South Africa during British colonial era to work on the sugarcane farms as indentured labourers. The descendants of such Reddiars can still be found in South Africa today. Reddy versus Reddiars Reddys predominantly Telugu and follow Telugu cultural norms like Ugadi, Dussehra and Sankranthi and follow all other Andhra norms. Whereas Reddiars who came from Andhra to the Tamil region speak both Tamil and Telugu follow both Tamil and Telugu cultural norms. They also celebrate Thai Pongal, Tamil New Year and Ugadi. Some have represented in Tamil literary circles as great patrons and scholars of Tamil language. Prominent Reddiars A. Subbarayalu Reddiar - First Chief Minister of Madras Presidency - Dec 1920 - June 1921 V. Venkatasubha Reddiar - Former Chief Minister of Puducherry and a prominent Puducherry freedom fighter Muthulakshmi Reddi, First Indian Woman Doctor and Former Legislator, Founder of Cancer Institute (WIA),Padma Bhushan Awardee O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar - Former Premier of Madras Presidency - 1947-1949 , Former Member of Legislative Council from 1946 to 1958. V. Vaithilingam - Former Chief Minister of Puducherry - July 4, 1991 to May 13, 1996 (first term), September 4, 2008 – April 13, 2011, Member of Parliament from Puducherry Constituency, 2019 - M. D. R. Ramachandran - Former Chief Minister of Puducherry - 16 January 1980 to 23 June 1983 and 8 March 1990 – 3 March 1991 K. S. Venkatakrishna Reddiar - Politician, President of Congress Reform Committee M. R. Lakshmi Narayanan - Former Member of Parliament, Tindivanam from 15 March 1971 to 18 January 1977 and 23 March 1977 to 22 August 1979 Jayarama Reddiar - Former Member of Legislative Council from 1952 to 1958 N. Krishnaswami Reddy - Former Justice of Madras High Court from 1964 to 1966. K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran - Former Co-operation, PWD Minister in MGR Cabinet, Former Minister for Backward Classes (2006-2011), Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management in DMK Cabinet (2021-) K. N. Nehru - Former Minister for Electricity (1989-1991),Former Minister for Food & Public Distribution System (1996–2001), Former Transport Minister in DMK cabinet (2006–2011), Minister For Municipal Administration and Urban and Water Supply (2021-) in DMK cabinet Napoleon - Actor and Former MP of Perambalur Constituency Former Central Minister Of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, 2009 - 2013, Former Vice-President of Nadigar Sangam P. Balakrishna Reddy - Former Animal Husbandry Minister and Former Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister