Gounder (title)

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For other usage of this term see the disambiguation page Gounder

Gounder, Gaundar, Gownder, Gaundan and Govender are all caste titles or surname used by various Tamil Nadu derived people in India and in the Tamil diaspora. Its a Kannada derived word and these people are the equivalent of the Gowdas of Karnataka

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[edit] Title origins

The title Gounder is used with various regional variations by distinct castes. The title originally meant in Archaic Kannada feudal lords of villages. The root word is either Kavunda or Gowda, the N aspirant sometimes avoided. This system of administration was supposedly started by the kings of the Ganga dynasty.Currently many castes use this as a caste title as listed.

[edit] Tamil Nadu current usage

Following is a comprehensive list of Tamil speaking castes that use Gounder.

Main article: List of castes using Gounder title

[edit] Usage abroad

It is used as a common last name amongst Tamils in South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji. In South Africa a variant spelling, Gowender or Govender is used; where as in Fiji it is Goundar or Gounder. The Surname Gengiah is also a derived name used mainly in South Africa. Famous people with the surname Gengiah:

1) Elvis Gengiah - Lotus FM DJ

[edit] Prominent people

  • Prof. Karthy Govender is a Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission
  • Ronnie Govender is a prominent South African author
  • Dr. Gunasagaran Gounder is a prominent Fijian politician
  • Dr. Ramu Gounder is a prominent ophthalmologist in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA
  • Goundamani is a popular comedian in Tamil film industry.

[edit] References

  • List of Tamil Nadu state backward castes. Tamil Nadu State Government Publication.