Reddiar
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Reddiar also Reddiyar is caste title of prominent land owning, farming and mercantile social group of Tamil Nadu and abroad. Most of the reddiars are Zamindars and Landlords. They are a group with very rich cultural heritage. They are found in all walks of life today.
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[edit] Origins
Reddis are stated to be of the Solar Race ; and the genealogies of this tribe accordingly trace to them up to Kusha, the second son of Rama ,the Hero of the Great Solar epic of the Hindus.[1].Anavota Reddy (1335-1364 CE) of Reddy dynasty extended the dominion of the kingdom to Rajahmundry on the north, Kanchi on the south and Srisailam on the west. In a battle at Vallioor, Reddiapuram army defeated Travancore army in 14th Century.[2] In a information Board at the entrance of the Vallioor Murugan Temple it is stated that 14th century vallioor War - Reddiapuram army defeated Travancore Army at vallioor Battle. After this war Reddiyars settled at Samugarengapuram, Seelathikulam and all over Tirunelveli Region in 14th century.
A mural at the Tiruppudaimaruthur temple in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu, shows the emissaries of the Vijayanagara king Achyutadeva Raya serving an ultimatum to the Travancore ruler Bhoothala Veera Udaya Marthanda Varma to pay tributes to him and return the Pandya territory to Sri Vallabhan. It also depicts the “Tamiraparani battle” between the armies of Achyutadeva Raya and Bhoothala Varma.[3] Although they are believed to be derived from various castes or social groups from Andhra Pradesh sporting the title Reddy they are considered as well as self identified as ethnically Tamil today. They are believed to have moved into Tamil Nadu with the expansion of Vijayanagar empire along with other Telugu and Kannada origin social groups. They have their origin in Vannipuranam.
They migrated from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa to Tamil Nadu particularly to Madurai District at the period of Thirumalai Nayakkar ruling.
[edit] Amongst the Tamil diaspora
Through emigration, there are now many Reddiars in the Tamil communities of United States of America, Australia, Singapore, United Kingdom. Reddiar or Reddy is sometimes used as a surname but they freely intermarry amongst various elements of the Tamil diaspora. The title does not generally mark the person as a Telugu but as an ethnic Tamil along with Naidu or Naidoo, Pillai, Gounder and Chetty as surnames used in the Tamil diaspora.
[edit] Current status
In India, most of the Reddiars are classified as Forward caste and some of the Reddiars are classified as Backward caste.
[edit] Reddy versus Reddiars
Reddiar(Tamil word - reddi(yar) with respect) is synonymous with Reddigaru (Telugu word Reddi(Garu)). Reddys predominantly speak Telugu and follow Telugu cultural festivals like Ugadi and follow all other Andhra norms. Whereas Reddiars speak in both Tamil and Telugu at home and identify and follow with fellow Tamils most of the cultural norms of Tamil Nadu or the Tamil community abroad. They celebrate Thai Pongal, Tamil New Year and Ugadi. They are active in supporting local Temple societies and local political aspirations. Some have become very prominent in Tamil nationalistic causes and are represented in Tamil literary circles as great patrons and scholars of Tamil language. Most Reddiars are Vegetarians.
[edit] See also
[edit] Prominent Reddiars
- Diwan Bahadur Agaram Subbarayalu Reddiar A. Subbarayalu Reddiar - Chief Minister of Madras Presidency - Dec 1920 - June 1921
- V. Venkatasubha Reddiar - Former Chief Minister of Pondicherry and a prominent Pondicherry freedom fighter [4]
- O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar - Chief Minister of Madras Presidency - 1947-1949
- Vaithilingam - Chief Minister of Pondicherry - July 4, 1991 to May 13, 1996 (first term), September 4, 2008 – April 13,2011
- Muthukomarappa Reddiar - Prominent Pondicherry freedom fighter [5]
- Annamalai Reddiyar - Tamil poet
- Diwan Bahadur Sir S. Kumaraswami Reddiar (b. April 23, 1876) was an Indian lawyer and politician who served as a minister in Madras Presidency.
- M. D. R. Ramachandran - Chief Minister of Pondicherry - 16 January 1980 - 23 June 1983
- Krishnamurthy Reddiar - Prominent herbal practitioner from Sri Lanka[6]
- K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran Former Co-operation, PWD minister in MGR cabinet.
- K. N. Nehru :Former Milk,food minister in DMK cabinet(1996-2000). Transport minister in DMK cabinet (2006-2011)
- Napolean: Actor and MP of Perambalur Constituency Central Minister Of State for Social Justice and Empowerment
- S.M.PRABHU :Entrepreneur:NEPS INFOTECH
[edit] References
- ^ Edger, Thurston (1909). Caste and Tribes of South India volume 3. Madras: Asian Educational Services. pp. 3366. ISBN 8120602889, 9788120602885. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=FnB3k8fx5oEC&dq=Edger+Thurston%E2%80%99s+Caste+and+Tribes+of+South+India&source=gbs_navlinks_s.
- ^ Shungoonny Menon, P (1998). History of Travancore from the earliest times. Madras: Asian Educational Services. pp. 523. ISBN 8120601696, 9788120601697. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=gxsrz7DAPxIC&source=gbs_navlinks_s.
- ^ SUBRAMANIAN, T.S (10 September 2011). "Do Tamil Nadu temple murals portray Tamiraparani battle?". TheHindu. http://www.thehindu.com/arts/history-and-culture/article2440107.ece. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ www.hinduonnet.com/2005/06/07/stories/2005060704130300.htm
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/26/stories/2005072605720200.htm
- ^ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2006/02/10/stories/2006021000140300.htm
