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Nadar (caste)
Encyclopedia
Nadar (also referred as Nadan,Shanar,Gramani ) is one of the prominent caste
s of Tamil Nadu
, South India. The term, Nadar, in Tamil literally means one who rules the land. The Nadars are also commonly called as Annachi (meaning elder brother). Nadars are an entrepreneurial south India
n caste and constitute 12% of Tamil Nadu
's population. It is classified and listed as a Backward caste
by the Government of Tamil Nadu and India
. The Nadar community was not a singular caste, but an assortment of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which in course of time, came under the single banner Nadar. Nadar climber
(or palmrya climber) was the largest subsect of today’s Nadar community. A few sub sects of the Nadar community were traditionally wealthy landlords and money lenders. Nadars are predominant in the southern districts of Tuticorin, Kaniyakumari, Tirunelveli
and Virudhunagar
.
Historically, majority of the Nadars were humble cultivators of palmyra trees
and jaggery
and a few were also involved in toddy
trade. The small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars called Nelamaikkarars
who live south of Thamirabarani River
had served as tax collecters under the Nayak
and Pandya rulers. Some Nadar climbers, who lived mostly as minorities, in a few localities had even faced discrimination. The martial art Southern kalaripayattu was historically practiced by the Nadars.
In post independent India, the Nadars have made significant strides through their emphasis on education and entrepreneurship. The socio-economical upliftment of Nadars in southern India
has elicited international academic interest and appreciation. Shiv Nadar
, a billionaire businessman, ranked as 15th richest man in India by Forbe's magazine
in 2009 is one of the examples of successful Nadar entrepreneurs. The Nadars today are a powerful community. They are financially very strong and are also politically influential in the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu
.
, the aristocrats and highest of the old Shanar community. The title Nadar was exclusively used by the Nelamaikkarars
. Nadars claim that the original name of the community was Shantror or Shandrar (which means noble one) which, in course of time, was corrupted to Shanar. Channar, a similar title used by the Ezhava
community of Kerala, means headman in Kerala
. However, there are very little evidences to support the above claims.
must have been the origin of the Nadars. The renowned Nadar historian,Samuel Sarugunar, claimed that the Nadars are the descendants of the ancient rulers of Cheran
, Cholan
and Pandyan kingdoms and that when Nayak rulers
captured the Pandya country, they divided the country into several Palayams(divisions) and appointed Palaiyakkars
as rulers. The Nayaks
rulers of Tamil Nadu
,as per the claims of Sargunar, imposed Deshaprashtam (ostracism) on the ancient Pandyas (Nadars),to ensure that their rise wouldn't ever happen. These claims are,however, not baseless. The traditions followed by the Nelamaikkarars
and the existence of the ruins beneath the Teri palmrya forests of Tiruchendur
and ancient Pandyan capital city of Korkai
, where the Nadar population is predominant, suggest they could very well be the heirs of the Early Pandyas
. The two inscriptions at Kalladaikurichi
suggest that in medieval times the Nadars served as administrators and accountants both in Chera and Pandya countries. However, there is little evidence to suggest that the Nadars could also be the descendants of the later Pandya rulers, as per the Nadars' claim. The identity or caste of the Pandyan kings remains a mystery. This belief, that the Nadars had been the kings of Tamil Nadu, became the dogma
of the Nadar community in the 19thcentury.
industry, including the production of toddy
, in the early 19th century. A few subsects of the Nadar community were traditionally wealthy landlords and money lenders. During the 19th century, majority of the Nadars lived south of the Thamirabarani River
(or South of Tirunelveli
). Nadars living in the south of Thamirabarani River till the tip of Cape Comorin, constituted 80 to 90% of the population and had various living conditions. While majority of the Nadar population, of southern Tirunelveli, consisted of landless,poor laborers(Nadar climber
s), a small endogamous group of aristocratic Nadars called Nelamaikkarars
or Nadans owned vast tracts of land. Historical records and accounts indicate they possibly worked as tax collectors under the Pandyas. These Nadans or lords of the land either held their position directly under Nayak ruler in the region of Tiruchendur
or as petty lords under the poligars
. They commanded high respect in these regions from the rest of the population. Nadar climbers, the minority Vellalar
s and Brahmin
s showed deference to these Nadans. Nadan men rode horse
s and their women rode in covered palanquins
. The position held by these Nadans was unchallenged by their dependent climbers. In these regions the Nadars were the most dominant caste and their interaction with other communities was minimal. However these Nadars were separated by various endogamous subcastes and lacked integrity.
Nadar climbers also populated other regions of Tamil Nadu where a few palmyra trees grew. In areas of Tamil Nadu where the Nadar climber population was not more than a few families in a village, they faced descrimination from the majority caste. Due to their association with toddy, the Nadars were considered lower than other middle castes, but relatively higher than the low castes, and were also prohibited to enter temples built by castes above them in the caste system. Even though associated with toddy, the Nadars abstinently avoided to consume it as the most punctilious Brahmins. The Nadars were schismatic about their position in the caste hierarchy and firmly claimed that they were wrongly placed in the caste system due to the Nayak invasion. They were also very caste conscious.
migrated to Travancore from Tirunelveli in the 16th century after the invasion of Tirunelveli
by the Raja of Travancore. Like their Tirunelveli
counterparts, the Nadars of Travancore were mostly palmrya climbers. However a significant number of Nadars in Travancore were subtenants to Nair landlords or Vellalar landlords. These Nadar tenants called themselves Nadans and a score of these Nadans also directly had control over the lands. The Nadans enjoyed special privileges under the Raja and claimed that they were superior to the climbers. The climbers of Travancore fared a little better than their Tirunelveli counterparts, but, however, suffered severe social disabilities,unlike their Tirunelveli counterparts, under the rigid caste hierarchy of Travancore. As Swami Vivekananda
stated, Kerala
was like a mad asylum of castes. The Nadar climber women were not allowed to cover their bosoms, as most of the non- Brahmin women of Kerala
, to punctuate their low status. However the aristocratic Nadan women, their counterparts, had the rights to cover their bosom. Uneasy with their social status, a large number of Nadar climbers embraced Christianity and became upwardly mobile.
Though they improved their status with the aid of Christian missionaries, the outcome of the conversion was not according to the point of view of the missionaries. The Christian Nadar climber women, along with the Hindu Nadar climber women, wore the upper jacket in the manner of upper class women and also their Tamil counterparts, inorder to improve their social status. In turn they were discriminated and even abused by upper class men. One of the Nadan families of Agastheeswaram
, instead of supporting their depressed counterparts, supported the upper class men and claimed that only their women had the right to wear an upper cloth. However after a brutal struggle (Upper cloth revolt
) with the powerful authorities of Travancore and also with the aid of the British Christian Missionaries and Vaikunta Swamy, the depressed Nadar climber women won themselves the right to wear their upper cloth, as their Nadan counterparts.
to northern Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar
and began to settle down in these regions. In course of time, these Nadars became commercially skilled and therefore became upwardly mobile in the late 19th century. Mercantilism
played crucial roles in facilitating their upward mobility. Part of this change in the Nadar community resulted in some of them converting to Christianity
, both Catholicism
and Protestantism
. However, a majority of almost 90% remained Hindu
s.
The British rule then in the southern districts introduced new frontiers of trade and commerce.The Nadars took this opportunity and made it their greatest advantage. They established sophisticated pettais (fortified compounds) and Urvinmurais (Local Nadar association) to ensure safety for their goods. The member of Uravinmurai, the muraikkarar, would contribute a portion of his income to the association as common good funds or mahimai (means to glorify oneself), in order to use the facilities of the pettais and to improve the association as well. As the wealth of the Northern Nadars increased, they gradually began to adopt the customs of the North Indian Kshtriyas
in order to improve their social status as well. This process is known as Sanskritisation
. Many tried to disassociate themselves from their Nadar climber counterparts and the term Shanar(the term generally used to call a Tamil palmrya climber). The title ‘Nadan’, a title which was before only used by the aristocratic Nelamaikkarars
, was universally adopted by the Northern Nadars.
To punctuate their wealthy and powerful position in the society, the Nadars of Sivakasi even hired Maravars as their palanquin bearers. The upward mobility and kshatriya pretensions of the Nadars of Six towns of Ramanad caused resentment among, castes above them, the Vellalar
s and especially the Maravars
, the military caste just above the Nadars. As a result, a series of conflicts, such as the Sivakasi riots of 1899, happened between the Nadars and the Maravars. However, the Sankritisation movement was a failure initially and the Nadar climbers, who lived as minorities, were still discriminated by the majority castes. However these confrontations aided the community to protest for the required rights and privileges, with integrity, and also test how much other communities were willing to buy the claims of the Nadars' high status. The Northern Nadar leaders then sought to unite their community by encouraging intermarriages within the five major Nadar subcastes and also uplift the depressed palmrya Nadar climbers. They also sought to maintain amiable relationships with other communities. This led to the formation of the Nadar Mahajana sagham in 1910.
. This situation demanded a new Nadar association which would support the Nadars faraway from the six towns of Ramanad. This expansion,however, would not be possible until the rise of Rao Bahadur
T.Rattinasami Nadar, a wealthy Nadar of Poraiyar, Thanjavur district. He was politically ambitious and sought to become a member of the legislative assembly, representing the Nadar community. As there was no organization to represent the whole Nadar community, Rattinasami Nadar invited prominent leaders of the Nadar community for a plenary session in February 1910. Rattinasami Nadar's uncle, V. Ponnusami Nadar, was elected to become the first president of the association, Nadar Mahajana Sangam
. The association was open to any Nadar male of any subcaste or religion. The general purpose of the association was to uplift the entire Nadar community. The conferences initially held were dominated by the Northern Nadars.
was one of the first steps taken by the Nadar Mahajana Sagham to enhance the social advancement of the entire Nadar community. Though majority of the Nadar climbers were engaged in the production of jaggery, a significant number of Nadar climbers were also involved in the production of toddy. The Sagham urged the Nadar climbers to abandon their traditional occupation of toddy tapping and not to sell hard toddy. However many Nadar climbers were reluctant to give up their profitable occupation. The situation got out of hand when Nadar leaders tried to intimidate the climbers, by using tenets of their cult, to give up their occupation as toddy tappers. To ease the situation the district magistrate issued a proclamation restricting the climbers to sell hard toddy only in specific regions, where toddy can be legally drawn. However the Sagham's campaign was effective for only about a year.
by using the mahimai funds from the Nadar uravinmurai. Education was also the primary concern of the Nadar Mahajana Sagham ever since its inception. In 1921, the Sagham began to provide scholarship loans to the needy students of the community. By 1964, loans were offered to more than 3000 students. These loans were awarded to qualified Nadar students and were supposed to be repaid. Some students were also assisted to study abroad. The Sagham also aided villages, faraway from educational institutions, to establish their own schools. These expenses represented the largest expenditure of the Nadar Mahajana Sagham. The Nadar bank
along with other cooperative societies gave 5 percent of their profit to the scholarship fund. The Nadar Mahajana Sagham also established a college, Senthilkumara Nadar College, in 1947.
. W. P. A. Soundrapandian Nadar as the president of Nadar Mahajana Sangam led the effort to ally the community with Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
's Self-respect movement
. The Nadars joined the Justice party in its attack against Brahmin
s on cultural and religious front. Nadars also practiced self-respect marriages during the non-Brahmin movement. The Northern Nadars would continue to give their support to the justice party until the rise of Kamaraj Nadar
. The Nadar freedom fighter, Kamaraj, was even stoned by the Nadars, when he tried to speak on behalf of the Congress in Kamudi, and branded as a traitor of the Nadar community for supporting the Congress.
However, in the late 1940s the Nadars' support shifted to Indian National Congress
. Though Kamaraj was detested by his own community initially, his political success gradually changed the Nadars' support to Congress. Kamaraj went on to become the Indian National Congress president,from 1964 to 1967, and Chief Minister of Madras state
,from 1954 to 1963. After the end of Kamaraj's era, the Nadars' political support have become diffused across various parties and the Nadar Sangam has become less politicized.
s in many Hindu
temples of Tamil Nadu. The Nadars today are a powerful community. They are financially very strong and are also politically influential in the Southern Tirunelveli regions of Nanguneri
, Srivaikuntam
, Tiruchendur
, Tuticorin and Kaniyakumari. There is a Nadar in almost every political party. The community also has influential Tamil media houses like Dina Thanthi
in its fold.
Crawford Young
, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, in his book The politics of cultural pluralism writes,
as well as the climbers beneath them. The Nelamaikarrars and the Nadar climber
s beneath them are two endogamanous groups, forming sub-subcastes each marrying only among themselves. The Nelamaikkarars were the highest of the five Nadar subcastes.
, Sankarankoil
, Srivaikuntam
, Nanguneri
and a few can also be found in Tenkasi
.
, Tuticorin district. They are traditionally cultivators, traders and money lenders. Legendary accounts claim that the Nattathis are descendants born of the Pandyas and Cholas. The community is today predominantly Christian and remains a endogamanous unit. The overlord of Nattathi was a retainer of the Kattabomma Nayaka
. The Nattathi overlord was invested with Zamindari rights under the British. The last of the Nattathi zamindars, Tiruvarudi Vaihunda Nadan, died in 1892. The properties of the Zamindar were eventually divided among a number of claimants.
The subsect culture is not present today among the Nadars north of Tirunelveli
. However the subsect culture still exists among the Nadars of southern Tirunelveli. The Karkuppatayathars, the endogamaous Nelamaikkarars and the Nadar climbers beneath them, are today known as A group or Mara Nadar and the remaining four sub castes are known as B group.
through will and some accepted it due to their aversion to local beliefs. In 1970, Christian Nadars numbered 150,000 as opposed to 1.5 to 2 millions of Hindu Nadars in Madras state
. Nadar Christians, like Hindus, marry within their caste.
has been widely popular among the Nadars. Goddess Bhadrakali
is the tutelary deity of the Nadar community. The Nadars also claim that they are the descendants of Bhadrakali. A Bhadrakali temple is usually at the centre of almost every Nadar settlement.
s and Ezhava
s of Kerala.
n populations, consistent with the demographic history of South India, and also revealed that there are several genetic marker
s unique to the Nadars, which are rare or absent in other populations of India and the world. The study suggested a distinct evolutionary lineage with lesser admixture in the gene pool among groups of Tamil Nadu. The gene pool of nadars show more similarity to the East Asian populations. The study reveals that a relatively lesser degree of genetic admixture occurred between the South Indian and North Indian racial groups than that between South Indian and East Asian groups. Also the presence of shared HLA
genome between the Nadars and Fulani people indicates that a genetic relationship may have existed between them. This finding
supported also the linguistic and archaeological evidence.
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
s of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, South India. The term, Nadar, in Tamil literally means one who rules the land. The Nadars are also commonly called as Annachi (meaning elder brother). Nadars are an entrepreneurial south India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
n caste and constitute 12% of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
's population. It is classified and listed as a Backward caste
Other Backward Class
The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste , Scheduled Tribe , and Other Backward Class . The OBC list presented by the commission is dynamic and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and...
by the Government of Tamil Nadu and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Nadar community was not a singular caste, but an assortment of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which in course of time, came under the single banner Nadar. Nadar climber
Nadar climber
Nadar climbers constituted the major bulk of today’s Nadar community. They were considered as the largest sub sect of today's Nadar community. They were historically humble cultivators of palmyra trees and jaggery and a few also involved in toddy trade...
(or palmrya climber) was the largest subsect of today’s Nadar community. A few sub sects of the Nadar community were traditionally wealthy landlords and money lenders. Nadars are predominant in the southern districts of Tuticorin, Kaniyakumari, Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
and Virudhunagar
Virudhunagar
Virudhunagar is a municipality in Virudhunagar district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.In the beginning of 20th century AD, Virudhupatti was one among the six important places of Ramanathapuram District. Due to the rapid growth in the field of Trade and Education, it was renamed as...
.
Historically, majority of the Nadars were humble cultivators of palmyra trees
Borassus
Borassus is a genus of six species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and New Guinea. They are tall palms, capable of growing up to 30 m high. The leaves are long, fan-shaped, 2 to 3 m in length...
and jaggery
Jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal whole cane sugar consumed in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It is a concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color...
and a few were also involved in toddy
Palm wine
Palm wine also called Palm Toddy also called "Kallu" written in Malayalam and கள்ளு in Tamil or simply Toddy is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the palmyra, and coconut palms...
trade. The small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars called Nelamaikkarars
Nadan (Nadar subcaste)
Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
who live south of Thamirabarani River
Thamirabarani River
The Thamirabarani River originates from the famous Agastyarkoodam peak in the hills of the Western Ghats above Papanasam in the Ambasamudram taluk and flows through Tirunelveli & Tuticorin districts of the Tamil Nadu state of southern India...
had served as tax collecters under the Nayak
Madurai Nayak Dynasty
The Madurai Nayaks or Nayak Dynasty of Madurai were rulers of a region comprising most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital...
and Pandya rulers. Some Nadar climbers, who lived mostly as minorities, in a few localities had even faced discrimination. The martial art Southern kalaripayattu was historically practiced by the Nadars.
In post independent India, the Nadars have made significant strides through their emphasis on education and entrepreneurship. The socio-economical upliftment of Nadars in southern India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
has elicited international academic interest and appreciation. Shiv Nadar
Shiv Nadar
Shiv Nadar is an Indian industrialist and philanthropist. He is the chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of HCL Technologies. , his personal wealth is US$5.6 billion. Shiv Nadar founded HCL in the mid-1970s and transformed the IT hardware company into an IT Enterprise over the next three decades by...
, a billionaire businessman, ranked as 15th richest man in India by Forbe's magazine
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
in 2009 is one of the examples of successful Nadar entrepreneurs. The Nadars today are a powerful community. They are financially very strong and are also politically influential in the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
Etymology
The community was previously known as Shanars, legally changed their name to Nadars in 1921. The title Nadar is believed to be derived from the NelamaikkararsNadan (Nadar subcaste)
Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
, the aristocrats and highest of the old Shanar community. The title Nadar was exclusively used by the Nelamaikkarars
Nadan (Nadar subcaste)
Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
. Nadars claim that the original name of the community was Shantror or Shandrar (which means noble one) which, in course of time, was corrupted to Shanar. Channar, a similar title used by the Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
community of Kerala, means headman in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. However, there are very little evidences to support the above claims.
History
The origin of Nadars as a social group is unknown. However Hardgrave states that the Teri palmrya forests around today’s TiruchendurTiruchendur
Thiruchendur is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This town has a different name called Thirucheer Alaiwai.-Demographics:...
must have been the origin of the Nadars. The renowned Nadar historian,Samuel Sarugunar, claimed that the Nadars are the descendants of the ancient rulers of Cheran
Chera dynasty
Chera Dynasty in South India is one of the most ancient ruling dynasties in India. Together with the Cholas and the Pandyas, they formed the three principle warring Iron Age Tamil kingdoms in southern India...
, Cholan
Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
and Pandyan kingdoms and that when Nayak rulers
Madurai Nayak Dynasty
The Madurai Nayaks or Nayak Dynasty of Madurai were rulers of a region comprising most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital...
captured the Pandya country, they divided the country into several Palayams(divisions) and appointed Palaiyakkars
Palaiyakkarar
Palaiyakkarar, Poligar, Polygar or Palegar or Polegar was the feudal title for a class of territorial administrative and military chiefs appointed by the Naicker rulers of South India during 16th - 18th centuries...
as rulers. The Nayaks
Madurai Nayak Dynasty
The Madurai Nayaks or Nayak Dynasty of Madurai were rulers of a region comprising most of modern-day Tamil Nadu, India, with Madurai as their capital...
rulers of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
,as per the claims of Sargunar, imposed Deshaprashtam (ostracism) on the ancient Pandyas (Nadars),to ensure that their rise wouldn't ever happen. These claims are,however, not baseless. The traditions followed by the Nelamaikkarars
Nadan (Nadar subcaste)
Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
and the existence of the ruins beneath the Teri palmrya forests of Tiruchendur
Tiruchendur
Thiruchendur is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This town has a different name called Thirucheer Alaiwai.-Demographics:...
and ancient Pandyan capital city of Korkai
Korkai
Korkai is a small village in the Srivaikuntam taluk of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 3 km north of the Thamirabarani River and about 6 km from the shore of Bay of Bengal. Korkai was the capital, principal center of trade and important port of the Early Pandyan...
, where the Nadar population is predominant, suggest they could very well be the heirs of the Early Pandyas
Early Pandyan Kingdom
The Early Pandyas of the Sangam period were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country, the other two being the Cholas and the Cheras. As with many other kingdoms around this period , most of the information about the Early Pandyas come to us mainly through literary sources and...
. The two inscriptions at Kalladaikurichi
Kalladaikurichi
Kalladaikurichi is a panchayat town in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Kalladaikurichi had a population of 25,710. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kalladaikurichi has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the...
suggest that in medieval times the Nadars served as administrators and accountants both in Chera and Pandya countries. However, there is little evidence to suggest that the Nadars could also be the descendants of the later Pandya rulers, as per the Nadars' claim. The identity or caste of the Pandyan kings remains a mystery. This belief, that the Nadars had been the kings of Tamil Nadu, became the dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
of the Nadar community in the 19thcentury.
Nadars of the 19th century
The Nadars were a community mostly engaged in the palmyraBorassus
Borassus is a genus of six species of fan palms, native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and New Guinea. They are tall palms, capable of growing up to 30 m high. The leaves are long, fan-shaped, 2 to 3 m in length...
industry, including the production of toddy
Palm wine
Palm wine also called Palm Toddy also called "Kallu" written in Malayalam and கள்ளு in Tamil or simply Toddy is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the palmyra, and coconut palms...
, in the early 19th century. A few subsects of the Nadar community were traditionally wealthy landlords and money lenders. During the 19th century, majority of the Nadars lived south of the Thamirabarani River
Thamirabarani River
The Thamirabarani River originates from the famous Agastyarkoodam peak in the hills of the Western Ghats above Papanasam in the Ambasamudram taluk and flows through Tirunelveli & Tuticorin districts of the Tamil Nadu state of southern India...
(or South of Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
). Nadars living in the south of Thamirabarani River till the tip of Cape Comorin, constituted 80 to 90% of the population and had various living conditions. While majority of the Nadar population, of southern Tirunelveli, consisted of landless,poor laborers(Nadar climber
Nadar climber
Nadar climbers constituted the major bulk of today’s Nadar community. They were considered as the largest sub sect of today's Nadar community. They were historically humble cultivators of palmyra trees and jaggery and a few also involved in toddy trade...
s), a small endogamous group of aristocratic Nadars called Nelamaikkarars
Nadan (Nadar subcaste)
Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
or Nadans owned vast tracts of land. Historical records and accounts indicate they possibly worked as tax collectors under the Pandyas. These Nadans or lords of the land either held their position directly under Nayak ruler in the region of Tiruchendur
Tiruchendur
Thiruchendur is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This town has a different name called Thirucheer Alaiwai.-Demographics:...
or as petty lords under the poligars
Palaiyakkarar
Palaiyakkarar, Poligar, Polygar or Palegar or Polegar was the feudal title for a class of territorial administrative and military chiefs appointed by the Naicker rulers of South India during 16th - 18th centuries...
. They commanded high respect in these regions from the rest of the population. Nadar climbers, the minority Vellalar
Vellalar
Vellalars were, originally, an elite caste of Tamil agricultural landlords in Tamil Nadu, Kerala states in India and in neighbouring Sri Lanka; they were the nobility, aristocracy of the ancient Tamil order and had close relations with the different royal dynasties...
s and Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s showed deference to these Nadans. Nadan men rode horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s and their women rode in covered palanquins
Litter (vehicle)
The litter is a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of persons. Examples of litter vehicles include lectica , jiao [较] , sedan chairs , palanquin , Woh , gama...
. The position held by these Nadans was unchallenged by their dependent climbers. In these regions the Nadars were the most dominant caste and their interaction with other communities was minimal. However these Nadars were separated by various endogamous subcastes and lacked integrity.
Nadar climbers also populated other regions of Tamil Nadu where a few palmyra trees grew. In areas of Tamil Nadu where the Nadar climber population was not more than a few families in a village, they faced descrimination from the majority caste. Due to their association with toddy, the Nadars were considered lower than other middle castes, but relatively higher than the low castes, and were also prohibited to enter temples built by castes above them in the caste system. Even though associated with toddy, the Nadars abstinently avoided to consume it as the most punctilious Brahmins. The Nadars were schismatic about their position in the caste hierarchy and firmly claimed that they were wrongly placed in the caste system due to the Nayak invasion. They were also very caste conscious.
Nadars of Travancore
Presumably the Nadars of Southern TravancoreSouthern Travancore
The Southern Travancore, Kerala, consists of a part of Kollam district, Thiruvananthapuram district, and Kanyakumari district that is now in the state of Tamil Nadu...
migrated to Travancore from Tirunelveli in the 16th century after the invasion of Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
by the Raja of Travancore. Like their Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
counterparts, the Nadars of Travancore were mostly palmrya climbers. However a significant number of Nadars in Travancore were subtenants to Nair landlords or Vellalar landlords. These Nadar tenants called themselves Nadans and a score of these Nadans also directly had control over the lands. The Nadans enjoyed special privileges under the Raja and claimed that they were superior to the climbers. The climbers of Travancore fared a little better than their Tirunelveli counterparts, but, however, suffered severe social disabilities,unlike their Tirunelveli counterparts, under the rigid caste hierarchy of Travancore. As Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
stated, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
was like a mad asylum of castes. The Nadar climber women were not allowed to cover their bosoms, as most of the non- Brahmin women of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, to punctuate their low status. However the aristocratic Nadan women, their counterparts, had the rights to cover their bosom. Uneasy with their social status, a large number of Nadar climbers embraced Christianity and became upwardly mobile.
Though they improved their status with the aid of Christian missionaries, the outcome of the conversion was not according to the point of view of the missionaries. The Christian Nadar climber women, along with the Hindu Nadar climber women, wore the upper jacket in the manner of upper class women and also their Tamil counterparts, inorder to improve their social status. In turn they were discriminated and even abused by upper class men. One of the Nadan families of Agastheeswaram
Agastheeswaram
Agastheeswaram is a panchayat town in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Agastheeswaram had a population of 8978. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Agastheeswaram has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national...
, instead of supporting their depressed counterparts, supported the upper class men and claimed that only their women had the right to wear an upper cloth. However after a brutal struggle (Upper cloth revolt
Upper cloth revolt
The upper cloth controversy or upper cloth revolt refers to incidents surrounding the rebellion by Nadar climber women asserting their rights to wear upper clothes against the caste restrictions sanctioned by the Travancore kingdom, a part of present day Kerala.In Travancore, Cochin and Malabar, no...
) with the powerful authorities of Travancore and also with the aid of the British Christian Missionaries and Vaikunta Swamy, the depressed Nadar climber women won themselves the right to wear their upper cloth, as their Nadan counterparts.
Northern Nadars
Some petty Nadar traders migrated from southern TirunelveliTirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
to northern Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar
Virudhunagar
Virudhunagar is a municipality in Virudhunagar district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.In the beginning of 20th century AD, Virudhupatti was one among the six important places of Ramanathapuram District. Due to the rapid growth in the field of Trade and Education, it was renamed as...
and began to settle down in these regions. In course of time, these Nadars became commercially skilled and therefore became upwardly mobile in the late 19th century. Mercantilism
Mercantilism
Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...
played crucial roles in facilitating their upward mobility. Part of this change in the Nadar community resulted in some of them converting to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, both Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
. However, a majority of almost 90% remained Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s.
The British rule then in the southern districts introduced new frontiers of trade and commerce.The Nadars took this opportunity and made it their greatest advantage. They established sophisticated pettais (fortified compounds) and Urvinmurais (Local Nadar association) to ensure safety for their goods. The member of Uravinmurai, the muraikkarar, would contribute a portion of his income to the association as common good funds or mahimai (means to glorify oneself), in order to use the facilities of the pettais and to improve the association as well. As the wealth of the Northern Nadars increased, they gradually began to adopt the customs of the North Indian Kshtriyas
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
in order to improve their social status as well. This process is known as Sanskritisation
Sanskritisation
Sanskritization or Sanskritisation is a particular form of social change found in India and Nepal. It denotes the process by which castes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek upward mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the upper or dominant castes. It is a process similar to...
. Many tried to disassociate themselves from their Nadar climber counterparts and the term Shanar(the term generally used to call a Tamil palmrya climber). The title ‘Nadan’, a title which was before only used by the aristocratic Nelamaikkarars
Nadan (Nadar subcaste)
Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
, was universally adopted by the Northern Nadars.
To punctuate their wealthy and powerful position in the society, the Nadars of Sivakasi even hired Maravars as their palanquin bearers. The upward mobility and kshatriya pretensions of the Nadars of Six towns of Ramanad caused resentment among, castes above them, the Vellalar
Vellalar
Vellalars were, originally, an elite caste of Tamil agricultural landlords in Tamil Nadu, Kerala states in India and in neighbouring Sri Lanka; they were the nobility, aristocracy of the ancient Tamil order and had close relations with the different royal dynasties...
s and especially the Maravars
Maravar (caste)
Maravar are one of the oldest social groups to be mentioned by the Sangam Tamil literature. This indicates an association with the Tamil land which is at least 2,000 years old. The writers of the Sangam Age place them in rural settlements withdrawn from cities. Maravars are the courageous breed...
, the military caste just above the Nadars. As a result, a series of conflicts, such as the Sivakasi riots of 1899, happened between the Nadars and the Maravars. However, the Sankritisation movement was a failure initially and the Nadar climbers, who lived as minorities, were still discriminated by the majority castes. However these confrontations aided the community to protest for the required rights and privileges, with integrity, and also test how much other communities were willing to buy the claims of the Nadars' high status. The Northern Nadar leaders then sought to unite their community by encouraging intermarriages within the five major Nadar subcastes and also uplift the depressed palmrya Nadar climbers. They also sought to maintain amiable relationships with other communities. This led to the formation of the Nadar Mahajana sagham in 1910.
Nadars of the 20th century
Formation of the Nadar Mahajana Sagham
The local Nadar associations of the six towns was not adequate enough to back up the widely spread Nadars. Many Nadars began to migrate to other parts of Madras PresidencyMadras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. This situation demanded a new Nadar association which would support the Nadars faraway from the six towns of Ramanad. This expansion,however, would not be possible until the rise of Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur was a title of honour issued in British India to individuals who had performed great service to the nation....
T.Rattinasami Nadar, a wealthy Nadar of Poraiyar, Thanjavur district. He was politically ambitious and sought to become a member of the legislative assembly, representing the Nadar community. As there was no organization to represent the whole Nadar community, Rattinasami Nadar invited prominent leaders of the Nadar community for a plenary session in February 1910. Rattinasami Nadar's uncle, V. Ponnusami Nadar, was elected to become the first president of the association, Nadar Mahajana Sangam
Nadar Mahajana Sangam
Nadar Mahajana Sangam was first established ,due to the efforts of RaoBahadur Ratnasamy Nadar, in 1910. There are several schools and colleges under the control of Nadar Mahajana Sangam....
. The association was open to any Nadar male of any subcaste or religion. The general purpose of the association was to uplift the entire Nadar community. The conferences initially held were dominated by the Northern Nadars.
Against toddy
The campaign against toddyToddy
Toddy may be:* Hot toddy, a mixed drink served hot* Palm wine, also known as palm toddy, an alcoholic beverage.* The toddy palm...
was one of the first steps taken by the Nadar Mahajana Sagham to enhance the social advancement of the entire Nadar community. Though majority of the Nadar climbers were engaged in the production of jaggery, a significant number of Nadar climbers were also involved in the production of toddy. The Sagham urged the Nadar climbers to abandon their traditional occupation of toddy tapping and not to sell hard toddy. However many Nadar climbers were reluctant to give up their profitable occupation. The situation got out of hand when Nadar leaders tried to intimidate the climbers, by using tenets of their cult, to give up their occupation as toddy tappers. To ease the situation the district magistrate issued a proclamation restricting the climbers to sell hard toddy only in specific regions, where toddy can be legally drawn. However the Sagham's campaign was effective for only about a year.
Prohibition of toddy act
The Sagham then in order to aid the depressed climbers, sought to abolish the tax levied on palmrya trees. After the establishment of the Prohibition(of toddy) act in the Northern districts of Madras Presidency, the Nadar Mahajana Sagham along with its sister association,Dakshina Mara Nadar Sagham of Tirunelveli, sought to remove it to aid the depressed climbers. The British advisor government in turn suspended the act. However, the prohibition act was reintroduced after the independence. Under the rules of the act, the climbers could only tap between 4 am to 2pm and sell sweet toddy between 6am and 2pm. These procedures can also only be practiced by climbers who have license. The rigid government rules pressurized the depressed climbers. The two prominent Nadars saghams constantly pressurized the government and eventually the enforcement of these regulations gradually eased. By mid-1950s, the government assigned cooperative societies to promote jaggery production.Nadar educational institutions
The Nadar community did not completely rely on the Backward Class Commission for educational advancement. The Nadars realized the importantance of education,perhaps, more than any other community. In 1885, the Northern Nadars established the Kshatriya Vidhyasala High School in VirudhunagarVirudhunagar
Virudhunagar is a municipality in Virudhunagar district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.In the beginning of 20th century AD, Virudhupatti was one among the six important places of Ramanathapuram District. Due to the rapid growth in the field of Trade and Education, it was renamed as...
by using the mahimai funds from the Nadar uravinmurai. Education was also the primary concern of the Nadar Mahajana Sagham ever since its inception. In 1921, the Sagham began to provide scholarship loans to the needy students of the community. By 1964, loans were offered to more than 3000 students. These loans were awarded to qualified Nadar students and were supposed to be repaid. Some students were also assisted to study abroad. The Sagham also aided villages, faraway from educational institutions, to establish their own schools. These expenses represented the largest expenditure of the Nadar Mahajana Sagham. The Nadar bank
Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Limited is a bank head-quartered in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, India. It is colloquially referred to as TMB. It was founded by members of Nadar Mahajana Sangam in 1921. The bank was originally registered on 11 May 1921 as Nadar Bank Limited under the Indian Companies Act,...
along with other cooperative societies gave 5 percent of their profit to the scholarship fund. The Nadar Mahajana Sagham also established a college, Senthilkumara Nadar College, in 1947.
Resolution to inter-caste conflicts
In villages where the Nadar climbers numbered very few, they were oppressed by the majority caste of the region. The Nadar Mahajana Sagham backed these oppressed Nadars with the strength and influence of the larger community. The oppressed Nadars could ask the Sagham to intervene into issues which involves members of other communities. In turn the Sagham would investigate the issue and confirm that it is true. Then,if necessary, the Sagham would ask the police to intervene or take the issue to the court. The Sagham however would not back the oppressed Nadar claimant financially to contest the case, but would rather see that Nadars' case is properly heard by the court. After the independence, the Sagham was very well aware of the secular caste less society and used its advantages. The Sagham also cooperated with the government to establish a caste less society and urged the Nadars to allow other communities to use their schools, tanks, temples and wells. Even the name of the Nadar bank was changed to Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank. These activities earned the Nadar community respect and recognition.Politics
In the 1920s and 1930s, Nadar Mahajan Sangam supported the non-Brahmin movement and Justice partyJustice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
. W. P. A. Soundrapandian Nadar as the president of Nadar Mahajana Sangam led the effort to ally the community with Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Erode Venkata Ramasamy , affectionately called by his followers as Periyar , Thanthai Periyar or E. V...
's Self-respect movement
Self-Respect Movement
The Self-Respect Movement was founded in 1925 by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in Tamil Nadu, India. The movement has the aim of achieving a society where backward castes have equal human rights, and encouraging backward castes to have self-respect in the context of a caste based society that...
. The Nadars joined the Justice party in its attack against Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s on cultural and religious front. Nadars also practiced self-respect marriages during the non-Brahmin movement. The Northern Nadars would continue to give their support to the justice party until the rise of Kamaraj Nadar
K. Kamaraj
Kumarasami Kamaraj better known as K. Kamaraj was an Indian politician from Tamil Nadu widely acknowledged as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s. He was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu during 1954-1963 and a Member of Parliament during 1952-1954 and 1969-1975...
. The Nadar freedom fighter, Kamaraj, was even stoned by the Nadars, when he tried to speak on behalf of the Congress in Kamudi, and branded as a traitor of the Nadar community for supporting the Congress.
However, in the late 1940s the Nadars' support shifted to Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. Though Kamaraj was detested by his own community initially, his political success gradually changed the Nadars' support to Congress. Kamaraj went on to become the Indian National Congress president,from 1964 to 1967, and Chief Minister of Madras state
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
,from 1954 to 1963. After the end of Kamaraj's era, the Nadars' political support have become diffused across various parties and the Nadar Sangam has become less politicized.
Success in Business
Nadars' success in business played a pivotal role in the community's rise. Nadar grocery stores can be found today in almost every corner of Tamil Nadu. The Nadars' success in business is mainly due to their frugality and strong determination to rise. Many Nadar businessman can reveal their rise from poverty. It is difficult to determine the wealth of a Nadar merchant for a very wealthy Nadar may sit simply in his tiny shop.Nadars today
The social and economical development achieved by Nadars in Independent India have evoked academic interest and appreciation across the world. The Nadar caste entered many professions in the 20th century, from "high-tech entreprenuer" to owner of a large dairy company. Nadar businessmen and Professor Varshney all pointed to educational opportunities that allowed Nadars to enter high-class professions. The Nadars, who were once not allowed to enter Hindu temples built by castes above them, now occupy respected positions as TrusteeTrustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
s in many Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
temples of Tamil Nadu. The Nadars today are a powerful community. They are financially very strong and are also politically influential in the Southern Tirunelveli regions of Nanguneri
Nanguneri
Nanguneri is a panchayat town in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Nanguneri is a Taluk Headquarters in the District of Tirunelveli situate at a distance of from the headquarters of the...
, Srivaikuntam
Srivaikuntam
Srivaikuntam is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the river Thamirabarani.-Geography:...
, Tiruchendur
Tiruchendur
Thiruchendur is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This town has a different name called Thirucheer Alaiwai.-Demographics:...
, Tuticorin and Kaniyakumari. There is a Nadar in almost every political party. The community also has influential Tamil media houses like Dina Thanthi
Dina Thanthi
Dina Thanthi a.K.a "Daily Thanthi" is a reputed daily Tamil newspaper in Tirunelveli, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Erode, Dindigul, Trichy, Salem, Nagercoil, Cuddalore, Vellore, Pondicherry and Thanjavur. It is owned by Mr.B. Sivanthi Aditanar. It was founded by S. P...
in its fold.
Crawford Young
M. Crawford Young
M. Crawford Young is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-Education:He received his B.A...
, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, in his book The politics of cultural pluralism writes,
Subcastes
The legend of the origin of the Nadars tell of the birth of seven sons; with the death of two, the remaining five father the separate divisions of the community. There were five major divisions among the Nadars.Karukkupattaiyathar
They are supposed to be the original inhabitants of the country around Manadu. This is sub-division was later known as Mara Nadar. They claim to be the descendants of the Pandyans. It is the largest of the five subcastes and constitutes about 80 percent of the entire community,including the aristocratic NelamaikkararsNadan (Nadar subcaste)
Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
as well as the climbers beneath them. The Nelamaikarrars and the Nadar climber
Nadar climber
Nadar climbers constituted the major bulk of today’s Nadar community. They were considered as the largest sub sect of today's Nadar community. They were historically humble cultivators of palmyra trees and jaggery and a few also involved in toddy trade...
s beneath them are two endogamanous groups, forming sub-subcastes each marrying only among themselves. The Nelamaikkarars were the highest of the five Nadar subcastes.
Mel-nattar
The term mel-nattar comes from Mel-nadu(western country). Mel-Nattars lived traditionally in Southern Travancore and Western Tirunelveli districts. The Nadars claim that after the fall of the Chera dynasty, the descendants of the Chera kings,the Mel-Nattars, settled down in the Western Ghats of the Pandya country. They can be found today concentrated in AmbasamudramAmbasamudram
Ambasamudram is a taluk in Tirunelveli district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The entire taluk had a population of 392,226 as of 2001, with 42.5% classified as rural. The taluk is named for the principal town with the same name...
, Sankarankoil
Sankarankoil
Sankarankovil is a city and a municipality in the Tirunelveli district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.- The temple :Sankarankovil is home to the famous Sankara Narayanan temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second...
, Srivaikuntam
Srivaikuntam
Srivaikuntam is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the river Thamirabarani.-Geography:...
, Nanguneri
Nanguneri
Nanguneri is a panchayat town in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Nanguneri is a Taluk Headquarters in the District of Tirunelveli situate at a distance of from the headquarters of the...
and a few can also be found in Tenkasi
Tenkasi
Tenkasi pronounced as is a town and a municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats near the Courtallam Waterfalls.Tenkasi is also famous for saaral...
.
Nattathi
They are predominant in the village of Nattathi near SawyerpuramSawyerpuram
Sawyerpuram is a town panchayat in Tuticorin district, Tamil Nadu, India. Since missionary Dr. G. U. Pope ministered in this place the population is predominantly Christian.-History:...
, Tuticorin district. They are traditionally cultivators, traders and money lenders. Legendary accounts claim that the Nattathis are descendants born of the Pandyas and Cholas. The community is today predominantly Christian and remains a endogamanous unit. The overlord of Nattathi was a retainer of the Kattabomma Nayaka
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Veerapandiya Kattabomman also known as Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India and the 47th King of Panchalankurichi who fought the British. His ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu from areas in present day Andhra Pradesh during the...
. The Nattathi overlord was invested with Zamindari rights under the British. The last of the Nattathi zamindars, Tiruvarudi Vaihunda Nadan, died in 1892. The properties of the Zamindar were eventually divided among a number of claimants.
Kodikal
They are found in Ambasamudram and Tenkasi taluqs and traditionally palmrya climbers. They are supposed to have migrated to the Pandyan country from the banks of the Cauvery River in Tanjore to serve the Pandyan kings as their flag bearers.Kalla
The Kalla shanars were considered as the lowest division of the Nadar community. They are also known as Servai(not Kallar).The term kalla means ‘false’. Originally believed to have been palanquin bearers of the Pandyan kings or as menial slaves of the Nelamaikkarar family. They are traditionally toddy tappers. They are believed to be the descendants of the illegal unions within the Nadar community.The subsect culture is not present today among the Nadars north of Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
. However the subsect culture still exists among the Nadars of southern Tirunelveli. The Karkuppatayathars, the endogamaous Nelamaikkarars and the Nadar climbers beneath them, are today known as A group or Mara Nadar and the remaining four sub castes are known as B group.
Christian Nadars
In 1680, the first congregation of Nadars was started at Vaddakankulam with the conversion of Nadar women and a church was built accordingly in 1685. A permanent mission was established in 1701. Some Nadars accepted ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
through will and some accepted it due to their aversion to local beliefs. In 1970, Christian Nadars numbered 150,000 as opposed to 1.5 to 2 millions of Hindu Nadars in Madras state
Madras State
Madras State was the name by which the Indian districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Northern Kerala, Bellary and Dakshina Kannada were collectively known as from 1950 to 1953....
. Nadar Christians, like Hindus, marry within their caste.
Orthodox Hindu religious customs
The Nadars, like other Tamil castes, perform a number of rituals and ceremonies according to their customs. Birth ceremony, initiation ceremony, marriage ceremonies and death ceremonies are the most important of all the ceremonies. Every Hindu Nadar belongs to a kuttam(assemblage) through patrilineal descent. The people of the same kuttam share a common family deity. During migration, families would often take soil from their family temple, in their native place, and enshrine it in the place of their new home. Traditionally, all the members of a kuttam would assemble at least once a year at the family temple. With the birth of a child, the family would traditionally go to the family deity temple, where the hair of the child is shaved for the first time and offered to the deity. At the time of marriage the first invitation is presented to the family deity. The Hindu Nadars are almost entirely Saivite (only one kuttam is Vaishnavite). Of the deities, MuruganMurugan
Murugan also called Kartikeya, Skanda and Subrahmanya, is a popular Hindu deity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the...
has been widely popular among the Nadars. Goddess Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali
Bhadrakāli , is one of the forms of the Great Goddess mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous"....
is the tutelary deity of the Nadar community. The Nadars also claim that they are the descendants of Bhadrakali. A Bhadrakali temple is usually at the centre of almost every Nadar settlement.
Kalaripayattu/Varma Kalai/Marma Ati
Marma Ati/Varma Kalai was a great warfare practised by the Nadars to defeat/kill the enemy without any external injuries. The art was practiced exclusively by the Nadars of Tamil Nadu and by the NairNair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
s and Ezhava
Ezhava
The Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
s of Kerala.
Genetic study
Recent genetic studies on the antigenic variations among south Indian populations suggest Nadars share several genotypic characters with East AsiaEast Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
n populations, consistent with the demographic history of South India, and also revealed that there are several genetic marker
Genetic marker
A genetic marker is a gene or DNA sequence with a known location on a chromosome that can be used to identify cells, individuals or species. It can be described as a variation that can be observed...
s unique to the Nadars, which are rare or absent in other populations of India and the world. The study suggested a distinct evolutionary lineage with lesser admixture in the gene pool among groups of Tamil Nadu. The gene pool of nadars show more similarity to the East Asian populations. The study reveals that a relatively lesser degree of genetic admixture occurred between the South Indian and North Indian racial groups than that between South Indian and East Asian groups. Also the presence of shared HLA
genome between the Nadars and Fulani people indicates that a genetic relationship may have existed between them. This finding
supported also the linguistic and archaeological evidence.
See also
- Pandyan KingdomPandyan KingdomThe Pandyan dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty. The Pandyas were one of the four Tamil dynasties , which ruled South India until the 15th century CE. They initially ruled their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a seaport on the Southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved...
- NadanNadan (Nadar subcaste)Nadans are a small endogamanous group of aristocratic Nadars from the regions south of the Thamirabarani River. They were used to be invested as tax gatherers by the Nayaks and by the Pandyans before them. They also served as petty lords under the poligars...
- Tamilnad Mercantile Bank
- KorkaiKorkaiKorkai is a small village in the Srivaikuntam taluk of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated about 3 km north of the Thamirabarani River and about 6 km from the shore of Bay of Bengal. Korkai was the capital, principal center of trade and important port of the Early Pandyan...