Velama (caste)

Velama
Classification Warriors, Zamindars and Landlords, Farmers)
Religions Hinduism
Languages Telugu, Tamil
Populated States Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Velama or the Velama Doralu(Lord) is a social group found mainly in Andhra Pradesh. Velamas are classed as "Upper Shudras".[1][2][3] The history of Velama's is as old as Telugu bravery. Military exploits of Velamas form an important part of Telugu tradition, history and folklore. The battles of Palnadu, Bobbili and their battles on behalf of Kakatiya and Vijaynagar empires speak volumes about their chivilary and martial spirit. According to Edgar Thurston, Russel etc., the martial social groups of Velama and Kamma share a common ancestry but got separated in the early medieval times. The earliest occurrence of ‘Velama’ in inscriptions dates from Mid-Fifteenth century. According to few historians, the warriors who migrated from Velanadu (part of present day Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh) to Kakatiya empire in 11th century came to be called as ‘Velama’.

Contents

Origin

The division of warrior clans of Telugu land into many social groups commenced during the time of Kakatiya king Rudra I (1158-1195 CE). According to Velugotivari Vamsavali and Padmanayakacharitra, texts written in medieval times, farmers (Kapus) became Kammas and Velamas.[4][5] In medieval times the term 'Kapu' meant a farmer or protector.

"...kaalachoditamuna kaakateevarugolchi kaapulella velama kammalairi"

(Telugu: ....కాలచోదితమున కాకతీవరుగొల్చి కాపులెల్ల వెలమ, కమ్మలైరి)

Badabanala Bhatta, the minister in the court of Ganapatideva prescribed Surnames and Gothras of Velamas.

Kakatiya king Prataparudra entrusted the defence of Warangal to 77 Padmanayaka clans.[6] Velamas constituted a significant proportion of the broader "Padmanayaka" group. Velamas have 77 gothras and 77 flags in earlier times. According to Cynthia Talbot, Velama and Padmanayaka are not synonymous.[7] Velama and Padmanayaka were listed as separate communities in Bhimeswara Puranamu.[8] Famous Telugu poet Srinatha (14th century CE), while describing the social divisions during his time, categorized Padmanayaka, Velama and Kamma in his Bhimeswara Puranamu.[9]

".....andu padmanayakulana, velamalana, kammalana trimarga gangapravahambulumbole gotrambulanniyeni jagatpavitrambulai pravahimpachunda"

(Telugu: .....అందు పద్మనాయకులన, వెలమలన, కమ్మలన త్రిమర్గ గంగాప్రవాహంబులుంబోలె గొత్రంబులన్నియెని జగత్పవిత్రంబులై ప్రవహింపచుండ)

In addition, an inscription in Telangana (1613 AD) stated one man a Padmanayaka and ascribed 'Velama' clan status to another.[10]

Pre-Kakatiya period

Palnadu Battle

Palnadu region is located in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. One Dodda Nayudu and his son Brahma Nayudu of Recherla dynasty served as ministers under Haihayas kings such as Alugu Raju ruling at Macherla. Brahma Nayudu was a progressive leader with egalitarian ideals. Nalagama Raju and Narasinga Raju were ruling at Gurajala, a small town near Macherla. Nagamma, a widow and an orthodox minister, did not relish the progressive ideals of Brahma. In a cock fight, a popular sport of those times, Macherla lost to Gurajala. Brahma and his followers had to live in exile as part of the gamble. Subsequent to the return from exile tensions between both the kings led to the battle of Palnadu (1182 CE) at Karempudi village. Macherla was defeated, a generation of warriors perished and Brahma Nayudu took to renunciation. As an aftermath of this war Kakatiyas extended their rule to coastal Andhra region and several Velama warriors migrated to Warangal.

Kakatiya period

Velama warriors formed the bulwark of Kakatiya army and fought many victorious battles. Some illustrious Kakatiya commanders of Velama group are:

Ganapathi Deva Period (1199–1262 A.D.)

Rani Rudrama Devi Period (1259–1289 A.D.)

Prataparudra II Period (1289–1323 A.D.)

Prataparudra II entrusted the defense of the Warangal predominantly to Velama Nayakas.

Rachakonda Kingdom

Recherla Singama Nayaka, the first King of Recherla clan of Velamas, was closely followed by the Devarakonda Chiefs. Stories of his valour are sung as ballads. His sons Anavota Nayaka and Mada Nayaka carried on his legacy after his assassination by Jallipalli Kshatriyas.

Devarakonda Kingdom

Eight kings ruled Deverakonda from 1287 to 1475 CE. Some of the kings who ruled Deverakonda Kingdom are:

Bahmani Period

Recherla chiefs of Rachakonda and Devarakonda served as vassals of Bahmanis after Musunuri Kapaaneedu was killed. Their descendents acquired Zamindaris (Samsthanams) in Mahboobnagar, Kurnool and Raichur Districts.

Vijayanagara period

The Velamas under the influence of Bahmanis became rivals of Hindu Vijayanagar kings and fought several battles with Raya kings. However, those Velamas who did not relish serving as vassals to Bahmanis migrated to Vijayanagar empire.[11] As this empire expanded some of the Nayaks were sent to places in southern Tamil Nadu like Madurai and Thanjavur.

Golkonda Period

Jetaprolu Samsthanam is a historic Samasthanam in the Nizam dominion in Telangana region. The Jetaprolu family gave rise to Rajas of Bobbili, Pithapuram, Nuzividu, Narasaraopeta, Malleshwaram (Krishna District), Mylavaram and Venkatagiri)

British Period

Post-Independence Period

L. Sriramulu Naidu was the first Indian governor of the Madras Presidency under British rule, and the first mayor of erstwhile Madras post-independence. He was held in high regard for his philanthropy.

'K Yarram Naidu ... Ex.MP & TDP State Sr Leader

Notable personalities

Chief Ministers,Collectors, Governors and Mayors

Primary references

  1. Katten, Michael; Making Caste In Nineteenth-Century India: A History of Telling the Bobbili Katha & Velama Identity, University of California at Berkeley, USA
  2. Roghair, Gene H; 1982, The epic of Palnadu: a study and translation of Palnati virula katha, a Telugu oral tradition from Andhra Pradesh, India, Oxford University Press
  3. Talbot, Cynthia; 2004, Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra (Hardcover), Oxford University Press
  4. Prasad, Durga; 1988, History of the Andhras Till 1565 A.D., Durga Prasad, PG Publishers, Guntur
  5. A History of Telling the Bobbili Katha & Velama Identity, Michael Katten, University of California at Berkeey
  6. Castes and Tribes of South India

Other references

  1. ^ Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (2002). Education and the disprivileged: nineteenth and twentieth century India. Orient Blackswan. p. 17. ISBN 9788125021926. http://books.google.com/books?id=f-jBIp3iWdEC&pg=PA17. Retrieved 4 July 2011. 
  2. ^ Bruce Elliot Tapper (1 January 1988). Rivalry and tribute: society and ritual in a Telugu village in South India. Hindustan Pub. Corp.. p. 56. ISBN 9788170750031. http://books.google.com/books?id=h-vZAAAAMAAJ&q=velama+shudra#search_anchor. Retrieved 4 July 2011. 
  3. ^ Ilaiah Kancha (1 September 2010). The Weapon Of The Other: Dalitbahujan Writings And The Remaking Of Indian Nationalist Thought. Pearson Education India. pp. 130–. ISBN 9788177582468. http://books.google.com/books?id=9ANTprZwn9YC&pg=PA130. Retrieved 4 July 2011. 
  4. ^ Velugotivari Vamsavali, English Translation by N. Venkataramanaiah
  5. ^ Padmanayakacharitra, Sarvajna Singabhupala (in Telugu)
  6. ^ Prataparudracaritramu, translated by P. Ramachandra Rao
  7. ^ Pre-colonial India in Practice: Society, Region and Identity in Medieval Andhra, C. Talbot, 2001, Oxford University Press, p. 191, ISBN 0-19-513661-6
  8. ^ Musunuri Nayaks: A Forgotten Chapter of Andhra History, M. Somasekhara Sarma, 1948, Andhra University Press, Waltair
  9. ^ Bhimeswara Puranamu, Srinatha, 1-31 (in Telugu)
  10. ^ IAP, K-48
  11. ^ Velugotivari Vamsavali, Translated by N. Venkaaramanayya
  12. ^ B. M. G.. "The Tiger of Bobbili". The Hindu. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/02/stories/2002090200940200.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-28. 

'K Yarram Naidu ... Ex.MP & TDP State Sr Leader

External links