What is "govigama"

Govi, Govigama is the largest and the most influential caste in Sri Lanka. The term Govi denotes ( paddy) farmer, deriving from the root word 'goyam', meaning paddy plant. From time immemorial the Govigama have been responsible for the cultivation of the lands (along with Bathgama) of the island country in accordance with the traditional Rajakariya system (Sri Lanka’s Tenurial system of land holding). However, 'Govigama' is a Dutch period creation as traditionally there was only 'Govi. Traditionally all land was owned by the king and the rajakriya system meant you were duty bound to work the land. Private land ownership by ordinary folk came about only after European colonization 1. Sri Lanka has like most other countries traditionally been an agrarian civilization for 2500 years and hence the relationship between cultivator, land-owner and feudal authority is understandable. Cultivation common to most human societies was so important to the sustainability of kingdoms, that the kings even built reservoirs in villages throughout Sri Lanka. The specialist craftsmen/builder caste known as Navandana(Viswa bramin), soldiers and slaves had played a crucial role in the construction of these ancient dams and Stupas. Another definition for govigama is that it was the cast that provided the kings with the officer cadre, that's why almost all Kandyan govigama families have mudiyanse name, meaning officer, like herath mudiyansalage tikiri bandara.