Company painting, ca. 1800
The taxing work of harvesting and tending to paddy fields and irrigation canals was most often carried out by members of the Pallar and Paraiyar castes. Members of other castes, who considered themselves superior, often referred to them in the non-honorific singular, Pallan and Paraiyan, respectively. They were discriminated against and referred to as untouchables, outcasts and social pariahs. Members of the Paraiyar community would also take care of funerals and were not allowed to join in religious processions. Company paintings, gouache on mica, artist and year unknown.
