Timeline of the Karavas

It is a fact that the first farmers were the hunter-gathers and fishermen. It is also acknowledged that maritime history cannot be overlooked when discussing the early settlement of the island.

The Mediaeval Period

Mediaeval period

• More Karavas fishermen claim to settle in Sri Lanka as independent migrants and settlers from invading armies of Pandya, Chola, and Kalinga from the Kuru-Mandala coast (i.e. The region of the Kurus) stretching across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Pandya kingdom in 1250

• The capital of the Pandyan Kingdom was Korkai before it was shifted to Madurai. Madura in the south was sometimes called Dakshina Madura (Southern Madura) to differentiate it from the northern Uttara Madra.
• Sangam literature refers to the Pandyans as Kauriyar.
• The Kalingas had fought in the Mahabharat war for the Kauravas and Kharavela was a famous king of Kalingas.
• Chola armies led by Generals such as Aditya Karikalan.

11th century

• Many Kurukularajas all over the Tamil country. (BITC 1.)
• A commander in the Sri Lankan king Vijayabahu I's army is referred to as Kurukulattarayan who wore the golden anklet. (EI No. 38 XXI 5.)
• Several references to Kurukulattarayans and Kurukularayans in Chalukya Chola inscriptions. (Sastri The Cholas 592, Travancore archaeological series I, 247 and South Indian Inscriptions No. 53 VII 126.)

12th century

• An inscription of Kullotunga says that he invaded Madura on behalf of his nephew Karadeva. (Madras epigraphy collection of 1928, No. 336.)

13th century

• Several inscriptions refer to Gurukulattarayan (Kurukulattarayan) in the Pandya Kingdom. (Madras Government Epigraphy Inscriptions 548, 549, 550, 553, 572, 575.)
• A Gurukulattarayan in the Chola Kingdom eulogized as lord of Tadangauni. (Madras Government Epigraphy Inscription 554.)
• A division of Trichinopoly district was known as Kurunagai Nadu. (Rangacharya 1512.)
• Kaurava Adittya (Kurukulasuriya) Arasa Nila Yitta (bearing kingly position) Elenaga, Mahanaga and other Patabenda Karava sub kings rule regional kingdoms of Sri Lanka. (Valignano 1577, Perniola 82, Valentyn 1726.)

14th century

• According to an inscription dated 1353, the city of Vijayanagar was called Kurukshetra- Vidyanagari. Other inscriptions from the periods of Harihara I and Bukka I say that it was also called Hastinavati reminiscent of Hastinapur. (Ramanayar 52.)

15th century

• 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. (JRASCB XXXVI 132.)

16th century

• Arrival of Portuguese followed by the subsequent division of the community into two rival groups fighting with and against the Portuguese.
• Collapse of the Vijayanagar empire with adverse consequences to its army and navy.
• The Karava Singhe Dynasty rules Jaffna.
• The Vijayanagar Rulers had the practice of appointing provincial governors or viceroys such as the Nayaks of Madurai and Nayaks of Tanjore to administer provinces. They regained independent authority in the areas governed as the power of the Vijayanagar empire waned. (See Vaduge.) The 17th-century Portuguese historian Queyroz's observation that Chem Nayque, the naval commander of the Nayque of Tanjore, was a Karáva. (Queyroz, 638.)

Maha Patabendige Dona Catherina, sole heiress of Sri Lanka

The Colonial Period

Early 17th century

• 1606—Portuguese missionaries first concentrate on converting the Karava Patabändas. This practice of offering upward social mobility through conversion to Christianity has been the foundation of Karava domination in Sri Lanka. They are used as examples for other low castes to follow (e.g. Salagama (cinnamon peeler) families receiving names such as De Silva etc.) (Jesuit annual letter of 29 December 1606 from Cochin, Perniola II. 254.)
• 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.

17th century

• Dodda Deva Raja (1659–1672) of Mysore claims to have subjugated the Kurus. (Rice 128.)
• 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.

18th century

• The Vaduga Dynasty rules the Kandyan kingdom. See Vaduge. Pybus notes that the Cloth worn by the chiefs is called Karaveniya.

Late 18th century

A De Saram family of mixed origin Sinhalises itself by posing as the representatives of the masses and subsequently convinces the British rulers that they are from the numerous Govigama caste. The De Saram family gains power and position by loyalty, religious conversion and collaboration with the Dutch and British rulers and succeeds in marginalizing the traditional ruling class. The British notion of an inverted caste hierarchy in Sri Lanka is easily traceable to the documents on 'local customs' produced by this family.

The British naturally favor the subservient De Saram family against the belligerent traditional elite. The De Saram family is given increasing patronage and chiefly appointments and grows in power and influence. (See Sri Lankan Mudaliyars.)

According to Karava lore some of these families were founded by Karavas disowned by the clan for marrying beneath their status. For example the De Saram and Corea families are said to have Karava Patangatim ancestors, respectively, Bandaranaike Suriya Patangatim of Dondra and Domingus Corea Patangatim of Negombo. The first Obeysekera is said to be a Karava from Gandara.

19th century

• British methods of administration, divide and rule policies, census taking methods and mandatory declaration of one's 'Race' on official documents forces the Sri Lankan population of diverse ethnic origins to become either Sinhalese or Tamils based on the language they spoke at that point in time. This splits the Karava community into two so called races. The European concept of 'Race' was an alien concept for Sri Lanka. The Sinhala language previously did not even have an equivalent word to convey the meaning of 'race' and the Sinhala word Jaathi now used for that purpose previously only meant 'caste' or 'birth'. The words Jaathi or Jaathiya has never been used in history to refer to a mega Sinhala race.

1890s

• Establishment by the British of a predominantly Govigama Mudaliar class and restricting high appointments only to the Govigama caste in 1897.

Late 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.

Early 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.)

References

• BITC The Bulletin of the Institute of Traditional Culture I, Madras University 1961
• EZ (Epigraphia Zeylanica) Colombo Museum
• Habib Irfan The Agrarian system of Mughal India 1999 Oxford
• JRASCB—Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch)
• Madras Government Epigraphy, Stone in inscriptions 1922
• Paranavitana Inscriptions of Ceylon Volume I
• Perniola Fr. S. J. The History of the Catholic Church – Portuguese period
• Queyroz Fr. S. J. 1688 The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylaö
• Rangacharya Inscriptions of the Mardas Presidency Vol. III
• Rice R. L. Mysore and Coorg from their inscriptions London 128
• Sastri Nilakanta K. A. Pandyan Kingdom
• Sastri Nilakanta K. A. The Cholas

External links

• Karava website—Kshatriya Maha Sabha Sri Lanka