Jhetty

Jhetty (also spelled Jethi, Jetty, Jetti)[1] is a community, which is thought to have originated in Gujarat. Ancient Jhetties were professional wrestlers. They had a good physique compared to others. When Ghazni attacked India, some of them left Gujarat and settled in South India in places like Madanapalle, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mysore, Bangalore, Chikballapur and Chennai, Karaikudi. Since they were wrestlers, they were also known as Mallas, a word that derives from the Indian martial art of Malla-yuddha. In South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Jhetties are called Vastad or Ustad. The evolution of this word is unclear.

Malla Bhasha

This was the language spoken by the ancient Mallas. It does not have a script. Though few people speak this language currently, it is not its purest form.

Present-day Jhetties of South India

Telugu remains the mother-tongue of present-day mallas settled in the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

References

  1. ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh, ed. (1998). India's Communities. 5. Oxford University Press. pp. 1378–1379. ISBN 978-0-19563-354-2.
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