Thimilar | |
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Religions | Christianity, Hinduism |
Languages | Tamil |
Related groups | Tamils, Sri Lankan Tamils |
Thimilar ( Tamil: திமிலர்) is a Sri Lankan Tamil caste found in the northern and eastern coastal areas of Sri Lanka, and globally among the Tamil diaspora. They are traditional artisanal fishers primarily engaged in shallow-water fishing. [1] [2] In Eastern Sri Lanka are they also involved in cattle cultivation. [3]
Historically, they have also been known as Sindhu nāttar (people of Sindh), following their own myth origins. [4]
The word Thimilar is derived from the word thimil, a Tamil word for boat, and the honorific suffix -ar, thus Thimilar is literally translated as Boatmen. [5] The Akanaṉūṟu of the Sangam literature, mentions Thimilan, as a boat using fisherman. [6]
The Vaiyapadal mentions the Sindhu Natar, a name of the Thimilar, as one of the communities inhabiting the Jaffna Peninsula. [7] They are mentioned in the Mattakallappu Manmiyam as one of the fishing tribes living in the eastern part of Sri Lanka, who lost a battle to the Mukkuvar who were in alliance with the Pathans. [8] Place names in the Batticaloa region are derived from the battle such as Sathurukondan (meaning "were enemy was killed", referring to the execution of the Thimilar chief) and Pathiyai-thookia-palai (where the Thimilar chieftess was hanged). [4] [9]