List of Iyers

Main article: Iyer

Iyers are Hindu Brahmins of Tamil or Telugu origin who are Smarthas or followers of the Smritis.[1] They mostly believe in the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Sankara.[2][3][4]

Prior to the 1800s, almost all prominent members of this community hailed from religious or literary spheres.[5] Tyagaraja, Syama Sastri and Muthuswamy Dīkshitar, who constitute the "Trinity of Carnatic music" were probably the first verified historical personages from the community, as the accounts or biographies of those who lived earlier appear semi-legendary in character.[6][7][8] During the British Raj, Iyers and Iyengars dominated the services by their predominance in the legal and administrative professions.[9][10] Most of the Dewans of the princely state of Travancore during the 19th century were Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars).[11] Some of the prominent individuals of the period as Seshayya Sastri, Sir T. Muthuswamy Iyer, Sir P. S. Sivaswami Iyer, Shungrasoobyer, Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, Sir S. Subramania Iyer and C. P. Ramaswamy Ayyar all had a legal background.[9] At the same time, they were also intimately associated with the Indian National Congress and the Indian independence movement. The most prominent freedom fighter from the community was Subrahmanya Bharati. Following independence, Iyers have diversified into a number of fields dominating the domain of classical arts in particular.

Contents

Saints, religious and spiritual leaders

Scientists and academics

Journalists and writers

Advocates and social activists

Indian Independence Movement

Sportspersons

Artists and musicians

Entertainers

Monarchs and military commanders

Politicians and administrators

Businesspeople, industrialists and enterpreneurs

People with Iyer ancestry or heritage

Iyers in popular culture

Further information: Portrayal of Tamil Brahmins in popular media

Notes

  1. ^ Suresh Singh, Kumar; B. V. Bhanu, B. R. Bhatnagar, D. K. Bose, V. S. Kulkarni, J. Sreenath (2004). Maharashtra. Popular Prakashan. p. 1873. ISBN 8179911020. 
  2. ^ "Iyer". Uttarakhand Information Centre. http://www.4dham.com/go2/Iyer.html. Retrieved 2008-08-07. 
  3. ^ The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume XVI. London: Clarendon Press. 1908. , Pg 267
  4. ^ Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Pg 269
  5. ^ Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1966). A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar: from prehistoric times to the fall of Vijayanagar. Oxford University Press. p. 289. 
  6. ^ The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 57
  7. ^ The Tamil Plutarch, Pg 65
  8. ^ Ghose, Rajeshwari (1996). The Tyāgarāja cult in Tamilnāḍu: A Study in Conflict and Accommodation. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 10. ISBN 81-208-1391-X, ISBN 978-81-208-1391-5. 
  9. ^ a b Robert Eric Frykenberg. "Elite Formation in 19th Century South India - An Interpretive Analysis". tamilnation.org. http://www.tamilnation.org/conferences/IATR66_Kuala_Lumpur/frykenberg.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-11. 
  10. ^ Slater, Pg 168
  11. ^ Sivaraman, Mythily (2006). Fragments of a Life: A Family Archive. Zubaan. p. 4. ISBN 8189013114, ISBN 978-81-89013-11-0. 

References