An Ethnographic Study Of Aruntatiyar Of Tamil Nadu

Book Code: 1111033165515

S. Seenivasan, Translator: Ajith Kanna

ABOUT THE BOOK

Why remembering unsung Dalit Heroes matters. It matters because Dalits matter. On it’s 74th Independence Day this year, we look back at those Dalit men and women whose contributions to the Nationalist movement against the imperial exploitation is seldom acknowledged due to the multiple gaps in documentation in history as well as in contemporary times. While caste and ethnic hierarchies have existed before, during, and after the colonial rule, the Nationalist Movement for an Independent India had witnessed a significant amount of participation from its caste and ethnic minorities. The historical and cultural narratives of India have failed to acknowledge the contributions of the women from the margins, as they are either androcentric in approach or reflective of the dominant castes. Remembering unsung Dalit women heroes and their stories of struggle and bravery from across the centuries will broaden these narratives and help address the institutionalized discrimination Dalit women have faced for centuries. Dalits from Tamil Nadu have made immense contribution and sacrifice to the liberation of our country. This book has meticulously and magnificently captured the significant roles played by some of the men and women valiant warriors during the British raj in India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR-Translator

Dr.S.Seenivasan (1963)is working as Professor and Head of Department of Tamil, Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi. He has written more than eighty research articles.He is the author of research books such as Comparative Literature- Ethnography-Society (2008), Comparative Perspective in Tamil-Malayalam Novels (2009), Servaranswamy (2016), Arundhatiyars of Tamil Nadu: History and Life (2021), Diasporic Tamils: Life-Existence-Writings (2022).
He is the recipient of Chinnakkuththooshi Trust Award for Best Social Awareness Essay (2016), Tamil Nadu Government Best Writer Award (2018) and Institutional Award for Best Researcher of the Year 2019-20 from Sri Venkateswara College, New Delhi. In appreciation of his education and social service for the downtrodden, the Adithamizhar Party has honored him with the PeriyarVirudhu (Periyar Award). In recognition of his social service, research and literary contribution for the upliftment of the downtrodden and most disadvantaged sections, the Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Academy, New Delhi awarded him the DR. Ambedkar Excellence Service National Award in 2022.

Ajith Kanna is a Professor of French at Centre for French & Francophone Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He offers courses on History of France and on Media Studies. In addition to this, he has translated some of Periyar’s essays from Tamil to English and to French.His other publications in translation include : (a) Caste must me destroyed. Why? (Tamil to English); (b) Les castes doivent être détruites. Pourquoi?(Tamil to French); (c) La libération de l’ignorance est la vraie libération pour les arundathiyars (Tamil to French); (d) Tragedy of Appasamy or an amazing story of a traveler(French to English); (e) A Buried Path (Tamil to English); (f) Un Chemin enterré(Tamil to French); A Mother’s Diary(Tamil to English). He has also published Advanced Learners’ English Grammar Book and a text bookfor beginnersLe cours de Français pour les débutants in French.

CONTENT

 Foreword  ................................................................................................9
Note of the Source Book’s Author  ..........................................................13
Translator’s Note  ....................................................................................21
1.  Ethnography: History and Definition  ....................................................25
2.  Aruntatiyars: First Inhabitants of Tamil Nadu  .......................................39
3.  Migrant Aruntatiyars   ..........................................................................47
4.  Unknown Pāḷaiyams of Aruntatiyars  ....................................................59
5.  Aruntatiyars in the Indian War of Independence  ..................................63
6.  Oṇṭivīraṉin Tamil Society  ....................................................................81
7.  Unknown Aruntatiyar Clans  ...............................................................89
8.  Kuyili: The Daredevil and Goddess of Fire  .......................................105
References  ...........................................................................................115
Index  ...................................................................................................121