Gounder (also transliterated as Gavundar, Kaamindan, kavundan) is an administrative caste who were protectors and rulers. It means “Noble protector of the country”. Originally, they belong to the “Kshatriya” varna and the dynastic lineage (Surya Vamsa and Chandra Vamsa).
They were chieftains and warriors from the Chola empire who later migrated to the Kongu Nadu, due to a conflict with the Imperial Cholas.
Every village, therefore, as a rule, had its militia in the Deccan of our period and the imperial army must have been largely recruited from that force. The village headman was at the head of the militia and was himself a good fighter. Sorab No. 445, dated c. 975 A.D.. refers to a robber’s attack, on Kollana, a son of Gavunda Kevase Kula, when he fought, established his fame, and went to heaven. (Ref: Rastrakutas and their times, Altekar, A. S. (1934), p 190 - 200)
From the nature of his duties it is clear that the village headman must normally have been a Kshatriya ; the same is the case to-day in the Deccan and Kamatak. His influence with the government was as great as that with the people. Kings never forget to include him among the officers requested n( interfere with the enjoyment of the royal grants ; (Ref: Rastrakuta Dynasty, Altekar 1934)
Gounder (pronounced as Kavundar or Gavunda) is a traditional administrative title as well as common title popular among Kongu Vellala Gounders, Goundars, and Vokkaligas. It is the corrupted form of the word 'Kaamindan or Gaamunda' evident from inscriptions. Historians generally derive the meaning of it as denoting a 'Protecting Leader'. Kaa - protecting; Mindan - Leader/Strong. Some speculate that it is associated to the belief of Kshatriyas originating from the shoulders of Brahma. Kaa - shoulders and Mindan - One who appeared out of. Whatever be the derivation both point them to be the ruling class of the region. Gaminda and Gavunda was also title widely used in Ganga, Hoysala and Chalukya regions.
Gounders (Ur gavundas and Nad gavundas) were superior to present-day Kshatriyas like Thakurs and Nayakas by their feudality in the rashtrakuta dynasty. (Ref: The Economic history of India, 1964)
Rashtrakuta (IAST: rāṣṭrakūṭa) (r. 753-982 CE) was a royal Indian dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian subcontinent between the sixth and 10th centuries.
There were ruled districts and villages as vishayapathi (Governor of a province) and gramapathi (Headman). The position was heredity and can’t be positioned by any officials.
As landlords and local elite (socially superior), the state utilized their services to collect taxes, maintain records of landownership, bear witness to grants and transactions and even raise militia when required. Owing strong personal allegiance to the king, they were vested with certain rights over villages. It appears the gavundas operated as corporations in the Kaveri valley but as individuals in the northern and eastern domains of the Gangas. They had rights to make grants that may have been occasionally exempt of local taxes.
Administration in Western Chaklukya Empire:
They served the dual purpose of representing the people before the rulers as well as functioning as state appointees for tax collection and the raising of militias. They are mentioned in inscriptions related to land transactions, irrigation maintenance, village tax collection and village council duties.
Chieftain and Polygar system:
A Tamil inscription from dating 1043AD exists in Kadugodi, [1] from the period of Rajendra Chola I, which describes the construction of the Pattanduru Lake, and Ganesh, Durga and Kshetrapaala temples by Chola chieftain Raja Raja Velan son of Permadi Gavunda.
Kalingaraya Gounder is a 13th-century chieftain (Governor) of Kongu region and ruler of the Northern Kongu Region.
Dheeran Chinnamalai (17 April 1756 – 31 July 1805) was a Polygar and Pattakarar who fought against the British East India Company.
Chinnamalai is one of the commanders in the Polygar Wars, notably during the Second Polygar War that took place in 1801–1802.
After Kattabomman and Tipu Sultan's deaths in 1799, Chinnamalai sought the help of Dhondia Wagh and Maruthu Pandiyar and lead the local Pattakarars, notably Varanavasi Gounder and Vella Gounder of Erode, Chinnamalai's sister's husband Kumara Vellai of Perundurai and Somandurai Muchadayandi Vanaraya Gounder of Pollachi; Gounder Pattakarars Appachi Gounder of Paramathi-Velur and Aravakurichi Periya Thambi; the Naicker Polygars of Dhali, Virupakshi and Ramagiri among others, to attack the British at Coimbatore in 1800.
Gounders are land owning feudal caste like modern day rajputs of North India, with vast majority of people belonging to the community owning large tracts of lands in present days. After that it got fragmented due to sharing among family members. Until 1990, Gounders did not make any impact in industrialisation.
After 1990, many Gounders sold their surplus land and opened industries and educational institutions. This led to massive industrialisation in kongu districts such as Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode , Salem, Karur, Dharmapuri, Nammakal, parts of Dindigul. Many kammas and naidus before independence worked under British in the position of clerk and other jobs, so when british left India they gave huge tracts of land and their establishments to Kamma naidus so that kammas got benefited and they dominated industries in Kongu region till 1990, but after 1990s the emergence of Gounders led to massive growth among Gounder community which ultimately led Gounders overtaking Naidus in various sectors and consolidation of Gounders in later part of 90s led to Opening of various industries in the region.
Gounders dominance started in various sectors especially Textile, Transport, poultry, Engineering, foundry, Retailing, construction, education, health, hospitality etc, Many industrialist emerged during 90s with capital and business acumen. After Gounders got consolidated politically, it led to greater bargain. Younger generation of Gounder community got modern and quality education and went on to begin their own ventures. Entire textile industry in Tamilnadu is dominated by Gounders, with Major chunk of TIRUPUR exporters belonging to Gounder community.
Now let’s see few Industries belonging to Gounders in sector wise:
Textiles:
The chairman of Confederation of Indian textile industry Mr. P. Raj kumar is from Gounder community.
The president of Apparel export promotion council Mr. Shakthivel is from Gounder community
SSM spinning mills, Dindigul
KPR mills, Coimbatore
Bannariamman spinning mill, Erode
Bhagavathi textiles limited, palakkad
Pallava group, Nammakal
Cheran spinners, Erode
Best corporation, Tirupur
Mothi textiles, Namakkal
PKPN textiles, Namakkal
Shiva tex yarn, Coimbatore
Classic polo, Tiruppur
Ramraj cotton, Tiruppur
Poppys group, Tiruppur
Eastman exports, Tiruppur
NCC, Tiruppur
Atlas exports, Karur
Asian fabrics, karur
Shobikaa impex, karur
Eveready spinning mills
Sugar Industry:
Sakthi sugars, Coimbatore
Bannariamman sugars, Erode
Dharani sugars, nammakal
Gem sugars, Karnataka
KPR sugars, karnataka
chamundeswari sugars, Karnataka
Health care:
KMCH hospital, Coimbatore
GEM hospital, Coimbatore, Chennai, Thrissur(Kerala)
Royal care hospital, Coimbatore
Hindusthan hospital, Coimbatore
Sks hospital, Salem
Kongunadu hospital, Coimbatore
KKR ENT hospital, chennai
Saveetha hospital, Chennai
Media:
Polimer network
Automobile retailing:
ABT Autos, Maruti Suzuki, Tata motors, Force, MAN truck motors across tamilandu
Anamalis motors, Toyota, Renault, Nissan, Eicher
Ambal auto, Coimbatore
Ramani cars, Volkswagen 16 showroom across Tamilnadu
Manchester Honda, Coimbatore
Jhanvi motors AUDI, Coimbatore and madurai
Harley Davison, Coimbatore
SR transcar SKODA, Erode
JEEP, Coimbatore and Tiruppur
Beneli Coimbatore
Electric vehicle manufacturers:
CK motors
SVM motors
Mining and steel & chemical:
Thriveni Earth movers, Odisha (No.1 mining contractor in India)
Agni steels
Ran India TMT
GEM granites, Top exporter of granite in India
Bannariamman granites
Ponpure chemicals, Chennai
Distillery:
Shiva distillery
Imperial distillery
Kerala alcoholic products
Enigineering:
Sakthi automotives, Coimbatore, USA, Portugal, China
Texmo Industries(Taro pumps), Coimbatore
Deccan pumps, Coimbatore
Aqua sub pumps, Coimbatore
Ekki pumps, Coimbatore
Roots industries, Coimbatore
Mak controls, Coimbatore
Samudra pumps, Coimbatore
Hindustan heavy electricals
Aerospace materials pvt ltd
Agri based & Renewable energy Industries:
Milky mist dairy,Erode
Rasi seeds, Coimbatore and Haryana
Aroma dairy, Coimbatore
Sakthi masala, erode
Apex coco products, Tirupur
Skm Agro feed, Erode
swelect energy, Chennai
Construction & builders:
URC constructions, Chennai
RPP constructions, Erode
RR Thulasi, Erode
PnC projects, Erode
Ramalingam construction company, Salem and Bengaluru
Venkatachalapathy constructions, Salem
Foundation one infrastructure, Coimbatore
Globus realtor
Viswanathan constructions
Transports:
KPN transports
ABT transports
RKG transports
PNK SRT transports
Ponpure logistics
Arc parcel services
Namakkal cargo movers
thenpandian transports
Hindusthan travels
50% of transport and poultry farms in Tamilnadu are owned by Gounders.
Hospitality sector:
Le Royal meridian, Coimbatore and Chennai franchise
Poppy’s hotel, Tiruppur and Coimbatore
Appu hotels
Famous Educational institutions:
KCT, Coimbatore
KMCH institute of medical sciences, Coimbatore
Saveetha University, Chennai and Amaravati(AP)
PGP group, Nammakal
Hindusthan, Coimbatore
Nanda institutions, Erode
Kongu engineering college, erode
BIT, erode
NGP group, Coimbatore
BVB schools, Coimbatore and erode
CS academy schools, Coimbatore and erode
The Indian public school, erode and coimbatore