Where did the Chettiars come from?

Chettiar (also spelt as Chetti and Chetty) is a title used by many traders, weaving, agricultural and land owning castes in South India, especially in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Who is Chettiars in Tamil Nadu?

The Nagarathar (also known as Nattukottai Chettiar) is a Tamil caste found native in Tamil Nadu, India. They are a mercantile community who are traditionally involved in commerce, banking and money lending. They use the title Chettiar and are traditionally concentrated in modern region Chettinad.

Are Chettiars Tamils?

The Chettiars are a subgroup of the Tamil community originating from Chettinad in Tamil Nadu, India. Historically, the Chettiars are most commonly associated with the moneylending profession. There is still a small Chettiar community in Singapore today.

Are Chettiars rich?

The Chettiars are considered to be among the pioneers of organised banking in the country. The Chettiars, who hail from the Chettinad region of Sivaganga district, are traditionally wealthy.

What are Chettiars famous for?

The Chettiars are known to be traders in salt and spices and this is reflected in the Chettinad cuisine. Meals also consist of cooked lentils, Brinjal curry, drumstick sambar, ghee for flavouring rice, and sweet meals like payasam and paal paniyaram.

Are Chettiars shudras?

Varna Classification The Chettiars were classified as high ranking Shudras and sometimes Vaishyas by various historians. According to Anthropologist Irawati Karve, the Chettis are traditionally classified as Vaishyas from the Dhana-Vaishya sub-sect of Vellalars.

Who are chettiars Quora?

As we know chettiars are buissnessman ,they were involved in trade and finance. These chettiars are Tamil chettiars whose origin is from Karaikudi and they are famous for their large Bungalows and Chettinad cuisine. 24 Telugu Manai chettiars.

Which district is chettinad?

Sivaganga district
Chettinad (also known as Chettinadu) is a region located mainly in the Sivaganga district historically ruled by Ramnad kingdom of Pandya Nadu and has a small portion extending into the Pudukottai District in Tamil Nadu, India.

Why did chettiars come to Singapore?

Traditionally, the Chettiars were involved in the trade of precious stones, but later became private bankers and moneylenders, establishing their presence in Singapore as early as the 1820s. Singapore’s first Chettiars were men who hailed from Chettinad, Tamil Nadu, to seek their fortunes. A Chettiar moneylender, c.

Is Chettinad and karaikudi the same?

Karaikudi and surrounding areas are generally referred as “Chettinad”. Chettinad comprises a network of 73 villages and 2 towns forming clusters spread over a territory of 1,550 km2 in the Districts of Sivagangai and Pudukottai in the State of Tamil Nadu. Karaikudi is the largest town in Chettinad.