Burton Stein describes an essentially continuous process of expansion of the nuclear areas of the caste society into forest and upland areas of tribal and warrior people, and their integration into the caste society at the lowest levels. Many of the forest groups were incorporated as Paraiyar either by association with the parai drum or by integration into the low-status labouring groups who were generically called Paraiyar.
Burton Stein describes a process where the nuclear areas of the caste society expanded into forested and upland regions inhabited by tribal and warrior people, leading to their assimilation into the lowest levels of the caste system. Many forest communities were incorporated into the Paraiyar caste through either association with the parai drum or integration into low-status labor groups known as Paraiyar.