This is a system of inheritance of property followed mostly by Bunts and other non-brahmin communities in south canara which is complete opposite compared to the system followed by Hindus. It is also referred as Ali-Santana (Kundapura Kannada) or Aliya-Kattu (Tulu), where in the children belongs to mother’s family, and they will inherit the “Bali” of mother. Bali is similar to what is called as Gotra in Brahmins. All the laws governing the marriages are based on Bali, so that boy and girl of same Bali are not supposed to get married and they are considered siblings. All the property is inherited in such a way that, the girl will get most of the property while the boy would get only his share. That is, if the girl has children, they also get their share, but the boy does not, his children are supposed to get their share from their family (mother’s family). There were no clear rules for the father's property. Probably, in the earlier times it might have gone solely to nephew. However, it was observed in the later period even though the mother's property distribution would always follow matrilineal inheritance rules (sometimes at the expense of sons), father was free to distribute his property according to his wish.
As opposite to the tradition in Hindus, the Aliya Santana follows different tradition. When marriages happen, the girl won’t go and stay with her husband in his house; instead the boy would come and stay with her in her house, and will look after the property. In my opinion this is a better option as there are very less chances of girl being suffered in her husband’s house. The law was recognized by the modern courts as far back as the British India in 1843. The rules of Aliya Santana were first published as the English translation in 1864, by the German Press Mission in Mangalore
There are several inscriptions found near Barkur which say that the Aliya Santana is being followed during the time from 10th to 16th century. The story behind Aliya Santana is very interesting. It is said that very long ago Barkur was called as “Baraha Kanya Pura”, since the King Bhootala Pandya had twelve wives. The king of demon, Kundodara Bhoota demanded a “Bali” (Sacrifice) of king’s son when the newly built ship was set out to sea. Even though he had twelve wives and lot of children they refused to give one. Then his sister agreed to sacrifice her son. The demon Kundodara was impressed, he not only spared the young boy’s life, but also ordered Bootala pandya to follow the Aliya-Santana, where in all the property would be inherited to his Nephew, and the laws of inheritance were written, as dictated by the demon Kundodara. Even today Aliya-Santana is followed in Tulu-Nadu, or the undivided South Canara, especially in Bunts community.
9 comments:
There were matriarcheal families in India,especially in the Himalayan foothills and in Northeast India during the puranic times. Aliya santana system may be a successor to this matriarcheal system. Your article gives a good information about the practices in Tulunadu. Thank you.
@ Sunaath, there are some who claim that some people in NE who worship Naga, moved to south in the costal side, they are claimed to be the ancestors of Bunts, and hence the same tradition is being followed such as Serpant worship etc. Some also claim that some of the body features of similar .. thanks for the comments..
Thanks to your posts I get to know so much about our community, else being away from it I always felt lost.
Yes, I was once told by my grand dad about this practice. And if my guess is right that must be how giving of dowry entered the bunt marriages.
I mean probably as the son was leaving his birth house and was in a sense breaking ties with them they must have felt it right then to give some monetary or materialistic support to the grooms family. Not sure, just a guess.
Thanks to your posts I get to know so much about our community, else being away from it I always felt lost.
Yes, I was once told by my grand dad about this practice. And if my guess is right that must be how giving of dowry entered the bunt marriages.
I mean probably as the son was leaving his birth house and was in a sense breaking ties with them they must have felt it right then to give some monetary or materialistic support to the grooms family. Not sure, just a guess.
@ Vibha, Thanks for the support.
I am not sure how the Dowry system has come to existence in bunts, but as I believe it is been done to give a safe and secure life to the couple, as long as it not forceful, it still serve the purpose, but some un-educated and un-cultured have spoiled it.
I need to dig more, and may be soon I will post something interesting in this matter. keep watching this space. :)
@ V.R. Bhat,
Thanks for visiting, and supporting, keep coming.
Nice one...:).Keep going...:)
As per my knowledge,some info provided in the article are factually incorrect.
After marriage the women would go to her husbands house .But after her husbands death she would return to her mother's house. The eldest men of the generation would lead the family .If male head is not present ,then female would take over.Even though the original aliya-santana system did not have option for division of property, when division was allowed men did not get share of the property.
Aliya Santana means succession through children of son-in-law(Aliya).And Head of the family and other rights transfer from Uncle to nephew (indirectly mother -> daughter)
@ Prajwal,
This is what has been followed in South Canara, and may be now the boy does not go to wife's house, but it is a kind of system before. Almost its obsolete, and when we speak about traditions this is what we say as our system, but now, everyone lives independent and property is distributed equally as per Govt Laws.
Post a Comment