Castes and Tribes of Southern India/Panchama

by Edgar Thurston

Panchama.——The Panchamas are, in the Madras Census Report, 1871, summed up as being "that great division of the people, spoken of by themselves as the fifth caste, and described by Buchanan and other writers as the Pancham Bandam." According to Buchanan,* ^[1]the Pancham Bandum "consist of four tribes, the Parriar, the Baluan, the Shekliar, and the Toti." Buchanan further makes mention of Panchama Banijigaru and Panchama Cumbharu (potters). The Panchamas were, in the Department of Public Instruction, called "Paraiyas and kindred classes" till 1893. This classification was replaced, for convenience of reference, by Panchama, which included Chacchadis, Godāris, Pulayas, Holeyas, Mādigas, Mālas, Pallans, Paraiyans, Totis, and Valluvans. "It is," the Director of Public Instruction wrote in 1902, "for Government to consider whether the various classes concerned should, for the sake of brevity, be described by one simple name. The terms Paraiya, low caste, outcaste, carry with them a derogatory meaning, and are unsuitable. The expression Pancham Banda, or more briefly Panchama, seems more appropriate." The Government ruled that there is no objection to the proposal that Paraiyas and kindred classes should be designated Panchama Bandham or Panchama in future, but it would be simpler to style them the fifth class.

The following educational privileges according to the various classes classified as Panchama may be noted: —

(1) They are admitted into schools at half the standard rates of fees.

(2) Under the result grant system (recently abolished), grants were passed for Panchama pupils at rates 50 per cent, higher than in ordinary cases, and 15 per cent, higher in backward localities.

(3) Panchama schools were exempted from the attendance restriction, i.e., grants were given to them, however small the attendance. Ordinary schools had to have an attendance of ten at least to earn grants.

(4) Panchama students under training as teachers get stipends at rates nearly double of those for ordinary Hindus.

An interesting account of the system of education at the Olcott Panchama Free Schools has been written by Mrs. Courtright.*^[2]

Panchama is returned, in the Census Reports, 1891 and 1901, as a sub-division of Balija and Banajiga.

1. • Journey through Mysore, etc.,1807.
2. * How we teach the Paraiya, 3rd ed,, Madras, 1906.