Editing Chitty

{{Short description|Tamil ethnic group in Malaysia and Singapore}}
{{Other uses}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Chitty<br/><small>Peranakan Chitty</small>
| pop              = '''~5000'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://roots.sg/learn/stories/chetti-melaka|title=Chetti Melaka of the Straits - Rediscovering Peranakan Indian Communities|website=www.roots.sg|access-date=15 June 2020|archive-date=11 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811073502/https://www.roots.sg/learn/stories/chetti-melaka|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| popplace         = {{Flag|Malaysia}} ([[Melaka]]){{·}}{{Flag|Singapore}}
| langs            = [[Malaysian language|Malay]] ([[Malay Chetty creole language|Chitty Malay]]){{·}}[[English language|English]]
| related          = [[Tamils]]{{·}}[[Telugus]]{{·}}[[Malays (ethnic group)|Malays]]{{·}}[[Peranakan]]{{·}}[[Indian Malaysians]]{{·}}[[Indian Singaporeans]]
| rels             = [[Hinduism]]
}}

The '''Chitty''', also known as the '''Chetty''' or '''Chetti Melaka''', are an ethnic group whose members are of primarily [[Tamils|Tamil]] descent, found mainly and initially in [[Melaka]], [[Malaysia]], where they settled around the 16th century, and in [[Singapore]] where they migrated to in the 18th and 19th centuries from Melaka. Also known colloquially as "Indian Peranakans", the culture of the Chitty has drawn significant influence from the [[Nusantara (term)|Nusantara]] region and to a small extent the Chinese, whilst also retaining their Hindu faith and heritage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider/meet-chetti-melaka-peranakan-indians-striving-save-culture-hindu-10849258|title=Meet the Chetti Melaka, or Peranakan Indians, striving to save their vanishing culture|website=CNA}}</ref> In the 21st century, their population stands at 2,000. The Chitty/Chetti community are different from [[Chettiar]], bankers brought from [[Tamil Nadu]] to [[British Malaya]]. They are practising Hindus.

==Language==
Like the [[Peranakans]], the Chitty speak a [[Malay language|Malay]] patois proper to their community, which is mixed with many Tamil loan words. Most of the Chitty are unable to communicate in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].

==History==
[[File:Chitty Museum.JPG|thumb|[[Chitty Museum]] in Melaka.]]

Historical records stated that the Tamil traders from Panai in [[Tamil Nadu]] settled down in [[Melaka]] during the sovereignty of the [[Sultanate of Malacca]]. Like the [[Peranakan]]s, they later settled down and freely intermingled with the local Malays and Chinese of Malay and Tamil ancestry settlers. However, with the fall of the [[Sultanate of Malacca|Malacca Sultanate]] after 1511, the Chitty eventually lost touch with their native land.

Under the administration of the [[Portuguese Malacca|Portuguese]], [[Dutch Malacca|Dutch]] and [[Straits Settlements|British colonizers]], the Chitty eventually began simplifying their culture and customs by adopting local customs. This can be evidenced in the architecture of the [[Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple]], which was built by Thaivanayagam Pillay, the leader of the Chitty people, in 1781 after the Dutch colonial government gave him a plot of land. At that period, a Chitty neighbourhood was probably set up around that temple, in the street known as Goldsmith Street.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=De Witt |first=Dennis |title=History of the Dutch in Malaysia |publisher=Nutmeg Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=9789834351939 |edition=2nd |page=153 |oclc=973774027}}</ref>

During the [[Second World War]], the threat of Japanese soldiers rape against Chitty girls led Chitty families to let Eurasians, Chinese and full blooded Indians to marry Chitty girls and stop practicing endogamy.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pillai |first=Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uh1qDwAAQBAJ&dq="Chitty+girls+being+hastily"&pg=PP66 |title=Yearning to Belong |date=2016 |publisher=Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. |isbn=978-9814762007 |page=47}}</ref>

The traditional Chitty settlement is located at Kampung Tujuh along Jalan Gajah Berang, which is also inhabited by a small number of Chinese of Tamilian ancestry and Malays as well. Many of the Chitty have since found jobs in [[Singapore]] and other parts of [[Malaysia]].

The ethnic identity of the Chitty is nearly lost. As many of them are assimilating into the mainstream [[Indian diaspora|Indian]], [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] and [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]] ethnic communities culturally, this small but distinct group of people that has survived for centuries is now on the brink of extinction.

Exhibition of Peranakan Chitty history, antiques and culture can be seen at the [[Chitty Museum]] in Chitty Village, [[Melaka]], [[Malaysia]]. Recently in 2013, there were controversies of development at the expense of demolishing part of Kampung Chitty, a historical and cultural village.<ref name="Peranakan Chitty">{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/now-development-threatens-historical-site-in-malacca |title=Now, development threatens historical site in Malacca |publisher=The Malaysian Insider |access-date=14 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221113723/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/now-development-threatens-historical-site-in-malacca |archive-date=21 February 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> A proposal to construct a condominium, a hotel and a road cutting through the village are seen as a threat affecting the residents and a temple built in 1827.<ref name="Kampung Chitty">{{cite web |url=http://my.news.yahoo.com/39-road-kg-chitty-could-destroy-homes-39-043200736.html |title=Road through Kg Chitty could destroy homes |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302014551/http://my.news.yahoo.com/39-road-kg-chitty-could-destroy-homes-39-043200736.html |archive-date=2 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Religion==
[[Image:Sri Poyatha.jpg|thumb|[[Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple]] in [[Melaka]].]]
The Chitty are a tightly knit community of Saivite [[Hindus]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Shiv Shanker Tiwary & P.S. Choudhary|title=Encyclopaedia Of Southeast Asia And Its Tribes (Set Of 3 Vols.)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YdEjAQAAIAAJ&q=Encyclopaedia+Of+Southeast+Asia+And+Its+Tribes+(Set+Of+3+Vols.)|year=2009|publisher=Anmol Publications|isbn=978-81-261-3837-1}}</ref> worshipping in their three temples. Gods such as [[Ganesha]] and [[Shiva]] are worshipped in full gaiety. Hints of [[Taoist]] and [[Islamic]] influences are also evident in their religious rituals. As staunch believers of the Hindu faith, the 
Melakan Chitty community still upholds their religious ceremonies. They observe [[Deepavali]], [[Ponggal]], the Hindu New Year, [[Navratri]] and other traditional Hindu festivals that are celebrated by Hindu groups in Malaysia. However, the Chitty do not participate in [[Thaipusam]] at a grand level like most Hindu groups. During the month of May they have a similar festival to Thaipusam in their local temple called Mengamay. One celebration that is unique to the Chitty community is the Parchu festival. It is celebrated twice a year with Parchu Ponggal (Bhogi) observed the day before Ponggal in January and Parchu Buah-buahan during the fruit season between June and July.

==Culture==
[[File:Chitti Village.JPG|thumb|Chitty Village in Melaka.]]

Culturally, the Chitty have largely assimilated into the Malay culture with some Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese influences, although certain elements of Indian culture do remain. This is especially true in the case of marriages, where offerings of fruits and burning of incense are used. In the case of food, Malay spices, ingredients and the way of cooking have largely supplanted the Indian style. 

Chinese cultural influence on the Chetty is also evident, especially in the case of ancestral worship. Religious objects used for conducting rituals were also used by the Chinese. The Chitty are also influenced by the Chinese to some extent in their ceramics works of art.

Simplification of Tamil architecture among the Chitty is also present. Distinct from the modern Tamil Nadu, known for its complex Tamizh Temple Architecture in the early pandya, medieval chozha/ chera& late Nayaka dynasties/Vijayanagara], that displays beautifully carved out sculptures of the Hindu gods in many rows, the Chitty temple tend to only have one row of these, or a picture of one single god in each of the three rows, as evidenced in the [[Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple]], built by Thaivanayagam Chitty in 1781. The Chitty temples also demonstrate the adoption of some Dutch colonial architectural influences.<ref name=":0" />

==Dress and lifestyle==
Most of the Chitty have adopted the Malay costume. In the case of men, a comfortable [[sarong]] and Malay shirt may be worn, although a [[songkok]] may also be worn. Women, on the other hand, wear a similar costume that are similar to the [[Peranakan]] Nonya.

Alongside their [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] of [[Tamilian]] ancestry and Malay neighbours, the Chitty live in [[kampung|Kampong]] houses. Pictures of [[Hindu]] gods and [[Indian name]]s can be seen just outside their houses, as their descendants tend to adopt [[Languages of India|Indian]], rather than Malay surnames.

A typical  Chitty home is distinctly marked by mango leaves arranged in a row, dangling from above the front door. Chitty temples are also adorned this way.

This is the old tradition still followed in Tamil Nadu from ancient period during functions.

==Notable Chitty==
* [[Raja Mudaliar]]
* Thevanaigam Veerasimir Chitty 'David/Baba'
* Chaitanya Anand

==See also==
* [[Peranakan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book
 | last = Dhoraisingam
 | first = Samuel S.
 | year = 2006
 | title = Peranakan Indians of Singapore and Melaka: Indian Babas and Nonyas - Chitty Melaka
 | publisher = Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
 | location = Singapore
 | isbn= 981-230-346-4
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tamilnation.co/culture/architecture/temple.htm Tamil Dravidian Architecture]

{{Indian diaspora}}
{{Ethnic groups in Malaysia}}
{{Indians in Malaysia}}
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Indian descent|*]]
[[Category:Hindu ethnic groups]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Tamil descent|*]]
[[Category:Singaporean people of Tamil descent|*]]
[[Category:Tamil diaspora in Asia]]
[[Category:Telugu diaspora]]
[[Category:People from Malacca]]
[[Category:Chitty people| ]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Immigration to Malaysia]]