#Sri Lankan culture

[hussyknee]

hi, i hope i am not crossing a line, please ignore if this is bad question. i am just curious

in one of your posts u said your caste is karava. this is the first time i am hearing a sinhalese talk about caste (i speak tamil and never really felt confident in my sinhala to make sinhalese friends)

can you explain about the castes or tell me where find information about it

Caste is a fucked up concept across the board, obviously, but Sinhalese castes are different from Tamil Hindu in that they involve the cultural and socio-political organisation of the Sinhalese community, and has no connection to religious scripture.

There are thirteen castes that still exist today. We used to be a chiefly agrarian society, so the majority of Sinhalese are Govigama ("Govi" means farming) and they're the kind of "bourgeoisie" of the social order in that few are above them and anyone else is below them. Those that rank below them are castes like Bathgama and Kinnara (who are meant to be agricultural labourers) Vahampura (something to do with making cinnamon or treacle) Navadanna (artisans, especially makers of jewelry) and Rada (launderers). Radala is the caste of the nobility, and afaik the only one above Govigama. They're all from highlands of Kandy, the last Sinhalese holdout against the Europeans for about 200 years. There's no nobility among the lowlanders (between the Portuguese, Dutch and British, they were either killed, assimilated or fled to Kandy) so the Govigama caste is the highest one everywhere else. This means Govigama used to be the only one that was qualified to join the Theravada Buddhist priesthood* and also receive education and job opportunities as government servants—right up until the mid-20th century, when the karava gentry turned into robber barons under the British Empire's demand for cash crops.

Karava people are the majority inhabitants in the Southern coastal lands, which are predominantly Sinhalese Buddhist, as opposed to the Tamil lands of the Northern coast (Eelam really) and the proliferation of sparsely-populated Muslim communities in the rest of the coastal belt. Karava is called the fisherfolk caste by the rest of country, despite their own strong objections. Caste is reckoned patrilineally. I'm Karava through my Dad and I married into a Karava family. Nearly every Karava person I know insists that we're actually the warrior caste and were given the coastal lands as reward for our service to the king. I'm sure there's a legitimate case to be made for this, (this site keeps being referred to me) but I don't care enough to find out because the Karava insistence that being called fisherfolk is a Govigama conspiracy is incredibly funny. I mean, it could be true, what do I know, but so much of the cope and seethe stem from our lingering inferiority complex and resentment at having been treated as inferior until a few decades ago. After being ground under the Radala and Govigama feet along with the rest for ages beyond record, suddenly us lowlanders were rolling in money from our toddy, coconut and rubber plantations, matching or surpassing the wealth of the nobility. We were chasing off Tamil and Muslim minorities to establish our own lost cultural capitals in Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa that predated the Kandyan kingdom and making our own sect of the Buddhist priesthood (Amarapura Nikaya) that would ordain Karava people. The robber baron types also got very chummy with the British colonial administration and were awarded cushy jobs in government over the Govigama, who still disdained industrialization and commerce. (To this day my mother's family looks down on business people no matter how rich. Merchants are considered grasping and untrustworthy.) By the time of Sri Lanka's independence from the British in 1948, we had two varieties of equally rich, snooty, virulently ethnonationalist Sinhalese elites who had gotten ahead by selling us out to the British, but with the highland Radala still believing they were too pure-blooded to mix with the hoi polloi and the lowland Karava resentful at being considered the polloi no matter how hoi they'd become. Post-independence, Sri Lanka's adoption of free education and free state universities saw masses of lowlanders, Karava, Durava and Salagama all, sending their kids to university to attain upwardly mobile careers in engineering, medicine and teaching. "If the boy is Karava he's probably in engineering" is a common joke. It's a clear shift away from our rural agrarian roots into urban sprawl and high socio-economic competition in place of social stratification.

We also have a caste of Untouchables called the Rodiya. In ancient times, you and all your family being stripped of their lands and titles and banished into the Rodi Rahaya was one of the punishments reserved for the noble houses that ran afoul of the monarchy. It condemned your entire lineage forever. This was such a dire fate that some would have favoured execution.

Rodiyas were not permitted to cross a ferry, to draw water at a well, to enter a village, to till land, or learn a trade, as no recognised caste could deal or hold intercourse with a Rodiya [...] They were forced to subsist on alms or such gifts as they might receive for protecting the fields from wild beasts or burying the carcasses of dead cattle; but they were not allowed to come within a fenced field even to beg [...] They were prohibited from wearing a cloth on their heads, and neither men nor women were allowed to cover their bodies above the waist or below the knee. If benighted they dare not lie down in a shed appropriated to other travellers, but hid themselves in caves or deserted watch-huts. Though nominally Buddhists, they were not allowed to go into a temple, and could only pray "standing afar off"

(Source)

Allegations of witchcraft and cannibalism aside, the Rodiyas themselves were known to be a proud folk that considered themselves the pure-blooded descendants of the royalty that were punished this way. Here's a Reddit post that expounds on them more, along with photographs. It seems that the strictures against covering up had fallen away between the turn of the 20th century and the '70s. Not much is known about their current living conditions, but I believe that, like India's own Untouchables and the low caste of Eelam's Tamil Hindus, they must have converted to Christianity to escape the stigma.

Casteism is still somewhat of a problem in the Sinhalese community, but it's lessening every generation. My maternal grandparents weren't entirely happy about my mother marrying my Karava father but conceded because he was an engineer with a stable career. My older cousin had to fight his Karava family to marry his school sweetheart because she was both poor and Bathgama caste (I think "Padu" might be a derogatory name for it). The fact that he succeeded is noteworthy because it would have been a huge scandal in my parents' time. The Radalas are still a bunch of insular dipshits who try to keel over and die if one of them tries to marry out. But many of them are also migrating abroad so Idk if it's too much to hope that they leave the caste shit behind when they assimilate into Western society. It certainly hasn't worked for the Brahmin Indians. But the outlook is better for the rest of us.

*There is no caste system in Buddhism. The Buddha in fact was an egalitarian social reformer who advocated against the Vedic caste system and ordained Untouchables as well as women. So obviously the Theravadin priesthood of Sri Lanka, that bastion of the Buddha's Word, would make sure that only high caste men could ever be ordained. Love the fact that the Karava social revolution just made sure they had their own sect instead of, y'know, pushing for anything more equitable. I always say that if we really want to protect Buddhism we have to abolish the Sinhalese.

[m-4399]

Pt.2 of the collection of Sri Lankan stamps

(These stamps were issued during the colonial era of Sri Lanka. Correct me if I am wrong)

[munchee-academic]

Helpful study/ productivity tips from your friendly neighborhood dark academic

These are just the tricks that have personally helped me and if you haven’t tried it before give it a whirl 👍🏽

Download and play ‘library ambiance’ sounds in the background as you work.

The most productive I’ve ever been was in my university library and since I won’t have access to it anymore after graduating, why not recreate it at home? This is especially good if lo-fi study music is too distracting for you. Background sounds like papers rustling, writing, keyboard typing always gets me in the zone.

Download the Google Drive and Google Docs apps and do your work on your phone.

I’ve found the familiarity of my phone’s keyboard makes me focus more and type faster. It’s really helped me get work done when I’m just not in the mood to sit at my study desk.

Write like garbage in your first draft.

When you just can’t get yourself to type that first sentence; write like you’re trying to get your point across in the most garbage way possible. It immediately makes your task way less threatening when you see the funny shit you’ve written and it gives you something to work on. I’ve always found this easier than trying to write perfectly on the first try.

Do anything but look at a screen during your study breaks.

Study breaks are supposed to make you feel refreshed and break the monotonous cycle of staring at your laptop screen. When I used to let my breaks be more screen time (i.e. checking social medias) I always got back to work feeling even more tired and drained because my mind didn’t consider it a break or a change in pace. Now my breaks usually consists of making myself a snack, having internal monologues with myself, doing kpop/ tiktok dances, and annoying my partner.

Read backwards.

If you’re having a hard time concentrating as you read paragraphs of information; try reading the last paragraph first, and then working your way up till you get to the first paragraph. This usually breaks the monotonous forward rhythm of reading and your mind wakes up at the idea of doing a task differently.

[languagexs]

Exploring the Richness of Sinhala: Sinhalese Language of Sri Lanka

Unveiling the Captivating World of the Sinhala Language The Sinhalese language is a linguistic gem with deep roots in Sri Lanka’s vibrant culture and history. With its melodious tones and ancient origins, this Indo-Aryan language has fascinated linguists and culture enthusiasts alike. This article explores the fascinating intricacies of the Sinhala language, exploring its development, its…

[wanderwithstella]

Sri Lanka - Part 3 - Hill Country

Leaving Tissamaharama and Yala National Park we headed towards Nuwara Eliyah via Ella, two very popular destinations in Sri Lanka. This area is the hill country in central Sri Lanka and with cooler temperatures it is known for tea, spice and vegetable plantations. Most of the population in Sri Lanka is still Agrarian but in recent years there has been an increase in migration to the larger…

[bijoumikhawal]

"Biden is the best choice and he's actually really empathetic and reasonable but also you can't wait for a candidate that won't do genocide and war crimes because to become a presidential candidate you have to be willing to do that" see what you fundamentally don't understand is I'm not waiting for a candidate that won't do war crimes, because I know that. I cannot morally stomach this system, it's a joke to claim its democratic, and AMERICA DELENDA EST. this country is a plague on this Earth

[rrcraft-and-lore]

For anyone wanting something nifty and free, this is a comic I made with the lovely Sachi Ediriweera -- Gang Violence (inspired by Bollywood tropes & tales about a good cop come to town with a supernatural twist.

Whole comic is free!

[ah0yh0y]

Craving food but not what’s in the house or like I don’t have to make it

I just want someone to cook with me

[kaustubh-wankhede]

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the enchanting landscapes of Sri Lanka with our comprehensive travel guide. Uncover the best times to visit Sri Lanka, from the golden beaches of Trincomalee to the misty heights of Ella. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry, savour the tantalizing flavours of local cuisine, and explore ancient wonders. Whether you seek adventure or tranquillity, let this guide be your passport to an authentic Sri Lankan experience.

[salmasnook]

A Warm Getaway: Exploring a Cozy Heritage Village Near Sigiriya

Hello and welcome to Salma’s Nook! In our last rendezvous, I shared the excitement of scaling the heights of Lion’s Rock in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. Today, join me on yet another adventure, this time to a hidden gem near Sigiriya – a heritage village straight from the pages of a storybook. Our journey commenced with the endearing quirkiness of a Tuk Tuk ride. A favored mode of transportation by our…

[hussyknee]

YOU'RE KIDDING.

Naomi Campbell Sri Lankan Mum ISO 9000 Certified. She just like us fr 🥹

[m-4399]

- A collection of Sri Lankan postal stamps :)

[munchee-academic]

“If you wanted to hurt me where it mattered, you should have poisoned my tea.”

[languagexs]

Exploring the Tamil Communities of Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Community: A Rich Tapestry Woven Through Centuries Summary: Sri Lanka’s vibrant tapestry is intricately woven with the threads of diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. The Tamil community, whose story is an engrossing tale of resilience, identity, and a search for belonging, is at the center of this elaborate artwork. This article explores the many histories that have…

[ed-recoverry]

Shoutout to all Asian LGBTQ+ folks.

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Take pride in it all. Your culture, your identity, it’s all so beautiful. Celebrate where you are from and who you are. It makes you you, and that is something to be proud of.

post for Pacific Islanders, post for Middle Easterners, post for Oceanic folks , post for Hispanics, post for Africans, post for Native Americans, post for Caribbeans