a cave of a
hillock, where early Jain monks stayed and preached their faith. It is just
four feet away from another Brahmi inscription discovered by some scholars in
1971. "Since this new inscription is carved with very thin strokes and
illegible, it had not attracted the attention of the scholars so far in spite
of their frequent visits to this cave," say the sources.
The inscription, engraved as a single line with 33
letters and running for 3.10 metres, reads as follows: ilanjiy vel mapparavan
makan emayavan nalmuzhaukai kotupithavan. It means, "Emayavan, son of
Mapparavan, chief of Ilanji, has caused the carving of this auspicious
cave." It has been written in the Bhattiprolu (Andhra Pradesh) casket
inscription method and so all short consonants have long strokes. As the
orthography of this inscription resembles that of Mangulam inscriptions (also in
Madurai district), its date may be assigned to 3rd century B.C., say the
sources.
`Ilanji' denotes the name of a place, while `Vel' means
chieftain. Ilanji Vel might have been a ruler of a small territory around
Ilanji. There is also a village near Courtallam with the same name. Emayavan,
chief of Ilanji, was the son of Mapparavan. `Paravar' denotes the people of
coastal region settled in southern districts of Tamil Nadu. `Muzhaukai' means
the cave in which the inscription is found and the prefix, `nal' auspiciousness.
The same word, `Nalmuzhaukai' occurs in Varichiyur Brahmi
inscription also. The previous inscription found at Arittapatti also bears the
word `Muzhagai', which also means cave. One of the Sangam works, `Madurai
Kanchi' refers to the Paravar defeated by Padyan Nedunchezhian. Even the
Velvikudi copper plate speaks of the defeat suffered by Tenparavar at the hands
of a Pandya king, the sources point out.
All this evidence makes clear that the Paravars were the
chiefs of the coastal region and they ruled their areas as subordinates of the
Pandyas of the Sangam age. The previously discovered Brahmi inscription at
Arittapatti also mentions about a chief from Nelveli (now Tirunelveli region).
The inscription throws light on the proximity the chiefs of Nelveli to the
Pandyas of Madurai in the Sangam age.
As many as 60 Tamil Brahmi inscriptions were found during
the past over 100 years from 15 villages including, Mangualm, Anaimalai,
Azhagarmalai, Tiruvadavur, Keezhavalavu, Tirupparankundram and Varichiyur. The
epigraphists, comprising P. Rajendran, V. Vedachalam, C. Santhalingam and R.
Jayaraman, as per directions of the Commissionerof Archaeology, R. Kannan,
undertook the survey.
Source: [2]
Planting of the Roman Catholic Faith in Pearl Fishery
Coast (India) Christianity in
ancient India
It is admitted on all hands, that one of the greatest and
most successful group conversion movements in India was that of the Paravars in
the 16th century.
The first great effort of the Catholic Church in modern
times to conquer India in the name of Christ, dates from the year 1498 when the
adventurous caravels of the Portuguese Admiral Vasco
da Gama sailed into the port of Calicut. Soon the flag of Portugal floated on the
seaboard from Morocco, round South Africa to the Persian Gulf and round the
Indian Peninsula. In 1534 there were Portuguese factories at trading centers at
Bassein Goa, Cochin, Quilon and Colombo. On the fishery and Coromandel Coasts,
in Malacca and beyond. And as Pope Leo XIII has written: “Everywhere the flag
of Portugal was under the shadow of the cross: the conquests of Portugal were
so many conquests of religion”. The conversion of the Paravars is an instance
in point.
Who are the Paravars?
Rev. Father Henry Heras S.J. gives the following description of
the Paravars in his Mohenjo Daro, “The People and the Land”. Paravanad – the
country of the Paravas (Bird – in Tamil “paravai”). They are still numerous in
the Coromandel Coast in South India and in Ceylon. The Paravars were a section
of the Minas. In a footnote Father Heras says that they are Aryan descent, the
Paravars are called as Bharathas (also Bharathars, Parathars, Parathavars)
identifying with the Bharathas of the Vedic period. The Mohenjo Daro
inscriptions clearly show that their ancient and real name was Paravar. They
are also believed as the descendants of King Bharatha,who ruled the whole of India in the name ofBharatha varsha.Also some Sanskrit text says that
kings of Bharatha vamsa were given the surname Parava viz.Karna Parava,Yudishthra Parava,Bhishma Parava etc...Also the
Pandavas,final course of archery including the attack of Matsya Yantra speaks clearly about their fishing
Background.Also Sahadeva Parava the younger among Pandavas made expeditions and explorations across the
sea,abroad the Bharatha varsha,and its believed that his descendants live along
the southern coast with the name of Bharathars.
There were two subdivisions in the Paravars. Pagal
Paravas and Nila Paravas, i.e. Sun Paravas and Moon Paravas. The Paravas of
South India and Ceylone are Moon Paravas. The Moon Paravas seem to have been
the more important of the line. They constituted one fourth of the whole Mina
stock. In the middle of their land, the exact location of which cannot be
ascertained, the sign of the Moon was hoisted. The country where the Paravas
lived was sometimes called Paravanad – once only in the inscriptions – on
account of their political importance and their riches. Their main city was
called Paravarpalli, the city of the Paravas. The king of the Paravas always
received the title of Minavan and his banner had two fishes on it.
The circumstances of the Paravars' conversion were
recounted in a 1542 letter by Dom João da Cruz:
It was in these
circumstances that Dom João da Cruz pointed out to the Paravars the way out of
the difficulty. Conversion to Christianity would forever secure them the
Portuguese protection. Who was Dom Jooã da Cruz? According to Rev. Father
Schurhammers, the highest authority on St. Francis Xavier and his works he was
a chetty born in Calicut. In 1513, hardly fifteen years old, he had been sent
to Lisbon by the Zamorin, as his envoy, to King Manuel had been received there
very honorable and baptized under the above-mentioned name. In 1515 he was
raised to the Knighthood with the insignia and privileges of a Chevalier of the
Order of Christ.
It was he who
persuaded the Paravars to send fifteen leading men to Cochin. However, the
Portuguese Captain Pero Vaz de Amaral, to make sure that the Whole Caste was
ready to join the Faith, made seventy more of their people come to Cochin to
endorse the decision. This was done.
Meanwhile, the
Moors, getting wind of these negotiations and fearing that their prey and the
pearl fishing would escape them, dispatched two envoys to Cochin in order to
bribe Pero de Vaz, not to allow the baptism of the Paravas. But in vain. “Heaps
of gold of my own size”, answered the captain, “will never make me desist from
my purpose”.
He then had the
eighty-five Paravars baptized by the Vicar General, Miguel Vaz who was just at
the time in Cochin (Probably December, 1535), and he put at their disposal a
fleet, which with the vicar of Cochin and four priests along with the
neophytes, sailed to the rescuer. Within a short time the Moors got the
deserved punishment and Paravars once more were put I possession of their pearl
fishing rights. About Twenty Thousand of them in Thirty Villages were baptized.
This is how, concludes humorously Teixeira, “Our Lord saved so many souls by
means of one torn ear-lobe”.
The Paravars and the Saint: On May 6, 1542
St
Francis Xavier arrived in Goa and after a stay of five months in Goa,
he left for the Pearl Fishery Coast about six hundred miles from Goa, taking
with him three Tamil Students from the college (One of them was in Deacon’s
order the others were catechists to serve as interpreters). They arrived in Tuticorin in September 1542. Xavier living in and
proselytized from a sea cave in Manapad.
St. Francis Xavier made the catechistical instruction
interesting by his singing and by making the children sing. The instruction is
ended by the Salva Regina, begging the aid and help of the "blessed
lady".
Catechists and Teachers:
St. Francis Xavier appointed catechists and teachers in
all the villages to continue the conversion work he had begun. It was his
method to be liberal to the teachers and catechists, to pay them a part of
their salary in advance and to encourage them in every way. At the same time he
let them feel that they were carefully watched and must be on their guard not
to fail in their duty. They were to baptize newborn infants, preside at the
prayers and perform other offices of the kind.
To meet the heavy expenses of paying the teachers and
catechists St. Francis Xavier had recourse to a stratagem.
Four hundred crowns a year had been set-aside for Queen
Catherine of Portugal from revenue of the Pearl Fisheries and the sum was
supposed to provide Her Majesty with slippers. St. Francis Xavier seems already
to have persuaded the governor to pay it over to him, so sure were they both
that the pious Queen would gladly let him have it for the salaries of the
Kanakapillais (catechists are known even today by this name along the Fishery
Coast – they are doing small works in Catholic churches). In asking her
permission to consent to what had been done, he reminded her that she could
have no better shoes or slippers to climb into Heaven than her charity towards
the children of the Fishery Coast. For many years the Queen’s slipper money was
donated by her to this mission.
Conclusion:
It is true that the Paravars were baptized eight years
before the arrival of St. Francis Xavier. But it was only after the arrival of
Francis Xavier that the conversion and evangelical activity proceeded with all
the gusto.
St. Francis Xavier understood the necessity and utility
of employing zealous catechists and teachers to keep up the faith of the
neophytes. To have zealous catechists and teachers, money is needed. He found
ways and means to pay the teachers and catechists well. Little wonder that the
catechists and teachers did their work more than willingly.
After four Centuries, it is not rare to find catechists
paid only a pittance and that too not regularly for most people have been
converted already.
Vincent Fernando, Cecili Fernando,
Devotees of Our Lady of Snows, Tuticorin and Religious & Social Worker
(1930).
2. Fatima (Babu) Rodriquez Recipient of
the Green Peace Award.- Devotee of Our Lady of Snows, Tuticorin, College Professor and Social Worker. Mr. Pushparayan Victoria, has been a leading activist of the people’s nonviolent struggle in
Koodankulam against the ill-conceived and unsafe nuclear power project.
1. Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam
2. Dr. Sukumar Devotta, Chemical Engineer
by profession and Director of The National Environmental Engineering Research
Institute (NEERI) and a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) which shared The Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 with Albert Arnold (Al) Gore
Jr. for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about
man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are
needed to counteract such change.
1. Merrill J. Fernando, Sri Lankan
businessman, founder of Dilmah brand of premium ceylon tea, and a
leading internationally recognized tea-expert
2. Augustine Pereira, Sri Lankan
businessman, Pership Group of companies, Sri Lanka
1. Late Rev. Gabriel Francis Tibursious Roche,
S.J.,(Catholicism)First Indian Bishop of Latin reign.
2. Late Rev. Thomas Fernando Arch-Bishop [5]
3. The Most Rev. Peter Fernando Arch-Bishop [6]
5. Late Rev. Fr.Chandra
Fernando, Sri Lankan
human rights actvist
6. The Most Rev. Anthony Devotta, Archbishop,
Trichy Diocese
7. The Most Rev.Thomas Aquinas Rodrigo,
Bishop, Coimbatore Diocese
8. The Most Rev. Fidelis Lional Emmanuel Fernando, Aux-Bishop, Colombo, Srilanka.
9. Rev. Fr.Chandra Fernando, Sri Lankan human rights activist
1. Justice J.F.A. Soza, Former Supreme Court Judge of Sri Lanka
2. Dr.S.M. Daiz IPS, former DGP,tamilnadu
3. Nanjil Kumaran IPS,Tamilnadu
4. A. Adaickalam, Former Deputy
Commissioner of Police (Thangachimadam) (Tamil Nadu) ( India)
5. J.Michael Kennedy Fernando,IRS;Indian
Revenue Service(Customs& Central Excise)1993 Batch,Additional
Commissioner;Finance Ministry,Government of India.
6. Captain T.J.Thomas Fernando,former
Deputy Conservator & Head of the Marine Department,Tuticorin Port Trust.
7. Berryl Victoria Cardoza, former Public
Prosecutor, Karnataka Government, Bangalore.
8. Antonysamy P Rayer ( Former Deputy Commissioner of
Police( Kuthenkuly),Tamil Nadu
1. Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Former President of India
2. Dr. K. R. Narayanan, Former President of India
3. Shri. J.L.P. Roche Victoria,Ex- Food
& Fisheries Minister,TN
4. Shri. Cruz Fernandez,Ex-Chairman,
Tuticorin Municipality
5. Shri. J Ponnusamy Villavarayar -
MLC(Member of Legislative Council)
6. Shri. Valampuri John Member
of Parliament
8. Shri. G R Edmund,Fisheries Minister,
MLC, Special Rep. for TN
9. Shri.
Ambrose Fernando,Ex-MLA
10. Smt. Jenifer Chandran,Former Fisheries
Minister,TN
11. Shri J.M.B. Roche Victoria, First
Chairman of Tuticorin Municipality
12. Shri J. Thommai Fernando, First Vice
Major of Tuticorin Corporation
13. Shri. Jude Perera ,Member, Parliament
of Victoria, Australia
1. JP
Chandrababu (Panimeya Dasan Fernando)Tamil comedian actor
2. Jacqueline
Fernandez is a beauty queen from Sri Lanka who competed in Miss Universe 2006.
3. Rohan
Fernando, Sri Lankan
film maker, based in Canada
Sports
- Dimitri Mascarenhas, Cricketer representing England Cricket team
- Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lankan Cricketer
- Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lankan Cricketer
- Suresh Perera, Sri Lankan Cricketer
SEE ALSO
REFERENCES
- ^ [1] Castes and Tribes of Southern India,By Edgar Thurston
- ^ [2] History of the Tamils: from the earliest times to 600 A.D. By P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar,P-139 "Paradavar are Pandiyar and cheifs of madura country"
- ^ [3] Indian Hist (Opt)By Reddy "Proclamation of Pandian Nedunchezian as Parathavar Warlord is supported by the author"
- ^ [4][5] Martial races of undivided India By Vidya Prakash Tyagi"Maravar and Paravar constitute the Kshatriya Varna of Tamil Caste system"
- ^ [6] Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils by N.Subrahmaniam "Paradavar were ferocious warriors,who were in great demand.P-151"
- ^ [7]"Paravars are velir,Ilanji Vel is a Paravar"
- ^ [8] Census of India, 1971: A. General report India. Office of the Registrar General, K. Chockalingam,Caste, race and religion in India by Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur)"They had series of vertical classification as Mannar,Velir....Noble man"
- ^ [9] Śaṅgam polity: the administration and social life of the Śaṅgam Tamils by N.Subrahmaniam "Paradavar were ferocious warriors,who were in great demand.P-151"
- ^ [10] South Indian studies by Harōgadde Mānappa Nāyaka, Balakrishnan Raja Gopal, T. V. Mahalingam "Once again confirms Pandian Nedunchezian as Parathavar Warlord"
- ^ [11] Martial races of undivided India By Vidya Prakash Tyagi "Paravars and Maravars are called as Meenavan and Pandyan"
- ^ [12] The cult of Draupadī By Alf Hiltebeitel
- ^ [13] Castes and Tribes of Southern India By Edgar Thurston
- ^ [14] History of the Tamils: from the earliest times to 600 A.D.By P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar
- ^ [15]"Paradavar are chiefs of Madurai Country",[16]"Paravars are velir-Chieftain, Ilanji Vel is a Paravar"
- ^ [17]"Sangam Polity:the administration and social life of sangam Tamils,P.No:151 says, Paradavar of southern region are ferocious soldiers, who were in great demand"
- ^ [18] History of the Tamils: from the earliest times to 600 A.D.By P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar P-139
- ^ [19](Verses of Mathurai kanji stating that Pandian Neduchezian and his subjects were Parathavar
- ^ [20] Arattipatti Inscriptions
- ^ [21],Oriental studies by Hugh Nevill,At Early periods the tinnevelly and ramnad belt was inhabited and ruled by their own kings P.No.62
- ^ [22] Oriental Studies by hugh Nevill,P.No.19 "Probably Marawar a tribe at present was a social grade among paravars who trade in long boats"
- ^ [23]"According to Bishop Caldwell's Research"
- ^ [24]"மணிப்பூ முண்டகத்து மணன்மலி கானற் // 96 // மணி பூ முண்டகத்து மணல் மலி கானல் பரதவர் மகளிர் குரவையொ டொலிப்ப..... யொன்றுமொழி யொலியிருப்பிற் // 143 // ஒன்று மொழி ஒலி இருப்பின் றென்பரதவர் போரேறே // 144 // தென் பரதவர் போர் ஏறே"
- ^ [25]"P.T.Srinivasa Iyengar says,Pandyas are paradavar and paradavar are not only boat men but also cheifs of madura country"
- ^ [26]"The Kings men,The Bharathar men"
- ^ [27]"Stating உரைசால் சிறப்பின் அரைசுவிழை திருவின் பரதர் மலிந்த பயம்கெழு மாநகர் முழங்குகடல் ஞாலம் முழுவதும் வரினும் வழங்கத் தவாஅ வளத்தது ஆகி அரும்பொருள் தருஉம் விருந்தின் தேஎம் ,
- ^ [28]
- Iyengar, P. T. Srinivasa (1929). History of the Tamils from the Earliest Times to 600 A. D..
- Sangam Polity:the administration and social life of sangam tamils. Ennes. 1996.
- [1] Kaliththogai
- [2] Mathurai Kanchi.
- [3] Oriental studies by Hugh Nevil
- [4] Silapathikaram
- Paravar Puranam
- Matsya Puranam
- Mohenjadaro Inscriptions on Meenavan kingdom,the fisher kingdom.
- Thiruvilayadal Puranam,Valai vesu puranam
- Mahabharatha
- History of Kurukula
- History of Indian fishery,By S. C. Agarwal
- India's legacy:
the world's heritage, Volume 1,Pattotmogar R. Ranganatha Punja
- History of Kerala,Dr.R.Leela Devi
- An anthropological study of bodily height of Indian population,Mahadeb Prasad Basu
- The Indian historical quarterly,volume 13
- The Journal of Oriental research,Volumes 10-16,Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute., 1936 - History
- Fishermen of the Coromandel:a social study of the Paravas of the Coromandel,Patrick A. Roch
- The journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay,Education Society's Press., 1953
- The history of the Vijayanagar Empire,Volume 1,M. H. Rāma Sharma, Mysore Hatti Gopal
- From tribe to caste,Dev Nathan, Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
- Man in India,Volume 49,Sharad Chandra Roy.
- The geography of British India, political & physical,George Smith.
- A History of Christianity in India: The Beginnings to AD 1707,By Stephen Neill.
- Peoples of South Asia,Clarence Maloney.
- Annual bibliography of Indian archaeology,Volumes 11-14,Instituut Kern (Rijksuniversiteit te Leiden)
- A history of South India from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar,Nilakanta Sastri Kallidaikurichi Aija
EXTERNAL LINKS
- Rajakamangalam Thurai Website
- KEELAVAIPPAR
- Paravar web group
- Virapandianpatnam Website
- Our lady of Snows Basilica
- About Alanthalai
- About St. Anthony of Padua at Puliyampatti
- Mumbai Paravar Sangam
- A Navarrese In Yamaguchi
- SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER APOSTLE OF THE INDIES AND JAPAN—1506-1552
- Set All Afire!St Francis Xavier And the Fishery Coast of India
- St. Francis Xavier
- Tuticorin Fernandos web group
- Idindakarai
- Tuticorin Diocese
- Virapandianpatnam Fernandos web group
- Blog
- [35]
bharatharcommunity.blogspot.com.au