According to the Tamil Sangam texts, who among the following were the large landowners?

According to early Tamil Sangam literature, the social structure in South Indian villages was categorized based on land ownership and occupation. The texts identify three primary groups: the Vellalars, who were the large landowners and held significant social and economic power . Below them were the Uzhavars, who served as ordinary ploughmen or peasants . The lowest tier consisted of landless laborers and slaves, referred to as Kadaisiyar and Adimai . This differentiation highlights the growing inequality and agrarian hierarchy in the Tamil region during the early historical period . In contrast, the term 'Gahapati' was primarily used in Pali texts of the Buddhist tradition to designate householders or landholders in Northern India, rather than in the Tamil Sangam context . Therefore, Vellalars specifically represents the large landowner class in the Sangam social hierarchy.

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns > 5.3 Differences in rural society > p. 39
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 11: Later Cholas and Pandyas > Introduction > p. 155