Meaning of NATTAM

NATTAM

Language - Tamil

Tamil Word - நட்டம்

Historically, a village inhabited primarily by Shudras (one of the four varnas in the traditional Hindu social hierarchy) and the portion of village lands where mirasdars (landholders with hereditary rights) built their houses. Example: The 'nattam' lands in the village were reserved for the Shudra community, while the mirasdars' houses were located on separate plots. This term reflects the historical social stratification and land ownership patterns in Tamil Nadu villages. It highlights the segregation of communities based on caste and the allocation of land for different social groups.