Our Legacy
The Journey of the Reddiar Community
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 and southern districts of Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chengalpet,Tirunelveli 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.
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 Origin in Tirunelveli Distric, Tamilnadu 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.
To Gods own country
Reddiars Migration to Kerala
The 1870s and 1880s, the famine in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the Tirunelveli district, was rampant. During that period, the Reddyar community, who lived only on agriculture in Samudharengapuram, Seelathikulam, Nakaneri and Baruthipadu in Tirunelveli district, had no means of liveThe 1870s and 1880s were marked by famine in Tamil Nadulihood and lived in groups in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha towns in Kerala state by particularly in the Tirunelveli district. At that time, the Reddiar community of Samukarengapuram, Seelathikulam, Nakkaneri, and Paruthipadu in Tirunelveli district, who were subsisting solely on agriculture, were living in hordes without any means of livelihood. They settled in the towns of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha in Kerala state. The hotel had several grocery stores. They made a living by selling cotton and textiles in the villages of Kerala.
In 1896, SubbiahReddiar started a printingpress named (S.T.Reddiar & sons) in Kollam andpublished Malayalam Sagatiyas written on palm leaves as books. The Maharaja of Travancorerewarded him for his service.
1921 in Kollam Pallithottam Ward A.N.K. There is evidence that RENGNATHA REDDIAR started the month chitty.
N.A Narayanaswamy Reddiar born in 1896. In Samugarengapuram. Tirunelveli District NANR started his career as a provision merchant in Quilon. After 1940 he established himself in cashew industry. Which wash lucrative enterprise and soon became one of the leading exporters in Quilon having about twenty processing units spread over Kollam and suburbs. He started Quilon pencil Factory at Qulion with modern Skill and Technology that manufactured high quality brand of pencils (Lakshmi Pencil).
Leadership with Legacy
Our Leaders
They represent our collective strength and guide us toward a stronger, connected future.
B.Raveendranath Reddiar
AKRF President
Poornima Radhakrishnan
AKRFLW President