->David notMD at 10:54, 13 September 2021

2021-09-13T10:54:03Z

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{{moresources|date=May 2019}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
The '''Kammara'''<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Veerraju|first=P.|last2=Babu|first2=M. Sudhakar|last3=Jaikishan|first3=G.|last4=Naidu|first4=J. M.|last5=Blake|first5=N. M.|date=1982|title=Genetic Studies on the Koya Dora and Konda Kammara Tribes of Andhra Pradesh, India|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/45101737|journal=Human Heredity|volume=32|issue=4|pages=240–245|issn=0001-5652}}</ref> are blacksmiths since ancient times, situated in the state of [[karnataka]] in [[India]] and parts of the states of [[Andhrapradesh]], [[Kerala]], and [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/ST%20Lists.pdf |title=List of notified Scheduled Tribes |publisher=Census India |accessdate=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107225208/http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/ST%20Lists.pdf |archivedate= 7 November 2013 }}</ref>

The name Kammāra(prakrit)/ karmāra(sanskrit) means a smith, artist, mechanic, craftsman, [[blacksmith]]; a maker of tools and weapons (Mar. śikalagāra); ततः संधाय विमलान् भल्लान् कर्मारमार्जितान् (tataḥ saṃdhāya vimalān bhallān karmāramārjitān). Since [[Vedic]] times they are masters in [[metallurgy]] and craftsmanship. Owing to their usefulness they were held in great esteem by the people and king alike. They worship goddess [[Kali]] and Lord [[Vishwakarma]]. Their services were in great demand by everyone since ancient times, from making weapons for kings and soldiers to making tools and equipment for building temples, and also to the farmers, whose agricultural implements have to be made and constantly repaired.

Recently, most members have given up their traditional occupations and have resorted to other jobs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Atlas of Endangered Alphabets: Indigenous and minority writing systems, and the people who are trying to save them.|url=https://www.endangeredalphabets.net/alphabets/kammara/|access-date=2021-06-28|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kammara language and alphabet|url=https://omniglot.com/writing/kammara.htm|access-date=2021-07-15|website=omniglot.com}}</ref> It is noted in the Bellary Gazetteer that "until recently the manufacture of the huge shallow iron pans, in which the sugar-cane is boiled, was a considerable industry at Kāmalāpuram. The iron was brought by pack bullocks from Jambunath Konda, the dome-shaped hill at the Hospet end of the Sandūr range, and was smelted and worked by men of the Kammara community. Of late years, the cheaper English iron has completely ousted the country product, the smelting industry is dead, and the Kammaras confine themselves to making and mending the boilers with English material. They have a temple of their own, dedicated to Kāli, in the village, where the worship is conducted by one of themselves." The name Baita Kammara, meaning outside blacksmiths, is applied to Kamsala blacksmiths, who occupy a lowly position, and work in the open air or outside a village."*

* Madras Census Report, 1901.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{India-ethno-stub}}
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Kerala]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Tamil Nadu]]

Kammara - Revision history

->David notMD at 10:54, 13 September 2021