Hēna: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 07:01, 10 February 2025

Hēna, also Radā, is a minority Sinhalese caste. "Rajas" means dirt in Sinhala and Pali or Sanskrit and "Rajaka" means the removers of dirt. Earlier these people collected clothes by traveling home to home, however in the present context those practices have been obsolete in Sri Lanka. Presently, people of this caste have ranked up in competitive professions. Of most are Scientists, Professors, Lawyers, Actors, and Politicians in Sri Lanka and Overseas (including foreign born citizens with Sri Lankan heritage).

British period[edit | edit source]

The creation of the above Mudaliyar class by the British in the 19th century, its restriction only to the Govigama caste, production of spurious caste hierarchy lists by this class and changes to the land tenure system, resulted in this caste too being classified as a low caste during this period. Although contrary to history, some modern Govigama historians even go to the extent to now suggest that this caste was traditionally bound to serve the Govi caste.

The influential Mudaliyar class attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community. These had been barbaric community standards prevailed, despite the so-called ‘humane’ social reformations by the Buddhist influence.

Despite the above odds, several members of this caste became pioneer Ship chandlers, commercial Laundry operators and successful Merchants during the British period and were recognised as members of the local elite.

Modern period[edit | edit source]

Currently, most Sri Lankans of this community are in all the leading professions within the country and overseas (i.e., USA, Canada, UK) involved with Science (i.e., Chemistry, Agriculture, Engineering, Medicine), Commerce, Arts and several other disciplines. They are known to make positive contributions and progress as great professionals. Presently, they also gain an increased say in modern Sri Lankan politics, mainly through the alternative political party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna as the leadership selection processes within the two main political parties are not democratic.

Despite philosophical values in Buddhism, caste discrimination by the Buddhist monastic establishment hinders the authentic identity of successful individuals. For instance, the majority of this people live with amended surnames in fear of social disparity besides their professional status.

In literature[edit | edit source]

Senkottan-Novel written by Mahinda Kumara Masimbula
"Lenchina mage nangiye" song

Notable people[edit | edit source]

Ranasinghe Premadasa - Sri Lankan 3rd President (1989-1993) and prime minister (1978-1989)^[1]
Chakali ailamma - Chakali Ailamma (1919–1985) was an Indian revolutionary leader during the Telangana Rebellion. Her act of defiance against Zamindar Ramachandra Reddy, known as Visnoor Deshmukh, to cultivate her land became an inspiration for many during the rebellion against the feudal lords of the Telangana region.
Madivala Machideva - Madivala Machideva, also known as Veera Ganachari Madivala Machideva, was an Indian warrior of the 12th-century.

References[edit | edit source]

↑ "Ranasinghe Premadasa | biography - president of Sri Lanka". Encyclopedia Britannica.

Ryan Bryce 1953 Caste in Modern Ceylon, Rutgers University Press
Ceylon Gazetteer 1855

External links[edit | edit source]

[1] "Ranasinghe Premadasa | biography - president of Sri Lanka". Encyclopedia Britannica.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Cleanup|date=November 2020|reason=Needs correction of spelling, grammar, typographical errors, tone, and other changes}}
+{{Short description|Minority Sinhalese caste}}
+{{Original research|date=March 2011}}
-This was researched by Banu Mallesh Chintakindi from Raipole. "Rajas" means dirt in Sinhala and Pali or Sanskrit, and "Rajaka" means the removers of dirt. They collected cloths by traveling home to home of higher [[caste]]s but now that was obsolete in India states like [[Telangana]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]], but they still perform several rituals in weddings and several festivals done in villages or their surrounding areas. In this community they are called chakali or Rajaka, meant to show pride for their caste. Many are agriculture cultivators and farmers.There are many freedom fighters from this community and the brave women [[chakali Ilamma]] who fought for the people.
+'''Hēna''', also '''Radā''', is a minority [[Sinhalese people|Sinhalese]] caste. "Rajas" means dirt in Sinhala and Pali or Sanskrit and "Rajaka" means the removers of dirt. Earlier these people collected clothes by traveling home to home, however in the present context those practices have been obsolete in Sri Lanka. Presently, people of this caste have ranked up in competitive professions. Of most are  Scientists, Professors, Lawyers, Actors, and Politicians in Sri Lanka and Overseas (including foreign born citizens with Sri Lankan heritage).
-==Rituals performed==
-In the weddings of Govigama or Radala households, they provide the carpets ("Paawada" in Sinhala) and spread "Paadawa" for the groom. They provide "Piruwata" and "Udu wiyan" for the "Poruwa". And the cracking the skull when the couple getting down from Poruwa was performed by them.(cracking skull is performed for prosperity in weddings and puberty rituals in Sri Lanka)
-In puberty rituals of Govi people the girl is bathed by a female of this caste and for their performance they were compensated through money, food, and also with the dress and jewelry given to her at that time.
 ==British period==
 The creation of the above Mudaliyar class by the British in the 19th century, its restriction only to the [[Govigama]] caste, production of spurious caste hierarchy lists by this class and changes to the [[land tenure]]  system, resulted in this caste too being classified as a low caste during this period. Although contrary to history, some modern [[Govigama]] historians even go to the extent to now suggest that this caste was traditionally bound to serve the Govi caste.
-The influential Mudaliyar class attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community.
+The influential Mudaliyar class attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community. These had been   barbaric community standards prevailed, despite the so-called  ‘humane’  social reformations by the Buddhist influence.
-Despite the above difficulties, several members of this caste became pioneer [[Ship chandler]]s, commercial [[Laundry]] operators and successful Merchants during the British period and were recognised as members of the local elite.
+Despite the above odds, several members of this caste became pioneer [[Ship chandler]]s, commercial [[Laundry]] operators and successful Merchants during the British period and were recognised as members of the local elite.
 ==Modern period==
-Members of this community are in all the leading professions in Sri Lanka and in commerce and make positive contributions to society. They are gaining an increased say in modern Sri Lankan politics, mainly through the alternative political party [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] as the leadership selection processes within the two main political parties are not democratic.
+Currently, most Sri Lankans of this community are in all the leading professions within the country and overseas (i.e., USA, Canada, UK) involved with Science (i.e., Chemistry, Agriculture, Engineering, Medicine), Commerce, Arts and several other disciplines. They are known to make positive contributions and progress as great professionals. Presently, they also gain  an increased say in modern Sri Lankan politics, mainly through the alternative political party [[Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna]] as the leadership selection processes within the two main political parties are not democratic.
-Caste discrimination by the [[Siyam Nikaya|Buddhist monastic establishment]] is also an impediment to the progress of this community.
+Despite philosophical values in Buddhism, caste discrimination by the [[Siyam Nikaya|Buddhist monastic establishment]]  hinders the authentic identity of successful individuals. For instance, the majority of this people live with amended surnames in fear of social disparity besides their professional status.
 ==In literature==
@@ Line 23: / Line 20: @@
 ==Notable people==
-[[File:Chakali illama.jpg|thumb|Chakali illama]]
+* [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] - Sri Lankan 3rd President (1989-1993) and prime minister (1978-1989)<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/474873/Ranasinghe-Premadasa | title=Ranasinghe Premadasa &#124; biography - president of Sri Lanka | newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica }}</ref>
-* [[Ranasinghe Premadasa]] – Sri Lankan 3rd President (1989–1993) and prime minister (1978–1989)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/474873/Ranasinghe-Premadasa|title=Ranasinghe Premadasa &#124; president of Sri Lanka}}</ref>
+* [[Chakali Ailamma|Chakali ailamma]] - '''Chakali Ailamma''' (1919–1985) was an Indian revolutionary leader during the [[Telangana Rebellion]]. Her act of defiance against Zamindar Ramachandra Reddy, known as Visnoor Deshmukh, to cultivate her land became an inspiration for many during the rebellion against the feudal lords of the [[Telangana]] region.
-* [[A. Ekanayake Gunasinha]] – Sri Lankan Politician
+* [[Madivala Machideva]] - '''Madivala Machideva''', also known as '''Veera Ganachari Madivala Machideva''', was an Indian warrior of the 12th-century.
-* [[George E. de Silva]] - Former Minister of Industries, Industrial Research and Fisheries of Sri Lanka
-* [[Wimal Weerawansa]] – Present Minister of Small & Medium Business and Enterprise Development, Industries and Supply chain Management of Sri Lanka
-* [[Chakali Ailamma|Chakali ailamma]] – '''Chakali Ailamma''' (1919–1985) was an Indian revolutionary leader during the [[Telangana Rebellion]]. Her act of defiance against Zamindar Ramachandra Reddy, known as Visnoor Deshmukh, to cultivate her land became an inspiration for many during the rebellion against the feudal lords of the [[Telangana]] region.
-* [[Madivala Machideva]] – '''Madivala Machideva''', also known as '''Veera Ganachari Madivala Machideva''', was an Indian warrior of the 12th-century.
 == See also ==
-* [[List of Dhobis]]
+* [[Dhobi]]
 * [[Vannar]]
@@ Line 44: / Line 37: @@
 * [http://rajakaeewa.com/ RAJAKA EMPLOYEES AND EDUCATED WELFARE ASSOCIATION website]
 * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170920103856/http://rvkap.in/ Rajaka Vikasa Kendra website]
-* [http://voiceofrajaka.com Andhra Pradesh Rajaka Community website]
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130629025607/http://voiceofrajaka.com Andhra Pradesh Rajaka Community website]
 * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140306225747/http://rajakaudupi.com/index.html Rajaka Udupi Community website]
 * [https://web.archive.org/web/20140306223837/http://www.madivalajanasangha.com/ Madivala Karnataka Community website]
 * [http://rst.org.in/ Rajaka Sankshema Trust website]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Hēna}}
 [[Category:Sinhalese castes]]
 [[Category:Caste system in Sri Lanka]]
 [[Category:Telugu society]]