Thanjavur Marathi (colloquially called Rayar), are a

Marathi Marathi may refer to: *Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India *Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people *Palaiosouda, also known as Marathi, a small island in Greece See also * * ...

-speaking

ethno-linguistic group An ethnolinguistic group (or ethno-linguistic group) is a group that is unified by both a common ethnicity and language. Most ethnic groups share a first language. However, "ethnolinguistic" is often used to emphasise that language is a major ba ...

, who reside in the central and northern parts of the

Indian state India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions. History Pre-indepen ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a States and union territories of India, state in southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of India ...

. They are the descendants of Marathi administrators, soldiers and noblemen who migrated during the rule of the

Thanjavur Maratha kingdom The Thanjavur Maratha kingdom ruled by the Bhonsle dynasty was a principality of Tamil Nadu between the 17th and 19th centuries. Their native language was Marathi. Venkoji was the founder of the dynasty. Maratha conquest of Thanjavur Follo ...

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

was a

Maratha kingdom The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern Indian confederation that came to dominate much of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century. Maratha rule formally began in 1674 with the coronation of Shi ...

in Tamil Country, until the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

dethroned the last Thanjavur Maratha king, Shivaji of Thanjavur. It was founded by Maratha Warrior King Chatrapati Shivaji's half-brother, Ekoji alias Venkoji Rajē Bhonsalē. The

Kshatriyas Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the conte ...

use Maratha, while the

Brahmins Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru o ...

use the name Deshastha.

Demographics and distribution

According to the 2001 census, Marathi is spoken as a mother tongue by about 0.1% of the total population of Tamil Nadu. Exact districtwise statistics are not available, but according to estimates, Marathis are mostly concentrated in the city of

Chennai Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

and the

Nagapattinam Nagapattinam (''nākappaṭṭinam'', previously spelt Nagapatnam or Negapatam) is a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Nagapattinam District. The town came to prominence during the period of Medieval ...

Dharmapuri Dharmapuri is a special grade town in the north western part of Tamil Nadu, India. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Dharmapuri district which is the first district created in Tamil Nadu after the independence of India by splitti ...

, Tirupatttur,

Krishnagiri Krishnagiri () is a city in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, and it serves as the administrative headquarters of Krishnagiri District formed in 2004. It is located at the bottom of Krishnadevaraya Hills, and the town is fully surrounded by hill ...

Vellore Vellore (English: ), also spelt as Velur (), is a city and the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Palar River in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu and is separa ...

Ranipet Ranipet is a southern suburb of Chennai, India. Ranipet (lit. Queen's colony) is an industrial hub of Southern Chennai city in southern India. It is located about from the Chennai city center. It is a major industrial town located on NH 4 Che ...

, Salem,

Thiruvannamalai Tiruvannamalai (Tamil: ''Tiruvaṇṇāmalai'' IPA: , otherwise spelt ''Thiruvannamalai''; ''Trinomali'' or ''Trinomalee'' on British records) is a city, a spiritual, cultural, economic hub and also the administrative headquarters of Tiruvanna ...

Tiruvarur Thiruvarur () also spelt as Tiruvarur is a town and municipality in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Thiruvarur district and Thiruvarur taluk. The temple chariot of the Thyagaraja temple, weighing and mea ...

Kanchipuram Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...

and

Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli () ( formerly Trichinopoly in English), also called Tiruchi or Trichy, is a major tier II city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli district. The city is credited with bein ...

districts of Tamil Nadu. The Marathi population in Tamil Nadu has dwindled recently due to migrations to

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

Bangalore Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

North India North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...

and foreign countries.

Language

The mother tongue of the Thanjavur Marathi people is Thanjavur Marathi, a Tamilized dialect of the

Marathi language Marathi (; ''Marāṭhī'', ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken by Marathi people in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the official language of Maharashtra, and additional official language in the state o ...

Organizations

There are many organisations that support the cause of Thanjavur Marathi people across various parts of India. One of the prominent ones is

The Mahratta Education Fund The Mahratta Education Fund (MEF) is a non-profit organization working for the spread of education to poor and deserving students of South Indian Marathi speaking community. The Fund was founded by a 21-year old lawyer E. Vinayaka Row during a ...

(MEF), a non-profit organisation working for the spread of education to poor and deserving students of the

South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territo ...

n Marathi-speaking community.http://mef.4mg.com/

In popular culture

* The fictitious

RSS RSS ( RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) is a web feed that allows users and applications to access updates to websites in a standardized, computer-readable format. Subscribing to RSS feeds can allow a user to keep track of many di ...

Swayamsevak Shriram Abhyankar, in the 1999 movie ''

Hey Ram ''Hey Ram'' is a 2000 Indian period crime drama film written, directed and produced by Kamal Haasan, who also stars. It was simultaneously made in Tamil and Hindi languages. Shah Rukh Khan plays a supporting role, making his debut in Tamil ci ...

'', played by

Atul Kulkarni Atul Kulkarni (born 10 September 1965) is an Indian actor, producer and screenwriter who works in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, English, Odia and Telugu language films. Kulkarni won the National Award for the Best Supporting Actor ...

, is a Thanjavur Marathi.

Notable people

Anandarayar Sahib Anandarayar Sahib was a poet and administrator who served as a minister in the courts of the Thanjavur Maratha kings Shahuji I, Serfoji I and Tukkoji. He was given the honorific title "Peshwa". Biography Anandarayar Sahib hailed from a p ...

, Diwan of the

during the reigns of

Shahuji I Shahuji I Bhonsle (Marathi: शाहुजी १/शहाजी तंजावरचे)(b.1672) also called Shahji of the Bhonsle dynasty was the second Maratha ruler of Thanjavur. He was the eldest son of Ekoji I, who was a half brothe ...

Serfoji I Serfoji I Bhonsle ( ta, முதலாம் சரபோஜி ராஜா போன்ஸ்லே, mr, शरभोजी राजे भोसले (प्रथम)) (1675–1728), also spelt as Sarabhoji I Bhonsle, was the son of the ...

and

Tukkoji Tukkoji Bhonsle (1677–1736) was the fourth Maratha ruler of Thanjavur, located in South India. He was from the Bhonsle dynasty and was the son of Ekoji I as well as the younger brother of Shahuji I and Serfoji I. Tukkoji ruled Thanjavur fro ...

Reddy Row Reddy Row, (born Venkata Row, also known as Reddy Royar), was an Indian administrator who served as the Diwan of Travancore from 1817 to 1821 and 1843 to 1845. Early life Reddy Row was born in a Thanjavur Marathi people, Thanjavur Marathi De ...

, Diwan of Travancore from 1817 to 1821 and 1843 to 1845. *

R. Venkata Rao Rai Raya Rai Venkata Rao (born T. Venkata Rao, also spelt Venkatta Row; died 1843), was an Indian administrator and statesman who served as Diwan of Travancore 18211829 and 183839. He was the father of R. Raghunatha Rao, brother of R. Ranga Rao ...

, Diwan of Travancore from 1821 to 1829 and 1838 to 1839. * Sir T. Madhava Rao (1828–1891), Diwan of

Travancore The Kingdom of Travancore ( /ˈtrævənkɔːr/), also known as the Kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor, was an Indian kingdom from c. 1729 until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvananthapuram. At ...

from 1857 to 1872 and an early leader of the

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...

. He was also Dewan of two other princely States, Indore & Baroda. *

Thanjavur Subha Rao Thanjavur Subha Rao (also known as Subharao Tanjavarkar, also spelled Subba Row) was an Indian administrator and musician who served as the dewan of the state of Travancore in the 1830s. Subha Rao was a native of Thanjavur and was born into a ...

, Diwan of Travancore in the 1830s. *

T. Rama Rao Tatineni Rama Rao (1938 – 20 April 2022) was an Indian filmmaker. He directed 75 Hindi and Telugu language, Telugu feature films between 1966 and 2000. Career Rao started his work in the film industry in the late 1950s as the assistant direc ...

(1831–1895), Indian civil servant. Served as Diwan of Travancore from 1887 to 1892. *

T. Ananda Rao Sir Tanjore Ananda Rao (alternatively known as Ananda Rao Thanjavarkar) (15 May 1852 – 19 July 1919) was an Indian administrator and statesman who served as the 18th Diwan of Mysore from 1909 to 1912. He was the eldest son of Sir T. Madhava R ...

(1852–1919), Indian administrator. Diwan of Mysore from 1909 to 1912. Son of Sir

T. Madhava Rao Raja Sir Tanjore Madhava Rao, KCSI (20 November 18284 April 1891), also known as Sir Madhava Rao Thanjavurkar or simply as Madhavarao Tanjorkar, was an Indian statesman, civil servant, administrator and politician who served as the Diwan of ...

. *

V. P. Madhava Rao Sir Vishwanath Patankar Madhava Rao (10 February 1850 – 1934) was an Indian administrator and statesman who served as the 17th Diwan of Mysore from 1906 to 1909 and that of Baroda from 1910 to 1913. Early life Madhava Rao was born in Febr ...

(1850–1934), Indian administrator. Diwan of Mysore from 1906 to 1909 and Baroda from 1910 to 1913. * N. Vittal (born 31 January 1938), belonging to the Indian Administrative Service 1960 batch, is one of the eminent public servants of India, who has held important positions in the Government of India, most prominent of which was that of the Central Vigilance Commissioner. *

T. Gopala Rao Rai Bahadur Thandalam Gopala Rao ( mr, तंडलं गोपाळ राव, ta, தண்டலம் கோபால் ராவ்) (c. 1832 – 11 May 1886) was an Indian educator who, along with William Archer Porter, was responsibl ...

(1832–1886), Indian educator. Was one of the pioneers of

Government Arts College, Kumbakonam The Government Arts College, previously known as the Government Arts College for Men, is an autonomous college based in the town of Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, India. This college is functioning under Bharathidasan University. The Vice-Chancellor ...

. Gopal Rao Public Library in Kumbakonam is named after him. *

Palladam Sanjiva Rao Palladam Sanjiva Rao (1882–1962) was an Indian flautist and carnatic musician from the state of Tamil Nadu. Personal life Sanjiva Rao was born in 1882 in the town of Palladam near Coimbatore in a Thanjavur Marathi family. Sanjiva Rao learnt m ...

(1882–1962), Indian flautist and carnatic musician. * R. Balaji Rao (1842–1896), Indian politician and

Indian independence activist The Indian independence movement consisted of efforts by individuals and organizations from a wide spectrum of society to obtain political independence from the British, French and Portuguese rule through the use of a many methods. This is a l ...

. First Secretary of the

Madras Mahajana Sabha Madras Mahajana Sabha was an Indian nationalist organisation based in the Madras Presidency. Along with the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, Bombay Presidency Association and the Indian Association, it is considered to be a predecessor of the Indian Natio ...

. Represented

Tanjore Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

along with

S. A. Swaminatha Iyer Rao Bahadur S. A. Saminatha Iyer (died 1899), also known as Thanjavur Saminatha Iyer, was an Indian lawyer, landlord, politician and theosophist who served as Chairman of the Tanjore municipality and a delegate to the 1885, 1886, 1887, 1889 and ...

at the first session of the Indian National Congress. *

R. Raghunatha Rao Diwan Bahadur Rai Raghunatha Rao (7 February 1831 – 3 May 1912) was an Indian civil servant, administrator, politician and Indian independence activist who served as the Diwan of Indore from 1875 to 1880 and 1886 to 1888. He was related ...

(1831–1912), Indian civil servant, administrator, politician and Indian independence activist. Diwan of Indore 1875–88. *

K. Krishnaswamy Rao Diwan Bahadur Kanchi Krishnaswamy Rao (1845–1923) was an Indian civil servant, judge and administrator who served as the Diwan of Travancore from 1898 to 1904. Early life and education Krishnaswamy Rao was born into Deshastha Madhva Brah ...

(1845–1923), Diwan of Travancore 1898–1904. *

R. Ramachandra Rao Diwan Bahadur Raghunatha Rao Ramachandra Rao (c. 1871 – July 1936) was an Indian civil servant, mathematician and social and political activist who served as District Collector in British India. Early life and education Ramachandra Rao w ...

(1871–1936), Indian civil servant and Indian independence activist. Served as District Collector of Kurnool, Nellore and Madras. *

T. Ramachandra Rao Tanjore Ramachandra Rao (1825-1879) was an Indian civil servant who became the first native Indian to serve as Deputy Commissioner of Police of Madras. Early life Ramachandra Rao was born in Tanjore in 1825 in a Deshastha Brahmin family w ...

(1825–1879), First Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madras. *

C. R. Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib Colathur Rama Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib (2 February 1927 – 12 February 2013) was an Indian civil servant who served as 15th Cabinet Secretary of India from 1981-1985. He also served as the Secretary to Prime Minister Charan Singh. when Indira ...

, IAS ( 1927– 2013) a distinguished administrator and civil servant who was awarded the

Padma Vibhushan The Padma Vibhushan ("Lotus Decoration") is the second-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "exceptional and distinguished service" ...

in 2008. Krishnaswamy Rao Saheb distinguished himself by becoming the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister

Charan Singh Chaudhary Charan Singh (23 December 1902 – 29 May 1987) served as the 5th Prime Minister of India between 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980. Historians and people alike frequently refer to him as the 'champion of India's peasants.' Charan S ...

and then becoming the Cabinet Secretary when

Indira Gandhi Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (; Given name, ''née'' Nehru; 19 November 1917 – 31 October 1984) was an Indian politician and a central figure of the Indian National Congress. She was elected as third prime minister of India in 1966 ...

became the Prime Minister. *

Sundar Narayana Rao Sundar Narayana Rao (born: 30 January) is an Indian singer. He mainly sings in the Tamil and Telugu languages.Times of India"...written by Arivumathi and sung by Sundar Narayana Rao is pleasing." Early life Sundar Narayana Rao was born and b ...

, Reputed singer from Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Notes

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thanjavur Marathi (People) Social groups of Tamil Nadu History of Thanjavur Social groups of Kerala Internal migrations in India