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===Religion===
===Religion===
*[[Sekkizhar]] (Wrote periapuranam): Minister in chola dynasty
*[[Sekkizhar]] (Wrote periapuranam): Minister in chola dynasty
*[[Ottakoothar]] (Wrote Thakayagaparani): Minister in chola dynasty
*[[Kovoor kizar]] (poet)
*[[Kovoor kizar]] (poet)
*[[kamba nattar]](poet who wrote ramayana in tamil)There is a saying that Kamban veetu kattu thariyum kavi paadum, loosesly meaning, Even Kamban's loom can pen a poem.
*[[kamba nattar]](poet who wrote ramayana in tamil)There is a saying that Kamban veetu kattu thariyum kavi paadum, loosesly meaning, Even Kamban's loom can pen a poem.

Revision as of 14:17, 1 June 2007

Mudaliar also Mudaliyār, Mudali and Moodley in Tamil language literally means a person of first rank in a feudal society[1] in south India. It is originally the title and the surname of Tondaimandala Vellalars[1] [2] [3][4]. However in recent times the Mudaliar surname is widely used by people belonging to various castes originally from Tamil Nadu, India and in the Tamil diaspora across the world. Most Mudaliars are Tamil people with Tamil as their mother tongue.

Origin

In ancient times, cultivation in South India was spread by force, people would move into virgin land which was used by tribal people for slash and burn agriculture or for hunting and convert it into prime agricultural land. These raids were organised and carried out by chieftains, feudal lords and agricultural landlords called Vellalars.[5][6][7]. Vellalars are agricultural landlords and inhabitants of the "marutha nilam" (one of the five lands advocated by the Sangam literature).

Mudaliar, like Pillai is a title conferred upon prominent Vellalar chieftains and feudal lords by the King depending upon the Tamil Kingdom. More specifically, the Vellalars of Thondaimandalam or the Pallava Kingdom were given the title Mudaliar, while the Vellalars of Pandya and Chola Kingdoms were given the title Pillai [5][6].

The Chola King, Karikala Chola collected the whole of the Mudali tribe of Vellalars and settled them in Tondaimandalam[8]. The country was divided into 24 territorial domains called kottams, a reference to kurumbar policies for administrative purposes. The spatialization of the vellalas in the villages of the Tondai country had begun long before the British arrived. [1][2][3]

This is further confirmed from another source The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago by V. Kanakasabhai in which the author describes the settlement of Tondaimandalam by the the Chola King Karikala the Great who divided the the Tondaimandalam country into 24 Kottams or districts and parcelled it out to families of the Vellala tribe [9](A complete list of the 24 Kottams and the 79 nadus can also be found in the same source).

Origin of Vellalars and other castes

During cultural diversification, the Vellalars of TamilNadu can be classified into layers. The first layer consists of Saiva Vellalars (Saiva Vellala Mudaliars and Pillais). They are strict vegetarians, literate and sophisticated like Brahmins but do not perform priestly duties. They were major landlords, feudal lords and powerful like Rajputs and Thakurs of Northern India. Saiva Vellalars of the Thondaimandalam became the Thondaimandala vellalars Mudaliars. This area includes the present day areas of Chennai, Chengalpet, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Cadalore, Arcot, Vadalore, Thrivannamalai, etc.[5],[6]

The second layer consists of a number of unique castes, which do not intermarry at all like Pandia Vellalar, (Madurai) Chozhia Vellalar, those who inhabited the areas of Chola (Thichy, Thanjavur, and Pudukottai) and Pandiya mandalams (Madurai, Thuthukudi, Kanyakumari, and Nagerkovil) became the Shoziya Vellar (or "Chola Velar") and Pandiya Vellar respectively. These communities use Mudaliar, udyar,Pillai titles.[5][6]

The Kaikolar also known as Sengunthar, who are weavers and were militarised for a brief period during the Chola empire also use the Mudaliyar surname for social upliftment.

Agamudaiyar, a caste belonging to the Mukkulathor community who generally use Thevar as their surname also use the Mudaliar surname. "Kallarum, Maravarum, Agamudaiyarum mella mella vanthu vellalar anaarkal"- so goes the saying in Tamil. [5].

Various castes using the "Mudaliar" title

A brief description of various castes using the title Mudaliar is given below.

Tondaimandala Saiva Vellalar

The Tondaimandala Saiva Vellala Mudaliars are forward-caste and are vegetarians. They are the original homogeneous group of Mudaliyars who were settled in Tondaimandalam or Tondai Nadu in South India by Chola King, Karikala Chola[9] [8][1][2][3][4]. They are feudal lords, major landowners in Thondaimandalam area which includes the present day areas of Chennai, Chengalpet, Kanchipuram, Vellore etc. A significant population of Thondaimandala Saiva Vellala Mudaliars have also migrated to other areas such as Madurai, Tirunelveli etc. They are endogamous and inter-marriage with other Mudaliars is quite rare. Their mother tongue is Tamil[5] [7] . Some of the Tamils in Ceylon also trace their lineage to this group some of whom had become saints called Nayanars. The book: The Tamils in Early Ceylon By C. Sivaratnam traces some of the Mudaliyars in Ceylon to Thaninayaka Mudaliyar (among other), a rich Saiva Vellala who emigrated to Ceylon from Tondaimandalam[10].

Tondaimandala Kondaikatti Vellalar

Tradition suggests that this group were one of the Vellalar groups that were settled in Tondaimandalam by Adondai Chakravarti after overthrowing the Kurumbar sovereignty[11]. Adondai Chakravarti is described in various ways: a) as a lieutenant in the Chola empire[12], b) as the son of ancient Chola King Kokkili and a Naga princess, c) as the illegitimate son of Rajendra Kulotunga Chola I and a palace attendant [13], d) son of Karikala Chola [14]. This claim appears blurred due to the ambiguous identity of Adondai Chakravarti and the time of such settlement. There are conflicting sources, some that say, the settlement was in 7th or 8th century AD and others that say that it was much later in 11th or 12th century AD. Nevertheless, this settlement is much later than Karikala Chola's settlement of TondaimandalamCite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).. This Vellalar group seems to have been the most successful group during British times. There were many Mirasidars and Zamindars belonging to this group. They are mainly concentrated in Madras and Chingleput district only. Their monther tongue is Tamil.

Agamudayar/Arcot/Thuluva Vellala

The Adamudayars Agam udayar actually belong to the Mukkulathor community, which also includes the Kallars and Maravars. These three communities together known as Mukkulathor generally use "Thevar" as their surname. But later the Agam udaiyars (the most upward community among the three) slowly migrated towards the northern part of Tamil Nadu, settled there, changed their caste name to Thuluva Vellala. So in reality Thuluva vellalar is just the renaming of Agam udayar and hence are classified as one by the Tamil Nadu government, India[15]. So intermingling of on a large scale between two distinct communities is very unlikely and has no historical evidence. The Agam udaiyars changed their name to Thuluva Vellala.

As early as 13th century, Agam udayars were using Mudaliar title. This inscription illustrates the accounts of the temple of Rajaraja-Isvaram-Udaiyar at Rajraja-Kulattur in Tiruvindalur-nadu, a subdivision of Rajraja-valanadu were audited by Kayiladamudaiyan alias Solakon-Pallavaraiyar, an agambadi-mudali of Solakon, between the 23rd and 25th [days of Adi]Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Kerala Muthali/Mudali

Kerala Muthali (Mudali) belongs to various Mudaliar communities. They are predominantly found in the areas of Trivandrum and Palghat Districts of Kerala and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. They migrated to these places starting late 17th Century onwards for various purposes including Agriculture, Coconut Oil extraction, Coir Trade and as Specialized Fighters and Reliable Spies. They were given special preference by Royal Family of Travancore due to their cultural similarity and loyalty. This status resulted in furhter deepening their area of influence with in Travancore. During the British era many families came in to the influence of Christianity and became strong supporters and eventually embraced that religion. Unlike the Tamil Brahmins settled in various places of Kerala, Muthalis/Mudalis engage with marital relationships with Nairs, Chakravar, Sakravar (Kavathi) and those who are converted to Christianity but retaining Mudaliar identity. Kerala Muthalis still keep their separate identity even though they are a micro-minority caste in Kerala. Due to their linguistic and educational backwardness Kerala [1], Tamilnadu [2] and Pondicherry [3] states have categorized them as BCs. Gradually after independence and state reorganization, Kerala Muthalis have completely integrated with the Kerala Culture, but still consider Lord Muruga/Subramanya as their primary god of worship while most of the Kerala Hindus are devotees of Lord Vishnu.

Sri Lankan Mudaliyars

History of Jaffna has at least two or three clans from Thondaimandalam with Mudali surname. Irumarapum Thooya Thaninayaga Mudali from Seyyoor and Mannadukonda Mudali whose clan has been quoted even during famour poet Kambar's time. Please read Vaipava Malai and migration of people from Thondai Nadu to Jaffna and then write about Sri Lankan Mudaliars. It is not a British Phenomenon.

Here is the direct quotation from a part of Kailaya Malai a historical book of Jaffna on the migration into Jaffna from Thondai Nadu. The other clans may come under this section or under Sri Lankan Vellalar section.

The next was the Vellala of the family of him who shed over kamban a shower of gold for the work of Erezhupatu, whose country was Tondainade, who had a widespread name, who used to wear a lotus garland and whose name was Maanadukanda Mudali. He was made to reside at Irupalai. The next was the Vellala of Seyur, who was as wealthy as Indra, and who never deviated from the path of visture. whose garland was of water lilies. Whose fame was great and whose paternal and maternal lines were matchless and pure and whose name was Taninayaga. He was made a chief of Neduntiva.[16]

See Sri Lankan Mudaliyars for the class of Mudaliyars created by the British administrators during 19th century Sri Lanka.

Sengunthar/Kaikolar/Karikala bakthalu

The Kaikolars also called as Sengunthar, are a large Tamil and Telugu caste of weavers in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in southern India[15][17]. There are seventy-two subdivisions (nadu or desams). Their name comes from the Tamil words "kai" (hand) and "kol" (shuttle used in looming or spear). They consider the different parts of the loom to represent various gods and sages. They are also known as Sengundar, which means a red dagger in Tamil.

Kaikkolars have very close ties of kinship with Devadasis (meaning servant of god in sanskrit)[18] [19][20][21]. Traditionally, one girl in every family was set apart to be dedicated to temple service and becomes a Devadasi(meaning female servant of god). In the temple, the girl is considered married to the temple deity but in practice becomes a prostitute, especially to the Brahmans and she learns traditional music and dancing [22][23][24]

This research article explains in vivid detail, the way the Kaikkolas used their women to enjoy special privileges in the Vijayanagar empire. (Text Quoted from article: At least one woman in every Kaikkola household was, according to age-old tradition dedicated to the temple as a devaradiyar or devadasi. The devaradiyar enjoyed special privileges in the days of the Vijayanagar empire and were the only women permitted a direct audience with the king[25].

This research article (along with references to an inscription) describes how a devaradiyar or devadasi won special privileges for the Kaikkolas from the King Deva Raya II (A.D 1433) [25] [26] [27]

The Kaikolars are described in great detail in the research articles and are very clearly defined as the Sengunthar-Kaikolars of the terinja-Kaikolar Padai of the Chola empire. There is absolutely no ambiguity regarding their identity. There are plenty more references like the ones below:

Another reference book Donors, Devotees, and Daughters of God. Temple Women in Medieval Tamilnadu by Leslie C. Orr. gives ample references to inscriptions regarding the Kaikkolars being Devadasis in Tanjore temples during the Chola empire and the way the Kaikkolas used their women to rise to power in the Chola empire. This research article explains how Kaikola women go into sacred prostitution[22]. A link to another book that explains the status of Kaikolar women[28]

According to author Leslie C. Orr, the Kaikolar girls who were dedicated regularly came back and married other Kaikolars and occasionally the children of temple also married regular Kaikolars and thus some of them have been assimilated into the Kaikolar caste [29]. This is also confirmed by authors Bannerji, Himani, Mojab, Shahrzad, Whitehead, Judith who describe that most of the present day Kaikolars are offsprings of Kaikolar Devadasis and men from Brahmin communities [30].

In present day, the regular Kaikolars have renamed themselves as Sengunthars and the Kaikolar Devadasis have renamed themselves as Isai Vellalar in order to evade detection and for the purpose of social upliftment in the society. This is similar to Pallars renaming themselves as Devendra Kula Vellalars and claiming to be Vellalars and the descendants of the Pallavas.

Trivia

  • Mudaliars of Bangalore- Mudaliars constitute a significant percentage of the population in South Bangalore (surrounding Ulsoor Lake, MG Road, High grounds). Many well-known buildings on MG Road & surrounding were once owned by Mudaliars (e.g - Gangaram's, Plaza Cinema). The famous "Attara Kachheri" or the red court house that stands opposite of Vidhana Sauda was built by Rai Bahadur Arcot Narayansamy Mudaliar. Palatial homes surrounding Windsor Manor (5 star hotel) are even today owned & inhabited by affluent Mudaliar families. The Bangalore Exhibition is usually conducted on the RBANMS grounds in Ulsoor which owned by Rai Bahadur Arcot Narayansamy Mudaliar trust. The trust has several schools and colleges affiliated to it.
  • Mudaliars of Hyderabad- Mudaliars live in significant numbers in the areas of Boiguda, Padma Rao Nagar, Maredpalli in Secunderabad. They run a popular girls school called "Keys High's School" in addition to some colleges. A popular residential area called "Padma Rao Nagar" is named after late. Dewan Bahadur Padma Rao Mudaliar.
  • Historical Gatti Mudaliars of Salem/Omalur as Feudal Lords

The Gatti Mudaliars were in charge of the most dangerously exposed province of the Nayak Kingdom with Kaveripuram on the right bank of the Cauvery as their strategic capital commencing one of the principal passes to the Mysore Plateau. The centre of their power seems, however, to have been Taramangalam where they have built a grant edifice of a temple. It is said their domination extended as far as Thalaivasal to the east, Dharapuram in Erode district in the west and Karur district in the south. The forts of greatest strategic importance held by the Gatti Mudaliars were Omalur and Attur. By about 1635 A.D., the Muslim Sultans of Bijapur and Golkonda made in roads into the south when the power of Tirumalai Nayak had wanted palacode area came under Bijapur. Meanwhile Kantirava narasa Raja of Serangapatnam took several places in Coimbatore from Gatti Mudaliars in 1641 A.D.

Mudaliars were prominent in the anti-Brahmin Dravidian movement during the early years, but no longer play a significant part in Dravidian politics.

Notable Mudaliars

Kings&lords

  • Thalavai Ariyanadha Mudaliyar - Prime Minister of Viswanatha Nayak

Arts

Education

  • Sir. A. Ramaswami Mudaliar: Mayor of Madras(1928-30), Member-Advisor in High Level "War Committee" formed by the British PM Sir. Winson Churchill during the World Wars, Member-Advisor in all the 3 London-Round Table Conferences(1930,'31,'32);Commerce member of the Viceroy's Council;Indian Representative & Leader in U.N.in 1945 and his efforts put India as a Member Nation in the U.N.; Chief of U.N. Finance Committee; Diwan of Mysore(1946-49) and his efforts put Mysore in joining the Indian Union in 1949; Vice Chancellor of University of Kerala(1951-61), Travancore ; Chairman-The Shipping Corporation of India; FOUNDER Chairman & Managing Director of ICICI (1955) -Industrial Credits & Investment Corporation of India.
  • Dr. A. Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar: First Indian principal of the Madras Medical College, Served as Chairman-UNESCO; Vice Chancellor, University of Madras for the Longest Tenure of 27 Yrs; Chairman-W.H.O, Younger Twin Brother of Sir. A.Ramaswami Mudaliar.
  • Dr. V.C.Balasubramaniam (VCB): Retired Director, Institute of Pathology, MMC, Past Master of Masonic Lodge. Saiva Vellalar.
  • Prof. Dr. P. R. Rangawami: Principal, Pachaiyappa's College, Chennai; Chairman-Teacher's Selection Committee, Kendriya Vidhyalaya Central Schools-IIT, Madras; Member-Advisor in the Student's Reforms Committee set-up by TN Chief Minister C.N.Anna; Very Popular Student Leader of Tamil Nadu during 1965-70; Served as Chairman/Gen Secretary of Pachaiyappa's College Student's Union and Leader of Anti-Hindi Agitation which led the DMK Capturing Power in the state of TamilNadu in 1967; Mentor & Leader of various forums in Tamil Nadu; Nominated as Leader in various Forums on Human Rights and Human Values & Ethics by the D.K leader Veeramani; Close ally of leaders K.Veeramani, Vaiko, M.Natrajan.
  • Dr. M Murugesh Mudaliar: Principal, BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore.
  • A.D.Raj Kumar: Formerly, Vice Principal, University College of Engineering, Osmania University. Presently (2005 onwards), Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Osmania University, 1st Phd holder in Electrical Engineering from Osmania University.
  • A. Sivalinganar: Tholkapiya Semmal, Former Principal Mailam Tamil College.
  • Guruswami Mudaliar: Kilpauk Medical College. A block is named after this great man and a statue stands greatly in the college premises.
  • G.viswanathan Mudaliar : Chancellore, Founder of VIT university, Ex MP., All India Mudaliar Association.

Freedom Fighter

Sports



Government

  • Army

Religion

UnderWorld

  • Varadharajan Mudaliar: Known as Vardha Bhai; former prominent underworld kingpin of 70s. Tamil movie Nayagan was based on his life story. Thanks to the introduction of prohibition after Independence, bootlegging became a thriving business. Illicit trade in liquor attracted the covetous attention of hitherto loosely mobilised street gangs. Thus, the seeds of organised criminal activity were sown in India's commercial capital. The first of the recognised gangsters in Bombay was Vardharaj Mudaliar, popularly known as Vardha Bhai. He ruled the roost for over a decade by organising bootlegging in a systematic manner, and spreading a protective umbrella over several lesser gangs dealing in illicit liquor. He soon diversified his activities: Gold smuggling, matka gambling, extortion and supari killings. Mudaliar had to flee Bombay under relentless police pressure.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Irschick, Eugene F. Dialogue and History: Constructing South India, 1795-1895. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994. direct web reference: http://content.cdlib.org/xtf/view?docId=ft038n99hg&brand=eschol
  2. ^ a b c Order and Disorder in Colonial South India Eugene F. Irschick Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3 (1989), pp. 459-492,http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-749X(1989)23%3A3%3C459%3AOADICS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-B
  3. ^ a b c Lionel Place, 1799 East India Company Report, para. 59.
  4. ^ a b http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/09/03/stories/2004090300780600.htm
  5. ^ a b c d e f http://www.saivaneri.org/keralal-pillai-history.html
  6. ^ a b c d Castes & Tribes of South India - ET.Thurston, VII 361
  7. ^ a b http://dino-latchmi.tripod.com/id12.html
  8. ^ a b http://books.google.com/books?vid=030r8wCzi070dfHyMo&id=TTQKoe4eXzgC&q=kurumbars+chola&dq=kurumbars+chola&pgis=1
  9. ^ a b The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago By V. Kanakasabhai, http://books.google.com/books?id=BzgYmdwFby4C&pg=PA42&dq=maravar#PPA28,M1 (Page 28)
  10. ^ The Tamils in Early Ceylon By C. Sivaratnam, http://books.google.com/books?vid=0PrqSaY8TV9DtgCG9v&id=hlocAAAAMAAJ&q=mudaliyar+vellala&dq=mudaliyar+vellala&pgis=1
  11. ^ Religion and Public Culture: encounters and identities in modern South Indi by John Jeya Paul, Keith Edward Yandell,http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0700711015&id=x3GuKnZTGG4C&pg=PA241&lpg=PA241&ots=0mGugDgcw8&dq=adondai+kondaikatti&sig=rvjX3UZKGetOlVMyoGQS0IC4ac0
  12. ^ Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland By Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland,http://books.google.com/books?vid=0o3HpzvAK7y1RHyxOc&id=JLFfVFU1mCoC&pg=PA581&lpg=PA581&dq=adondai+chola#PPA581,M1
  13. ^ Some Contributions of South India to Indian Culture By S. Krishnaswami Aiyangar, http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN8120609999&id=vRcql-QBhRwC&pg=PA394&lpg=PA394&dq=adondai+chola&sig=CUdOfMyvFWr60FUG2jBelSkCQhQ
  14. ^ History of Tirupati: The Tiruvengadam Temple By T. K. T. Viraraghavacharya, http://books.google.com/books?vid=0EAC1QqCYpse1n8eEo&id=VBoaAAAAMAAJ&q=adondai&dq=adondai&pgis=1
  15. ^ a b http://www.tn.gov.in/bcmbcmw/bclist.htm
  16. ^ http://noolaham.net/library/books/02/101/101.htm
  17. ^ http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/ap.html
  18. ^ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dasi+kaikolan+musician
  19. ^ The Erotic Sculptures of India Y. Krishan Artibus Asiae, Vol. 34, No. 4 (1972), pp. 331-343, http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0004-3648(1972)34%3A4%3C331%3ATESOI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-2
  20. ^ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=devaradiyar+who+have+close+kinship
  21. ^ Artisans in Vijayanagar Society, Vijaya Ramaswamy, Indian Economic & Social History Review, Vol. 22, No. 4, 417-444 (1985), http://ier.sagepub.com/cgi/content/citation/22/4/417, register here for free->http://www.sagepublications.com/sjofreeaccess/
  22. ^ a b Contending identities: Sacred prostitution and reform in colonial South India Priyadarshini Vijaisri A1, A1 Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), New Delhi, South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group Issue: Volume 28, Number 3 / December 2005 Pages: 387 - 411. http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=jv31l27518262711
  23. ^ http://globalindiamissions.org/newsletter/nwsltr0802.htm
  24. ^ http://www.go2southasia.org/l_peoples.html
  25. ^ a b Weaver Folk Traditions as a Source of History, Vijaya Ramaswamy, Indian Economic & Social History Review, Vol. 19, No. 1, 47-62 (1982), http://ier.sagepub.com/cgi/content/citation/19/1/47?ck=nck, register here for free->http://www.sagepublications.com/sjofreeaccess/
  26. ^ http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=devaradiyar+won+special+privileges+for+the+kaikkolas+deva+raya+II
  27. ^ Some Enquiries into the Condition of Weavers in Medieval South India, Indian Historical Review, Vol. VI, Nos. 1 and 2>
  28. ^ http://books.google.com/books?q=%28kaikkolar%29+women+are+often+a+calling+not+shameful+to+them
  29. ^ Donors, Devotees, and the Daughters of God: Temple Women in Medieval Tamilnadu -Page 158 by Leslie C. Orr - 2000 - 305 pages, http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0195099621&id=F___xKcP8lMC&pg=PA158&lpg=PA158&ots=iRVvawANeW&dq=kaikkolar+girls+were+dedicated+children&sig=nl7IgHyaWcaZ414wAd9jOGTYDCc#PPA158,M1
  30. ^ Book: Of Property and Propriety: The Role of Gender and Class in Imperialism and Nationalism - Page 178 by Bannerji, Himani, Mojab, Shahrzad, Whitehead, Judith, http://books.google.com/books?q=devadasi+dedication+kaikkolar+devadasis
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