Chettiar

The Chettiar, or Chettiars, is a term used for several Tamil mercantile communities, the most prominent of which are the Nattukottai Chettiars. They originated in the Tamil regions of present-day Tamil Nadu and later established extensive commercial networks across South and Southeast Asia, forming a widely scattered trading and financial community.

Historically, Chettiars were prominent bankers and moneylenders who financed agricultural production and export trade. They built and operated banking houses and trading firms across Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Malaysia, Singapore, and other parts of Southeast Asia, playing a key role in regional commerce and capital flows. The community developed a reputation for financial agility and cross-border networks that linked farmers, merchants, and lenders.

Culturally, the Chettiar community is known for its wealth, distinctive architecture, and regional cuisine. The Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu is famed for its grand ancestral homes, which combine local and foreign design influences. The community is predominantly Hindu, with social organizations, customary endogamy, and temple patronage shaping religious and cultural life.

In contemporary times, Chettiars pursue diverse occupations, including finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship, both in India and in diaspora communities around the world. While traditions continue to influence social and cultural practices, modern Chettiars engage with global markets and urban economies, maintaining charitable activities and cultural networks that preserve communal identity.