Sri Lankan Chetties

Last updated

Sri Lankan Chetties
Total population
6,075 (2012 census)
Regions with significant populations
Province
Western5,427
Northern348
Central193
Languages
Sinhala

English

Tamil
Religion
Christianity (mostly Roman Catholic and Anglican), Hinduism

Types

Sinhala Chetties (Sri Lankan)

English Chetties

Tamil Chetties (Indian)


Sri Lankan Chetties (Sinhala : ශ්‍රී ලංකා චෙට්ටි, romanized: Śrī laṁkā Ceṭṭi, Tamil : இலங்கை செட்டி, romanized: Ilaṅkai Ceṭṭi) also known as Colombo Chetties, are an ethnicity in the island of Sri Lanka. [1] Before 2001, they were known as the Sri Lankan Tamil ( ශ්‍රී ලංකා දෙමළ) caste, but then after 2001, they were classified as a separate ethnic group in the 2001 census. [2] [3] They are now collectively referred to as the Colombo Chetties. They were said to have migrated from India under Portuguese rule and were given special rights and representation during colonial rule. [4]

Contents

In modern times, the Chetties have been assimilated into Sinhala society. Most Chetties grow in Sinhala backgrounds. Hetti is another term used in this context, referring to the present generation of Chetties who do not have any relation to India but are solely from Sri Lanka.

Etymology

The word is thought to have been derived from the Tamil word Etti, an honorific title bestowed on the leading and noble people. [5]

History

A Sri Lankan Chetty of 19th century Chetty in Ceylon (c. 1870).jpg
A Sri Lankan Chetty of 19th century

They settled mostly in western Sri Lanka, especially in the ports of Colombo from the 16th century to mid 17th century, during the rule of the Portuguese and Dutch. [6] [7] The Chetties of Western Sri Lanka converted to various forms of Christianity during the colonial era: Roman Catholicism under Portuguese rule, as well as to Anglicanism and Reformed Christianity under British rule and Dutch rule, respectively. [8] Marriages between Sinhalese ( Sinhala people) and Chetties are very common and therefore many were Sinhalised. [9] [10]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
2001 10,800—    
2011 6,075−43.8%
Source:Department of Census
& Statistics [11]
Data is based on
Sri Lankan Government Census.

Representatives of the Colombo Chetty Association stressed out their distinctiveness, appealing for forming a separate ethnic group. The Chetties were notably also from 1814 to 1817 listed as a separate ethnic group. [4]

Historically an elite and generally wealthy ethnicity, they no longer strictly marry amongst themselves. In addition, migration to Australia, England, United States of America and Canada has tended to dilute their numbers.[ citation needed ]

Notable people

See also

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References

Sources
Notes
  1. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing 2011". www.statistics.gov.lk. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  2. ↑ Reeves, Peter (2014-03-07). The Encyclopedia of the Sri Lankan Diaspora. Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore: Editions Didier Millet. p. 27. ISBN   9789814260831.
  3. ↑ Holt, John (2011-04-13). The Sri Lanka Reader: History, Cultured , Politics. Duke University Press. p. 70. ISBN   978-0822349822.
  4. 1 2 Wickramasinghe, Nira (2015). Sri Lanka in the Modern Age: A History. Oxford University Press. pp. 165, 174, 274. ISBN   9780190225797.
  5. ↑ West Rudner, David (1987). "Religious Gifting and Inland Commerce in Seventeenth-Century South India". The Journal of Asian Studies. 46 (2): 361–379. doi:10.2307/2056019. JSTOR   2056019. S2CID   162764761.
  6. ↑ Sivaratnam, C. (1964). An outline of the cultural history and principles of Hinduism. Stangard Printers. p. 276.
  7. ↑ Silva, K. M. De (1981). A History of Sri Lanka. University of California Press. pp.  175. ISBN   9780520043206.
  8. ↑ Vijayalakshmi, E.; Studies, International Centre for Ethnic (2005-01-01). Cultural minorities of Sri Lanka: their growth, achievements, and relevance today. International Centre for Ethnic Studies. p. 8. ISBN   9789555800969.
  9. ↑ Vijayalakshmi, E.; Studies, International Centre for Ethnic (2005-01-01). Cultural minorities of Sri Lanka: their growth, achievements, and relevance today. International Centre for Ethnic Studies. p. 10. ISBN   9789555800969.
  10. ↑ Peebles, Patrick (2015-10-22). Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 78. ISBN   9781442255852.
  11. ↑ "Population by ethnic group, census years" (PDF). Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
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