CBSC Text Book Issue on Dress Code and Caste Conflict...

NCERT 9 th standard book (India and contemporary world -I) Chapter 8

4.1 Caste Conflict and Dress Change
Though there were no formal sumptuary laws as in Europe, Indiahad its own strict social codes of food and dress. The caste system clearly defined what subordinate and dominant caste Hindus should wear, eat, etc., and these codes had the force of law. Changes in clothing styles that threatened these norms therefore often created violent social reactions.

    In May 1822, women of the Shanar caste were attacked by upper- caste Nairs in public places in the southern princely state of Travancore, for wearing a cloth across their upper bodies. Over subsequent decades, a violent conflict over dress codes ensued.

    The Shanars (also called Nadars) were a community of toddy tappers  who migrated to southern Travancore to work under Nair landlords. As they were considered a ‘subordinate caste’, they were prohibited from using umbrellas and wearing shoes or golden ornaments. Men and women were also expected to follow the local custom of never covering their upper bodies before the upper castes. Under the influence of Christian missions, Shanar women converts began in the 1820s to wear tailored blouses and cloths to cover  themselves like the upper castes. Soon Nairs, one of the upper castes of the region, attacked these women in public places and tore off their upper cloths. Complaints were also filed in court against this dress change, especially since Shanars were also refusing to render free labour for the upper castes.
        At first, the Government of Travancore issued a proclamation in 1829 ordering Shanar women ‘to abstain in future from covering the upper parts of the body.’ But this did not prevent Shanar Christian women, and even Shanar Hindus, from adopting the blouse and upper cloth. The abolition of slavery in Travancore in 1855 led to even more frustration among the upper castes who felt they were losing control. In October 1859, riots broke out as Shanar women were attacked in the marketplace and stripped of their upper cloths. Houses were looted and chapels burned.

    Finally, the government issued another proclamation permitting Shanar women, whether Christian or Hindu, to wear a jacket, or cover their upper bodies ‘in any manner whatever, but not like the women of high caste’.

கவனிக்க வேண்டியது;
1. Shanars (also called Nadars) were a community of toddy tappers  who migrated to southern Travancore to work under Nair landlords

        நாடார்கள் தென் திருவிதாங்கூருக்கு பிழைப்பு தேடி வந்தவர்கள் என்று குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.
        தாங்களாகவே முன்வந்து அடிமைத்தனத்தை ஏற்றுக் கொண்டவர்கள் என்று எழுதியுள்ளது.        நாடார்கள் என்ற பெயரை திரித்து சானார்கள் என்று திரும்ப திரும்ப கேவலப்படுத்தியுள்ளார்கள்.

2. subordinate caste
    இந்த வார்த்தை பயன்பாடு தவறானது. Untouchable ஆக தான் வைத்திருந்தார்கள். தமிழில் தீண்டதகாதவர்கள்.            உண்மையில் நாடார்களை கண்டாலே தீட்டு என்று தான் சட்டங்கள் வகுத்திருந்தார்கள்.    
3. toddy tappers    அனைவரும் பனையேறும் தொழிலை செய்யவில்லை. பல தொழில்களையும் செய்தார்கள். விவசாய கூலிகளாகவும் இருந்தார்கள்.

4.  Under the influence of Christian missions, Shanar women converts began in the 1820s to wear tailored blouses

    அய்யா வைகுண்டர் போராடியதை மறைத்துவிட்டார்கள்.

    கன்னியாகுமரி மாவட்டத்திலுள்ள அனைத்து மக்களுக்கும் இச்செய்தி சென்று சேர வேண்டும். அப்போது தான் அவர்கள் ஆரிய மாயையிலிருந்து விடுபடுவார்கள்.