Cantar caste

Cantar (also spelled Shandar or Sandar, they are also known as Shanar and Shandrar) is a Tamil caste found in Sri Lanka. They are traditionally occupied in palm tree climbing, toddy tapping and oil pressing.[1][2]

Etymology

The Cantars are also known as Shanar. The term is proposed as an etymologically corruptive derivative of shandrar, the older term for the community.[3]

History

They were originally tree-climbers and toddy tappers. They claim origin from the Shanars of South India, who settled in Sri Lanka, initially in the Puttalam region, due to social clashes and overpopulation in South India.[4]

The Jaffna Kingdom were known for exporting elephants, which were caught in the Vanni region and maintained by the Cantars.[5] The Cantars had to pay taxes to the Jaffna kings for producing jaggery and pinattu (a sweet or pulp, made of dried palmyra fruit).[3]

According to the Jaffna chronicle, Yalpana Vaipava Malai, there were the Nalavar (palm tree climber and toddy tappers) known as Nambis. After withdrawing from a battle, the Nambis made a living by being hired by Cantars or Shanars and eventually taking up their hereditary occupation as palm tree climbers and toddy tappers.[6] [7]

The Cantars have in recent centuries taken to oil milling, specializing in gingelly oil.[5]

See also

References
  1. McGilvray, Dennis B. (1974). Tamils and Moors: caste and matriclan structure in eastern Sri Lanka. University of Chicago. p. 176.
  2. David, Kenneth (2011-06-03). The New Wind: Changing Identities in South Asia. Walter de Gruyter. p. 203. ISBN 9783110807752.
  3. Arasaratnam, Sinnappah (1996-01-01). Ceylon and the Dutch, 1600-1800: External Influences and Internal Change in Early Modern Sri Lanka. n Variorum. pp. 380, 381. ISBN 9780860785798.
  4. Raghavan, M. D. (1971). Tamil culture in Ceylon: a general introduction. Kalai Nilayam. p. 164.
  5. Ph.D. Ragupathy, Ponnampalam (1987). Early Settlements in Jaffna: An Archaeological Survey. University of Jaffna: Thillimalar Ragupathy. p. 210.
  6. Pillay, Kolappa Pillay Kanakasabhapathi (1963). South India and Ceylon. University of Madras. p. 161.
  7. David, Kenneth (1977-01-01). The New Wind: Changing Identities in South Asia. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 190–191. ISBN 9783110807752.
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