SivaRam balakrishnan

It is history that Christianity and Missionary Services have influenced in the improvement of the Nadars who embraced Christiany in Southern India. It appears the Nadar elders of 19th Century who prefer not to get converted to Christianity but to absorb the good practices of Missionary services and trade practices of Westerners to in their social structure to help the advancement of community.

This can be seen from establishment of Pettais (Secured warehouses for trading goods) for strengthening the trade activities. Even several Hindu Nadars in Madurai and Kamraj district organise their marriage functions similar to simplified Church marriages. The Hindu Nadar settlements around Sivakasi, Sattur, Kovilpatti, Thiruthangal,Thirumangalam, Arrupukottai, Virudhunagar, Mamsapuram, Thalavaipuram are likely to have been established parallel to the developments of Christian Nadar settlements in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari district. The concept of setting up of Mahamais for group contribution (Self tax on trade activities to provide for setting up and maintaining Institutions and Temples) by Nadar groups is the most remarkable decision by our ancestors which definitely must have been learnt from the influence of Missionary services.

(Extracted from the Source: www.kuttyjapan.com , www.nadars.org )

Mercantilism and Christianity played crucial roles in facilitating upward mobility of NADARS.

Nadars began their social and economic ascendance in the early 19th century with the adoption of following broad concepts

Pettais ( Warehousing forts):

Settlements:

Education:

Social Reformation:

Institutions & Establishments:

- Dr Y Vincent Kumara Doss teaches at the Department of History, Madras Christian College, Chennai.

WHAT WILL BE THE STRATEGIC CLAIMS BY NADAR COMMUNITY FOR FURTHER GROWTH FROM THE PRESENT ENVIRONMENT?

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