Anjuvannam

இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: அஞ்சுவண்ணம் ‎

Anju Vannathar or Anjuvannam is said to be one of the symbols of Islamism. The expressions Anjuvannam Jama'ath are commonly used in Tamil Nadu. The term is said to have been derived from the word 'Anjuman'.

Etymology

T. V. Sadhasiva Pandarathar considers the term Anjuvannam to be derived from the Persian word 'Anjuman'. The word Anjuman has meanings such as association, guild or group. S. M. Kamaal says the Arabian residences in Tamil Nadu were altered as Anjuvannam in the inscriptions. The oldest Islamic literary text found in Tamil Nadu is the Palsandha Maalai belonging to the 12th century AD. Though it is not available now, many poems from this text are quoted in another text Kalaviyal Karigai. S. Vaiyapuri Pillai, publisher of Kalaviyal Karigai notes the word Anjuvannam mentioned in quoted verses of Palsandha Maalai specifies the word Anjuman. He also points out the usage of words like Kalupadhi, Allah as additional information.

Aalif Pulvar's Migraaj Maalai, literary text belonging to the 16th century AD uses the term 'Anjuvannam Islamvargal'. Historians V. Venkaiyya, T. A. Gopinath Rao, T. V. Sarkaar, T. V. Mahalingam, K. V. Ramesh, A. Subaraiyalu also hold the same opinion. Historian H. Hameem Mustafa researching the etymology of 'Anjuvannam' elaborates this in his book, 'Tamil Islam Uruvaakamum ThiruKuran Tamil Vaasipum' (Formation of Tamil Islam and Tamil Reading of the Noble Quran) Hamim Mustafa finds there is no strong evidence for the term Anjuvannam referring to the Muslims outside of the four varnas and to the Muslim weavers.

Abdur Raheem's Islamic Encyclopedia states that Anjuvannam denotes a Muslim settlement located few miles away from Thondi (a town in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu). It also mentions the researchers opinion of Anjuvannam's location in Paasipatinam.

K. A. Nilakanta Sastri in his book The Pandyan Kingdom, says that the Muslim settlers of this region formed guilds called 'Anjuman' and the Pandyan kings of that time gave various concessions to the Anjumans and even the power to punish the lawbreakers. Due to this, people of this region called the Muslims as 'Anju Vannathar'.

As per folklore stories, Anjuvannam represented the five pillars of Islamism and the Muslim people who followed these codes were called 'Anju Vannathar'. Few Islamic scholars also consider this name was derived from the practice of praying five times a day. Currently, there are several mosques in Tamil Nadu with the name Anjuvannam Jama'ath Masjid.

Anjuvannam of Non-Muslims

Hameem Mustafa in one of his article, writes about the information shared by T. A. Gopinath Rao. Gopinath states that a copperplate inscription from Kottayam, published in 849 AD mentioned Christians as 'Anju Vannathar'. Hameem Mustafa points out an article published in Sakthi Magazine in 1983 where the name Anjuvannam is included in the list of names such as Tamilaga Nagarathaar (Naatukkottai Chettiyar), Pirivil Nanadesigar, Manigramathaar, Nagarathaar. With his he speculates that 'Anjuvannam' to be a type of trade guild. In some inscriptions, as Anjuvannathar is termed as Aayirathu Ainuruvar, Hameem Mustafa considers the naming to be an extension from the count of trade guilds like yennaayiram, naalayiram. He also says that initially Anjuvannathar would have indicated a specific type of trade guild and later changed to the term denoting Muslims.

Literary Mention

Thoppil Mohamed Meeran has written a novel 'Anju Vannam Theru'

Reference

• Islamiya Kalai Kalanjiyam - Abdur Raheem

• Anju Vannam Theru - Thoppil Mohamed Meeran