Authors :
Dr. J. Chalapathi Rao
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 4 - April
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3mzboap
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7828126
Abstract :
The Indian caste system is arduous to
understand. It raised uncountable questions and created
plenty of problems in Indian society and one such was
the creation of untouchables. The typical character of
caste system in India in general and particular in
Andhra Pradesh within each caste there are a number of
sub- divisions including the dependent community. They
are panegyrists, preservers of the origin myths and the
bygone traditions of their patron castes and by virtue of
it they depend on them for their livelihood. Andhra
Pradesh has a number of untouchable castes amongst
the Mala and the Madiga are numerous presently called
them as the Dalits. The Mala community is one of the
numerically superior Dalit groups of Andhra Pradesh
and having their own servicing and dependent castes
known as Mala Mashti, Mala Jangam, Chalwadi
(messengers of death news), Bhat Mala, Gurram Mala
etc. Syed Siraj-ul- Hassan also attests that there were
thirty seven Mala sub-groups in the erstwhile Nizam
territory. The paper focused to study life, culture and
relation with their patron caste of the Mala Mastis and
the manuscript is written based on the colonial
ethnographic records coupled with field study.
Keywords :
Panegyrists, Chalwadi (Messengers of Death News), Preservers, Mala- Mashti.
The Indian caste system is arduous to
understand. It raised uncountable questions and created
plenty of problems in Indian society and one such was
the creation of untouchables. The typical character of
caste system in India in general and particular in
Andhra Pradesh within each caste there are a number of
sub- divisions including the dependent community. They
are panegyrists, preservers of the origin myths and the
bygone traditions of their patron castes and by virtue of
it they depend on them for their livelihood. Andhra
Pradesh has a number of untouchable castes amongst
the Mala and the Madiga are numerous presently called
them as the Dalits. The Mala community is one of the
numerically superior Dalit groups of Andhra Pradesh
and having their own servicing and dependent castes
known as Mala Mashti, Mala Jangam, Chalwadi
(messengers of death news), Bhat Mala, Gurram Mala
etc. Syed Siraj-ul- Hassan also attests that there were
thirty seven Mala sub-groups in the erstwhile Nizam
territory. The paper focused to study life, culture and
relation with their patron caste of the Mala Mastis and
the manuscript is written based on the colonial
ethnographic records coupled with field study.
Keywords :
Panegyrists, Chalwadi (Messengers of Death News), Preservers, Mala- Mashti.
