Chettiar

Chettiar (also spelt as Chetti and Chetty) is a title used by many trading, weaving, agricultural and land-owning communities in South India, especially in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Etymology

Chettiar/Chetty is derived from the Sanskrit word Śreṣṭha (Devanagari: श्रेष्ठ) or Śreṣṭhin (Devanagari: श्रेष्ठीन्), meaning superior. This term was later Prakritised as Seṭhī (Devanagari: सेठी), and eventually became Śeṭ (Devanagari: शेट) or Śeṭī (Devanagari: शेटी) in modern Indo-Aryan dialects.^[5]^[6]

In early Indian literature, the term referred to a wealthy class of merchants associated with the Vysya varna.^[7]

Historical significance

The Chettiar title has been associated with a diverse range of communities, including merchant groups, agriculturalists, and artisans.^[8]^[9] The title is also used by Vellalar and Parathavar communities, highlighting its adaptability across regions and professions.^[10]

During the colonial era, Chettiars, particularly the Nattukottai Nagarathar(Chettiyar), Aruviyur Nagarathar(Chettiyar), gained recognition as prominent bankers and financiers in South India and Southeast Asia.^[11]^[12]

Economic and cultural contributions

Commerce and finance

The Nattukottai Chettiars established a sophisticated banking system, introducing financial instruments like the hundi (promissory note) and developing credit networks that extended from colonial India to Burma (Myanmar), Malaysia, and Singapore.^[13]^[14] Their financial expertise earned them a reputation as the "bankers of the East" during the British Raj.

Agriculture and textiles

In addition to their achievements in commerce, several Chettiar subgroups were engaged in agriculture and textile production. The Vellalar Chettiars (vellan Chettis) were historically known as agrarian landlords and also involved in trading and merchanting,^[15]^[16] while others, like the Devanga Chettiars, excelled in weaving fine textiles.^[17] The Kandangi sari, a traditional handloom product, is an enduring symbol of their craftsmanship.^[18]

Philanthropy and religion

The Chettiars are celebrated for their philanthropic endeavors. They funded schools, hospitals, and temples, many of which remain significant cultural landmarks. Prominent temples such as the Pillaiyarpatti Temple and the Kundrakudi Temple in Tamil Nadu are linked to Chettiar patronage.^[19]^[20] Their generosity extended beyond India, contributing to infrastructure and religious institutions in Southeast Asia.^[21]

Cuisine

The Nagarathar Chettiars of Tamil Nadu are renowned for their cuisine, known as Chettinad cuisine.

References

^ Chandrabhan Prasad (2010). Caste, Nationalism and Ethnicity. Gyan Publishing House. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-86132-136-0.
^ "Chettiar Band, AVM To FM". Outlook. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
^ "Chettiars reign where wealth meets godliness". The Economic Times. Retrieved 9 April 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
^ "BBMP move shocking: Puttanna Chetty's grandson".
^ Jalal, Ayesha (1995). Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia: A Comparative and Historical Perspective. Cambridge University Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-521-47862-5.
^ Raychaudhuri, Tapan; Habib, Irfan (1982). The Cambridge Economic History of India: c.1200–c.1750. Cambridge University Press Archive. pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-0-521-22692-9.
^ The Dawn and Dawn Society's Magazine, vol. 12, Calcutta: Lall Mohan Mullick, 1909, p. 91
^ Belle, Carl Vadivella (2017). Thaipusam in Malaysia. Singapore: ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. ISBN 9789814695756.:”Although the Chettiars were originally a Sudra caste, in more recent times they have made claim to be considered as Vaisyas.”
^ Intirā Pārttacārati (2008). Ramanujar: The Life and Ideas of Ramanuja. Oxford University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-19-569161-0. The Chetti, Vaisya, or merchant caste
^ Singh, K. S. (October 2014). People of India: Tamil Nadu. Anthem Press. ISBN 978-1-78308-315-2.
^ Rudner, David (1989). "Banker's Trust and the Culture of Banking among the Nattukottai Chettiars of Colonial South India". Modern Asian Studies. 23 (3): 417–458. doi:10.1017/S0026749X00009501.
^ Kudaisya, Medha (2009). "Marwari and Chettiar Merchants. 1850s-1950s: Comparative Trajectories". In Kudaisya, Medha M.; Ng, Chin-Keong (eds.). Chinese and Indian Business: Historical Antecedents. Leiden: BRILL. ISBN 9789004172791.
^ Rudner, David (1989). "Banker's Trust and the Culture of Banking among the Nattukottai Chettiars of Colonial South India". Modern Asian Studies. 23 (3): 417–458. doi:10.1017/S0026749X00009501.
^ Kudaisya, Medha M. (2009). "Marwari and Chettiar Merchants. 1850s-1950s: Comparative Trajectories". In Kudaisya, Medha M.; Ng, Chin-Keong (eds.). Chinese and Indian Business: Historical Antecedents. Leiden: BRILL. ISBN 9789004172791.
^ Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 2. Government Press. p. 415.
^ Rudner, David (2014). The Chettiar Entrepreneurial Community in Colonial South India. Gyan Publishing House. p. 702. ISBN 978-1-78308-315-2.
^ Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 2. Government Press. p. 415.
^ Ganesan, R. (2007). Textiles and Handicrafts of Tamil Nadu. Kaveri Books. ISBN 9788174790665. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
^ Hardgrave, Robert L. (1969). The Nadars of Tamilnad: The Political Culture of a Community in Change. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520014196. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
^ Ramaswamy, Sumathi (2004). The Lost Land of Lemuria: Fabulous Geographies, Catastrophic Histories. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520240311. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
^ Brown, Rajeswary (1993). "Local Suppliers of Credit in the Third World, 1750-1960". In Austin, Gareth; Sugihara, Kaoru (eds.). Chettiar Capital and Southeast Asian Credit Networks in the Inter-War Period. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312084179. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)