Malbars
Encyclopedia
Malbars are an ethnic group of Tamil origin
in Réunion
, a French island in the Southwest Indian Ocean
, estimated to number 180,000. There are no official figures because the French government does not collect census data on ethnic groups.
There have been people of Tamil origin on the island since the 17th century, and those were mostly from Pondicherry. Most were originally brought in as indentured laborers in the second half of the 19th century and were mostly South Indian Tamils and Telugu
s. Since then, Tamils have developed some patterns of behavior that are not quite those of their ancestors from Tamil Nadu
nor those of the other inhabitants of Réunion.
, a word used by the French and the Dutch in the colonial era that was eventually used by Westerners to refer to all the people of South India
(Tamils, Telugus, Malayalees and Kannadigas included). The term is based on the Malabar (Northern Kerala)Malabar region of the present state of Kerala in India. This term, applied by the French to Tamil laborers coming to La Réunion, has been kept by the latter and others on the island to label their own identity.
, Pondicherry, Karikal and also from parts of Jaffna
. Most of these immigrants were ritually low in the caste system
. Hard living conditions at home were the main reason behind their departure to La Réunion. The immigration of indentured workers from South India started in 1827 but it was only after 1848 that indentured immigration began on a big scale.
was lost to language shift
.
. Recently many Malbars, particularly those of upper and middle classes, have started to become completely Hindu
rather than nominally Christian.
They also now wanted to translate their newly acquired civic and political rights into a gradual and increasing participation in local and other elections. A sit-in protest was organized to support Sri Lanka Tamils
by the Réunionnais organisation TAMIL SANGAM presided by Dr. Shanmugam. Hundreds of Tamils and non Tamils protested against the genocide of Sri Lanka Tamils
.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
in Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
, a French island in the Southwest Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, estimated to number 180,000. There are no official figures because the French government does not collect census data on ethnic groups.
There have been people of Tamil origin on the island since the 17th century, and those were mostly from Pondicherry. Most were originally brought in as indentured laborers in the second half of the 19th century and were mostly South Indian Tamils and Telugu
Telugu people
The Telugu people or Telugu Prajalu are an ethnic group of India. They are the native speakers of the Telugu language, the most commonly spoken language in India after Hindi and Bengali...
s. Since then, Tamils have developed some patterns of behavior that are not quite those of their ancestors from Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
nor those of the other inhabitants of Réunion.
Etymology
Malbars is derived from MalabarsMalabars
Malabars is an appellation originating from the colonial era that was used by Westerners to refer to all the people of South India...
, a word used by the French and the Dutch in the colonial era that was eventually used by Westerners to refer to all the people of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
(Tamils, Telugus, Malayalees and Kannadigas included). The term is based on the Malabar (Northern Kerala)Malabar region of the present state of Kerala in India. This term, applied by the French to Tamil laborers coming to La Réunion, has been kept by the latter and others on the island to label their own identity.
History
Indian workers came to Réunion from South India, mostly from French settlements in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Pondicherry, Karikal and also from parts of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
. Most of these immigrants were ritually low in the caste system
Caste system in India
The Indian caste system is a system of social stratification and social restriction in India in which communities are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups called Jātis....
. Hard living conditions at home were the main reason behind their departure to La Réunion. The immigration of indentured workers from South India started in 1827 but it was only after 1848 that indentured immigration began on a big scale.
Acculturation
The French government in Réunion made the first Malbars become Christian. However, many Malbars were only nominally Christian. The Tamil languageTamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
was lost to language shift
Language shift
Language shift, sometimes referred to as language transfer or language replacement or assimilation, is the progressive process whereby a speech community of a language shifts to speaking another language. The rate of assimilation is the percentage of individuals with a given mother tongue who speak...
.
Recent developments
The Malbars desire to learn their ancestors' culture, and started studying their language and religions especially from Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Recently many Malbars, particularly those of upper and middle classes, have started to become completely Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
rather than nominally Christian.
They also now wanted to translate their newly acquired civic and political rights into a gradual and increasing participation in local and other elections. A sit-in protest was organized to support Sri Lanka Tamils
Sri Lanka Tamils
Sri Lanka Tamils could mean* Sri Lankan Tamil people, Tamils who are native to the island* Sri Lankan Tamil dialects, unique Tamil-language dialects used in Sri Lanka by native Sri Lankan Tamil population and in the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora...
by the Réunionnais organisation TAMIL SANGAM presided by Dr. Shanmugam. Hundreds of Tamils and non Tamils protested against the genocide of Sri Lanka Tamils
Sri Lanka Tamils
Sri Lanka Tamils could mean* Sri Lankan Tamil people, Tamils who are native to the island* Sri Lankan Tamil dialects, unique Tamil-language dialects used in Sri Lanka by native Sri Lankan Tamil population and in the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora...
.
Notable Malbars
- Jean-Paul VirapoulléJean-Paul VirapoulléJean-Paul Virapoullé is a member of the Senate of France, representing the island of Réunion.Virapoullé is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement. A wealthy sugar cane farmer of the Malbar group, he is known as a traditional opponent of the Communist Party of Réunion.-References:*...
is currently Mayor of Saint Andre and first Vice President of the General Council of Réunion.
Tamil temples
- Chinmaya Mission temple, Quartier Francais, Sainte-SuzanneSainte-Suzanne, RéunionSainte-Suzanne is a commune on the north coast of the French island and department of Réunion. It is bordered by the communes of Saint-André, Sainte-Marie and Salazie. The course of the Saint-Jean River denoted the border between Saint-André and Saint-Suzanne...
- Siva Soupramanien temple, Saint-PaulSaint-Paul, RéunionSaint-Paul is the second-largest commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the extreme west side of the island of Réunion.Until 1999, near Saint Paul there was the 428 metres tall mast OMEGA Chabrier transmitter.- Transport :...
- Siva-Vishnou-Karli temple, Saint-Paul
- Siva Soupramanien temple, Petit-Bazar on Avenue Ile-of-France, Saint-Andre
- Sri Bala Subramanya temple, Saint Paul
- Thiru Kalimata Temple, Sainte-MarieSainte-Marie, RéunionSainte-Marie is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the north side of the island of Réunion, just east of, and adjacent to, the capital of Saint-Denis....