Chettiar
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The Chettiars also Chetty, Chetti, Setty, Chitty, Shetty and Shettigar is a title, commonly used by people of South Indian origin in India and abroad. It is usually derived from trading social groups.
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[edit] Origin of the word
It is commonly believed to have derived from the title for traders in Prakrit, namely Shresta. However, not all agree with its Indo-Aryan linguistic origins and think the word could be of Dravidian linguistic origin.One theory is the root word is ETTI a Dravidian word that means 'look up,jump up or forward jerk and around simultaneously calling out to sell'.The obvious intention is to sell a merchandise to advertise/market loud ,to have an audience to sell their ware.
[edit] Similar title usage in South Asia
A similar title Seth is used amongst Gujarati speakers. In Kannada and Tulu it is Shetty, Shettar and Shettigar. In Sinhalese it is Hetty. In Nepal amongst Newari residents of Kathmandu it is Shresta.
[edit] Primary usage of title
As noted many castes of different ethnic origins use the title today. The foremost one in Tamil nadu is Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarathars who are ethinically Tamil and originally hailed from Nattukottai region.
Other castes in Tamil Nadu using this are ethnic minority Telugu speaking Ayira Vysyas' a subsect of Komati Settys from Andhra Pradesh and also 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars.
[edit] Usage among various castes
Though the typical Chetty is conceived to be a trader, various social groups(non-merchant) sport this surname. In Tulu Nadu, Shettys are part of landed castes.
In Karnataka and Kerala, Shettigar, Chettiar or Chetty is used by members belonging to the weaver caste. However, most Chetties are supposed be part of the Edagai caste which includes many depressed or lower castes.
Old records even talk about porters also being identified as Chetties. Probably, Chetty encompassed a broad social spectrum previously, before the caste system narrowed it down.
Most of the non-Tamil castes use it as an affix to their profession specific names. Telugus use it as in Komati Setty where Komati represents a name of the group and Setty represents a trade. Kannada and Malayali weavers use it as in Devanga Chetty or Sali Chetty, where Devanga and Sali represent the name of the group.
[edit] Other castes using the title
- Kongu Chettiar
- Kuruhini Chetty
- Moundadan Chetty
- Sozhia Chetty
- Telugupatty Chetty
- Elur Chetty
- Vania Chettiar
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Caste and Capitalism in Colonial India : The Nattukottai Chettiars, A Research by David W. Rudner submitted to University of California
- Nagarathar History Researched and Compiled by PL. Chidambaram
- OBITUARY REFERENCES (R.Ramanathan Chettiar)Available in the Indian Parliament website 20th December 1995
- Classic Chettinad: Home Alone by Outlook traveler Dt: JUL 2004
- Centenary celebrations of Dr Sir Rajah Muttiah Chettiar by "Daily life" Dt , Nov 25
- History of a trading community by "The Hindu" Dt 06/08/2002
- Life Sketch of SIR M.Ct. Muthiah Chettiar 1887-1929 in Hindu high school
- Rituals & Customs - Tamil Chettiar on Shaadi online
- A note about Chettiar origin Saiva neri website
- Sri Lankan Nagarathar Genealogy Website
- They leverage on easy access to credit by financial express Dt April 12,2004
- History of Chettiars Researched
[edit] References
- ↑ Rajeswary Brown (1993) Chettiar capital and Southeast Asian credit networks in the inter-war period. In G. Austin and K. Sugihara, eds. Local Suppliers of Credit in the Third World, 1750-1960. (New York: St. Martin's Press).
- ↑ David Rudner (1989) Banker's Trust and the Culture of Banking among the Nattukottai Chettiars of Colonial South India. Modern Asian Studies 23 (3), 417-458.
- ↑ Heiko Schrader (1996) Chettiar Finance in Colonial Asia. Zeitschrift fur Ethnologie 121, 101-126.
- ↑ Tamil Nadu List of Most Backward Classes (G.O. Ms. No. 100 BC and MBCW Dept dated 24-11-97)
