From Mallar to Pallar and Back: The Ideology of Devendrakula Velalars

Dalits have gradually developed different emancipation strategies during their struggle. While all of them fight against untouchability and discrimination, their positions on other issues may differ. Most of them espouse the ideas of Dr Ambedkar, for whom the prime objective was the eradication of caste. He openly rejected Hinduism and converted to Buddhism. Millions of Dalits followed his example, and many venerate him as a supreme leader to this day. Devendrakula Velalars are an exception to the rule. They reject Dalit ideology. Instead, they prefer to strengthen their caste identity and move up the social ladder. They try to prove that the three Tamil dynasties, that is, Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras, originated from among them. It was only after the ascendency of the Nayak kings that their proud name Mallar was changed into the derogatory Pallar and they were deprived of their land and turned into untouchables. Now they are trying to get themselves removed from the Scheduled Castes list and thus rid themselves of its stigmatizing influence. The aim of this article is to follow the intellectual journey of the main ideologues of this caste and to match their arguments with recent steps taken towards their political representation.