Historical
records stated that the members of Chetti (our forefathers) first came to
Melaka as merchant traders since before 1400s (before the Malacca Sultanate).
They were actually the Tamils who came from Coromandel Coast, from
Kalingapatnam and other ports of Southern India such as Kanchipuram and
Nagapatnam. At that time, they were trading at Kampung Keling. (The word
‘Keling’ is taken from their origin, Kalingapatnam, Kaling which became
Keling). Among the items traded were spices and silk fabrics. While waiting for
the monsoon wind interchange (about 6 months), they got married with the local
women. When they returned to India, they had to leave their wives in Melaka.
The married women helped to continue their husband’s business and started to
learn the Hindu cultures. The Chettis started to adapt themselves with Malay
Language, Malay customs, etiquettes, food and costumes while still maintaining
Hindu cultures. They were rich merchants in Melaka. Tomé Pires has stated that
the Chettis at that time had very large and beautiful houses which made from
wood.
During the
Portuguese colonization, one of the Chetti members, named as Naina Chetty (aka
Nina Chatu) was granted the appointment of Bendahara.
At that time, the Portuguese government imposed lowest taxes to the Chettis
compared to the others. During the Dutch colonization, the Chettis’ houses were
burnt down and the community moved to Gajah Berang, Tengkera (formerly known as
Tranquerah) and Bachang. The name of Gajah Berang was taken from Kanchipuram. Due
to the caste system and strict rules in Southern India, the community decided
to settle down in Melaka. They called themselves as ‘Chetti Melaka’ which means
Melaka traders. Few of the Chettis converted to Muslim, and few of them married
with the Chinese and Nyonya.
They were
encouraged to change their occupation and take up agriculture. They planted
paddy, cereals, fruits and vegetables. Those who are richer bought pieces of
land from Dutch where as the rest worked under the richer ones. Dutch re-named
Kampung Keling as Kampung Belanda encompassing Heeren Street and Jonker Street.
Dutch government granted a piece of land in Goldsmith Street (Jalan Tukang Mas)
to the community’s leader during that time, Thaivanayagam Chitty. The Chetti’s
first temple, Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple (SPVMT) was built in 1781.
Later, few other temples were built.
