Cultural Ambivalence: A Socio-Historical Account of the Berava Caste of Southern Sri Lanka

One of the essential features of the caste systems of South Asia is its link with occupational activity. In the Sri Lankan caste system, which evolved out a system of feudal service tenures linked to royal courts and Buddhist temples, the link with occupation is particularly strong. In this chapter we focus on the Berava or drummer caste with particular reference to southern Sri Lanka. Within the traditional social order, the Berava, on account of their occupational identity, have been given a lowly position and have suffered much discrimination and opprobrium. Yet, members of this caste have played a key role in the performance of rituals in which drumming is required. Based on historical and ethnographic evidence we offer an account of the ambivalent relationship between caste, ritual knowledge, performance and nationalism as it has changed over time.