Abstract:
This study provides an empirical case study of caste and social exclusion of war-affected Jaffna society. Initial part
of this study developed through secondary and historical information on caste-based exclusion and all other parts
present the contemporary caste-based exclusion with special reference to the selected camps of Internally Displaced
People / Persons (IDPs) in Jaffna society. One of the key issues examined in this study was overrepresentation of
certain ‘low-caste’ status “Panchamar” (five so-called low caste groups) in the IDP population remaining in Welfare
centers. Although the war affected all inhabitants of Jaffna irrespective of their caste and class backgrounds, many
of the long-term IDPs emerge from the traditionally underprivileged caste groups to the exclusion of people from the
numerically large and dominant Vellālar caste. All remaining IDPs in the four welfare centers in Mallakam belonged
to the Nalavar and Pallar caste. Access to village Hindu temples controlled by “upper caste” Hindus, access to
drinking water from wells owned by “high caste” families and discriminations experienced by the “Panchamars” in
the land market are some examples of caste-based exclusion in contemporary Jaffna society. Even though caste is
not explicitly recognized in many matters and there is a public denial of the importance of caste by most parties, the
educated middle classes in particular, the actual social reality is much more complex and multilayered and demands
an understanding that goes beyond the superficial level and official truths whether coming from the state and nonstate
actors who are eager to consider every thing to meta-narratives such as terrorism, nationalism and liberation
struggle.
