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Timeline of the Karavas

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The following is a chronological overview of the history of the Karavas and Karaiyars caste of Sri Lanka and India. The Karavas and Karaiyars were historically also known as Kurukulam, meaning Kuru tribe.

Contents

Medieval period

  • Migration of several Suriya clans of the Karavas in the reign of King Parakrama Bahu VI (1412–1467) as documented in the Mukkara Hatana palm leaf manuscript now in the British Museum. Valentyn states that Parakrama Bahu VI is from Kurukule. Parakrama Bahu VI describes himself as "descended from King Bharatha" in his Padákada Sannasa.
  • The Mukkara Hatana, an old palm leaf manuscript from Sri Lanka,is an account of the defeat of the Mukkuvar by the Karaiyars in the Saka era 1159 and the taking of the fort of Puttalam after a three-month siege. The manuscript was preserved by the Karavas of Negombo. The Karaiyars are described to have migrated to Sri Lanka from the Kurumandalam coast of Southern India.Kurumandalam,meaning The realm of the Kurus

    • 17th century

  • 1606—Portuguese missionaries first concentrate on converting the Karavas Patabändas. This practice of offering upward social mobility through conversion to Christianity has been the foundation of Karava domination in Sri Lanka.
  • 1623—Baptism of King Pararajasekaran's two queens as Dona Clara da Silva and Dona Antonia da Silva, several nephews of the king, nine Patangatims and all other chief persons of the Karava caste.(Perniola Portuguese period III.)
  • Maha Patabendige Dona Catherina is the sole heiress of the Kandyan kingdom and by virtue of that she is officially the Empress of Sri Lanka. Karava Kuruvita Rala known as the Prince of Uva and the Prince of Negombo are appointed Guardians of the Crown prince by Dona Catherina and later again by King Senarath of Kandy.
  • The locals adopt Portuguese modes of dress, in keeping with the local custom of only the upper classes being permitted to cover the upper body. (For example the Govigama Siyam Nikaya monks still customarily keep one shoulder exposed). Until recent times the Kabakuruttu (Portuguese Kaba Kurtu), a tight fitting white blouse with long sleeves, lace trimmings and a V neck-line, was worn only by Karava women.
  • Dodda Deva Raja (1659–1672) of Mysore claims to have subjugated the Kurus.
  • Many Karavas refuse to give up Catholicism. Persecution of Karava Catholics by the Dutch, loss of life, livelihood displacement and large numbers from the Karava community taking to non traditional occupations. Loss of warriors and leaders on both sides in the many Dutch wars.

    • 19th century

  • Religious controversy led by Govigamas result in sharply dividing the Buddhist and Christian Karavas and both factions spend their wealth on fighting each other and moving away from the previous Kara-Govi caste conflict.
  • Temperance movement, against the Karavas who by then were dominating the liquor industry. Movement led by D.R Wijewardene, D.S. Senanayake and his two brothers F.R and D.C from families that had risen through arrack renting but were out of the liquor trade by then. The movement is funded by Buddhist Karavas.

    • 20th century

  • Introduction of a spurious Lion Flag as the Royal Flag of Sri Lanka by D. R. Wijewardene, thereby obliterating the real royal symbols of Sri Lanka, the Sun and the Moon, the symbols traditionally also used by the Karava community. (See

    • Lion Flag.)

    Independent period

  • Karaiyars formed the leadership of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a group that fought the Sri Lankan Civil War to form a Tamil sovereign state, intending to secede from the Sinhala-majority Sri Lanka. The LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran and his fellow Karaiyars perceived Vellala-imposed caste restrictions as oppressive as the alleged Sinhala discrimination against the Tamils.

    • References

    Timeline of the Karavas Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA