Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 6 of 7
Mar 2020 · Otbebookpublishing
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360
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About this ebook
Excerpt: "Palli or Vanniyan.—Writing concerning this caste the Census Superintendent, 1871, records that "a book has been written by a native to show that the Pallis (Pullies or Vanniar) of the south are descendants of the fire races (Agnikulas) of the Kshatriyas, and that the Tamil Pullies were at one time the shepherd kings of Egypt." At the time of the census, 1871, a petition was submitted to Government by representatives of the caste, praying that they might be classified as Kshatriyas, and twenty years later, in connection with the census, 1891, a book entitled 'Vannikula Vilakkam: a treatise on the Vanniya caste,' was compiled by Mr. T. Aiyakannu Nayakar, in support of the caste claim to be returned as Kshatriyas, for details concerning which claim I must refer the reader to the book itself. In 1907, a book entitled Varuna Darpanam (Mirror of Castes) was published, in which an attempt is made to connect the caste with the Pallavas."
About the author
Edgar Thurston (1855-1935) was a pioneering British ethnographer and superintendent of the Madras Government Museum in India. His work primarily focused on the diverse social structures and cultural practices of Southern India, making him a significant figure in the field of anthropology. Thurston's meticulous documentation and analysis of various communities provided an unprecedented glimpse into the intricate tapestry of Indian society during the British colonial period.Born in Kent, England, Thurston was educated at King's College London and later trained in medicine, which piqued his interest in human biology and ethnography. His career took a transformative turn when he was appointed to the Madras Museum in 1885, where he spent over two decades. His tenure was marked by extensive fieldwork, during which he employed both scientific rigor and a deep respect for the cultures he studied.Thurston's work was not without controversy. His ethnographic methods and the colonial context in which he operated have been critiqued for perpetuating stereotypes and reinforcing colonial power dynamics. However, his detailed observations have also been invaluable to later scholars and writers, offering a foundational understanding of South Indian ethnography.Influencing contemporary writers and anthropologists, Thurston championed the idea that understanding cultural diversity was crucial for a more comprehensive grasp of human civilization. His legacy is a complex blend of scientific achievement and the contentious ethics of colonial scholarship, making him a fascinating figure for modern readers interested in the intersections of history, culture, and science.
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