Chozhia Vellalar
Encyclopedia
Chozhia Vellalar or Sozhia Vellalar (Tamil
: சோழிய வேளாளர்) (Pronounced as Cholia Vellalar) is one of the High/Dominate social group from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
. The Chozhia Vellalar caste includes sub-castes of Keerakarar, Mudaliar, Kodikalarar and Vatrilaikarar
and Pillai
community. They were the people of Chola Nadu
in origin and were greater landlords & Scholars in the Chola Kingdom. They were also the Great Warrior Clan of Chola and led crucial war for Chola Kings as Generals of Chola Army.
A theory derives the word from Vel, to win to control, to take, as well as a lance, an old and archaic Tamil weapon. Supposedly cultivation in South Asia was spread by force, people would move out into virgin land, which was used by hunter gatherer or tribal people for slash and burn agriculture or for hunting and convert into prime agricultural land.
This was an honorific title of select few people who would organize such raids and settlements like chiefs who were also called as Vel which spread to all including that of all Ulavar which is Tamil
for farmer, the actual Tamil name for cultivators. Today everybody uses it but once it was restricted to village headman or founding chief's lineage
The true concept of Vellars is they are original cultivators that has its origin to the Tamil Word Vellanmai, which means agriculture and the agriculturalists of Choza dynast became the Chozia Vellars, if to Pandiya they were called as Pandiya Vellars,those who settled in 6 different nations are called Arunattu Vellars. The farmers of Kongu are called Kongu Vellalar
s.
Though the distribution of the community is found in most of the districts, they migrated to the other parts of Tamil Nadu from Trichy and Thanjavur areas towards the middle and second half of the 19th century. As they moved in, they always followed the river bed areas for settlement. Thus, the said community when came to Salem District they initially settled at Palamedu
. When their life at Palamedu became difficult due to Theechati Kolliyars (Dacoits with fire) they moved out. Of these the persons who moved to Pandamangalam
area were farmers and the traders moved into Proper Salem. They settled as trader dealing in betel
leaves and thus earning the name Vatrilaikarar.
Many communities converted to Christianity due to missionaries, but retained their cultural identity.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
: சோழிய வேளாளர்) (Pronounced as Cholia Vellalar) is one of the High/Dominate social group from the Indian state 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...
. The Chozhia Vellalar caste includes sub-castes of Keerakarar, Mudaliar, Kodikalarar and Vatrilaikarar
Origin
Chozia Vellalar is a sub-caste of the greater VellalarVellalar
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...
and Pillai
Pillai (community)
Pillai is a Tamil speaking community from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are a landowning upper caste, feudal community.-Origin of Vellalar:...
community. They were the people of Chola Nadu
Chola Nadu
Chola Nadu is a region of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. It encompasses the lower reaches of the Kaveri River and its delta, and formed the cultural homeland and political base of the Chola Dynasty which ruled most of South India and parts of Sri Lanka and South-East Asia between the 9th and...
in origin and were greater landlords & Scholars in the Chola Kingdom. They were also the Great Warrior Clan of Chola and led crucial war for Chola Kings as Generals of Chola Army.
A theory derives the word from Vel, to win to control, to take, as well as a lance, an old and archaic Tamil weapon. Supposedly cultivation in South Asia was spread by force, people would move out into virgin land, which was used by hunter gatherer or tribal people for slash and burn agriculture or for hunting and convert into prime agricultural land.
This was an honorific title of select few people who would organize such raids and settlements like chiefs who were also called as Vel which spread to all including that of all Ulavar which is Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
for farmer, the actual Tamil name for cultivators. Today everybody uses it but once it was restricted to village headman or founding chief's lineage
The true concept of Vellars is they are original cultivators that has its origin to the Tamil Word Vellanmai, which means agriculture and the agriculturalists of Choza dynast became the Chozia Vellars, if to Pandiya they were called as Pandiya Vellars,those who settled in 6 different nations are called Arunattu Vellars. The farmers of Kongu are called Kongu Vellalar
Kongu Vellalar
Gounders also known as Kongu Vellalars are Kshatriyas native to the western region of Tamil Nadu known as Kongu Nadu. They were known as a noble, feudal and land owning caste of Tamil Nadu from the Sangam age...
s.
Distribution and migration
The Chozhia Vellalars were present predominantly in the eastern districts of Tamil Nadu. Nowadays they are present in almost all the districts of Tamil Nadu.Though the distribution of the community is found in most of the districts, they migrated to the other parts of Tamil Nadu from Trichy and Thanjavur areas towards the middle and second half of the 19th century. As they moved in, they always followed the river bed areas for settlement. Thus, the said community when came to Salem District they initially settled at Palamedu
Palamedu
Palamedu is a panchayat town in Madurai district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Palamedu is located at . It has an average elevation of 227 metres .-Demographics:...
. When their life at Palamedu became difficult due to Theechati Kolliyars (Dacoits with fire) they moved out. Of these the persons who moved to Pandamangalam
Pandamangalam
Pandamangalam is a panchayat town in Namakkal district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Pandamangalam had a population of 5949. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Pandamangalam has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average...
area were farmers and the traders moved into Proper Salem. They settled as trader dealing in betel
Betel
The Betel is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and Kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties...
leaves and thus earning the name Vatrilaikarar.
Many communities converted to Christianity due to missionaries, but retained their cultural identity.
Prominent Chozhia Vellalars
- Nayanmars from Chola Nadu
- Ki.Aa.Pe. Viswanatham Pillai, called as 'Muthamizh Kaavalar' for his contribution towards Tamil.
- Pradani Muthirulappa PillaiPradani Muthirulappa PillaiPradani Muthirulappa Pillai , son of Sundra Pandya Pillai, of the 18th century was a famous minister of Ramnad during the reign of Muthuramalinga Sethupathy...
, a famous minister of Ramnad during the reign of Muthuramalinga Sethupathy - Vasantha Prabu, Software Engineer, Bangalore
- Arunmoorthy Sethupathy, Coimbatore.
- Elagu V. ElaguppillaiElagu V. ElaguppillaiDr. Elagu V. Elaguppillai is a prominent Canadian of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, a businessman, nuclear scientist, university professor, medical researcher, municipal politician and a community services volunteer for over 35 years....
-Scientist - Dr. Harish K Pillai,Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay)Known in academic circles for his contribution to the field of Behavioral Theory of Systems, a fundamentally new approach to the study of Systems.
- L. D. Swamikannu PillaiL. D. Swamikannu PillaiDiwan Bahadur Lewis Dominic Swamikannu Pillai CIE was an Indian politician, historian, linguist, astronomer and administrator who served as the second President of the Madras Legislative Council.- Early life :...
, Indian astronomer,former Speaker of Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil 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...
Assembly - Russell Stanislaus - Power Plant Pioneer
- A. John Louis, son of Arpudhasamy pillai - Former Joint Director of Education, Pondicherry