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The Panta Reddiars, The Kanjam Reddiars, The Muduguveraya Reddiars moved from Andhra region in search of rich soil for cultivation and settled in [[Pondicherry]] and the northern districts of [[Cuddalore]], [[Villupuram]] and [[Chengalpet]] in Tamil Nadu during [[Vijayanagar Empire]]. (In People of India/Indian Communities, Oxford University Press).
The Panta Reddiars, The Kanjam Reddiars, The Muduguveraya Reddiars moved from Andhra region in search of rich soil for cultivation and settled in [[Pondicherry]] and the northern districts of [[Cuddalore]], [[Villupuram]] and [[Chengalpet]] in Tamil Nadu during [[Vijayanagar Empire]]. (In People of India/Indian Communities, Oxford University Press).


The Migration of the Reddys/Reddiars to areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Vellore and Northern Tamil Nadu is assumed to occur during the [[Reddy dynasty]] expansion till Kanchipuram areas.<ref name="Pollock2003">{{cite book|author=Sheldon I. Pollock|title=Literary cultures in history: reconstructions from South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/?id=ak9csfpY2WoC&pg=PA385&dq=origin+of+Reddy+kings#v=snippet&q=Reddy%20kings%20kondavidu%20addanki%20rajahmundry&f=false|accessdate=8 July 2011|year=2003|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-22821-4|pages=385–}}</ref>
The Migration of the Reddys/Reddiars to areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Vellore,Trichy,Karur and Northern Tamil Nadu is assumed to occur during the [[Reddy dynasty]] expansion till Kanchipuram areas.<ref name="Pollock2003">{{cite book|author=Sheldon I. Pollock|title=Literary cultures in history: reconstructions from South Asia|url=https://books.google.com/?id=ak9csfpY2WoC&pg=PA385&dq=origin+of+Reddy+kings#v=snippet&q=Reddy%20kings%20kondavidu%20addanki%20rajahmundry&f=false|accessdate=8 July 2011|year=2003|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-22821-4|pages=385–}}</ref>


==Origins==
==Origins==

Revision as of 15:06, 16 January 2019

Reddiar
Total population
10,00,000
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
Languages
Telugu
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Reddy

Reddiar (also spelt as Reddiyar) is a Telugu speaking caste title of Land Owning, farming and mercantile social group of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Sri Lanka.

Reddiars, Reddy, Reddappa are considered and believed to come from the same origins and they spread across the lands of Southern and Central India. Political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot notes that, Reddiyars are the landlord caste originated from Telugu Country[1] and said they are patrons/Financial supporters of local temples in Tamil Region. The origin of the Reddys (Reddiars) has been linked to the Rashtrakutas and till date the Reddys in India are spread across the same area of Rasthrakuta dynasty, although opinions vary. The names have been believed to be derived according to the regions they are spread across. Reddy in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Reddiar (Reddy+ar)in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala. Reddy, Reddappa (Reddy + appa- signifying respect) in Karnataka.

The Panta Reddiars, The Kanjam Reddiars, The Muduguveraya Reddiars moved from Andhra region in search of rich soil for cultivation and settled in Pondicherry and the northern districts of Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpet in Tamil Nadu during Vijayanagar Empire. (In People of India/Indian Communities, Oxford University Press).

The Migration of the Reddys/Reddiars to areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Vellore,Trichy,Karur and Northern Tamil Nadu is assumed to occur during the Reddy dynasty expansion till Kanchipuram areas.[2]

Origins

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 the 14th century.[3] In an 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 Reddiars settled at Samugarengapuram, Seelathikulam and all over Tirunelveli Region in the 14th century.[citation needed]

File:Thiruppudaimaruthur Temple mural.jpg
Tamiraparani Battle

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.[4] They are believed 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.[citation needed]

They migrated from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa to Madurai District in Tamil Nadu during Thirumalai Nayakkar's rule.[citation needed]

Amongst the Tamil diaspora

Water colour painting - Kondavidu fort, Reddy Kingdom.

Through emigration, there are now many Reddiars in the Tamil communities of United States, South Africa, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom. The title does not generally mark the person as a Telugu but as an ethnic Tamil along with Naidu or Naicker, Raju or Raja, Pillai, Gounder and Chetty as surnames used in the Tamil diaspora.

Current status

In Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, Panta Reddiars are classified as Forward Caste and Ganjam Reddiars are considered as backward caste

Reddy versus Reddiars

Reddys predominantly speak Telugu and follow Telugu cultural festivals like Ugadi and follow all other Andhra norms. Whereas Reddiars who came from Andhra to the Tamil region speak both Tamil for business and Telugu at home and identify and follow Telugu cultural norms. They also celebrate Thai Pongal, Tamil New Year and Ugadi. For survival and to maintain their Dravidian lineage, they are active in supporting local Temple societies and local political aspirations. Some have become very prominent in Dravidian nationalistic causes and are represented in Tamil literary circles as great patrons and scholars of Tamil language.

Prominent Reddiars

See also

References

  1. ^ Jaffrelot, Christophe; Kumar, Sanjay (4 May 2012). Rise of the Plebeians?: The Changing Face of the Indian Legislative Assemblies. Routledge. ISBN 9781136516610.
  2. ^ Sheldon I. Pollock (2003). Literary cultures in history: reconstructions from South Asia. University of California Press. pp. 385–. ISBN 978-0-520-22821-4. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  3. ^ Shungoonny Menon, P (1998). History of Travancore from the earliest times. Madras: Asian Educational Services. p. 523. ISBN 9788120601697.
  4. ^ SUBRAMANIAN, T.S (10 September 2011). "Do Tamil Nadu temple murals portray Tamiraparani battle?". TheHindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  5. ^ "The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Venkatasubba Reddiar remembered". www.hinduonnet.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.