Malbars or Malabars are an ethnic group of South IndianTamil origin in Réunion, a French island in the Southwest Indian Ocean, The Malbars constitute 25% of the population of Réunion and are estimated to be around 180,000.[2]
There have been people of South Indian origin on the island since the 17th century, and those were mostly from Pondicherry.[3] Most were originally brought in as indentured labourers in the second half of the 19th century and were mostly South Indian Tamils.[4] Since then, the Malbars have developed some patterns of behaviour that are not quite those of their ancestors from Tamil Nadu nor those of the other inhabitants of Réunion.
Malbars is derived from the word Malabar, a term which was used often by the French and other Westerners to refer to all Southern Indians, including the Tamils, Malayalees, Telugus and Kannadigas. This term is based on the Malabar region of the present state of Kerala in India[5] This term, applied by the French to Tamil labourers coming to Réunion, has been kept by the latter and others on the island to label their own identity.
History
Indian workers came to Réunion from South India, mostly from French settlements in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, and Karaikal. Most of these immigrants were ritually low in the caste system.[6] Hard living conditions at home were the main reason behind their departure to La Réunion. The immigration of indentured workers from South India started in 1827 but it was only after 1848 that indentured immigration began on a big scale.[7]
Acculturation
The French government in Réunion made the first Malbars become Christian.[6] However, many Malbars were only nominally Christian.[6] The Tamil language was lost to language shift.[8]
Recent developments
The Malbars desire to learn their ancestors' culture, and started studying their language and religions especially from Tamil Nadu.[1] Recently many Malbars, particularly those of upper and middle classes, have started to become completely Hindu rather than nominally Christian.[9]
Genetics
A genetic study has shown that the majority of the Indian origins of Malbars lie in the South-east of India. A significantly larger proportion comes from Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.[10] The study also showed that 15-20% of the origins of Malbars come from elsewhere than India. Less than 1% comes from Europe.[10]
Notable Malbars
Jean-Paul Virapoullé is currently Mayor of Saint Andre and first Vice President of the General Council of Réunion.
^(PDF). The Indian Diaspora. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-21.
^de Garine, Valerie (2001). Drinking: anthropological approaches Volume 4 of Anthropology of food and nutrition. Berghahn Books. p. 225. ISBN9781571818096. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
^. indiandiaspora.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2010-08-15. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
^"Indentured immigration and social accommodation in La Reunion". berkeley.edu.
^ abc Ghasarian, Christian (1997). "We Have the Best Gods! The Encounter Between Hinduism and Christianity in La Réunion". African and Asian Studies. 32 (3): 286–295. doi:10.1163/156852197X00079.
^Ghasarian, Christian. 1990. "Indianit La Réunion: gestion d'une double identit", Vibre au pluriel. Production sociale des identits l'le Maurice et l'le de La Réunion, J.L. Albert (ed.), Université de La Réunion/URA 1041 du CNRS.
^N. Nandhivarman (2009), , New Indian Express, archived from the original on 2011-07-21, retrieved 2009-12-11: "Réunion is a typical example of outsourcing by the French East India Company, and its history reveals how an hybrid culture emanated amidst Tamil settlers there, who are Tamils but could not speak Tamil, their mother tongue lost in the interregnum of 5 generations of separation from their homeland ..."
^ Medea, Laurent (2002). "Creolisation and Globalisation in a Neo-Colonial Context: the Case of Réunion". Social Identities. 8 (1): 125–141. doi:10.1080/13504630220132053. S2CID 145370724.
^ abDubut V, Murail P, Pech N, Thionville MD, Cartault F.; Murail; Pech; Thionville; Cartault (May 2009). "Inter- and extra-Indian admixture and genetic diversity in Réunion island revealed by analysis of mitochondrial DNA". Annals of Human Genetics. 73 (Pt 3): 314–34. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1809.2009.00519.x. PMID 19397558. S2CID 205598437.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
Réunion Tamils Cavadee
January 20, 2023
malbars, confused, with, malabars, malabars, ethnic, group, south, indian, tamil, origin, réunion, french, island, southwest, indian, ocean, constitute, population, réunion, estimated, around, total, population180, regions, with, significant, populationssaint,. Not to be confused with Malabars Malbars or Malabars are an ethnic group of South Indian Tamil origin in Reunion a French island in the Southwest Indian Ocean The Malbars constitute 25 of the population of Reunion and are estimated to be around 180 000 2 MalbarsTotal population180 000 1 Regions with significant populationsSaint Andre Saint DenisLanguagesFrench Reunion Creole Tamil ReligionHinduism syncretic religion Indic religionsRelated ethnic groupsIndo Reunionnais Tamils DravidiansThere have been people of South Indian origin on the island since the 17th century and those were mostly from Pondicherry 3 Most were originally brought in as indentured labourers in the second half of the 19th century and were mostly South Indian Tamils 4 Since then the Malbars have developed some patterns of behaviour that are not quite those of their ancestors from Tamil Nadu nor those of the other inhabitants of Reunion Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Acculturation 4 Recent developments 5 Genetics 6 Notable Malbars 7 Tamil temples 8 See also 9 Notes 10 External linksEtymology EditMalbars is derived from the word Malabar a term which was used often by the French and other Westerners to refer to all Southern Indians including the Tamils Malayalees Telugus and Kannadigas This term is based on the Malabar region of the present state of Kerala in India 5 This term applied by the French to Tamil labourers coming to Reunion has been kept by the latter and others on the island to label their own identity History EditIndian workers came to Reunion from South India mostly from French settlements in Tamil Nadu Pondicherry and Karaikal Most of these immigrants were ritually low in the caste system 6 Hard living conditions at home were the main reason behind their departure to La Reunion The immigration of indentured workers from South India started in 1827 but it was only after 1848 that indentured immigration began on a big scale 7 Acculturation EditThe French government in Reunion made the first Malbars become Christian 6 However many Malbars were only nominally Christian 6 The Tamil language was lost to language shift 8 Recent developments EditThe Malbars desire to learn their ancestors culture and started studying their language and religions especially from Tamil Nadu 1 Recently many Malbars particularly those of upper and middle classes have started to become completely Hindu rather than nominally Christian 9 Genetics EditA genetic study has shown that the majority of the Indian origins of Malbars lie in the South east of India A significantly larger proportion comes from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu 10 The study also showed that 15 20 of the origins of Malbars come from elsewhere than India Less than 1 comes from Europe 10 Notable Malbars EditJean Paul Virapoulle is currently Mayor of Saint Andre and first Vice President of the General Council of Reunion Tamil temples Edit A Tamil temple in Reunion Chinmaya Mission temple Quartier Francais Sainte Suzanne Siva Soupramanien temple Saint Paul Siva Vishnou Karli temple Saint Paul Siva Soupramanien temple Petit Bazar on Avenue Ile of France Saint Andre Sri Bala Subramanya temple Saint Paul Temple du Colosse Saint Andre Thiru Kalimata Temple Sainte MarieSee also EditReunionnais of Indian origin Tamil diaspora Hinduism in ReunionNotes Edit a b 1 Archived 2010 08 21 at the Wayback Machine page 8 Reunion PDF The Indian Diaspora Archived from the original PDF on 2010 08 21 de Garine Valerie 2001 Drinking anthropological approaches Volume 4 of Anthropology of food and nutrition Berghahn Books p 225 ISBN 9781571818096 Retrieved 2009 11 29 The Indian Diaspora indiandiaspora nic in Archived from the original on 2010 08 15 Retrieved 2020 03 23 Indentured immigration and social accommodation in La Reunion berkeley edu a b c Ghasarian Christian 1997 We Have the Best Gods The Encounter Between Hinduism and Christianity in La Reunion African and Asian Studies 32 3 286 295 doi 10 1163 156852197X00079 Ghasarian Christian 1990 Indianit La Reunion gestion d une double identit Vibre au pluriel Production sociale des identits l le Maurice et l le de La Reunion J L Albert ed Universite de La Reunion URA 1041 du CNRS N Nandhivarman 2009 The Tamils of Reunion and their hybrid culture New Indian Express archived from the original on 2011 07 21 retrieved 2009 12 11 Reunion is a typical example of outsourcing by the French East India Company and its history reveals how an hybrid culture emanated amidst Tamil settlers there who are Tamils but could not speak Tamil their mother tongue lost in the interregnum of 5 generations of separation from their homeland Medea Laurent 2002 Creolisation and Globalisation in a Neo Colonial Context the Case of Reunion Social Identities 8 1 125 141 doi 10 1080 13504630220132053 S2CID 145370724 a b Dubut V Murail P Pech N Thionville MD Cartault F Murail Pech Thionville Cartault May 2009 Inter and extra Indian admixture and genetic diversity in Reunion island revealed by analysis of mitochondrial DNA Annals of Human Genetics 73 Pt 3 314 34 doi 10 1111 j 1469 1809 2009 00519 x PMID 19397558 S2CID 205598437 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link External links EditIndian Diaspora in Reunion Reunion Tamils Cavadee Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malbars amp oldid 1127310001, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
