Searching my root

The earliest mention of Paraiyan / Paraiyar is in the 11 th century, ie, during the Chola period. It was during this time Chola power was at its zenith. Their rule extended from present day Tamil Nadu to as far as part of Bengal in the East. The Chola kings constructed huge temples. From 9 th century to 13 th century huge temples were constructed at regular intervals in present day Tamil Nadu. These temples were constructed of Rocks. Rock in Tamil is Parai. Huge labourers (manpowers) were required to transport these rocks to the temple construction site. At the temple construction site these rocks were made into various structures of various shapes. There are the pillars. There are the fine art works of gods and goddess in various poses in these pillars. Each part of the temple is made of rocks. The chain from carrying the rocks to the actual construction consisted of many castes. This chain of many castes was housed in Parai Cherri. Sari or Saree or Cherri can also mean in Tamil ...

It is not often we meet Tamilians in Mumbai. Recently while travelling in Mumbai's Local Train / Mumbai Suburban Train, I had the opportunity to meet a Tamilian who was sitting beside me.  We had a friendly chat and in the course of the chat, I discovered he is not only from my district but also from a nearby village. While taking leave from him, I shared my mobile no and asked for his mobile no. He promptly gave his mobile no to me. To save his number his name was required. I asked for his name. He said “Mani”. I replied there are a few “Mani” already saved. He said, “save it as Mani Yadav”. I was little perplexed. Thought from when have Tamilians started using Yadav as Surname to their name. A little bit of Google(ing) revealed British India’s first population census has clubbed all the erstwhile pastoral community involved in cattle cultivation into one caste and clubbed it as “Yadav”, a popular North India surname. That how, our Konars' of Tamil Nadu sta...