Reddiar

Reddiar
Total population
700,000
Regions with significant populations
 India
Languages
Tamil, Telugu
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups

Reddy

Tamiraparani Battle

Reddiar also Reddiyar is the caste title of a prominent land owning, farming and mercantile social group of Tamil Nadu and abroad. Most of the reddiars are Zamindars and Landlords. They are a group with very rich cultural heritage. They are found in all walks of life today.

Origins

Reddis are stated to be of the sola Race ; and the genealogies of this tribe accordingly trace to them up to Kusha, the second son of Rama, the Hero of the Great Solar epic of the Hindus.[1] 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.[2] 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 Reddiyars 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 “Tamiraparani battle” between the armies of Achyutadeva Raya and Bhoothala Varma.[3] They are believed to have moved into Tamil Nadu with the expansion of Vijayanagar empire along with other Telugu and Kannada origin social groups. They have their origin in Vannipuranam.

They migrated from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa to Tamil Nadu particularly to Madurai District at the period of Thirumalai Nayakkar ruling.

Water colour painting - Kondavidu fort, Reddy Kingdom.

Amongst the Tamil diaspora

Through emigration, there are now many Reddiars in the Tamil communities of United States of America, South Africa, Singapore Australia, United Kingdom. Reddiar or Reddy is sometimes used as a surname but they freely intermarry amongst various elements of the Tamil diaspora. The title does not generally mark the person as a Telugu but as an ethnic Tamil along with Naidu or Naidoo, Pillai, Gounder and Chetty as surnames used in the Tamil diaspora.

Current status

In India, most of the Reddiars are classified as Forward caste and some of the Reddiars are classified as Backward caste.

Reddy versus Reddiars

Reddiar(Tamil word - reddi(yar) with respect) is synonymous with Reddigaru (Telugu word Reddi(Garu)). Reddys predominantly speak Telugu and follow Telugu cultural festivals like Ugadi and follow all other Andhra norms. Whereas Reddiars speak both Tamil and a blend of Telugu (variant with Tamil influence) at home and identify and follow Tamil and Telugu cultural norms. They also celebrate Thai Pongal, Tamil New Year and Ugadi. They are active in supporting local Temple societies and local political aspirations. Some have become very prominent in Tamil nationalistic causes and are represented in Tamil literary circles as great patrons and scholars of Tamil language.

See also

Prominent Reddiars

References

  1. ↑ Edger, Thurston (1909). Caste and Tribes of South India volume 3. Madras: Asian Educational Services. p. 3366. ISBN 9788120602885.
  2. ↑ Shungoonny Menon, P (1998). History of Travancore from the earliest times. Madras: Asian Educational Services. p. 523. ISBN 9788120601697.
  3. ↑ SUBRAMANIAN, T.S (10 September 2011). "Do Tamil Nadu temple murals portray Tamiraparani battle?". TheHindu (Chennai, India). Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/06/07/stories/2005060704130300.htm
  5. ↑ "The men behind the Puducherry freedom movement". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 26 July 2005.
  6. ↑ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2006/02/10/stories/2006021000140300.htm

External links