Thavamani Thevar's Collection of Tamil Customary Law Documents [1645-1971]

This collection consists of handwritten documents belonging to Thavamani Thevar. These documents written to his father (Pinna Thevar, 1896-1971) and grand father (Ananji Thevar, 1838-1918) in their capacity as traditional headmen of the Pramalai kallar sub caste. These documents consist of petitions, descriptions of conflicts having occurred in villages under the traditional legal jurisdiction. The conflicts ranged from unpaid loans, inheritance, breaking the customary marriage rules, theft, adultery, rape, murder. This collection also contains copperplates from the mid 17th century issued by the Nayakkar ruler Tirumalai Nayakkar to the forefather Pinna Thevar, the first holder of the title of headman to the Pramalai Kallar subcaste. All of the documents are kept in.

230 handwritten and printed paper documents, 11 school notebooks, 3 copper plates.