Kongu Vellalar

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Kongu Vellalar
Varna	Vaishya, Kshatriya
Classification	Backward Class
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Tamil (Kongu Tamil)
Country	India
Original state	Tamil Nadu
Populated states	Major Population in Tamil Nadu, Minor Populations in Karnataka, Kerala, United Kingdom and the United States[1]
Region	Kongu Nadu
Related groups	Thuluva Vellalar

Kongu Vellalars, sometimes referred to simply as Gounder, are a community from the western region of Tamil Nadu, which is known as Kongu Nadu. It also refers to the title or surname used by the Vellalar community from the region. Kongu Vellala Gounders were classified as a Forward Caste at the time of Indian independence but they successfully requested to be reclassified as a Backward Class in 1975.^[2] The Vellalars of Kongu region came to be known as Kongu Vellalar or Gounder, though both the names have also been treated separately in some regions.^[3]

The community plays a significant role in the political and economic life of the Kongu Nadu region.^[4][5] Among them are businessmen who figure among the global leaders in several industrial sectors.