Nagarathar: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2012}}

The term ''Nagarathar'' literally means "town-dweller".<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Contributions to Indian Sociology|date=2002|publisher=Mouton|volume=36|location=Contributions to Indian Sociology: Occasional Studies|pages=344|language=en}}</ref> Their title, [[Chettiar]], is a generic term used by several [[mercantile]] groups which is derived from the ancient Tamil term ''etti'' (bestowed on [[merchant]]s by the Tamil monarchs).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=West Rudner|first=David|date=1987|title=Religious Gifting and Inland Commerce in Seventeenth-Century South India|journal=The Journal of Asian Studies|volume=46|issue=2|at=p. 376|doi=10.2307/2056019|jstor=2056019}}</ref>

Since they gained a reputation for living in mansions that were constructed in the 19th centuries and late 20th centuries, are they also known as ''Nattukottai Chettiar''.<ref name=":2" /> The term ''Nattukottai'' literally means "country-fort" in reference to their fort-like mansions.<ref name=":1" />

·        [[Kanchipuram]] ([[Tondaimandalam|Thondai Nadu]]) - From 2897 BC for about 2100 years

·        [[Poombuhar|Kaveripoompatinam (Poompuhar)]] ([[Chola dynasty|Chola Kingdom]]) - From 789 BC for about 1400 years.

·        [[Karaikudi]] ([[Pandya dynasty|Pandiya Kingdom]]) - From 707 AD onwards.

Nagarathars of Ilayatrangudiyar were later called as Nattukottai Nagarathar. Ariyurar Nagarathars further split into 3 divisions: Vadakku Valavu, Therku Valavu and [[Elur Chetty]] ([[Nagercoil]]). Sundrapattanathar Nagarathars migrated to Kollam district in [[Kerala]] and their history is completely lost now since there was no record keeping.<ref name=":13" />

The Nagarathar or Nattukkottai Chettiar were originally salt traders and historically an itinerant community of merchants and claim [[Chettinad]] as their traditional home.<ref name="Routledge">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-chmCgAAQBAJ&q=nattukottai+salt+traders&pg=PT143|title=A New Economic History of Colonial India|last1=Chaudhary|first1=Latika|last2=Gupta|first2=Bishnupriya|last3=Roy|first3=Tirthankar|last4=Swamy|first4=Anand V.|date=2015-08-20|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317674320|language=en}}</ref> How they reached that place, which at the time comprised adjacent parts of the ancient states of [[Pudukkottai]], [[Ramnad]] and [[Sivagangai]], is uncertain, with various communal legends being recorded. There are various claims regarding how they arrived in that area.<ref name="Price1996-13">{{cite book|author=Pamela G. Price|title=Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aqKSTs4ajsAC&pg=PA13|date=14 March 1996|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-55247-9|page=13}}</ref> Among those are a fairly recently recorded claim that they were driven there because of persecution by a [[Chola]] king{{who|date=February 2020}} and an older one, recounted to [[Edgar Thurston]], that they were encouraged to go there by a [[Pandyan]] king who wanted to take advantage of their trading skills. The legends converge in saying that they obtained the use of nine temples, with each representing one [[exogamy|exogamous]] part of the community.<ref name="Price1996-13" />

They may have become maritime traders as far back as the 8th century CE. They were trading in salt and by the 17th century, European expansionism in South East Asia during the next century fostered conditions that enabled the community to expand its trading enterprises, including as moneylenders, thereafter.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Price1996-13" /> By the late 18th century expanded them to inland and coastal trade in cotton and rice.<ref name="Routledge"/>

In the 19th century, following the [[Permanent Settlement]], some in the Nagarathar community wielded considerable influence in the affairs of the [[zamindar]] (landowners) elite. There had traditionally been a relationship between royalty and the community based on the premise that providing worthy service to royalty would result in the granting of high honours but this changed as the landowners increasingly needed to borrow money from the community in order to fight legal battles designed to retain their property and powers. Nagarathars provided that money as mortgaged loans but by the middle of the century they were becoming far less tolerant of any defaults and were insisting that failure to pay as arranged would result in the mortgaged properties being forfeited.<ref name="Price1996-103-104">{{cite book|author=Pamela G. Price|title=Kingship and Political Practice in Colonial India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aqKSTs4ajsAC&pg=PA13|date=14 March 1996|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-55247-9|pages=103–104}}</ref> By the 19th century were their business activities developed into a sophisticated banking system, with their business expanding to parts of [[Southeast Asia]]n countries such as [[Sri Lanka]], [[Myanmar]], [[Singapore]], [[Indonesia]] and [[China]].{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}

In the absence of a proper chaturvarna system in South India, Naattukottai Nagarathars were classified as high ranking [[Shudra]]s<ref>{{cite book |last=Prakash |first=Gyan |date=1956 |title=The Hindu Marriage Act, Act No. XXV of 1955|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e6JCAAAAIAAJ&q=chettiar+shudra|location=Allahabad |publisher=Allahabad Law Agency |page=46|isbn=}}: “In the case of a Nattukottai Chettiar”, who is shudra, the Madras High Court held that he could legally marry ...”</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Belle|first=Carl Vadivella|year=2017 |title= Thaipusam in Malaysia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kB1qDwAAQBAJ&q=chettiar+sudra&pg=PT126 |location=Singapore|publisher=ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute|isbn=9789814695756}}:”The Nattukottai Chettiars, generally referred to as the Chettiars (but also known as the Vanikars, Nagarathars or Chettyars)...Although the Chettiars were originally a Sudra caste, in more recent times they have made claim to be considered as Vaisyas.”</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Diehl|first=Anita|date=1977|title=E. V. Ramaswami Naicker-Periyar: A Study of the Influence of a Personality in Contemporary South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1CduAAAAMAAJ&q=vellalar+sudra|location=Stockholm ; Göteborg ; Lund |publisher=Esselte studium|page=16|isbn=9789124276454}}:”In Tamil Nadu the traditional caste society is in practice reduced into Brahmins and Sudras, kith a large third group classified in administrative terms as Scheduled and Backward classes.) Prominent among the Sudras are Vellalar , Chettiar and Gounder”</ref><ref>{{cite journal |date=1909|volume=12|title= The Dawn and Dawn Society's Magazine|publisher=Lall Mohan Mullick |location=Calcutta|page=124|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o7Q5AQAAIAAJ&q=chettiar+sudra}}:”A Chettiar or Chetty is a high - caste Sudra ; in most cases he will be well - to - do ; very often wealthy indeed.”</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Chitaley |first=D. V. |author-link= |date=1922|title=All India Reporter, Volume 4; Volume 9, Part 8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jXwwAQAAMAAJ&q=nagarathar+sudra |location= |publisher= |page=231}}:”The Chetties are in generally deemed to be Sudras.”</ref> and sometimes as [[Vaishya]]s (Vyshya).<ref>{{cite book|title=The Nagarathars of South India: an essay and a bibliography on the Nagarathars in India and South-East Asia, Volume 1|author=Sripati Chandrasekhar|publisher=Macmillan, 1980|page=22}}</ref>

<ref name=":13">{{Cite book|title=Analytical History of Nagarathar(நகரத்தார்களின் பகுத்தாய்ந்த வரலாறு)|last=Pattu Veshti Ramanathan|first=Chettiar|publisher=Surya Print Solutions|year=2015|location=Sivakasi}}</ref>[[File:உறுதிக்கோட்டை நகரத்தார் ஓலை சுவடி.jpg|thumb|Manuscript inscribed by Uruthikottai Nagarathar - the first page]]

 

[[File:உறுதிக்கோட்டை நகரத்தார் ஓலை சுவடி முழு பார்வை.png|thumb|Manuscripts - Full View]]

 

 

It was the customary practice of Nagarathars in the olden days to congregate in a certain pre-arranged place to discuss any matter concerning the Nagarathar community. On 12-July-1823 (that is Tamil year Subhanu (சுபானு), Aani (ஆனி) month, 29th day), [https://goo.gl/maps/RGV9neVwi5YRWibM7 one such assembly was convened by Nagarathars of 96 villages at Unjanai], a small village near Devakottai in between Mathur and Iluppakudi. For that assembly, one prominent Chettiar Eriyur Kakkai Vellayan Chetty came late. He galloped into the assembly on horseback in haste, created a maelstrom of dust that swirled and engulfed the patiently waiting Nagarathars. He was unapologetic. The Assembly was outraged at his disrespect, lack of decorum and lateness. A fine was imposed and an apology was demanded prior to commencing.<ref name=":14">{{Cite book|title=Naam Nammai Sera|last=MR M KR M|first=Somasundaram|publisher=Meyyappan Offset Printers|year=2003|location=Karaikudi|pages=7–9}}</ref>

 

But he arrogantly refused to accept the directive. Instead, he used his considerable power and position to influence his reluctant relatives and close family into breaking away from the main Nagarathar community.

 

Ever since this incident in 1823 and subsequent fallout, this breakaway group was deemed segregated and privileges of belonging to the greater Nagarathar community revoked. One of the punitive measures meted out was the cessation of the custom of officially registering the marriages in the respective temples. The issuing of garlands from these temples in blessing and recognition of the newly married couples as a family unit (“pulli”) was also halted. The most severe punitive measure was the non-acknowledgement of the very existence of this segregated minority of Nagarathars in the official count of units (‘pullis”) of the temples.<ref>{{Cite book|title=History of Uruthikottai Vattagai (உறுதிக்கோட்டை வட்டகை வரலாறு)|last=Madurai Nagarathar|first=Sangam|location=Madurai}}</ref>

 

This minority group came to be known as Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars. Among the 8 villages they settled down initially Uruthikottai was a prominent place in Sivagangai District those days.<ref>{{Cite book|title=History of Atheenam and Nagarathar (ஆதீன வரலாறும் நகரத்தார் வரலாறும்)|last=Shree Niramba Azhagiya|first=Desika Swamigal|publisher=Meenakshi Printers|year=1994|location=Thulavur Karaikudi|pages=47}}</ref> They wrote their own rules and regulations and the same has been imprinted in dry palm-leaf as practised in those days. These palm-leaves are safeguarded to date. [[:File:உறுதிக்கோட்டை நகரத்தார் ஓலை சுவடி.jpg|(Please refer to the images of these palm-leaves)]]. As mentioned in this palm-leaf, initially they settled in the following villages: Uruthikottai, Thittukottai, Avarangudi, Karungulam, Panakkarai, Sarugani (Sarakanei), Eriyur and Surakudi. Over the period they vacated some of these villages and [[:ta:நகரத்தார் சமுதாய ஊர்கள்#உறுதிக்கோட்டை வட்டகை|finally settled in the following 9 villages]]:<ref name=":15">{{Cite book|title=Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathar (உறுதிக்கோட்டை வட்டகை நகரத்தார் - நாட்டுக்கோட்டை நகரத்தார்களே ! ஆதாரங்கள் கையேடு.)|last=Thiagarajan|first=V.N.|year=1989|location=Coimbatore|pages=4}}</ref>

 

 

Out of [[Nagarathar#Religious influence|9 Nagarathar temples]], this break-away Nagarathars group of 104 families belong to only four Nagarathar temples, namely Ilayathangudi, Mathur, Vairavanpatti and Pillayarpatti. Today the total number of families has grown from 104 to nearly 1400. [[:ta:நாட்டுக்கோட்டை நகரத்தார்#நகரத்தார் சமுதாயத்தின் ஊர்கள்|Marriage alliances happen within Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars only and marrying outside the community (Vattagai) is banned.]]

 

== Evidences ==

 

 

Nachathal Padaippu belonging to Vairavan temple is done at Puduvayal village every year during the Tamil month Maasi (மாசி). Though some Nagarathars of Vairavan Temple broke away from the mainstream in ''1823'' they still participate in this important function. The official invitation [[:File:Nachathal Padaippu.jpg|(Please refer to the invitation image)]] received by Vairavan Kovil Nagarathars of Uruthikottai Vattagai each year is strong evidence.<ref name=":15" />

 

=== Nagarathar Sermon ===

 

As customary in Nagararathar community males get their sermon in Padharakudi Monastery (மடம்) and females get theirs in Thulavur. The same is followed by Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars till this date. Please refer to the letter written by the head of Thulavur Madam to Mr T. Kumarappa.<ref name=":13" />

 

=== Kundrakudi Charity ===

 

Annual food charity function (அன்னதானம்) is conducted at Kundrakudi Temple by collecting tax (Pulli Vari) from all Nattukottai Nagarathars. Similarly, such tax demands are sent to all Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars also. Maheswara Pooja is done at this time and several Nagarathars including from Uruthikottai Vattagai participate in this function.<ref name=":15" />

 

 

About 90 years ago one Kaluvathan Chetty of Kumaravelur (Uruthikottai Vattagai) was demanded to appear in person and pay a fine by Nattukkottai Nagarathars at Kovilur Nagarathar assembly for committing a social offence. He admitted his offence and obeyed and eventually he paid the penalty of Rs.650/-<ref name=":14" />

 

These minority Nattukkottai Nagarathars retained their traditional values and customs in original form as aborigines of the Nattukkottai Nagarathar community. Not one iota of difference can be traced in the rituals, customs and traditions between the mainstream and this Uruthikottai Vattagai Nagarathars except of course some minor changes as per local convenience and preferences. But these small changes are prevalent even among the mainstream Nagarathars from one Vattagai to another.<ref>{{cite book|title=Nagarathar Malar (நகரத்தார் மலர்)|date=15 November 1988|page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Chettinadum Senthamizhum (செட்டிநாடும் செந்தமிழும்)|last1=Somalay|date=1984|publisher=Vaanathi Publisher|location=Madras|page=11}}</ref>

==Religious influence==

The nine temples connected with the Nagarathar community include: [[Ilaiyattangudi|Ilayathakudi]], Iluppaikkudi, Iraniyur, Mathur, Nemam, [[Karpaka Vinayakar Temple|Pillayarpatti]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Aline Dobbie|title=India: The Elephant's Blessing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ckpEd4emnCkC&q=India:+The+Elephant%27s+Blessing&pg=PA101|date=2006|publisher=Melrose Books|isbn=1-905226-85-3|page=101}}</ref> Soorakudi, [[Vairavapatti|Vairavanpatti]], and Velangudi.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/heritage/article25547717.ece|title=Chettinad's legacy|date=2018-11-20|work=Frontline|access-date=2018-12-27|language=en}}</ref>

* David Rudner. (1989). "Banker's Trust and the culture of banking among the Nattukottai Chettiars of colonial South India". ''Modern Asian Studies'' 23(3), 417-458.

* Heiko Schrader. (1996). "Chettiar finance in Colonial Asia". ''Zeitschrift fur Ethnologie'' 121, 101-126.