Tamil Surnames and Hypocrisy

Many Tamils will go berserk when we speak about surnames. This is because the surnames reflects the caste or clan. Most of the surnames we have are occupational surnames.

Each occupational surnames of the Tamil people has its own history and it is clan specific. This is mainly because those clans had their own hereditary occupation in the past. 

Take for example the surname Servai used in the Mukkulathor community. It refers to a person who's ancestors were Servaikarars (men who serve). These Servaikarars defended forts and worked inside the palaces. Some also served as royal bodyguards.

The Latin word for service is Servus. It is also used as a surname by Europeans who had the same function in the society as our own Servaikarars. Perhaps the Latin word Servus is a corruption of the Tamil word Servai or vice versa.

Are we Tamils the only ones who have occupational surnames?

Let's take a look at our very own modern Asian role models, the Japanese society and their surnames.

The Kaji were metal workers, the Inukai were dog breeders, the Akazome were dyers and the Hattori were weavers. The Wataribe or Watanabe were ferry service providers.

Japanese actor, Ken Watanabe

What about the European surnames?

The Bergers were shepherds, the Kellogg were animal slaughterers, Smith were metal workers, Schneider were tailors, Walkers shrunk woolen cloth, the Proctor collected tax and the Tyler made tiles.

Originally known as Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky, the Johnnie Walker brand is a legacy left by John "Johnnie" Walker after he started to sell whisky in his grocer's shop in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Not only does these European or Japanese surnames have occupational origins, the clans which used it also practiced endogamy in the past. Endogamy means they do not marry outside their clan and they keep their profession within the family. 

Isn't this similar to us Tamils and the rest of India? Our surnames too have occupational origins and our clans too practiced endogamy. Our ancestors too kept their profession within the family just like what the Europeans did in the past

India's billionaire, Shiv Nadar.

How different are these surnames from Tamil surnames like Asari (metal workers), Stapathi (stone masons and temple builders), Pattar (goldsmiths), Chettiar (merchants), Udayar (landlord), Padayachi (army man), Konar (shepherds), Kudumbar (Pallar village headman), Mudaliar (first ranked)?

I see no difference at all. Only the language used is different.

The Japanese and the European people do not live in denial of their heritage. But we are doing the exact opposite and we are still stuck in it.

We condemn our own race whenever we see Tamil people with these surnames. We also put the blame on Hinduism by claiming that it is a religion that promotes discrimination. 

Castes and occupational surnames are not a Hindu invention. Every society has its own clan divisions and its own list of surnames. Yet, we failed to realise that it is the same everywhere. 

We need to learn about other cultures and see the similarities with our own culture. Let's not live like a frog under the coconut shell.

(Picture taken from another blog)

Intercaste Marriage?

My blog attracted quite a number of people from outside Malaysia. Most of them are Tamils from India. I made a few good friends this way. 

An Indian friend of mine recently started a topic on inter caste marriage. Well we exchanged our views and he felt that although one of my idea was good, he doubt it can ever happen in the present era. 

A radical one which will surely be rejected by the Tamils in Tamil Nadu. Perhaps we can try it in the diaspora.

The usual war cry echoed by most Tamil political party (without sincerity!) is eradication of caste. But not many responded to it in the way they wanted. 

Their only victory was eradication of caste surname but people still marry among their own caste. Only 1.3% of weddings in 2011 (Tamil Nadu) were inter caste weddings. The caste sentiment is still strong there.

Of course it has many ups and downs. 

I am of the opinion that inter caste marriage is not wrong but it should not be at the expense of your own roots. On other words, not knowing your own roots should not be the consequences of inter caste marriages. 

This is because the Tamil society is in such way that we cannot separate the castes and clans from Tamil heritage. It is all inter linked and bonded by kinship. Once you forget your own roots, you will start loosing your own identity.

So you can marry someone of another caste if that is going to guarantee you a better life but never forget who you are. 

Unfortunately many people think that to marry someone of a different caste, you need to sacrifice and forget your own identity. A wrong concept.

So how does one maintain their identity and also not be against inter caste marriages?

My suggestion:

1. Use your caste surname as family names. Thevar, Mudaliar, Udayar, Pillai, Nadar, Konar, Chettiar, Kaunder, Moopanar, Naicker, Padayatchi etc. 80% of Tamils have caste surnames and there are over 2,000 Tamil caste surnames.

2. Since you now use it as family name, it is only natural that your children marry someone from a different family name. i.e Thevar-Servai, Pillai-Mudaliar, Udayar-Chettiar etc. Just like what the Chinese or those in the Western country do.

3. The inter caste marriage can happen without sacrificing your own identity. For as long as the surnames are passed down by the fathers, roots will be remembered. Every surname has a history of its own. 

But wait, we have problems.

Firstly, among the diaspora, we have dishonest people who may lie about their origins. Not all with the Pillai surname are actual Pillais. The diaspora have no caste certificates like in India to check on this unless their respective associations do something about it. This caused many people to be defensive about their own identity although they may not speak openly about it. They then tend to become hostile towards others.

Secondly, many orthodox minded people in the diaspora believe that if caste surnames are used as family names, their children will end up marrying someone with a different surname. For example, an orthodox Mudaliar may not like to see his daughter marrying a Pillai. He may want her to marry another Mudaliar. The orthodox minded people are very particular to the extend that marriage among different sub caste is not practiced although they are part of the same caste group.

For these reasons, my idea may never work in the present era. But I believe it will be a logical solution for the future. We get to encourage inter caste marriage and also maintain our identity.

Perhaps not today, 
Perhaps not in another 100 years, 
But some day the society may consider it.