Chozhia Vellalar
Chozhia Vellalar or Sozhia Vellalar (Tamil: சோழிய வேளாளர்) is a sub-caste of the Pillai community from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Chozhia Vellalar caste includes sub-castes of Keeraikarar, Kodikalarar and Vetrilaikarar[1]
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Vellalar |
Origin
Chozia Vellalar were the inhabitants of Chola Nadu and were generally landlords & Scholars in the Chola Kingdom. Chozhia Vellalar served as generals in the imperial Chola Army as Velir padai. Being natives to the Chola kingdom and belonging to the same class of landlords and scholars, they are often coupled with the community Muthuraja that co-existed as a different community.
A theory derives the word from Vel, to win to control, to take, as well as a lance, an old and archaic Tamil weapon. Supposedly cultivation in South Asia was spread by force, people would move out into virgin land, which was used by hunter gatherer or tribal people for slash and burn agriculture or for hunting and convert into prime agricultural land.[2]
This was an honorific title of select few people who would organize such raids and settlements like chiefs who were also called as Vel which spread to all including that of all Ulavar which is Tamil for farmer, the actual Tamil name for cultivators. Today everybody uses it but once it was restricted to village headman or founding chief's lineage[2]
Vellalars were originally the cultivators whose name came from the Tamil Word Velaanmai, which means agriculture. The agriculturalists of Chozha Nadu became the Chozia Vellalars, as to agriculturists of Pandiya Nadu were called as Pandiya Vellalars, and those who settled in six different nations are called Aarunattu Vellalar. Vellalars of Chera Nadu later came to be called as Kongu Vellalar.
Distribution and migration
The Chozhia Vellalars were present predominantly in the eastern districts[3] of Tamil Nadu. Nowadays they are present in almost all the districts of Tamil Nadu.
Though the distribution of the community is found in most of the districts, they migrated to the other parts of Tamil Nadu from Trichy and Thanjavur areas towards the middle and second half of the 19th century. As they moved in, they always followed the river bed areas for settlement. Thus, the said community when came to Salem District they initially settled at Palamedu. When their life at Palamedu became difficult due to Theechati Kolliyars (Dacoits with fire) they moved out. Of these the persons who moved to Pandamangalam area were farmers and the traders moved into Proper Salem. They settled as trader dealing in betel leaves and thus earning the name Vatrilaikarar.
Prominent Chozhia Vellalars
- Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai, a famous minister of Ramnad during the reign of Muthuramalinga Sethupathy
- Manohara Pillai H.S[4] - Social Scientist, the man who first introduced the concept of SHG
- Elagu V. Elaguppillai-Scientist
- L. D. Swamikannu Pillai, Indian astronomer, former Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly
- Maruthanayagam Pillai alias Mohammed Yusuf Khan
- M.L.Sundaram Pillai, a famous Christian Political Leader, who formed the first Christian political party called 'Indian Christian Front'
- Russell.S.Pillai, Indian Industrialist and thinker.
See also
- Sholiyar
References
- ↑ Agrawal, S.P.; Aggarwal, J.C. (1991). Educational and Social Uplift of Backward Classes: At what Cost and How? : Mandal Commission and After (pt. 1). Concept Publishing Company. p. 200. ISBN 9788170223399. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 David Ludden, Spectres of Agrarian Territory
- ↑ Wyatt, A.; Zavos, J. (2003). Decentring the Indian Nation. Frank Cass. p. 120. ISBN 9780714653877. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
- ↑ "The Social Scientist -- The Digital South Asia Library". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2014-12-02.