Reddiar

Reddiar (also spelt as Reddiyar) is a Telugu speaking intermediate agriculture, farming and retail trading social group in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, and Sri Lanka.

Reddiar
Total population
10000000
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala
Languages
Telugu
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Reddy

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 classified as Kshatriyas inspite they being a land-owning caste which originated from the Telugu country[1] and said they are the patrons/financial supporters of local temples in Tamil Region. 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 moved from the Andhra region in search of rich soil for cultivation and settled in Pondicherry and the northern districts of Cuddalore, Villupuram, Thiruvannamalai and Chengalpet in Tamil Nadu during Vijayanagar Empire. (In People of India/Indian Communities, Oxford University Press).

The migration of the Reddys/Reddiars to Tamil Nadu is assumed to have occurred during the Reddy dynasty expansion till Kanchipuram areas.[2]

Following are the districts that have significant Reddiar Population. Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Vellore, Thirupattur, Thiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Villupuram, , Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi.

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.

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 battle between the armies of Achyutadeva Raya and Bhoothala Varma.|They are believed moved into Tamil Nadu with the Vijayanagara Emperor Kumara Kampana to liberate Madurai [Madura Vijayam] from Islamic rule and expansion of Vijayanagar empire along with other Telugu and Kannada origin social groups.

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. Many Reddiars were brought to South Africa during british colonial era to work on the sugarcane farms as indentured labourers. The descendants of such Reddiars can still be found in South Africa today.

Reddy versus Reddiars

Reddys predominantly Telugu and follow Telugu cultural like Ugadi, Dussehra and Sankranthi and follow all other Andhra norms. Whereas Reddiars who came from Andhra to the Tamil region speak both Tamil and Telugu follow both Tamil and 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 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. "The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Venkatasubba Reddiar remembered". www.hinduonnet.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
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