Chettiar (also spelt as Chetti and Chetty) is a title used by many traders, weaving, agricultural and land-owning in South India, especially in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
Etymology
Chettiar/Chetty is derived from the
Sanskrit word (
Devanagari: श्रेष्ठ) or (
Devanagari: श्रेष्ठीन्), meaning superior. This term was later
as (
Devanagari: सेठी), and eventually became (
Devanagari: शेट) or (
Devanagari: शेटी) in modern Indo-Aryan dialects.
In early Indian literature, the term referred to a wealthy class of merchants associated with the Vysya varna.
Historical significance
The Chettiar title has been associated with a diverse range of communities, including merchant groups, agriculturalists, and artisans.
[:”Although the Chettiars were originally a Sudra caste, in more recent times they have made claim to be considered as Vaisyas.”] The title is also used by certain subgroups of the
Vellalar caste, highlighting its adaptability across regions and professions.
During the British Raj, Chettiars, particularly the Nattukottai Nagarathar(Chettiyar), Aruviyur Nagarathar(Chettiyar), gained recognition as prominent bankers and financiers in South India and Southeast Asia.
Economic and cultural contributions
Commerce and finance
The Nattukottai Chettiars established a sophisticated banking system, introducing financial instruments like the
hundi (promissory note) and developing credit networks that extended from colonial India to
Burma (Myanmar),
Malaysia, and
Singapore.
Their financial expertise earned them a reputation as the "bankers of the East" during the
British Raj.
Agriculture and textiles
In addition to their achievements in commerce, several Chettiar subgroups were engaged in agriculture and textile production. The
Vellalar Chettiars (vellan Chettis) were historically known as agrarian landlords and also involved in trading and merchanting,
while others, like the
Devanga Chettiars, excelled in weaving fine textiles.
The Kandangi sari, a traditional handloom product, is an enduring symbol of their craftsmanship.
Philanthropy and religion
The Chettiars are celebrated for their philanthropic endeavors. They funded schools, hospitals, and temples, many of which remain significant cultural landmarks. Prominent temples such as the Pillaiyarpatti Temple and the Kundrakudi Temple in Tamil Nadu are linked to Chettiar patronage.
Their generosity extended beyond India, contributing to infrastructure and religious institutions in Southeast Asia.
See also
Further reading
-
Christine Dobson, Asian Entrepreneurial Minorities, Curzon Press UK, 1996. (A chapter in the book is devoted to the Chettiars who set up businesses in Burma.)
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Rajeswary Brown (1993) "Chettiar capital and Southeast Asian credit networks in the inter-war period". In G. Austin and K. Sugihara, eds. Local Suppliers of Credit in the Third World, 1750-1960. (New York: St. Martin's Press).
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David Rudner (1989) Banker's Trust and the Culture of Banking among the Nattukottai Chettiars of Colonial South India. Modern Asian Studies 23 (3), 417-458.
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Heiko Schrader (1996) Chettiar Finance in Colonial Asia. Zeitschrift fur Ethnologie 121, 101-126.
