Munnuru Kapu

Munnuru Kapu is a [caste] community of the Telangana region in India.^[1]

Etymology

Munnuru Kapu is a combination of two Telugu words: Munnuru, meaning 300, and Kapu, meaning protector of the land, the task they perform during wars, while becoming farmers during peacetime. This appears to be a caste classification given in the later period of the Kakatiya Empire in present-day Telangana, India.^[2] According to the history recorded in the book Munnuru Kapu Kula Abhyudayamu ^[3] some of the great chieftains of Kakatiya's were from this community. A few of them use title Reddy but off late its use is on decreasing trend.

Origin

There are several stories regarding the origin of the "Munnuru Kapu" According to legend described in the book written on this community called Munnuru Kpau Kula Abhyudayamu(1920-1967)^[4] these are people who migrated from Mithila ruled by Janaka Maharaja.

Munnuru Kapus are primarily concentrated in the Telangana region . They are a military branch of the Kapu community, who farmed during peace time.

Munnuru kapus were part of the Original great warriors of Tanjavore. They were the best of the best in the tanjore army.

Munnuru Kapus are located primarily in the Telangana. The Munnuru Kapu functioned as interior palace guards or cavalry in kingdoms such as those of the Tanjavore Nayaks, Devarakonda, and Nizam. These people were also appointed as village Police Patels and Patwari(Village Secretary). A good number of them had grown to village patel status and a few were zamindars also.^[5] But at least 40-50% of them are small scale, medium scale, landless farmers. They were not an Educationally developed community. According to Governments positive discrimination policy they deserve reservations in particular regions and in state wide they are categorized into classes with least reservation. But in the past few decades they are one of the communities in Telangana with high educational awareness.

The name Munnuru Kapu did not Exist initially during the Medieval Ages but it was a recent adoption by the Kapus/Telagas/Balija settled in Telangana because of the following events.

Munnuru Kapus were also referred to as Thota Balijas, Munnurwar, Telenga Kunbi and Thopatkari in the Ancient days. They apparently moved to Chanda region from Telugu country travelling along Godavari and Pranahitha rivers. They are originally Kapus which is a huge caste. Off late they prefer to be called as Munnuru kapus but not as kapu.

There are several stories regarding the origin of the "Munnuru Kapu":

The Nawab of Hyderabad requested the Tanjavore Nayaks to send a battalion of his best infantry and cavalry for his personal security. The Nayak dispatched three hundred Telaga men and their families from their imperial guard. The descendants of these three hundred families are now called munnuru kapu.

According to R.S. Mugali in "The Heritage of Karnataka" the Munnurvar (the three hundred) were among the representatives corresponding to the members of a corporation of the cities in the 12th century A.D in Karnataka. According to the same author "Jagattamunnuru" (the three hundred of the World) was the name given to the village assembly of Niruvara under the Vijayanagar rulers.

History

The Kapus were primarily a military and agrarian community who took up military service in wartime and were cultivators during peacetime. Consequently Kapu also evolved sub-castes based on occupation. Kapu sub-castes dedicated to military service included the Telaga, Munnuru Kapu and Ontari (who served as special forces). The Munnuru Kapus were a detachment of the Telagas who migrated to the current Telangana and served under the Kakatiyas and Nizams.^[6]

The Munnuru Kapus are primarily concentrated in Telangana. A common occupation in the community is farming. They were a part of the Telaga community and were the imperial guard of the Tanjore Nayaks. The Nawabs of Hyderabad asked the Tanjavore Nayaks to send a battalion of their best infantry and cavalry for their kingdom's protection. The Tanjore Nayaks dispatched three hundred Telaga men and their families. The descendants of these three hundred families are now called Munnuru Kapu. The Munnuru Kapus have traditionally been associated with safeguarding and protecting one kingdom or another, such as the Tanjavore Nayaks, Devarakondas, Nizams etc.^[7]

Renowned personalities

1. Vikram Akula, founder of SKS Micro Finance, was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in the year 2006, and a Young Global Leader Award winner in 2008 from World Economic Forum.
2. P.Shivasankar(Reddy) served as Union Cabinet Minister for several Ministries, Leader of the House, and Leader of the Opposition(Rajya Sabha)
3. Gundam Veeraiah, Ex MLA (Medak),Ex Panchayathi raj President(Narsapur) Ex-Medak District Congress President
4. K. Keshava Rao Ex. PCC President(A.P.), MP(Rajya Sabha-TRS).
5. V. Hanumantha Rao Ex. PCC President(A.P.), MP(Rajya Sabha-Congress).
6. Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Ex. Minister(A.P.), First PCC President of Telangana.
7. Jogu Ramanna, Minister for Forest and Environment ministry, BC Welfare(Govt of T.S.)
8. Nethi Vidyasagar, Ex. Mandali Chairman(A.P., TS), Present Deputy Chairman(Govt of T.S.).
9. Dashyan Vinaya Bhaskar, MLA & Parliamentary Secretary(Govt of T.S.).
10. Late Y. Yella Reddy, Ex. Minister and 4 times MLA(TDP-KalvaKurthy).
11. Nerella Anajaneyulu, Ex. Minister 3 times MLA (TDP-YellaReddy).
12. Padala Bumanna, Ex. Minister(TDP-Adilabad).
13. Late Sripathi Rajeshwar Rao Ex. Minister(All India NTR Fans Association President).
14. Vanama Venkateshwar Rao, Ex. Minister(Congress).
15. Konda Murali, Ex. MLC.
16. Danam Nagendar, Ex. Minster(A.P.).
17. Konda Surekha,Ex Minster,MLA(Warangal West).
18. Gangula Kamalakar, MLA(Karimnagar).
19. Somarapu Satyanarayana, MLA(Ramagundam).
20. Bajireddy Govardhan, MLA(Nizamabad Rural).
21. Dr. K Laxman, BJP Floor Leader of TSLA(Musheerabad).
22. Putta Madhu, MLA(Manthani).
23. Alladi Raj Kumar, Ex RajyaSabha MP.
24. Poola Ravinder, MLC.
25. Karne Prabhakar, MLC.
26. T. Santosh Kumar, MLC.
27. Dharmapuri Srinivas Ex. Minister(A.P.),Ex. PCC President(A.P.)
28. Bomma Venkateshwar, Ex MLA.
29. Kaveti Sammaiah, Ex MLA.
30. Yendala Laxmi Narayana Ex MLA.
31. A. Madan Mohan Ex. MLA Siddipet(Defeated K. Chandra Shekar rao in 1983)
32. Sana Maruti Ex. MLA Choppadandi
33. P. Sudheer Kumar Ex. MLA Malakpet
34. Birudu Rajamallu Ex. MLA Peddapally
35. Dhasyam Pranaya Bhaskar Ex. MLA Hanmakonda
36. Kommireddy Ramulu Ex. MLA Metpally
37. S. Ramdas Ex. MLA Sanath Nagar
38. G. Rajaram Ex. MLA BALKONDA
39. A. Kishan Das Ex. MLA Nizamabad
40. Nadam Krishna Rao Ex. MLA KHAIRATABAD
41. K. Ramakrishna Ex. MLA ADILABAD
42. K.V. Gangadhar Ex. MLA Nizamabad
43. B. Satyanarayana Ex. MLA CHEVELLA
44. K. Sudarshan Rao Ex. MLA Palvancha
45. K. Kanakaratnamma Ex. MLA Narsampeta
46. N.C.V. Mohan Rao Ex. MLA Ghanapur
47. Ramlu KommiReddy

References

www.bctimes.org http://books.google.co.in/books?id=lYSd-3yL9h0C&q=munnur#v=onepage&q=munnur&f=false https://archive.org/details/munnurukapukulaa021569mbp