Madiga

Madiga is an artisan caste skilled in leather works.[1] and they are also known as Chamar in Northern part of India.[2] They are also called, Maadiga, Maatangi, Makkalu and Mahadiga. They mainly lives in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.[3][4]

"Mahadiga" redirects here. For the 2004 film, see Mahadiga (film).
Madiga
Regions with significant populations
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha
Languages
Telugu, Kannada, Hindi
Religion
Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Hindi people, Telugu people, Kannada people

Madigas are historically associated with the work of leather skinning, tanning, leather products, drummers,carpenters,bags, gunsmith,rope-making, basket making etc.[5]They are categorized as a Scheduled Caste by the Government of India.

History

According to popular myth, Madigas are descendants of Jambavana. After Hindu god, Shiva cursed Jambavan that he will live until Kali yuga, then the community of Madigas came into existence.[6] Jambavana was one among people who have mentions in both Ramayana and Mahabharata period.

Madigas have their own classes, the priestly class is known as Madiga Dasari. The Sangaris, Thothis, etc have different works for their community.[7] They are also village drummers who use Dandora or Dappu in festivals, death and marriage ceremony and announcements.[8]

In Rayachoty (Kadapa), a Madiga commander-in-chief of a local king revolted and fought war against him, then captured his kingdom. He built his residence at a hilltop still known as, Madiga Vanidoorgam.[9]

When Katamaraju, a Yadav king of Kanigiri involved in a war against Manusiddhi of Nellore Cholas kingdom. He asked help from Berunaydu, a Madiga chieftain who was then sent with his army to help his brother in a war at Karempudi.[10]

Madigas have also played an important role in Indian independence movement and Telangana movement.[11]

Madiga Dandora Movement

In 1994, Madigas under the leadership of Manda Krishna Madiga and Dandu Veeraiah Madiga, have formed an organisation called Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) demanding the categorisation of the SC reservation quota to ensure equitable distribution of state allocations for all the constituent castes.[12]

The activist, Lelle Suresh and Sabrina Francis, made a documentary film on condition and culture of the community named, Mahadiga, released in 2004.[13]

Notable Madigas

References
  1. Hassan, Syed Siraj ul (1989). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions. Asian Educational Services. p. 409. ISBN 978-81-206-0488-9.
  2. Ilaiah, Kancha (17 November 2009). Post-Hindu India: A Discourse in Dalit-Bahujan, Socio-Spiritual and Scientific Revolution. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-93-5280-197-8.
  3. "Social ostracising of Scheduled Castes still rampant in society". The Hindu. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  4. Madhav, K.V.S. (9 September 2004). "Starring Madiga and dappu..." The Hindu. p. 02. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  5. Gundimeda, Sambaiah (14 October 2015). Dalit Politics in Contemporary India. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-38104-4.
  6. Rauschenbusch-Clough, Emma (2000). While Sewing Sandals: Tales of a Telugu Pariah Tribe. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-81-206-1459-8.
  7. Teltumbde, Anand; Yengde, Suraj (2 November 2018). The Radical in Ambedkar: Critical Reflections. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. ISBN 978-93-5305-313-0.
  8. "The undying beat of the Dappu: How a traditional drum signifies dignity, revolution for the Madiga community". Firstpost. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. A Manual of the District of Cuddapah in the Presidency of Madras. E. Keyes, at the Government Press. 1875.
  10. "Madiga & Dalit". www.simoncharsley.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  11. Teltumbde, Anand (31 January 2020). Hindutva and Dalits: Perspectives for Understanding Communal Praxis. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-93-81345-51-1.
  12. Still, Clarinda (6 July 2017). Dalit Women: Honour and Patriarchy in South India. Taylor & Francis. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-351-58819-5.
  13. "Starring Madiga and dappu..." The Hindu. 10 September 2004. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  14. DelhiMarch 1, India Today Online New; March 1, 2014UPDATED:; Ist, 2014 18:42. "Who was Bangaru Laxman?". India Today. Retrieved 20 May 2020.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. Jammanna, Akepogu; Sudhakar, Pasala (14 December 2016). Dalits' Struggle for Social Justice in Andhra Pradesh (1956-2008): From Relays to Vacuum Tubes. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4438-4496-3.
  16. Bhuvaneshwari, S. (18 September 2019). "Report sought on denial of entry of Dalit MP into Gollarahatti". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 May 2020.

Further reading
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.