The Chettiars also Chetty, Chetti, Setty, Chitty, Shetty and Shettigar is a title, commonly used by people of South Indian origin in India and abroad. It is usually derived from trading social groups. The Popular AVM Productions owners belong to this Chettiar community.They fall under hindu varna Arya vysya a subsect of Vaishya. South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the two Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... In sociology, a group is usually defined as a collection consisting of a number of people who share certain aspects, interact with one another, accept rights and obligations as members of the group and share a common identity. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Origin of the word

It is commonly believed to have derived from the title for traders in Prakrit, namely Shresta. However, not all agree with its Indo-Aryan linguistic origins and think the word could be of Dravidian linguistic origin^[1]. One theory is the root word is ETTI a Dravidian word that means 'look up, jump up or forward jerk and around simultaneously calling out to sell'. The obvious intention is to sell a merchandise to advertise/market loud, to have an audience to sell their ware. Prakrit (also spelt Pracrit) (Sanskrit: , original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual, i. ... The Indo-Aryan languages form a subgroup of the Indo-Iranian languages, which belong to the Indo-European family of languages. ... For other uses, see Dravidian (disambiguation). ...

Similar title usage in South Asia

A similar title Seth is used amongst Gujarati speakers. The name is similar to Khatri (Khetri), a mercantile caste from Punjab. In Kannada and Tulu it is Shetty, Shettar and Shettigar. In Sinhalese it is Hetty. In Nepal amongst Newari residents of Kathmandu it is Shresta. Gujarati (ગુજરાતી Gujǎrātī; also known as Gujerati, Gujarathi, Guzratee, and Guujaratee[3]) is an Indo-Aryan language descending from Sanskrit, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. ... Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ... Tulu is one of the minor languages of India with under 2,000,000 speakers. ... Sinhalese or Sinhala (සිංහල, ISO 15919: , IPA: [], earlier referred to as Singhalese) is the mother tongue of the Sinhalese, the largest ethnic group of Sri Lanka. ... The Newar or Newah are the indigenous group of Nepals Kathmandu valley. ... For the retail store chain, see Kathmandu (company). ...

Primary usage of title

As noted many castes of different ethnic origins use the title today. The foremost one in Tamil Nadu is Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarathars& Arivur nagarathar who are ethnically Tamil and originally hailed from Nattukottai region. Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... The Nagarathars are a Chettiar Community that originated in Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola kingdom of India. ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are a multi-ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ...

Other castes in Tamil Nadu using this are ethnic minority Telugu speaking Arya Vysyas' a subsect of Komati Settys from Andhra Pradesh , 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars, Vaniya Chettiar, Devanga Chettiar, Beri Chettiar, Ilavaniya Chettiar(Moopanar) etc An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... “Telugu” redirects here. ... The Komati River is a river in South Africa and Swaziland. ... “Andhra” redirects here. ... 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars is an Indian caste. ... Vaniya Chettiar is a subcaste of chettiars prominently seen in the south indian states of Tamilnadu , kerala, Andhra and Karnataka. ...

Usage among various castes

Though the typical Chetty is conceived to be a trader, various social groups(non-merchant) sport this surname. In Tulu Nadu, Shettys are part of landed castes. Map of Tulu Nadu with respect to the rest of Karnataka. ... Shilpa Shetty (Tulu:ಶಿಲ್ಪ ಶೆಟ್ಟಿ), born June 8 1975, is a four-time Filmfare Award-nominated Bollywood actress, AIDS activist and a PETA supporter. ... Bunt is a Dravidian, Tulu/Kannada speaking class found mainly in Southern coastal Karnataka. ...

Most of the non-Tamil castes use it as an affix to their profession specific names. Telugus use it as in Komati Setty where Komati represents a name of the group and Setty represents a trade. Kannada and Malayali weavers use it as in Devanga Chetty or Sali Chetty, where Devanga and Sali represent the name of the group. Kannada - aptly described as sirigannada (known to few as Kanarese) is one of the oldest Dravidian languages and is spoken in its various dialects by roughly 45 million people. ... Languages Malayalam (മലയാളം) Religions Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Malayali or Malayalee(മലയാളി) is a name given to the inhabitants of the state of Kerala. ... Devanga is a sub-caste in Hinduism. ... Saliya (or Chaliyan or sali or sale) is a Malayali weavers caste found mostly in Northern Kerala and Southern coastal Karnataka. ...

Other castes using the title

• Agaram Vellan Chettiar
• Senai Thalaivar
• Kongu Chettiar
• Kuruhini Chetty
• Moundadan Chetty
• Sozhia Chetty
• Telugupatty Chetty^[2]
• Elur Chetty
• Saiva Chettiar / Thiruvarur Vaguppu (Vellan Chettiars) A small group of chettiar families living in Andanapettai Near Nagapattinam, Nagore, Vellipalayam, Thiruthuraipondi, Marudhur, Vedaranyam, Thiruvarur and Mannargudi.

Elur Chetty (also called Elur Chettu or Ezhur Chetty) is a Tamil speaking Hindu community in South India. ...

See also

• Tamil diaspora
• Colombo Chetty
• Malacca Chitty
• Nagarathar
• Saliyar

The Tamil diaspora is a term used to denote people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan Tamil origin who have settled in many parts of the rest of India and Sri Lanka, or in other regions, particularly Malaysia, Singapore, the Middle East, Réunion, South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad... // Origins Colombo Chetty are a formerly endogamous Sri Lankan social group or caste. ... The Chitty caretaker of the Chitty museum. ... The Nagarathars are a Chettiar Community that originated in Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola kingdom of India. ... Saliya (or Chaliyan or sali or sale) is a Malayali weavers caste found mostly in Northern Kerala and Southern coastal Karnataka. ...

External links

• Caste and Capitalism in Colonial India : The Nattukottai Chettiars, A Research by David W. Rudner submitted to University of California
• Nagarathar History Researched and Compiled by PL. Chidambaram
• OBITUARY REFERENCES (R.Ramanathan Chettiar)Available in the Indian Parliament website 20 December 1995
• Classic Chettinad: Home Alone by Outlook traveler Dt: JUL 2004
• Centenary celebrations of Dr Sir Rajah Muttiah Chettiar by "Daily life" Dt , Nov 25
• History of a trading community by "The Hindu" Dt 06/08/2002
• Life Sketch of SIR M.Ct. Muthiah Chettiar 1887-1929 in Hindu high school
• Rituals & Customs - Tamil Chettiar on Shaadi online
• A note about Chettiar origin Saiva neri website
• Sri Lankan Nagarathar Genealogy Website
• They leverage on easy access to credit by financial express Dt April 12,2004
• History of Chettiars Researched

References

1. ^ Chetty in Hobson-Jobson dictionary
2. ^ Tamil Nadu List of Most Backward Classes (G.O. Ms. No. 100 BC and MBCW Dept dated 24-11-97)