Arundhathiyar – The weakest of the Weak and their Struggle for “Reservation within Reservation”

Abstract

Arundhathiyar are called in Tamil Nadu in various names like Thottis, Chakkiliyan, Sakkilian, Madiga, Madigan, Adi Andhra, and Adi Karnataka. They are also known as Madari and Pagadai communities. Among these Sakkiliyan is the most familiar name used to address these people. The Chakkiliyans, Mr. H. A. Stuart writes, they are the leather-workers of the Tamil Nadu, corresponding to the Madigas of the Telugu country.¹ The Chakkiliyans appear to be immigrants from the Telugu Desha and Andhrapradesh or Canarese region, for no mention is made of this aster either in the early Tamil inscriptions, or in early Tamil literature and Ballets. Moreover, a very large proportion of the Chakkiliyans speak Telugu and Canarese.