The 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar (24MTC) also called as Janappan and Sadhu Chetty is a community who are predominantly found in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana in India, as well as Sri Lanka.
In the agrarian era, they were originally manufacturers of gunny bags made out of hemp (jute fibers), but later they entered into trading different merchandises [1] and by the British colonial period (early 19th century) they were mostly engaged in trade by transporting the goods about towns and village and particularly in the city of Madras, the trade of various kinds of fruits was largely in their hands.
Their 24 Gothras are further divided into groups of sixteen and eight.
[4] Among the names of the gōtras as per the historians, are the following: Vasava,[5] Vamme, Mummudi,[6] Pilli Vankaravan, Makkiduvan,[7] Thallelan, Gendagiri,[8] Madalavan, Piligara,[9] Mukkanda,[10] Vadiya,[11] Thonda, Kōla.
Present forms of Gothras or clans[12] 16 Veedu: Mummudiyar, Tharishiyavar, Kolavar, Kanithiyavar, Thillaiyavar, Paluvidhiyar, Chennaiyavar, Mathalaiyavar, Kothavangavar, Rajabhairavar, Vammaiyar, Kappavar, Vachiyavar, Kenthiyavar, Naliviraiyavar, Surayavar, Gandavangavalar 8 Veedu: Makkadaiyar, Korahaiyar, Marattaiyar, Kavalaiyar, Pillivangavar, Thavalaiyar, Soppiyar, Kottavar, Nalabakshiyavar