Hebbar Iyengar
Hebbar Iyengars were formerly an endogamous group and constitute a part of the Iyengar sub-caste of the Karnataka Brahmins. They are traditionally followers of Ramanuja and Vedanta Desika. They hail primarily from Hassan, Mysore, Tumkur, Bangalore, and surrounding areas in southern Karnataka. The characteristic dialect of the Hebbar Iyengars is called Hebbar Tamil and is a mixture of Iyengar Tamil, Kannada and Sanskrit. The group's primary mother tongue is Hebbar Tamil which is spoken in most Hebbar Iyengar households, though Kannada and English are increasingly taking its place. A peculiar characteristic of Iyengar Tamil (including Hebbar Tamil) is its retention of divine or holy food terminology. For example, Iyengar Tamil makes distinctions between potable ([t̪iːrt̪o]) and non-potable water ([d͡ʒʌlo]), the former considered sacred but both borrowed from Sanskrit. Standard Tamil exhibits only the generic term for 'water'. The Vaishnavite Brahmins of Southern Karnataka use the Tamil surname "Iyengar" and are believed to have migrated during the time of the 11th century Vaishnavite saint Ramanujacharya. Most Iyengars in Karnataka use sub-dialects of Iyengar Tamil.
BANGALORE’S FOUNDER A TAMILIAN
The States’ Reorganisation in 1956 led to the marginalisation of Tamils in the areas which were acceded to form the erstwhile Madras Presidency to the new-found Greater Mysore. The city of Bangalore, which itself was founded by a Tamil of Vanniyar caste, Kempe Gownden from Alur, near Kanchipuram, in 1537, was predominantly Tamil in its demographic composition. Kollegal, which was largely Tamil, was acceded to Greater Mysore, as Chittoor district was annexed to Andhra Pradesh and the huge Idukki district to Kerala.
Though asked whether they wanted the Kolar Gold Fields to go with the diminished Madras State when the States were being reorganised, the headless leaders among the KGF Tamils preferred to remain with the Greater Mysore. The plight of the KGF Tamils has its fountainhead here.
With the fond hopes of carving out a fair deal for themselves, the Tamils in Karnataka contributed their mite to build up the new state. Their share in turning Bangalore into a blooming modern city is quite big.
A chapter in Karnataka history at the peak of Central Asian Turkish onslaught
One of the darkest chapters in South Indian and especially Tamil history is when the Turko Persian invaders established the Madurai sultanate which was a short lived kingdom before the establishment of Karnataka Samrajya (Vijayanagar Empire).
We have first hand account of the cruel rule which is mentioned by Ibn battuta in his book "The Rhila".Ibn battuta expressed hatred against the native hindu population in his travels owing to religious differences. But even he was shocked to see how brutally Tamil Hindus were slaughtered which should give us an idea of the mass slaughter inflicted on Tamils.
Ibn Batuta describes Ghiyasuddin Dhamgani the then sultan's actions as:
"the (Tamil) Hindu prisoners were divided into four sections and taken to each of the four gates of the great catcar. There, on the stakes they had carried, the prisoners were impaled. Afterwards their wives were killed and tied by their hair to these pales. Little children were massacred on the bosoms of their mothers and their corpses left there. Then, the camp was razed, and they started cutting down the trees of another forest. In the same manner did they treat their later Tamil (Hindu) prisoners. This is shameful conduct such as I have not known any other sovereign guilty of. It is for this that God hastened the death of Ghiyasuddin.
One day whilst the Qazi and I were having our food with (Ghiyasuddin), the Qazi to his right and I to his left, an infidel was brought before him accompanied by his wife and son aged seven years. The Sultan made a sign with his hand to the executioners to cut off the head of this man; then he said to them in Arabic: 'and the son and the wife.' They cut off their heads and I turned my eyes away. When I looked again, I saw their heads lying on the ground.
I was another time with the Sultan Ghiyasuddin when a Tamil Hindu was brought into his presence. He uttered words I did not understand, and immediately several of his followers drew their daggers. I rose hurriedly, and he said to me; 'Where are you going' ? I replied: 'I am going to say my afternoon (4 o'clock) prayers.' He understood my reason, smiled, and ordered the hands and feet of the idolater to be cut off. On my return I found the unfortunate swimming in his blood."
Ibn Battuta also happens to describes a plague afflicting Madurai which can also be attested from Gangadevi's Madhura Vijayam a book based on Karnataka samrajya liberation of Tamilnadu.
"When I arrived at Madurai, there was a contagious disease prevalent there which killed people in a short time. Those who were attacked died in two or three days. If their death was delayed, it was only until the fourth day, that they died. On leaving my dwelling, I saw people either sick and then dead or already dead."
Every single thing mentioned by Ibn battuta is mentioned by Gangadevi. Gangadevi was the wife of Kumara Kampana of Karnataka Samrajya (Vijayanagar Empire) .
She describes the impalement and beheading of Tamilians and also the river of Tambraparni turning red due to the slaughter of civilians.
"I very much lament for what has happened to the groves in Madurai. The coconut trees have all been cut and in their place are to be seen rows of iron spikes with human skulls dangling at the points.
In the highways which were once charming with the sounds of anklets of beautiful women, are now heard the ear-piercing noises of Brahmanas being dragged, bound in iron fetters and then beheaded.
The waters of Tambraparni which were once white with sandal paste rubbed away from the breasts of charming girls are now flowing red with the blood of cattle slaughtered by the Turushka miscreants."
It is not a mere coincidence that both saw the same scenes. In fact more surprising thing is the two accounts were written few decades later which shows non stop cruelty throughout various sultans reign.
Eventually Karnataka Samrajya emperor Bukka Raya after consolidating his reign orders his son Kumara Kampana to liberate Tamilnadu from Turkish rule and to put an end to the sufferings of the people. This chapter is one of the most glorious events of Indian history where two groups united against a foreign foe to expel them away. In this case Kannadigas and Tamils.
Eventually Kumara Kampana invades and beheads the Sultan and orders the slaughter of remaining soldiers and liberated Madurai.