Down Memory Lane - My Coimbatore.
Sociologists say that people prefer to live in Community groups. There are some practical advantages available readily when you live among your own people. When you look at the names of streets in Coimbatore, this seems to be true. To quote a few names there is a Edayar Veedhi (Yadava Street), Chetty (Vysia) Veedhi, Vokkiliga Street, Oppannakara Street, Telugu Brahmin Street and so on. Similarly from the names of some Roads we can find shops and places of interest. There is a Big Bazaar Street and Small Bazaar Street, where all shops are situated. Goods shed Road, Madras Bank Road, Taluq Office Road, Huzur Treasury Road, Collectors Office Road, Arts College Road will lead you to the places named. If one take the Trichy Road , Avinashi Road or Mettupalayam Road they can reach the destination. Similarly Easwaran Koil Street and Ramar Koil Street will take you to the respective temples. Now its all different, the Roads are renamed with that of Political Leaders or Corporation Councellors!

Coimbatore is famous for its cotton sarees, for generations. There is a weaver caste known as Devanga Chettys (Jedars). During my younger days a sizable population of this Telugu speaking community were staying in Sukravarpet area in the town. In the morning hours if you happen to walk in this part of the town you can see the activities of these people getting the yarn ready for the looms. Then the you can hear the sound of spindles tic-tacking in the looms reverberating through out the day. There is a Temple for the titular deity of this community known as "Sri Ramalinga Chowdeswari" in that area. The people belonging to this community are very hard working and the cotton sarees turned out by them are well known through out India and abroad. Many people may not be aware the special designer sarees used by Maharashtrian, Oriya and Bengalee ladies during festive season come from these looms only.

Though they speak Telugu the Devangas must have migrated from Madurai area along with the Nayak Rulers. Some of their families might have migrated from Kollegal in Mysore also.

Coimbatore is known as Manchester of South India due to concentration of Textile Mills in and around the Town in the District. At one time there were Seventy plus Textile Mills in Coimbatore area. Even though the first Textile Mill C.S.& W Mills (Stanes Mill) was started by the British entrepreneur Sir Robert Stanes in 1888, the credit for expansion of textile industries should go to to another Telugu speaking community Kammavar Naidus. They must have also migrated along with Nayak rulers from Madurai. At one time the entire Industries related to textiles were controlled by this community. Their contribution to the economic growth of Coimbatore is immense.They are Vaishnavites and highly religious people, great philanthropists, their generous contribution in the fields of education and medical field has made Coimbatore an important Educational and Medical centre in the south.

There is also sizable population of Vokkiliga Gowders in Coimbatore. These people who form a majority in old Mysore area must have been here since the days of Mysore Maharajas' rule of Coimbatore.Even though they were agriculturists by profession , in Coimbatore, most of them were in wholesale and retails business.

Let me tell about the majority community of the district known as Kongu Vellala Gownders. These people native of Kongu Nadu, the North Western part of Tamil Nadu are spread over the present Districts of Coimbatore,Erode, Salem, Namakkal and Karur in Tamil Nadu. Very industrious and hard working people, who are basically Land owners and agriculturists of repute. People of Coimbatore especially Vellala Gownders are known for their enchanting Tamil known as " Kongu Tamil". They used respectful words while addressing others irrespective of age and class. They cared more for their reputation and honour than money. Dependable friends and very hospitable people.I had quite a number of friends among this community during my younger days which continues even today. They had a satirical sense of humour, which is native to Coimbatore. It is because of their dedication and hard work Coimbatore stands foremost in Agriculture and Industries in the State. Good number of people from Vellala Community are serving the defense forces.

There are other communities like Gujaratis who are in large numbers in Coimbatore in Cotton trade, similarly Sindhis from Sirpur area, mainly in money lending business. There is a Gurudhwara cum Sri Krishna Temple in oppannakara street maintained by the Sindhi community since long. Large Malayalee population in Coimbatore is considered native to Coimbatore since Malabar's proximity to the City. Apart from this all other communities and languages made Coimbatore a cosmopolitan town indeed.

posted on Friday, October 19, 2007 7:03 PM