இராவுத்தர்/ராவுத்தர் | |
---|---|
Regions with significant populations | |
Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maritime Southeast Asia, Arabian Peninsula, Western Europe, North America | |
Languages | |
Tamil (Mother Tongue) • Malayalam | |
Religion | |
Islam (Sect – Sunni, Madhab – Hanafi) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Tamil People • Tamil Muslims • Indo-Turkic |
The Rowther (anglicised as Irauttar, Rawther, Ravuttar,Ravutta, Ravuthar, Ravuthamar) are a distinct Muslim community living largely in the south Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. [1] They are descent from the turkic people who came to settle in chola kingdom for horse trade and cavalry and majorly people who converted to Islam by preacher Nathar Shah (Nathar Wali) in the 10th to 11th century. [2] [3] [4] Even after conversion they retained their Ravuttar caste name. They were one of the earliest muslim community in india [5] . They were elite cavalrymen of the Chola and Pandya kingdoms. [6] They were traditionally a martial clan like the Maravars, [7] and constitute large part of the multi-ethnic Tamil Muslim community. [8] Rowthers have also been found as Tamil polygars, zamindars and chieftains from the 16th to 18th centuries. [9] The traditional homelands of the Rowthers were in the interior of Southern Tamilakam. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
The name Ravuttar (or Ravutta, Ravuthar, Rowther, Rawther) means king, horseman, or cavalry warrior in the Tamil language and is derived from the word Rājaputra , in the sense of 'prince', 'nobleman', or 'horseman'. D.C. Sircar points out that Ravutta or Rahutta, as a title, means a 'subordinate ruler'. [16] Some scholars claim that the name comes from Rathore, a name common among the Muslim Rajputs of North India. [14] Historically, they are parts of clans traditionally holding positions as rulers and military folk. 'Ravuta' means a high-ranking title King, lord, or feudatory ruling chief. [17]
'Rahut' or 'rowt' means Warrior and 'raya' means captain. [18] 'Rāvuttarayan' or 'Rāvuttakartan' means high military chief of cavalry.
Rowthers are largest Muslim community in Tamil Nadu. they found all over Tamil Nadu and in Central and Southern Kerala. Their mother tongue is Tamil. [19] Many of them are familiar with the Perso-Arabic script. They adhere to the principles of Islam, engaging in the study of the Quran and other religious texts in Arabic. Simultaneously, despite their commitment to their Islamic faith, they share a common pride with all Tamils in their rich Tamil language and vibrant cultural heritage. [20]
Rowthers generally speak Tamil. [21]
They have their own distinct culinary traditions which notably include Rowther Biryani., [22] [23] [24] which is made of Jeera Samba rice, and desserts like Dumroot, a cake-like dish made out of semolina. Mutton is the preferred meat for special occasions like wedding events, house warming ceremonies, etc.[ citation needed ]
Much like other Muslim communities, Drinking Culture is non-existent due to Islam's stance regarding consumption of alcohol. As is the consumption of pork and usage of products derived from pigs. Due to following Hanafi rulings, they also might abstain from consuming shellfish like prawns, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, etc.due to them being deemed Makruh in the Hanafi madhab.
The Elderly Men wear solid white Vēṭṭis (unstitched) or solid white Kayili (stitched) for formal occasions. For more informal settings, a colored and patterned (checkered or striped) kayili is worn, usually as loungewear, regardless of age group and social standings. Religious Clerics or men who might be devout in their beliefs wear a jubbah, often paired with a kayili. For special occasions, men might wear a waistcoat. Men usually get married wearing either a Western Suit or a Sherwani. They wear a white skullcap as headgear, especially if they are devout. Other headgear include the Turban and the Fez, which aren't worn as frequently as everyday headgear as how the white skullcap might be, usually reserved for special occasions.
Women's traditional attire is the sari , [20] [15] serving as a bridal wear and for other formal occasions. Elderly women usually wear the sari as an everyday attire, regardless of the occasion. Over the decades, both as formal and informal wear, as is the case with the rest of the Indian subcontinent, the Salwar Kameez has become more prevalent, especially among working women and among the younger generations. [25] The older generations used to wrap around an unstitched and white over-sheet by the name of 'Thupathi' over their garments, as a marker of modesty and Purdah . [26] However, due to evolving trends and cultural exchange, nowadays, as Purdah, women wear the Abaya , usually black in colour, paired with a headscarf.
Both men and women might dye their hair (and beard, in the case of men) with Henna, in compliance with a Prophetic tradition. Women also apply Henna as bridal makeup and for other special occasions. [27] Applying Surma as an eyeliner is another Prophetic tradition, as it is also a local cultural practice, especially more prevalent among women. Men might refrain from wearing silk garments and gold accessories due to a religious dictate of gold and silk being discouraged for men.
The community also celebrates a festival called Chandanakudam every year.[ citation needed ]
'Ravuttar', 'Rawther', and 'Rowther' are common surnames among the group, [28] but other titles often used are below:
Rowthers are Soldiers, officials, and literati attached to Muslim Court in the Deccan. [35] In described as a Rāuta, Rāutta or Rāvutta derived from Sanskrit Rajaputra and was often assumed by subordinate rulers. [36] [37]
Later, Chola kings too invited Horse traders from the Seljuk Empire who belonged to the Hanafi school. [38] During 8th-10th centuries, an armada of Turkish traders settled in Madurai, Tanjore, Tiruchirapalli, Tharangambadi, Nagapattinam, Muthupet, Koothanallur and Podakkudi. [39]
These new settlements were now added to the Rowther community. There are some Anatolian and Safavid inscriptions found in a wide area from Tanjore to Thiruvarur and in many villages. These inscriptions are seized by the Madras Museum. Some Turkish inscriptions were also stolen from the Big Mosque of Koothanallur in 1850. [40]
There are two factions of Rowthers in Tamil Nadu, Tamils cavalry warriors covers majority of Tamil Nadu while Seljuk Turkic clan remains in Delta districts and some south tamilnadu districts and Kerala. [38] Both now Tamil and Turkish Hanafi expanded with population and some circumstantial evidence in historical sources that the Rowthers are related to Maravar converts. [41] Rowthers worked in the administration of the Vijayanagar Nayaks. [42]
The Rowthers were an endogamous group. But like all modern societies, they have adapted to modern norms and rituals. [43]
English | Rowther's Tamil/Malayalam |
Father | Aththaa or Atthaa/ Vappichi or Vappa |
Mother | Amma/Buva |
Elder Brother | Annan |
Younger Brother | Thambi |
Elder Sister | Akka |
Younger Sister | Thangai/Thangachi |
Paternal Grandfather | Atthatha/Ayya/Appa/Radha |
Paternal Grandmother | Aththamma/Radhima or Thathima |
Maternal Grandfather | Ayya/Appa or Ammatha/Nanna |
Maternal Grandmother | Mooma/Ammama/Nannimma |
Father's Elder Brother/ Husband of Mother's Elder Sister | Periyatha or Periyavaapa |
Mother's Elder Sister / Wife of Father's Elder Brother | Periyamma or Periyabuva |
Father's Younger Brother | Chaacha/Chinnaththa |
Mother's Younger Sister | Khalamma/Chinnamma/Chiththi |
Maternal Uncle | Mama |
Maternal Aunt | Maami |
Cousins | Machan & Machi |
Elder Brother's Wife | Madhini/Machi |
Nevertheless, in cities, inter-marriages do occur, although they are rare" (Vines, 1973). Parallel and cross-cousins are potential spouses. Remembering the community's historic valor, during marriage ceremonies, the bridegroom is conducted in a horseback procession. [11]
Traditionally the Rowthers were landlords and landowning community (historically mentioned as Rowthers were brave cavaliers and early Muslim horse-traders in Tamil literature [44] ), but today, they deal with various trade and occupations, mostly being self-employed. They deal in gemstones, gold, textiles, and real estate and participate in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry, construction work, and general merchandising. Some profess traditionally white-collar professions like doctors, engineers, advocates, civil servants, accountants, and teachers. [45]
There is no traditional caste council or panchayat as such among the Rowthers. Learned and Elderly individuals, and Religious Clerics act as advisors. The Rowther have an association that preaches against dowry and collects funds for charity. [45]
Rowthers belong to the Sunni sect of Islam and subscribe to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. They follow the five basic tenets of Islam, which are:
Their adherence to the Hanafi madhab
Being Hanafi adherents, Rowthers tend to subscribe to the Deobandi movement, which is a reformist movement that arose during the 19th century in North India. The aim of this movement is to eradicate religious innovations and other practices that the movement might deem 'heretical' or 'deviant', all of which might have crept within the subcontinent's Muslims and their practices over the centuries.
In contrast, they can also be part of the Barelvi movement (Sunnat Jamaath), which also began in North India during the late 19th century. The Barelvi movement emphasise more on retaining the centuries of religious traditions and practices, and encourages visiting the resting place (Dargahs) of Awliyas and seeking intercession.
There are some minority, particularly among the youth, that might follow Salafism, primarily due to the efforts and groundwork of reformist Salafi organizations like the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath, who discourage the practice of sticking to one madhab for religious rulings.
The major festivals celebrated are Eid-Ul-Fitr, Chandanakudam, and Bakr-id. [45]
The well-known legend of the Shiva saint Manikkavacakar of the 9th century is connected with the purchase of horses for the Pandya king. In that, the god Shiva who appeared in disguise as a horse trader to protect the saint and he is called as Rowther. Also, the Tamil god Murugan is praised by saint Arunagirinathar as சூர் கொன்ற ராவுத்தனே (Oh Ravuttan, who vanquished Sooran) and மாமயிலேரும் ராவுத்தனே (Oh Ravuttan, who rides on the great peacock) in his Kanthar Alangaram (கந்தர் அலங்காரம்) and in Kanthar Venba (கந்தர் வெண்பா). [46] [47] [48]
This shows the religious harmony of Rowthers and Saivites in early Tamilakam till now. [49] [50] [51]
There were Tamil Rowthers working in the administration of the Vijayanagara Empire in the Khurram Kunda. The inscription details the dedication of the land by the Rowther to a Murugan temple in Cheyyur.
Muththaal Ravuttar (meaning Muslim Rowther is a Prakrit derivation from raja-putra) figures as Tamil male deities who protect Tamil land. [9]
Rowthers are one of the most prominent Muslim groups in South India, making their mark in various fields, from jurisprudence to Entertainment. [45]
The community gives importance to education. Due to Globalization and the 1991 Economic Reforms, a lot of societal and cultural shifts have taken place. The aftermath has resulted in women being more active participants of the workforce and an increase in their participation in higher education and academia. [52] Grants and scholarships have been established by numerous Muslim minority institutions to make education easier for women to seek and access. Thus, women today, are encouraged and emphasised to pursue and excel in secular education as much as it might be encouraged for them to excel in religious education.
Due to easier and better access to religious resources and more religious awareness, the community has also gradually begun to allow women to pray in masjids, particularly during the occasions of Jummah and Eid, and make them more active participants in masjid activities (hosting seminars, workshops, and classes). Historically, in the Indian subcontinent, due to societal and cultural reasons, more so than any religious mandate, women were discouraged to attend, pray, and participate in masjids. [53] [54] [55]
Iyers are an ethnoreligious community of Tamil-speaking Brahmins. Most Iyers are followers of the Advaita philosophy propounded by Adi Shankara and adhere to the Smarta tradition. This is in contrast to the Iyengar community, who are adherents of Sri Vaishnavism. The Iyers and the Iyengars are together referred to as Tamil Brahmins. The majority of Iyers reside in Tamil Nadu, India.
Tamil Muslims are Tamils who practise Islam. The community is 6 million in India, primarily in the state of Tamil Nadu where 90% of the Muslim community identified themselves as Tamil Muslims. In Tamil Nadu, the majority of Tamil-speaking Muslims belong to the Rowthers Community while other Muslims live in coastal Tamil Nadu. There is a substantial diaspora, particularly in Southeast Asia, which has seen their presence as early as the 13th century. In the late 20th century, the diaspora expanded to Western Europe, Persian Gulf and North America.
Paraiyar, Parayar or Maraiyar is a caste group found in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and in Sri Lanka.
The Marakkars are an Indic ethnic group with historical presence across the Indian Subcontinent and Indonesian Archipelago. Their contemporary populations are primarily concentrated in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Republic of Maldives, as well as the Western, Central, and Southern provinces of Sri Lanka. Within Southeast Asia, prominent Marakkar communities exist in Malaysia and Singapore.
Sri Lankan Moors are an ethnic minority group in Sri Lanka, comprising 9.3% of the country's total population. Most of them are native speakers of the Tamil language. The majority of Moors who are not native to the North and East also speak Sinhalese as a second language. They are predominantly followers of Islam. The Sri Lankan Muslim community is mostly divided between Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Moors, Sri Lankan Malays and Sri Lankan Bohras. These groups are differentiated by lineage, language, history, culture and traditions.
Islam arrived in Kerala, the Malayalam-speaking region in the south-western tip of India, through Middle Eastern merchants. The Indian coast has an ancient relation with West Asia and the Middle East, even during the pre-Islamic period.
Dravida Nadu is a name of a proposed sovereign state demanded by the Justice Party led by the founder of the self-respect movement, E.V. Ramasamy Periyar, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by C. N. Annadurai for the speakers of the Dravidian languages in South India.
The Velir were a royal house of minor dynastic kings and aristocratic chieftains in Tamilakam in the early historic period of South India. They had close relations with Chera, Chola and Pandya rulers through ruling and coronation rights. Medieval inscriptions and Sangam literature claim that they belong to the Yadu dynasty. Velir may refer to master of land.
The caste system among South Asian Christians often reflects stratification by sect, location, and the caste of their predecessors. There exists evidence to show that Christian individuals have mobility within their respective castes. But, in some cases, social inertia caused by their old traditions and biases against other castes remain, causing caste system to persist among South Asian Christians, to some extent. Christian priests, nuns, Dalits and similar groups are found in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Labbay, are a Tamil Muslim trading community in southern India found throughout the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The Labbay are a subgroup within the Tamil Muslim community.
Podakkudi is a village in Thiruvarur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is located at a distance of 20 km (12 mi) from the district headquarters Thiruvarur and 272 km (169 mi) from the state capital Chennai. Podakkudi is known for the Big Pallivasal, a prominent Islamic shrine. Nearby town is Koothanallur and the nearby villages are Atthikadai and Budamangalam.
Atheism and agnosticism have a long history in India and flourish within the Śramaṇa movement. Indian religions like Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism consider atheism to be acceptable. Doubt has been ingrained even in Indian spiritual culture.
P. Dawood Shah was a Tamil enthusiast and scholar, activist and a gold medalist from Madurai Tamil Sangam. He also known as "Kamba Ramayana Sahib".
M. Muhammad Ismail was an Indian politician and social worker from southern Indian state Tamil Nadu. he was a founder of the Indian Union Muslim League party after the partition of British India. He was popularly known in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as the "Quaid-e-Millat". Ismail was a member of Madras Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition (1946—52). He was also a member (1948—50) of the Constituent Assembly, the drafting body of the constitution of India. He was also a member of Rajya Sabha (1952—58) and Lok Sabha.
Chakkala Nair, also known as Vattakkat Nair, and Vaniya Nair is one of the intermediate subcastes of the Nair community. They are distributed throughout Kerala. In Travancore, they are known as Chakkala, while in Cochin and Malabar they are Vattakattu and In the extreme north of Malabar they are called Vaniya
Koothanallur is a town in Tiruvarur district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is located at a distance of 20 km (12 mi) from the district headquarters Tiruvarur and 350 km (220 mi) from the state capital Chennai.
Aranjanam / Araijan Kodi is a girdle-like ornament for the waist, worn around the waist by many south Indian adults and children. It is usually made of gold or silver, sometimes it may also be a red or black thread tied around the waist. Aranjanam are common among women and men in India south India. A traditional practice being followed even today by many women and men, it is believed wearing Aranjanam is considered as protection from negative energy. In Kerala, almost all newborns irrespective of the religious affiliation get a waist chain. Although many boys generally abandon waist chains during their teenage years, but most girls continue to wear waist chains as adults. In Tamil Nadu, it is known as 'Araijan Kodi' and 'Aranjana Charadu' in Kerala, It is made of gold, silver, or thick thread in red or black and wears it under clothes and usually keeps it on all the time, even when nude. Aranjanam can also fasten the cloth on the waist, similar to women using it to secure the folds of a sari. Some parents also believe that it will safeguard against evil spirits. Although in India, many women and men continue to wear them as adults as well. A follower of Shiva is expected to wear a chain, with Rudrakshas strung in a white chain with one hundred beads, around the waist. In Lakshadweep a silver thread is worn by both men and women.
Sri Lankan Paraiyar is a Tamil caste found in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. They are traditional parai-drummers who were also involved in weaving and scavenging.
Seera Puranam is a 17th-century Tamil literary work written by the Rowther Tamil poet Umaru Pulavar, which narrates the life and teachings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is regarded as a significant contribution to Tamil Islamic literature and is known for its poetic rendition of religious themes. It is considered one of the earliest Islamic literary works in Tamil, exemplifying the synthesis of Tamil and Islamic literary traditions that characterized South Indian literature during the medieval period.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)