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{{Short description|Agricultural caste of Tamil Nadu, India}} | |||
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'''Valangai''' or the '''right hand''' refers to a caste-based division of communities in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] that was in vogue from ancient times right up to the 19th and even the early decades of the 20th century AD. Since India's independence, the differences have practically vanished.<ref name="ghuryep359">[[#G. S. Ghurye|G. S.Ghurye]], Pg 359</ref><ref name="empire_perspectives">{{cite book | title=Empires: Perspectives from Archaeology and History| last=E. Alcock| first=Susan| pages=269|author2=Terence N. D'Altroy |author3=Kathleen D. Morrison |author4=Carla M. Sinopoli | '''Valangai''' or the '''right hand'''{{Clarify|reason=Is this a translation of what Valangai mean?|date=September 2025}} refers to a caste-based division of communities in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] that was in vogue from ancient times right up to the 19th and even the early decades of the 20th century AD. Since India's independence, the differences have practically vanished.<ref name="ghuryep359">[[#G. S. Ghurye|G. S.Ghurye]], Pg 359</ref><ref name="empire_perspectives">{{cite book | title=Empires: Perspectives from Archaeology and History| last=E. Alcock| first=Susan| pages=269|author2=Terence N. D'Altroy |author3=Kathleen D. Morrison |author4=Carla M. Sinopoli | ||
| year=2001| publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-77020-0}}</ref> | | year=2001| publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-77020-0}}</ref> | ||
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The Valangai faction was numerically superior to the ''[[Idangai]]'' or left-handed faction. There were 6 castes in the ''Idangai'' faction as opposed to sixty in the ''Valangai'' faction.<ref name="ghuryep359" /> The ''Valangai'' faction was better organized, politically, than the ''Idangai''.<ref name="politcalorganization">[[#Caste Ideology and Interaction|Caste Ideology and Interaction]], Pg 105</ref> | The Valangai faction was numerically superior to the ''[[Idangai]]'' or left-handed faction. There were 6 castes in the ''Idangai'' faction as opposed to sixty in the ''Valangai'' faction.<ref name="ghuryep359" /> The ''Valangai'' faction was better organized, politically, than the ''Idangai''.<ref name="politcalorganization">[[#Caste Ideology and Interaction|Caste Ideology and Interaction]], Pg 105</ref> | ||
[[Jean-Antoine Dubois]] on ''Valangai'' writes, The ''[[Paraiyars]]'' are its chief support, as a proof of which they glory in the title ‘Valangai-Mougattar’, or friends of the Right-hand.<ref>Hindu manners, customs and ceremonies. Dubois, J. A. (Jean Antoine),1899(Page.25.)</ref> | [[Jean-Antoine Dubois]] on ''Valangai'' writes, The ''[[Paraiyars]]'' are its chief support, as a proof of which they glory in the title ‘Valangai-Mougattar’, or friends of the Right-hand.{{Clarify|date=October 2024 |reason="Chief support of what? This is a very strange quote."}}<ref>Hindu manners, customs and ceremonies. Dubois, J. A. (Jean Antoine),1899(Page.25.)</ref> | ||
During the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] period, the left and right-hand factions comprised ninety-eight castes each, but by the 19th century, the right-hand faction was made of 60 castes, and the left-hand, only six. | During the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] period, the left and right-hand factions comprised ninety-eight castes each, but by the 19th century, the right-hand faction was made of 60 castes, and the left-hand, only six. | ||
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[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]] | [[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]] | ||
[[Category:Agriculture in Tamil Nadu]] | [[Category:Agriculture in Tamil Nadu]] | ||
[[Category:South Indian communities]] | |||
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]] | |||
{{India-ethno-stub}} | {{India-ethno-stub}} | ||
Latest revision as of 02:47, 19 September 2025
Valangai or the right hand[clarification needed] refers to a caste-based division of communities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu that was in vogue from ancient times right up to the 19th and even the early decades of the 20th century AD. Since India's independence, the differences have practically vanished.[1][2]
The Valangai or right-handed faction was made up of castes with an agricultural basis while the Idangai was made of metal workers, weavers, etc. i.e. castes involved in manufacturing.[3]
The Valangai faction was numerically superior to the Idangai or left-handed faction. There were 6 castes in the Idangai faction as opposed to sixty in the Valangai faction.[1] The Valangai faction was better organized, politically, than the Idangai.[4]
Jean-Antoine Dubois on Valangai writes, The Paraiyars are its chief support, as a proof of which they glory in the title ‘Valangai-Mougattar’, or friends of the Right-hand.[clarification needed][5]
During the Chola period, the left and right-hand factions comprised ninety-eight castes each, but by the 19th century, the right-hand faction was made of 60 castes, and the left-hand, only six.
See also[edit | edit source]
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 G. S.Ghurye, Pg 359
- ↑ E. Alcock, Susan; Terence N. D'Altroy; Kathleen D. Morrison; Carla M. Sinopoli (2001). Empires: Perspectives from Archaeology and History. Cambridge University Press. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-521-77020-0.
- ↑ Gift Siromoney (1975). "More inscriptions from the Tambaram area". Madras Christian College Magazine, Vol. 44, 1975. Madras Christian College Magazine. Retrieved 21 September 2008.
- ↑ Caste Ideology and Interaction, Pg 105
- ↑ Hindu manners, customs and ceremonies. Dubois, J. A. (Jean Antoine),1899(Page.25.)
References[edit | edit source]
- Ghurye, G. S. (1991). Caste and Race in India. Bombay: Popular Prakashan.
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