Hēna

Hēna, also Radā, is a minority Sinhalese caste. "Rajas" means dirt in Sinhala and Pali or Sanskrit and "Rajaka" means the removers of dirt. They collected cloths by traveling home to home of higher castes but now that was obsolete in Sri Lanka.but still they performs several rituals in the weddings and the females of this caste performs vital role in the puberty rituals of Radala and Govigama people in some areas of Sri Lanka. They called "Redi nanda" for females and "Hene mama" for males by the Sri Lankan society because they were given some respect unlike the other Asian countries due to the influence of buddhism in early periods.

Rituals performed

In the weddings of Govigama or Radala households they provides the carpets ("Paawada" in Sinhala) and spread "Paadawa " for the groom.They provides "Piruwata" and "Udu wiyan" for the "Poruwa". And the cracking the skull when the couple getting down from Poruwa was performed by them.(cracking skull is performed for prosperity in weddings and puberty rituals in Sri Lanka) In puberty rituals of Govi people the girl is bathed by a female of this caste and for their performance they were compensated through money, food, and also with the dress and jewelry given to her at that time.

British period

The creation of the above Mudaliyar class by the British in the 19th century, its restriction only to the Govigama caste, production of spurious caste hierarchy lists by this class and changes to the land tenure system, resulted in this caste too being classified as a low caste during this period. Although contrary to history, some modern Govigama historians even go to the extent to now suggest that this caste was traditionally bound to serve the Govi caste.

The influential Mudaliyar class attempted to keep this caste and all other Sri Lankan castes out of colonial appointments. The oppression by the Mudaliars and connected headmen extended to demanding subservience, service and even restrictions on the type of personal names that could be used by this community.

Despite the above odds, several members of this caste became pioneer Ship chandlers, commercial Laundry operators and successful Merchants during the British period and were recognised as members of the local elite.

Modern period

Members of this community are in all the leading professions in Sri Lanka and in commerce and make positive contributions to society. They are gaining an increased say in modern Sri Lankan politics, mainly through the alternative political party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna as the leadership selection processes within the two main political parties are not democratic. Caste discrimination by the Buddhist monastic establishment is also an impediment to the progress of this community.

In literature

Senkottan-Novel written by Mahinda Kumara Masimbula
"Lenchina mage nangiye" song

Notable people

Ranasinghe Premadasa - Sri Lankan 3rd President (1989-1993) and prime minister (1978-1989)^[1]
Chakali ailamma - Chakali Ailamma (1919–1985) was an Indian revolutionary leader during the Telangana Rebellion. Her act of defiance against Zamindar Ramachandra Reddy, known as Visnoor Deshmukh, to cultivate her land became an inspiration for many during the rebellion against the feudal lords of the Telangana region.
Madivala Machideva - Madivala Machideva, also known as Veera Ganachari Madivala Machideva, was an Indian warrior of the 12th-century.

References

^ "Ranasinghe Premadasa | biography - president of Sri Lanka". Encyclopedia Britannica.

Ryan Bryce 1953 Caste in Modern Ceylon, Rutgers University Press
Ceylon Gazetteer 1855

External links

[1] "Ranasinghe Premadasa | biography - president of Sri Lanka". Encyclopedia Britannica.

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