Question

Write a Short Essay (About 250-300 Words) on the Following:-

What impression of the lives of the ordinary people of Vijayanagara can you cull from the various descriptions in the chapter?

Answer 1

Ordinary people were those people who did not take part in the power structure. They spoke different languages and followed different religious traditions. They consisted of small traders and local merchants. They used to live in cities, trade centres, ports, towns and villages. Local communities of merchants known as kudirai chettis' or horse merchants participated in exchanges. People such as peasants, workers, slaves, etc. were also included in ordinary people.

The workers were known as “Vipra viodin”. This group of ironsmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, sculpture-makers, etc. Who often quarrelled mutually for their rights. It seems that during that period, a need was felt to frame laws for the society to execute social justice.

Kaikkol, known as the weavers, were in large numbers. They lived near temples. They played a significant role in running the administration of the temple. In the Vijayanagara state there were Gadarias known as Kambalattar. They followed the customs of polyandry. The special characteristic was that the wife was elder to the husband. Their women had physical relations with the husband’s kinsmen, like fathers and brothers were prevalent.

There was an orthodox bigot section in Vijayanagara called the Reddys, who owned the land. They had enough influence in the Telugu region of Vijayanagara. In the society there were a few low-class people who were non-influential. They were Domber, Marva, Jogi, Paraiyan, Boi Kallaar, etc. Some low-caste people converted to Christianity under the influence of the Portuguese.