Reddiar
Total population
45,00,000
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
Languages
Tamil, Telugu
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Reddy

Reddiar (also spelt as Reddiyar) is a Telugu speaking land owning, merchants , agricultural social group in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

Reddiars, Reddy, Reddappa are considered and believed to come from the same origins and they spread across the lands of Southern and Central India. They are the patrons/financial supporters of local temples in Tamil Region. The names have been believed to be derived according to the regions they are spread across. Reddy in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Reddiar (Reddy + ar) in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, and Kerala. Reddy, Reddappa (Reddy + appa- signifying respect) in Karnataka.

Many Reddiars moved from the Andhra region in search of rich soil for cultivation and settled in Pondicherry and the northern districts of Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpet in Tamil Nadu during Vijayanagar Empire. (In People of India/Indian Communities, Oxford University Press).

The migration of the Reddys/Reddiars to Tamil Nadu is assumed to have occurred during the Reddy dynasty expansion till Kanchipuram areas.[1]

Following are the districts that have significant Reddiar Population. Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Vellore, Thirupattur, Thiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Karur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Dindigul, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli

Origins

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 Reddiars 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 battle between the armies of Achyutadeva Raya and Bhoothala Varma.They are believed moved into Tamil Nadu with the Vijayanagara Emperor Kumara Kampana to liberate Madurai [Madura Vijayam] from Islamic rule and expansion of Vijayanagar empire along with other Telugu and Kannada origin social groups.

Diaspora

Water colour painting - Kondavidu fort, Reddy Kingdom.

Through emigration, there are now many Reddiars in the United States, South Africa, Singapore, Australia and United Kingdom. Many were brought to South Africa during British colonial era to work on the sugarcane farms as indentured labourers. The descendants of such Reddiars can still be found in South Africa today.

Reddy versus Reddiars

Reddys predominantly speak Telugu and follow Telugu cultural norms like Ugadi, Dussehra and Sankranthi and follow all other Andhra norms, whereas Reddiars who came from Andhra to the Tamil region speak both Tamil and Telugu, and follow both Tamil and Telugu cultural norms. They also celebrate Thai Pongal, Tamil New Year and Ugadi. Some have represented in Tamil literary circles as great patrons and scholars of Tamil language.

Prominent Reddiars

Former Chief Ministers

  • A. Subbarayalu Reddiar - First Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from Dec 1920 - June 1921
  • O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar - Former Premier of Madras Presidency from 1947-1949 and Former Member of Legislative Council of Madras Presidency from 1946 to 1958
  • V. Venkatasubba Reddiar - Former Chief Minister of Puducherry from 1959 - 1963, 1964 - 1967 and 1968 and a prominent Puducherry freedom fighter[3]
  • V. Vaithilingam - Former Chief Minister of Puducherry - July 4, 1991 to May 13, 1996 (first term), September 4, 2008 – April 13, 2011, Member of Parliament from Puducherry , 2019 -
  • M. D. R. Ramachandran - Former Chief Minister of Puducherry - 16 January 1980 to 23 June 1983 and 8 March 1990 – 3 March 1991

Ministers and Former Ministers of State

  • K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran - Former Co-operation, PWD Minister in MGR Cabinet, Former Minister for Backward Classes (2006-2011), Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management in DMK Cabinet (2021-)
  • K. N. Nehru - Former Minister for Electricity (1989-1991), Former Minister for Food & Public Distribution System (1996–2001), Former Transport Minister in DMK Cabinet (2006–2011), Minister For Municipal Administration and Urban and Water Supply (2021-) in DMK cabinet
  • Napoleon - Actor and Former MP of Perambalur Constituency Former Central Minister Of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, 2009 - 2013, Former Vice-President of Nadigar Sangam
  • P. Balakrishna Reddy - Former Animal Husbandry Minister and Former Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister of Tamil Nadu, 2016 - 2019
  • N. Nallusamy - Former Housing and Slum Clearance Board Minister of Tamil Nadu in MGR Cabinet, 1985-1986
  • C. Perumalswamy Reddiar - Former Industries, Mines and Materials Minister of Madras Presidency from 1949 - 1952 and Member of Indian Constituent Assembly from Madras Presidency

Freedom Fighters

  • Muthukomarappa Reddiar - Freedom Fighter, who spearheaded the revolution to allow Puducherry to join with Indian Union.
  • K. S. Venkatakrishna Reddiar - Freedom Fighter, Politician and, President of Congress Reform Committee and Former Member of Madras State Legislative Assembly
  • Purushothama Reddiar R.L - Freedom Fighter who organized and presided over the French India People’s Convention in 1947 which fought for the conditional withdrawal of the French Regime in Puducherry and Former Member of Puducherry Legislative Assembly from Kuruvinatham Kariambuthur, 1956 - 1959 and 1959 - 1964.
  • Venugopal Reddiar R. - Freedom Fighter who fought for the independence of Puducherry from French Regime.
  • Chandrasekara Reddiar - Freedom Fighter who fought for the independence of Puducherry from French Regime.
  • B.B.K. Raja Chidambara Reddiar - Freedom Fighter who took part in the Quit India Movement in 1941 and was imprisoned for one year in Trichy central jail. He was a member of the Trichy Jilla Board and he was a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly.
  • J.Ramadoss Reddiar - Freedom Fighter from Villivakkam, Chennai.
  • V.Ganapathi Reddiar - Freedom Fighter from Perambalur and Participated in Various Freedom Struggles and Donated Land to Poor for the Initiative of Bhoodan Movement.

Judiciary

Elected Representatives And Former Elected Representatives

Elected Representatives

Former Elected Representatives

Politician

Tamil Writers and Poets

  • Annamalai Reddiyar - Tamil Poet
  • A.Ve.Ra Krishnaswami Reddiar - Renowned Journalist and Tamil Writer
  • Ve.Vengadarajulu Reddiar - Notable Tamil Researcher and Tamil Writer
  • Prof. Dr. N Subbu Reddiar - Eminent Tamil Writer and Researcher
  • Illakiyaveedhi Iniyavan - Prominent Tamil Writer
  • Va.Ko.Shanmugam - Renowned Tamil Poet and Writer
  • Nesamigu S.Rajakumaaran - Prominent Tamil Poet and Writer and Directed Various Documentary Films

Doctors and Health Praticioners

  • Muthulakshmi Reddi - First Indian Woman Doctor and Former Legislator, Founder of Cancer Institute (WIA),Padma Bhushan Awardee
  • Dr.T.Sundara Reddi - First Indian doctor to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Civil Surgeons (FRCS) and he had set up the Clinic for Poor and Downtrodden People , Husband of Muthulakshmi Reddi and Nephew of A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
  • Krishnamurthy Reddiar - Notable Herbal Practitioner from Sri Lanka
  • Dr. Venugopal S Reddiar - Physician, Success Coach & Behavioural Scientist

Agriculture

  • T. Venkatapathi Reddiar - Famous Horticulturist and Florist and a Receipient of Padma Shri Award
  • G. Sundarama Reddiar - Prominent leader in the South India Farmers’ Union

Education

  • Dhanalakshmi A. Srinivasan - Founder - Chancellor of Dhanalakshmi Group of Institutions
  • K.Ramaswamy - Founder of National Engineering College, Kovilpatti
  • K.R.Arunachalam - Managing Trustee of K.R Group of Institutions
  • R.Shanmugaiah - Founder of RSR International School, Sivakasi
  • Ramesh Prabha - Educationist, Chairman of Galaxy Institute of Management Chennai, Career Guidance Specialist and a Television Presenter.
  • N.Narayanasamy Reddiyar - Renowned Teacher and Tamil Writer and Founder of Narayana Gardens
  • T.Kalathur Pulavar Rengaraju Reddiyar - Won the Best Teacher Award from then President of India K. R. Narayanan in 1997 & Best Teacher Award (state level) from the Ex-Chief Minister of Tamilnadu J. Jayalalithaa in 1993. Also a Tamil poet.
  • M.Sathya Kumar - Educationist and Renowned Economic & Tax Law Advisor in India. He Completed Chartered Accountancy, Cost Accountancy and Company Secretary courses,becoming one of the few triple-qualified finance professionals in India and now practicing as an Advocate.

Arts and Cinema

Sports

Entrepreneurs

  • A.Muthukrishnan - Co-Founder of Namma Veedu Vasanta Bhavan Chain of Restaurants , Tamil Nadu
  • A.Rengasamy - Co-Founder of Namma Veedu Vasanta Bhavan Chain of Restaurants , Tamil Nadu
  • M.Ravi - Owner of Namma Veedu Vasanta Bhavan Chain of Restaurants , Tamil Nadu
  • R. Kandasamy Reddiar - Founder of Valarmathi Hotels(Now Known as Temple City Group of Hotels), Madurai, Tamil Nadu
  • Temple City Lakshamana Kumar - Owner of Temple City Group of Hotels, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
  • Dr.Manivannan Selvaraj - Founder and Managing Director of Kauvery Hospital
  • Dr.Aravindan Selvaraj - Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kauvery Hospital
  • G. Renganathan - Owner of Guru Hotel, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
  • E.V.Perumalsamy Reddy - Founder of EVP Group of Companies
  • E.V.P.Santhosh Reddy - Managing Director of EVP Group of Companies
  • S.T. Reddiar - Founder of ST Reddiar and Sons, Ernakulam , Kerala
  • Veeraiah Reddiar - Founder of Seematti, One of Kerala's Big Textile and Silk Showrooms.
  • Beena Kannan - Owner of Seematti,Kerala
  • Aiyappa Reddiar - Founder of Aiyappas, Kottayam, Kerala
  • K. Lakshmana Reddiar - Textile Tycoon, Founder of Parthas, Textile and Silk Showroom Chain, Kerala
  • M. Venkatanarayana Reddiar - Textile Tycoon, Founder of Sreenivas Fabrics, Kerala
  • T.K.Perumal Reddiar - Famous Merchant, Kerala
  • Nataraja Reddiar - Founder of Famous Grand Sweets & Snacks, Chennai
  • K. Santhanam Reddiar - Founder of Sanco Trans Group, Chennai
  • M. Vengadasubbu - Founder of Darling Electronics
  • Ramanuja Reddiar Kumar - Founder of Anuj Tiles
  • K.R.V. Ganesan - Founder of Aswins Sweets, Perambalur
  • R.Manoharan - Founder of Banana Leaf Group of Restaurants
  • Yuvaraajann Radhakrishnan - Owner of Baashyam Group of Constructions

Intrepreneur

  • Rajmohan Rajagopalan - General Manager at Microsoft, Palo Alto, California

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sheldon I. Pollock (2003). Literary cultures in history: reconstructions from South Asia. University of California Press. pp. 385–. ISBN 978-0-520-22821-4. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  2. ↑ Shungoonny Menon, P (1998). History of Travancore from the earliest times. Madras: Asian Educational Services. p. 523. ISBN 9788120601697.
  3. ↑ "The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Venkatasubba Reddiar remembered". www.hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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