| Pulaya | |
|---|---|
 Two Pulaya women from Kerala | |
| Religions | Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism |
| Languages | Malayalam, Kannada |
| Country | India |
| Populated states | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamilnadu |
| Ethnicity | Malayali |
| Notable members | Ayyankali, P. K. Chathan Master |
Pulaya (also called Cheraman, Cheruman, mas. Pulayan; fem. Pulayi, Pulachi; pl. Pulayar/Pulayas, Cherumar/Cheramar/Cherumas, IPA: [pulɐjɐ, tʃerumɐ]) is a caste1 group mostly found in modern-day Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and historically in Tamil Nadu. They are classified as a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.23
Traditions
Pulayars are noted for their music, craftsmanship, and for certain dances which include Kōlam-thullal, a mask dance which is part of their exorcism rituals, as well as the Mudi-āttam or hair-dance which has its origins in a fertility ritual.456 The folk dance Chozhikali is performed by the Pulayar community of central Kerala.7
Demography
According to the 2011 Census, the Pulayan population in Kerala was 1,338,008.8 They are a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in the state of Kerala2 and Tamil Nadu.3
Notable people
- Ayyankali (1863–1941), social reformer
- K. G. Balakrishnan, 37th Chief Justice of India
- Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indian actor9
- Chittayam Gopakumar, deputy speaker of 14th Kerala legislative assembly10
- Nandanar, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism
- C. T. Ravikumar, judge of the Supreme Court of India
- P. K. Rosy (1903–1988), first heroine of the Malayalam film industry
- Punnala Sreekumar, general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS)
- Kodikunnel Suresh, member of Parliament11
- K. P. Vallon (1894–1940), social reformer
- Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912–1978), former member of the Constituent Assembly
- Vinayakan, actor and dancer12
References
References
- Moffatt, Michael (2015). An Untouchable Community in South India: Structure and Consensus. Princeton University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-40087-036-3. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- "List of Scheduled Castes in the Kerala State". Kerala Public Service Commission, State Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- "Tamil Nadu". Ministry of Social Justice. 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- "PRIMAL ELEMENTS:THE ORAL TRADITION". Archived from the original on 9 February 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2006.
- Paul Hockings, ed. (1987). "Early Evidence for Caste in South India". Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G. Mandelbaum. Berlin, New York, Amsterdam: Mouton de Gruyter. pp. 467–492.
- Palaniappan, Sudalaimuthu (2008). "On The Unintended Influence Of Jainism On The Development Of Caste In Post-Classical Tamil Society" (PDF). International Journal of Jaina Studies. 4 (2). eISSN 1748-1074. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- "ചോഴികളി" (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- "Actor Dharmajan says two Congress leaders worked for his poll defeat". Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- "CPI functionary suspended for casteist remarks". 19 February 2017. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- "Cong MP loses seat over fake SC claim". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- "I am someone who thinks in an Ayyankali thought: Vinayakan, best actor – Round Table India". Round Table India. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2025.