Are these akin to Government or Poramboke or Ryotwari Lands? Grama Natham in Tamilnadu trace its history to the land classification practices followed under composite “Madras Presidency” of the British era. This can be established by the term “Grama Natham” finding its place in the “Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms of British India – 1855” and the extract of which is given below: Grama Natham is defined as ground set apart on which the houses of a village may be built.