INTRODUCTION

 
THIPPIRAJAPURAM CAME INTO EXISTENCE ABOUT 250 YRS AGO…FORM
WHAT USED TO BE LUSH AGRICULTURAL LAND. LOCATED ABOUT 7KMS
FROM KUMBAKONAM(THANJAVUR DISTRICT). THE MAIN WATER popula&on(in  %)  
SOURCES ARE
THIMALAIRAJANAR,MUDIKONDAN,VAZHAPAZHAKADAYUR. brahmins  
(DISTRIBUTARIES OF KAVERI) 9%   udaiyar  
18%  
MAIN LANGUAGE IS TAMIL AND THE MAIN RELIGION IS HINDUISM. padayachi  
27%   46%  
ThIPPIRAJAPURAM IS FURTHER DIVIDED INTO WARDS: others  

uAGRAHARAM
uKEELATHERU
uKUCHIPALAYAM
uSENNI MANGALAM
FROM THE ABOVE GRAPH,WE INFER THAT
uVADA PAKKAM • BRAHMINS OCCUPY MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IN TIPPIRAJAPURAM.
uMANA VELI THERU THIS FACTOR IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE VILLAGE STARTED WITH THE FORMATION OF
AGRAHARM, WHICH WAS THE BRAHMIN AREA, AND WAS STARTED BY FOUR VATTIMAS.
• THE OTHER CASTES ARE THE NON-BRAHMIN CASTES LIKE UDAIYARS AND PADAYACHI WHICH ARE IN
MAJORITY UNDER THE NON-BRAHMIN SECTION. THEY OCCUPY KUCHIPALAYAM AND KEELATERU.

THE LOCATION OF THE WARDS:

AGRAHARAM:
SENNIMANGALAM: Ø THIS IS LARGELY A BRAHMIN
Ø POPULATION ABOUT 300 PEOPLE. SETTLEMENT.
Ø MAIN OCCUPATION IS AGRICULTURE Ø BEGAN ABOUT 250YRS AGO.
AND TRACTOR DRIVING. HAS THE VIKRAMACHOLESWARAR
Ø MAJOR CASTE IS PADAYACHI. TEMPLE ON THE NORTH WEST AND THE
Ø BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE VARADARAJA PERUMAL TEMPLE I N
EMPLOYED. THE SOUTH EAST.

KUCHIPALAYAM: KEELATHERU:
Ø LOCATED ABOUT 1.5 KM
Ø LOCATED ABOUT 1.5 KM
FROM AGRAHARAM.
FROM AGRAHARAM.
Ø POPULATION IS ABOUT
Ø POPULATION IS ABOUT
600-800 PEOPLE.
600-800 PEOPLE.
Ø MAIN OCCUPATION IS
Ø MAIN OCCUPATION IS
AGRICULTURE.
AGRICULTURE.
Ø MAJOR CASTES ARE
Ø MAJOR CASTES ARE UDDAIYARS
UDDAIYARS,VANNIYARS
AND PADAYACHI.
AND CHETTIYARS.

MANAVELI THERU
§ THIS PART OF THE VILLAGE IS ABOUT
100 YRS OLD. VADAPAKKAM
§ THE POPULATION IS ABOUT 300 Ø LOCATED ABOUT 2KMS FROM
PEOPLE. AGRAHARAM.
§ MAIN OCCUPATION IS AGRICULTURE. Ø MAIN OCCUPATION IS AGRICULTURE.
§ MAIN CASTE IS VANNIYARS. (100 DAYS JOB).WOMEN WORK.
§ YOUNGER GENERATION HAS SETTLED Ø POPULATION ABOUT 100 PEOPLE.
ABROAD . Ø MAIN CASTE IS UDDAIYAR.
 AGRAHARAM EDUCATION:
no  of  houses  
• ITS A SQUARE FORMED OF NORTH,SOUTH,EAST AND THERE IS A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL IN
WEST STREETS, 15%   THE VILLAGE.
• SANNADHI STREET LEADS TO THE VISHNU TEMPLE ON THE • MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL IS IN
SOUTH WEST CORNER. 85%   brahmin   VALANGIAMAN/KUMBAKONAM (2-7
• THE SHIVA TEMPLE IS ON THE NORTH-EAST CORNER. non-­‐brahmin   KMS OF TRAVEL).
• BEHIND THE NORTH STREET RUNS THIRUMALAIRAJANUR • COLLEGE IS IN KUMBAKONAM.
RIVER.
• THERE ARE TOTALLY 129 HOUSES OCCUPIED BY 95
HOUSEHOLDS,THE REST ARE EMPTY. THE NEW GENERATION IS VERY WELL EDUCATED WITH ONE OR MORE DEGREES
AND HAS SETTLED OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE DUE TO JOBS WHICH GIVE THEM A
• OUT OF THESE 95, 85% ARE BRAHMINS (82 NOS) AND 15% NORTH  STREET  
no  of  houses   MUCH BETTER INCOME.
ARE NON BRAHMINS.
• IN THESE HOUSEHOLDS, 34 ARE THE VATHIMAS AND THE THE OLDER GENERATION WHEREAS AREN’T AS WELL EDUCATED. MOST OF THEM
OTHER BRAHMINS SUBCASTES LIKE IYERS AND IYENGARS. HAVE COMPLETED ONLY PUC AND STILL LIVE IN VILLAGE WITH BANK JOBS OR
• 31 HOUSEHOLDS INCLUDE 20 VATHIMAS, 10 NON VATHIMA 14%  
11%   vathimas   OTHER SUCH THINGS ALONG WITH THE SUPERVISION OF THEIR OWN FARMS.
THIS IS DUE TO THE INCREASED AWARENESS AND REALIZATION OF THE
BRAHMINS AND 1 NON BRAHMIN ON THE SOUTH STREET.
• ON THE NORTH STREET THERE EXISTS 4 VATHIMA
75%   non  vathima   IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND THE BENEFITS IT BRINGS TO DAILY LIFE OF A
brahmins   HOUSEHOLD.
HOUSES, 27 NON VATHIMA BRAHMIN HOUSES AND 5 NON others  
BRAHMIN HOUSES. BUT THIS HAS ALSO MADE MOST OF THEM MIGRATE TO CITIES AND ABROAD AND
no  of  houses   LEFT AGRAHARM A SPARSELY POPULATED AREA OF THE VILLAGE CONSISTING
SOUTH  STREET     ONLY OF THE OLDER GENERATION WHO STAY BACK TO SAFE GUARD OR HOLD
no  of  houses   ONTO THEIR ANCESTRAL PROPERTY AND FARMLANDS.
26%   THE VILLAGE IS SLOWLY DYING.
32%   3%  
vathimas  
74%   occupied  
65%   non  vathima   unoccupied   Agraharam  
brahmin   Older  Genera&on  Vs  Newer  Genera&on   AGRAHARAM-­‐EDUCATION  
other   90%  
Male  Vs  Female  
80%  
2%   14%  
70%  
CiFzens  above  70   43%   Uneducated  
DEMOGRAPHY: 60%  

50%  
yrs  
41%   Elementary  
85 VATHIMAS 40%   CiFzens  below  70  
PUC  
3 CHILDREN UNDER 16 YEARS. 30%  
Degree  
51 MEN AND WOMEN ABOVE 60 YRS. 20%  

10%  
155 OTHER BRAHMINS. 0%  

29 CHILDREN BELOW 16 YRS. Uneducated  

Elementary  
PUC  
Degree  
34 PEOPLE ABOVE THE AGE OF 60 YRS.

popula&on  (in  %)  

MAXIMUM NO. OF MEN HAVE DEGREES OR HAVE AT LEAST DONE PUC WHICH
popula&on(in  %)   IS COMPLETION OF ELEVEN GRADES OF SCHOOL.
46%   brahmins   MAXIMUM NO. OF WOMEN HAVE COMPLETED PUC OR HAVE AT LEAST
9%   15%   5%  
18%   brahmins   FINISHED THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
udaiyar  
non-­‐
VERY FEW NOS. OF MEN AND WOMEN ARE COMPLETELY UNEDUCATED.
padayachi   brahmin   THESE STATISTICS ARE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY BECAME AWARE OF
27%   80%  
others   hindus   THE BENEFITS OF GOOD EDUCATION WHICH COULD BRING THEM A VERY
other   GOOD INCOME AS OPPOSED TO UNSKILLED JOBS.
 THIPPYRAJAPURAM  
FINANCE: Distribu&on  Of  Dily  Expenses  
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS:
5%  
• FEW NON BRAHMINS AND DALITS GO TO THE VISHNU A VIEW OF AGRAHARAM IN THE
THE EXPENDITURE IN AGRAHARAM: EVENING.
50% IS FOR FOOD. 15%   TEMPLE.
SAAMI OORVAZHAM.
MAINTAINACE FOR HOUSE 50%   • MANY NON BRAHMINS AND DALITS GO TO THE SHIVA SOUTH STREET.
CHANGING THE THATCH – RS. 5000 Food   TEMPLE. MUD ROAD CLEARLY SEEN.
30%  
CHANGING THE TILES – RS. 15000 • SOUTH STREET IS A MUD ROAD AND NORTH STREET IS A
EducaFon  
(EVERY 4 YEARS) METALLED ROAD.
THE EXPENDITURE IN KEELA THERU: Miscellane • MUD ROAD WAS PREFERRED,PARTLY BECAUSE ITS
ous     TRADITIONAL,IT DETOURS OUTSIDE VEHICLES AND
50%- 60% IS SPENT IS SPENT ON FOOD.
MAINTAINCE OF THE HOUSE RS. 5000 ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO WALK REPECTFULLY THROUGH
– RS. 6000 THE AGRAHARAM.
• ALSO SAND HELPS IN THE PRECOLATION OF RAIN WATER,
WORKING CONDITION: • VATHIMAS IN THE SOUTH STREET HAVE SOLD THEIR AGRI
CULTURAL LAND BUT NEVER THEIR HOUSES.
THE NO. PEOPLE WHO HAVE MIGRATED • USUALLY SALE OF LAND DOESN’T HAPPEN BETWEEN
OUTSIDE OF TIPPIRAJAPURAM EITHER CITIES BRAHMINS AND NON-BRAHMINS.
OR EVEN ABROAD ARE MORE. THIS IS DUE TO working  condi&ons   • THERE ARE NO RUINED BUILDINGS IN AGRAHARAM. IN THE EVENINGS…THEN MEN
THE INCREASED RATE OF LTERACY WHICH • THEY FOLLOW VERY STRICT CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS. GATHER AROUND TO DISCUSS
PROVIDES THEM WITH EXCELLENT JOB outside   CURRENT AFFAIRS WHILE THE
OPPORTUNNITIES FOR SKILLED JOBS. THERE
thippirajapura WOMEN CLEAN UP AND DRAW
20%   30%   m(day)  
ARE ALSO A FAIR NO. OF PEOPLE WHO DO KOLAMS…LIGHT LAMPS…AND
outside  
DAY JOBS IN THE NEIGHBOURING CITIES LIKE thippirajapura
PREPARE THE AARATHI FOR
KUMBAKNAM AND RETURN TO THE VILLAGE AT m(fully)   THE SAAMI OORVAZHAM.
50%  
NIGHTS WHERE THEY LIVE. A FEW NO. OF visits  during  
vacaFon  
FAMILIES WHO LIVE IN OTHER CITIES OR • THIS SHOWS SOME OF THE CUSTOMS THAT ARE STILL
COUNTRIES VISIT THE VILLAGE FOR FOLLOWED BY THE RESIDENTS OF AGRAHARAM.
VACCATIONS. MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO • THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWS A VATHIMA PERFORMING
MIGRATE TO OTHER COUNTRIES SURYA NAMASKARAM
• THE SECOND DEPICTS A VATHIMA BATHING(SNANAM).
number  of  jobs   • THE THIRD IS THE PRAYER CONDUCTED AT HOME.
THE NO. OF JOBS PEOPLE ENGAGE IN PER
• THE LAST ONE SHOWS THE INTERACTION BETWEEN
PERSON ARE MOSTLY 2. THEY HAVE DUAL
NEIGHBOURING MEN IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IN THE
SOURCES OF INCOME. 15%   15%   EVENINGS.
single  
THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO LOW INCOME 70%  
double  
OBTAINED FROM AGRICULTURE OVER THE
more  than  2  
PAST FEW YEARS.

THEY SUPERVISE FARMS AND WORK IN PRIVATE income  split-­‐up  (gender  wise)  
OR GOVERNMENT JOBS.
100  
90  
T H I S G R A P H S H O W S T H AT M E N E A R N 0%   USE  OF  VEHICLESAGRAHARAM]  
80  
MAJORITY OF THE TOTAL INCOME WHEREAS 11%   8%  
popula&on  (in  %)  

70   BULLOCK  CART  
THE WOMEN ARE MOSTLY ARE HOUSEWIVES.
60  
THIS IS DUE TO THE TYPICAL PATRIARCHAL
CYCLE  
male  
50  
NATURE OF THE BRAHMIN HOUSEHOLDS AND female  
31%   MOTOR  BIKES  

40  
HAS BEEN AN AGE OLD TRADITION 50%   CARS  

30  
TRACTORS  
20  
10  
0  
agraharam   keelatheru  
KUCHIPALAYAM AGRICULTURE
L O C AT E D O N T H E O T H E R S I D E O F T H E
Ø MAJOR RIVER TO IRRIGATE THE FARMS. POWER
THIRUMALARAJANAR RIVER. IS FREE FOR FARM LANDS.
COVERING A SMALL AREA . BEGAN ABOUT 60YRS AGO. Ø MEN EARN ABOUT RS. 300 PER DAY.
BUILT HOUSES ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD. THIS VILLAGE
Ø WOMEN EARN RS. 150 PER DAY.
EXCLUSIVELY
FOR THE WORKERS OF AGRAHARAM AND ITS Ø ENTIRE VILLAGE OWNS 200 HECTERS OF LAND.
AGRICULTURAL LAND. EXPENSES
POPULATION • 70% FOR LABOUR
Ø 80% MIDDLE AGED • 10% FOR FERTILIZERS
Ø 15 CHILDREN • 10% FOR TRACTORS
Ø 5% SENIOR CITIZENS • 5% FOR SEEDS
• 5% FOR WATER AND
INCOME AND FINANCE • OTHER PURPOSE
THEY WORK FOR DAILY WAGE. THE MAIN SOURCES OF
INCOME ARE :
OCCUPATION - KUCHIPALAYAM
CASTE-WORK RELATIONSHIP
Ø 100 DAYS JOB
Ø FARM HELP § PEOPLE BELONGING TO THE PADAYACHI CASTE DO
Ø TRACTOR DRIVING MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FIELD LABOURERS ON
100 days job
FARMS. Ø AGRICULTURAL LAND USE I.E. THE AMOUNT OF
Ø LAMP MAKING 30%   25%   farm help(full time)
LANDS USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES
Ø BRICK MAKING tractor driving § THEY ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY THE UDAIYARS HAS REDUCED DRASTICALLY SINCE THE

Ø CATTLE REARING
  lamp making WHO ALSO WORK AS LABOURERS.
Ø SCULPTING
EXPENSES
THE RENT ALONE COSTS 2000 PER MONTH. THEY LIVE
 OF
 
FROM HAND TO MOUTH. LOANS TAKEN FROM BANKS
BY PLEDGING LIVESTOCK AS COLLATERAL.
EDUCATION
 CART
  CYCLE
 
Ø MAJORITY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN ARE
  MOTOR
 BIKES
COMPLETELY UNEDUCATED IN THIS SECTION OF
 
THE VILLAGE.
Ø FEW NOS. HAVE DONE THEIR ELEMENTARY
  CASTE-OWNER RELATIONSHIP
SCHOOL MAJORITY BEING THE MEN.
Ø EXTREMELY FEW NO. OF MEN HAVE COMPLETED
PUC OR A DEGREE.
Ø THESE EXTREMELY LOW LEVELS OF LITERACY
ARE DUE TO THEIR EVER PRESENT SEVERE Ø
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS TO COPE UP WITH WHICH
THEY MAKE THEIR CHILDREN WORK WITH THEM
THAN SENDING THEM TO SCHOOLS
10%
10%
25%
VILLAGE CAME UP IN 1760S.
Ø IT HAS REDUCED FROM ABOUT 400+
brick making
§ VERY FEW BRAHMINS ACTUALLY WORK ON THE HECTARES TO ABOUT 200 HECTARES.
FIELDS AND THEY DO ONLY SUPERVISION JOBS. Ø THE DROP HAS BEEN EVEN MORE PROMINENT
Ø
IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS.
THIS IS DUE TO THE INCREASED AMOUNT OF
PEOPLE SELLING AWAY THEIR LANDS AS THEY
USE
HAVE GIVEN UP AGRICULTURE. BETTER JOB
OPPORTUNITIES CAUSE THEM TO DO THIS.
VEHICLES[KUCHIPALAYAM]
Ø HENCE THESES EXCESS LANDS WHICH ARE
SOLD ARE USED BY THE INCREASED NO. OF
0%
10%
BULLOCK
LOWER CASTE PEOPLE WHO USE IT TO SETTLE
IN THE VILLAGE.
23%
Ø FARMS ARE CHANGING INTO SETTLEMENTS
30%
O V E R C E N TU R I E S A N D T H E A G E O L D
37%
TRADITIONAL PATTERN OF THE VILLAGE WHICH
CARS
WAS COMPLETELY DEPENDING ON AGRICULTURE
TRACTORS
HAS CHANGED MUCH SINCE THE VILLAGE FIRST
EMERGED.
§ BRAHMINS OWN MAJORITY OF THE LAND AS BY
WORK DISTRIBUTION COTTON CUL TIVATION:
POPULATION THEY ARE HIGHER IN NO. AND ALSO Ø THE ABOVE SERIES SHOWS THE COTTON
Ø MEN AND WOMEN BOTH WORK IN THE DUE TO HISTORIC MONOPOLY OF LAND BY THE CULTIVATION PROCESS. FIRST THE LAND IS
FIELDS AS 100 DAY LABOURS. BRAHMINS IN THE OLDEN AGES. DIVIDED INTO 3’*3’ GRIDS.
THE INCOME OF MEN IS HIGHER THAN§ ACCORDING TO THE OLDEN AGES ONLY UPPER Ø THE A HOLE IS MADE AT D DEMARCATED
CASTES COULD OWN THE LAND AND THE LOWER SPOT. 2 SEEDS ARE SOWN IN THAT HOLE .
THE WOMEN AS THEY ARE PAID MORE Ø AND AT LAST A MIXTURE OF MUD, WATER
DAILY WAGES AS THEY SERVE HARD CASTES HAD TO WORK ON THEIR LANDS ON AND MANURE IS ADDED. THIS PREVENTS
LABOURS. MEAGER WAGES. THE BIRDS FROM TAKING THE SEEDS AND
Ø DUE TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES§ THIS TRADITION IS STILL REFLECTED TO AN ALLOWS PROPER NUTRITION FOR THE
BOTH GENDERS HAVE TO WORK AND EXTENT AS THE LAND WAS INHERITED OVER THE COTTON PLANT. HARVESTING IS DONE IN 3
AGES IN SAME BRAHMIN FAMILIES. MONTHS.
THE CHILDREN JOIN THEM AS SOON
AS THEY ARE OF A SUITABLE AGE. MAXIMUM LAND OWNED BY INDIVIDUAL….
INITIALLY-70 HECTERSNOW- 35 HECTERS. THE
PENSION THEY RECEIVE RS. 15000-25000 (DEPENDING ON
THE POSITION IN WORK)
PLAN AND SECTION OF A TYPICAL
KUCHIPALAYAM CLUSTER HOUSE

N
ANALYSIS
THIS VIEW CLEARLY SHOWS THE HARD
BOUNDARIES IN THE AGRAHARAM.
THE PEOPLE IN KUCHIPALAYAM
HAVE VERY SOFT BOUNDARIES.
THEIR HOUSES ARE PRESENT IN
CLUSTERS AND THIS ENABLES
EXCELLENT INTERACTION. WOMEN
SIT OUTSIDE ONE OF THE
HOUSES AND INTERACT WELL.
THEY HELP EACH OTHER WITH
THE CATTLE REARING ETC.
Ø IN AGRAHARAM THE TRADITIONAL HOUSES
WERE DESIGNED IN A WAY SO THAT EVEN IF
THE LOWER CASTE HAD TO ENTER THE
HOUSE THEY WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE HOUSE. BUT THE
MODERN HOUSES ARE DESIGNED IN SUCH A
WAY SO THAT IT'S MORE CONVENIENT FOR
CIRCULATION AND ACCESSIBILITY.
Ø THEY DO NOT BOTHER ABOUT THE CASTE
DIFFERENCE MUCH DURING THE PLANNING
OF THE HOUSES. THIS CHANGE HAS
BROUGHT ABOUT A BETTER LEVEL OF
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE UPPER AND THE
LOWER CASTE PEOPLE.
Ø THIS IMAGE SHOWS A BLOWN-UP PORTION
OF THE HOUSEHOLDS OF THE
KUCHIPALAYAM AREA.
Ø ONE CAN NOTICE THE VERY SOFT (ALMOST
NON-EXISTENT BOUDARIES).
Ø ONE CAN RELATE THIS TO THE FRIENDLY,
A C C O M O D AT I V E N AT U R E O F T H E
KEELATHERU PEOPLE.
Ø T H E R E I S E X C E L L E N T I N T E R A CT I O N
BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS,WHICH HAS CLEARLY
REFLECTED IN THEIR HOUSE PLANNING.
Ø THIS IMAGE SHOWS A BLOWN-UP
PORTION OF THE HOUSEHOLDS OF THE
AGRAHARAM AREA.
Ø ONE CAN NOTICE THE VERYHARD WELL
DEFINED BOUNDARIES.
Ø ONE CAN RELATE THIS TO THE PROUD,
SUPERIOR NATURE OF THE KEELATHERU
PEOPLE.
Ø THERE IS POOR INTERACTION BETWEEN
NEIGHBOURS,WHICH HAS CLEARLY
REFLECTED IN THEIR HOUSE PLANNING.
Ø WHICH COULD ALSO EXPLAIN WHY THE
AGRAHARAM IS SLOWLY DYING.
ACTIVITIES OF THE VATHIMA AND HOW IT
HAS INFLUENCED THE PLANNING
SURYANAMASKAR IN THE
Ø THESE NICHES WERE SPECIFICALLY MADE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE LADIES KEY INTERACTIONS IN THE
MORNINGS
NICHES TO GOSSIP FREELY FROM WITHIN THEIR OWN HOMES.
EVENINGS
Ø SHOWS HOW CONSERVATIVELY THEY WERE CARED FOR AND AN INNOVATIVE 1 – THALVARAM
WAY TO OVERCOME THE CUSTOM. 2 – THINNAI
Ø THE NICHES IN THE THINNAI WERE INITIALLY USED TO INTERACT EVEN WITH 3 – COURTYARD
THE EVER PRESENT RIGID BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE AGRAHARAM 4 – KITCHEN
HOUSES.
Ø BUT THE THINNAI DOESN'T DISPLAY MUCH OF ACTIVITIES IN THE 5 – WORK AREA
AGRAHARAM THESE DAYS AS THE YOUNGER GENERATION IS ABSENT AND 6 – WELL
THE LIVELINESS OF THE VILLAGE HAS GONE AWAY DUE TO THIS. 7 - BACKYARD

5
7
4
1 2
6
3

ANY KIND OF AUSPICIOUS CEREMONY IS ALWAYS

CONDUCTED IN THE COURTYARD (THE BHRAMA
STHALAM) OF THE HOUSE….WHICH MIGHT BE WHY
THE COURTYARDS ARE QUITE LARGE.

CHANGE IN CUSTOMS.
THE THALAVARAM…WHICH A VIEW OF THE CURRENT
WAS BUILT FOR THE LOWER RESIDENTS OF THE
CASTE IS SEEN USED BY AGRAHARAM MEETING AND
THE UPPER CASTE NOW. A TALKING ON THE THINNAI. AVINI AVITTAM (POONAL
CLEAR INDICATOR OF THE WEDDINGS ENGAGEMENTS CEREMONY) PRAYER COOKING
CHANGING TIMES.
PLAN AND SECTION OF A TYPICAL
AGRAHARAM HOUSE

IN AGRAHARAM THE TRADITIONAL HOUSES WERE DESIGNED IN A WAY SO Ø LINEAR RIGID PLANNING.
THAT EVEN IF THE LOWER CASTE HAD TO ENTER THE HOUSE THEY Ø BUILT STRICTLY
WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE HOUSE. BUT THE FOLLOWING THE
MODERN HOUSES ARE DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY SO THAT IT'S MORE VASTHU SASTRA.
CONVENIENT FOR CIRCULATION AND ACCESSIBILITY. THEY DO NOT
BOTHER ABOUT THE CASTE DIFFERENCE MUCH DURING THE PLANNING
OF THE HOUSES. THIS CHANGE HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A BETTER LEVEL
OF INTERACTION BETWEEN THE UPPER AND THE LOWER CASTE PEOPLE.

N
COMPARISON BETWEEN AGRAHARAM AND KUCHIPALAYAM
AGRAHARAM KUCHIPALAYAM
• RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS

Ø IN AGRAHARAM, THE CUSTOMS THAT USED TO BE

FOLLOWED ARE SLOWLY DYING OUT. THIS MAY BE
ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT ALL THE EARLIER
OCCUPATION:
THE MAIN SOURCES OF INCOME ARE
REISIDENTS HAVE NOW COME TO AN AGE WHERE THEY CANT
CONTINUE THEM. • PRIVATE JOBS
Ø KUCHIPALAYAM BEGAN ONLY 60YRS AGO.
Ø AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE “GOLU CEREMONY”. SINCE • PENSION • SMALL SCALE BUSINESS
Ø THEY DO NOT HAVE MUCH IN THE NAME OF CUSTOMS
THEY ARE TOO OLD,THEY ARE UNABLE TO CELEBRATE AS
Ø BUT THEY COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE THE MAJOR
GRANDLY AS BEFORE.
FESTIVALS LIKE PONGAL,DEEPAVALI ETC.
Ø THEY DON’T HAVE HELP FROM YOUNGER GENERATION,WHO
Ø AND ALSO THE TEMPLE FESTIVALS LIKE “RADHA
WOULD HELP IN THE CLEANING AND ARRANGING OF THE popula&on  (in  %)  
KALYANAM” ETC.
DOLLS,ETC.
Ø BUT THEY STILL FOLLOW THE IMPORTANT CUSTOMS LIKE agriculture(exclusive)  
POONAL CEREMONY ETC.
Ø THE WOMEN USED TO BE OVER PROTECTED.THEY HAD TO labourers  
STRICTLY ADHERE TO ALL
16%   15%  
tailors  
20%  
35%   rice  mill  
10%  
small  scale  business  

1%   carpentry  
2%   1%  
• HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT brick  making  

Ø THERE ISNT PROPER MEDICAL IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINTY OF private  jobs  

AGRAHARAM
Ø THEY NEED TO TRAVEL TO KUMBAKONAM,WHICH 7 KMS
AWAY IN ORDER TO GET HELP FROM A CERTIFIED DOCTOR. Ø
Ø IN AGRAHARAM, ALL THEY HAVE IS A PHARAMACY. THEY
FOLLOW THEIR ANCESTORAL REMEDIES.(AYURVEDIC Ø
REMEDY).
Ø THERE IS NO HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AND THERE
ISNT ANY AWARENESS CAMP.
• AWARENESS
Ø THEY READ THE TAML NEWSPAPER.AND WATCH TAMIL NEW
CHANNELS.
Ø THEY HAVE EXCELLENT POLITICAL AWARENESS.
Ø THEY VOTE REGULARILY.
Ø BUT THEY DO IT AS AN OBLIGATION, BUT NOT AS ANY FAITH
IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
Ø THEY DON’T REEALLY WANT ANY HELP AS SUCH FROM THE
GOVERNMENT.
Ø THEY LIKE THEIR INDEPENDENCE.
Ø BUT THE AWARENESS IS LIMITED TO THE STATE LEVEL.
Ø HERE THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE ANY SENSE OF HEALTHY
LIVING.
THEY PUT OFF VISITS TO THE DOCTOR UNTIL THE VERY LAST
MINUTE.
THEY HAVE EXCELLENT IMMUNE SYSTEM.
Ø BUT IF THERE IS ANY EMERGENCIES, SUCH AS CHILD BIRTH
ETC. THEY GO TO KUMBAKONAM.
Ø THEY READ THE TAMIL NEWSPAPER.
Ø HERE THEY ARENT REGULAR VOTERS.
Ø SOME OF THEM DON’T EVEN HAVE VOTER IDS.
Ø THEY VOTE ON THE BASIS OF “WHO GIVES MORE FREE
ITEMS”
Ø BUT STILL,THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT POLITICS.
Ø AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE IS LIMITED TO THE STATE LEVEL
POLITICS.
AGRICULTURE IS THE MAIN OCCUPATION OF THE VILLAGE.
THE PEOPLE IN AGRAHARM OWN MAJORITY OF THE LANDS AND THE REST
OF THE LANDS ARE OWNED BY THE LOWER CASTES.
MOST OF THE LOWER CASTES WORK AS LABOURERS IN THE FIELDS AS
100 DAY LABOURERS.
THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE EARNING OUT OF AGRICULTURE HAS
DECREASED DRASTICALLY, ESPECIALLY IN AGRAHARM, AS THE INCOME
FROM IT HAS REDUCED IN THE MODERN TIMES AND BETTER JOB
OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SKILLED JOBS OUT OF THE
VILLAGE. THIS IS THE INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION ON THE NEW
GENERATION WHO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR BETTER JOBS AFTER THEIR
DEGREES.
THE OTHER PERCENTAGE EARN A LIVING OUT OF SMALL SCALE JOBS,
PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT JOBS, BRICK KILNS, RICE MILLING, CARPENTRY
ETC.

THE INCREASED TOLERANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF AGRAHARAM TOWARDS THE LOWER CASTE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO
THE FACT THAT EDUCATION HAS MADE THEM MORE BROAD MINDED AND AWARE. THIS HELPS THEM HELP EACH OTHER
WITH MAINTAINING THE ABUNDANT FARMLANDS IN TIPPIRAJAPURAM.
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE - KUCHIPALAYAM

KEY

HOUSES

TEMPLE

WATERBODY
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE - AGRAHARAM

KEY
HOUSES

SCHOOL

TEMPLE

PANCHAYAT
OFFICE,V.A.O,LIBRARY

WATERBODY

SHOPS

E.B OFFICE

BANK
 CONCLUSION

TIPPIRAJAPURAM INITIALLY EMERGED AS AN AGRICULTURALLY PREDOMINANT VILLAGE,

AGRAHARAM, STARTED BY 4 VATTIMA FAMILIES WHICH ARE A MAJOR SUB CASTE OF THE
BRAHMIN CASTE. THE VILLAGERS BELONGED TO THE UPPER CASTE MAINLY AND MAINTAINED
THE UPPER HAND OVER THE LOWER CASTE WHO USED TO MOSTLY WORK AS LABOURERES.
THE CASTE BOUNDARIES WERE VERY STRICTLY FOLLOWED AND THE DIVIDE WAS OBVIOUS.
OVER THE YEARS, MORE NO. OF PEOPLE FROM THE LOWER CASTES STARTED
SETTLING IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS AS THEY STARTED WORKING ON THE FARM AS FARM
LABOURERS GIVING RISE TO THE KUCHIPALAYAM AND LATER KEELA THERU.
AS THE CENTURIES PROGRESSED AND AWARENESS SPREAD THE UPPER CASTE
PEOPLE STARTED GIVING IMPORTANCE TO EDUCATION WHICH OFFERED THEM BETTER JOBS
OUT OF THE VILLAGE IN THE NEIGHBOURING CITIES. THESE SKILLED JOBS GAVE THEM MORE
INCOME AND PEOPLE STARTED MAINTAINING DUAL JOBS. ONE BEING EITHER A PRIVATE JOB
OR A GOVERNMENT JOB; LIKE BANKS, ELECTRICITY BOARDS ETC. AND THE OTHER BEING
SUPERVISION OF THEIR FARMS WHICH WERE NOW MAINTAINED BY THE LOWER CLASS PEOPLE
WHOM THEY PAID. THE CASTE DIVIDE WAS STILL PRESENT BUT THE STARK BOUNDARIES
WERE FADING AS PEOPLE STARTED TO INTERACT MORE WITH OTHER CASTES. SOME OF
THEM EVEN SOLD OFF THEIR LANDS TO THE LOWER CASTE PEOPLE AS THEY MIGRATED
PERMANENTLY TO OTHER CITIES AND EVEN COUNTRIES.
THESE LANDS THAT WERE SOLD OFF WERE EITHER USED BY THE LOWER CASTE
FOR SETTLING IN THE AREA AS THE NO. OF PEOPLE IN THE LOWER CASTE INCREASED OR
THEY MAINTAINED THEM AS FARMLANDS AND GAINED INCOME FRM THEM. BUT MOST
FARMLANDS HAVE BEEN CHANGED INTO SETTLEMENTS OVER THE YEARS AND EVEN THOUGH
AGRICULTURE IS STILL THE MAIN OCCUPATION OF THE VILLAGE, THERE ARE MANY OTHER
JOBS IN WHICH THE VILLAGERS HAVE ENGAGED THEMSELVES AS THE TIMES CHANGE.
AGRAHARAM WHEREAS WITNESSES A STEADY PLUNGE IN THE POPULATION AS
MOST OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION HAS MIGRATED TO CITIES OR ABROAD FOR HIGHER
STUDIES OR JOBS. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SETTLED ABROAD ARE IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA. THIS IS MOSTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ALL GO INTO THE IT
INDUSTRY AS THE DEMAND IS LARGE AND HENCE THE JOBS ARE OFFERED EASILY. IN
AGRAHARAM MOST OF THE ANCESTRAL HOUSES WHICH ARE NOT EMPTY HAVE ONLY TWO TO
THREE PEOPLE AT THE MOST. THE VILLAGE IS SOON MORDENISING OR IS BEING ABANDONED.
AGRAHARAM ALAS IS SLOWLY DYING….