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Kapu (caste)
Encyclopedia
Kapu refers to a social grouping of the sub-castes Telaga
, Balija
found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching". They are also referred to by the title Naidu
} ("leader").Kapus speak Telugu and are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant Shudra
caste, considered along with the Kamma
, Reddy
, and Patnaik
as the four dominant upper Shudra castes of Andhra Pradesh.
The Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh is predominantly concentrated in the coastal districts, North Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. They are also found in large numbers in Tamil Nadu
, Karnataka
, Kerala
, Maharashtra
, Chattisgarh, Orissa
and some other Indian states as well as Sri Lanka
.
The Kapu subcastes constitute about 22% of the population of Andhra Pradesh, making them the single largest community in the state. In the last decades of the 20th century, some of them have settled abroad, particularly in United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, and Trinidad.
, Balija
found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching". They are also referred to by the title Naidu
} ("leader").Kapus speak Telugu and are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant Shudra
caste, considered along with the Kamma
, Reddy
, and Patnaik
as the four dominant upper Shudra castes of Andhra Pradesh.
The Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh is predominantly concentrated in the coastal districts, North Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. They are also found in large numbers in Tamil Nadu
, Karnataka
, Kerala
, Maharashtra
, Chattisgarh, Orissa
and some other Indian states as well as Sri Lanka
.
The Kapu subcastes constitute about 22% of the population of Andhra Pradesh, making them the single largest community in the state. In the last decades of the 20th century, some of them have settled abroad, particularly in United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, and Trinidad.
, Balija
found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching". They are also referred to by the title Naidu
} ("leader").Kapus speak Telugu and are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant Shudra
caste, considered along with the Kamma
, Reddy
, and Patnaik
as the four dominant upper Shudra castes of Andhra Pradesh.
The Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh is predominantly concentrated in the coastal districts, North Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. They are also found in large numbers in Tamil Nadu
, Karnataka
, Kerala
, Maharashtra
, Chattisgarh, Orissa
and some other Indian states as well as Sri Lanka
.
The Kapu subcastes constitute about 22% of the population of Andhra Pradesh, making them the single largest community in the state. In the last decades of the 20th century, some of them have settled abroad, particularly in United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, and Trinidad.
Perika Balija, Krishna Balija, Surya Balija(Kalavatula), Voda Balija (ship traders,merchants), Ediga Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers), Setty Balija/Chettu Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers) of Coastal Andhra, Ontari-Mudiraj comes under different community
prefer to call themselves Kapu.
and through the various Nayaks played a significant role in the formation and expansion of the Telugu Empire and its culture throughout South India and Sri Lanka.
Many leaders who have contributed to the social, cultural and political aspects of South India came from this community. Some of them contributed greatly to the freedom struggle against British and in the upliftment of the downtrodden by fighting hard against oppression and social evils.
Megastar Chiranjeevi (Telugu film industry)
The Kapu community were slow in adopting the modern techniques of cultivation, education, business and politics. The richer sections of the community primarily in Coastal Andhra
took part in the renaissance but to a larger extent the middle farmers from Rayalaseema and Telangana could not take advantage of this because of not being blessed with natural resources like their coastal counterparts. This resulted in a drastic decrease in education among the community in Rayalaseema, Telangana and North Andhra resulting in poverty.
Although socially still a forward community, lack of Government support by the way of political representation, reservations, welfare measures made the some sections of the Kapus economically deprived. They currently have only about 5% representation in government jobs and services despite being about 20.5% of the state population. They have only about 48 members representing both the Parliament and Assembly seats which does not represent the numbers the community has in the state. It is of the opinion that both the major political parties, the Congress
and Telugu Desam did not equitably allocate assembly seats to Kapus as per their population. For instance, Balijas, even after being a majority in the Rayalaseema districts have hardly any MLAs representing them in the State Assembly. The lack of strategic or collective decision making and disinclination to join politics are believed to have had a detrimental effect on the community. Off late, however, they are trying to consolidate their representation in elected bodies.
With the emergence of Chiranjeevi
and his joining the Indian National Congress
there are indications of a larger representation for the community.A large number of Kapus have diversified into business, industry, arts and academia both in India and abroad. There are also a number of budding entrepreneurs who have succeeded in different fields.
Telaga
Telaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
, Balija
Balija
Balija is a social group spread across the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala...
found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching". They are also referred to by the title Naidu
Naidu
Naidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
} ("leader").Kapus speak Telugu and are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant Shudra
Shudra
Shudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. The other three varnas are Brahmans - priests, Kshatriya - those with governing functions, Vaishya - agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders...
caste, considered along with the Kamma
Kamma
Kamma may refer to:*Kamma , a caste or social group found largely in Southern India*The Pali and Ardhamagadhi term for karma*Bava Kamma, a traditional Jewish civil law procedure dealing largely with damages and compensation....
, Reddy
Reddy
Reddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
, and Patnaik
Patnaik
Patnaik is an Indian surname and may refer to:*Biju Patnaik , an Indian politician*Devraj Patnaik , a Canadian-born composer, musician and choreographer*Donkada Patnaik , an Indian solicitor and politician...
as the four dominant upper Shudra castes of Andhra Pradesh.
The Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh is predominantly concentrated in the coastal districts, North Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. They are also found in large numbers in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Chattisgarh, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and some other Indian states as well as Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
The Kapu subcastes constitute about 22% of the population of Andhra Pradesh, making them the single largest community in the state. In the last decades of the 20th century, some of them have settled abroad, particularly in United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, and Trinidad.
Origin
- Kapus were the earliest inhabitants of the Deccan region, people who migrated from the north, cleared forests for agriculture and built settlements.
- This migrant tribe initially settled down along the banks of the Godavari river, cleared forests and built Settlements and Towns. To this day, a heavy concentration of Munnuru Kapus and Telagas are found on the banks of the Godavari in the North TelanganaTelanganaTelangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
districts of AdilabadAdilabad districtAdilabad District is a district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is at Adilabad town. A famous Temple of the Goddess Saraswathi, the Hindu Goddess of Education, is located here in the town of Basara.-Origin of name:...
, NizamabadNizamabad districtNizamabad District is located in the north-western region in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also known as Induru. Nizamabad is the current and official name of the district....
, Karimnagar, WarangalWarangal districtWarangal District is located in the northern area in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The administrative seat is Warangal.Warangal District has an area of 12,846 km², and a population of 3,246,004 of which 19.20% was urban as of 2001...
, KhammamKhammam districtKhammam District is a district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It had a population of 2,565,412 of which 19.81% were urban as of 2001 census. Khammam town is the district headquarters. The present name of Khammam is derived from the old name Kammamet. Later it was called Khammam Mettu and subsequently...
, NalgondaNalgonda districtNalgonda / Nallagonda District is a district in Andhra Pradesh. It has a population of 3,483,648 of which 13.32% is urban as of 2001.-Etymology:Its name is derived from two Telugu words Nalla & Konda i.e...
and the coastal districts of East GodavariEast GodavariEast Godavari District is a district situated on the northeast of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Its district headquarters is Kakinada. It is the second richest district in the whole country...
and West GodavariWest GodavariWest Godavari District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. Eluru, is the district headquarter...
, in which lies the Godavari delta and the Krishna Delta(KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
& GunturGunturGuntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
Dt). - The settlement slowly spread among the geographical area of the three Shaiva Lingams of Draksharamam (East Godavari district), SrisailamSrisailamSrisailam is a holy town and mandal, situated in Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of River Krishna, about 232 km south of Hyderabad....
(KurnoolKurnoolKurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
district) and SrikalahastiSrikalahastiSrikalahasti , is a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. It is also informally and wrongly referred to as Kalahasti...
(Chittor district). - This Settlement& Geographical Area was referred to as Tri-linga Desam in the Ancient Texts and the people who were settled in this region were called TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
and the language spoken by them was called Telugu. - This settlement of TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
s started referring to themselves as Balija when the Balijas became quite prominent in the medieval period (around about 1000 CE) with their political and economic contributions primarily the Setty Sub-Division of Balija. - The caste title of the Kapus, NaiduNaiduNaidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
, which is a derivation of the word Nayaka (meaning "leader"), was first used during the era of the VishnukundinaVishnukundinaThe Vishnukundina Empire was an Indian imperial power controlling the Deccan, Orissa and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. It played an important role in the history of the Deccan during the 5th and 6th centuries CE...
dynasty, which ruled the KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and Godavari river deltas during the 3rd Century A.D. - Kapus share their origins along with similar warrior/agrarian communities like the KurmiKurmiThe Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
s of Bihar and UP and Kunbi Marathas of Maharashtra and VokkaligaVokkaligaThe Vokkaligas are an Indian caste or social group found mainly in the Old Mysore Region of southern Karnataka state. In Tamil Nadu they are known as Okkaligar and use Gowder as a title...
of Karnataka. - The Kapus were primarily a military-agrarian community who took up military service and were into cultivation during peace time. Consequently the Kapu subcastes also evolved based on occupation.
- Kapus engaged in trade were referred to as Balija. Balijas who took up military service and protected trading caravans were called Balija Nayakulu or Balija Naidu.
- A significant number of Kapus have today diversified into industry, arts and academia. However, a substantial segment of the population are still farmers.
Sub Castes
Kapu refers to a social grouping of the sub-castes TelagaTelaga
Telaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
, Balija
Balija
Balija is a social group spread across the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala...
found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching". They are also referred to by the title Naidu
Naidu
Naidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
} ("leader").Kapus speak Telugu and are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant Shudra
Shudra
Shudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. The other three varnas are Brahmans - priests, Kshatriya - those with governing functions, Vaishya - agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders...
caste, considered along with the Kamma
Kamma
Kamma may refer to:*Kamma , a caste or social group found largely in Southern India*The Pali and Ardhamagadhi term for karma*Bava Kamma, a traditional Jewish civil law procedure dealing largely with damages and compensation....
, Reddy
Reddy
Reddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
, and Patnaik
Patnaik
Patnaik is an Indian surname and may refer to:*Biju Patnaik , an Indian politician*Devraj Patnaik , a Canadian-born composer, musician and choreographer*Donkada Patnaik , an Indian solicitor and politician...
as the four dominant upper Shudra castes of Andhra Pradesh.
The Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh is predominantly concentrated in the coastal districts, North Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. They are also found in large numbers in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Chattisgarh, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and some other Indian states as well as Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
The Kapu subcastes constitute about 22% of the population of Andhra Pradesh, making them the single largest community in the state. In the last decades of the 20th century, some of them have settled abroad, particularly in United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, and Trinidad.
Origin
- Kapus were the earliest inhabitants of the Deccan region, people who migrated from the north, cleared forests for agriculture and built settlements.
- This migrant tribe initially settled down along the banks of the Godavari river, cleared forests and built Settlements and Towns. To this day, a heavy concentration of Munnuru Kapus and Telagas are found on the banks of the Godavari in the North TelanganaTelanganaTelangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
districts of AdilabadAdilabad districtAdilabad District is a district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is at Adilabad town. A famous Temple of the Goddess Saraswathi, the Hindu Goddess of Education, is located here in the town of Basara.-Origin of name:...
, NizamabadNizamabad districtNizamabad District is located in the north-western region in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also known as Induru. Nizamabad is the current and official name of the district....
, Karimnagar, WarangalWarangal districtWarangal District is located in the northern area in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The administrative seat is Warangal.Warangal District has an area of 12,846 km², and a population of 3,246,004 of which 19.20% was urban as of 2001...
, KhammamKhammam districtKhammam District is a district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It had a population of 2,565,412 of which 19.81% were urban as of 2001 census. Khammam town is the district headquarters. The present name of Khammam is derived from the old name Kammamet. Later it was called Khammam Mettu and subsequently...
, NalgondaNalgonda districtNalgonda / Nallagonda District is a district in Andhra Pradesh. It has a population of 3,483,648 of which 13.32% is urban as of 2001.-Etymology:Its name is derived from two Telugu words Nalla & Konda i.e...
and the coastal districts of East GodavariEast GodavariEast Godavari District is a district situated on the northeast of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Its district headquarters is Kakinada. It is the second richest district in the whole country...
and West GodavariWest GodavariWest Godavari District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. Eluru, is the district headquarter...
, in which lies the Godavari delta and the Krishna Delta(KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
& GunturGunturGuntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
Dt). - The settlement slowly spread among the geographical area of the three Shaiva Lingams of Draksharamam (East Godavari district), SrisailamSrisailamSrisailam is a holy town and mandal, situated in Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of River Krishna, about 232 km south of Hyderabad....
(KurnoolKurnoolKurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
district) and SrikalahastiSrikalahastiSrikalahasti , is a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. It is also informally and wrongly referred to as Kalahasti...
(Chittor district). - This Settlement& Geographical Area was referred to as Tri-linga Desam in the Ancient Texts and the people who were settled in this region were called TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
and the language spoken by them was called Telugu. - This settlement of TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
s started referring to themselves as Balija when the Balijas became quite prominent in the medieval period (around about 1000 CE) with their political and economic contributions primarily the Setty Sub-Division of Balija. - The caste title of the Kapus, NaiduNaiduNaidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
, which is a derivation of the word Nayaka (meaning "leader"), was first used during the era of the VishnukundinaVishnukundinaThe Vishnukundina Empire was an Indian imperial power controlling the Deccan, Orissa and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. It played an important role in the history of the Deccan during the 5th and 6th centuries CE...
dynasty, which ruled the KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and Godavari river deltas during the 3rd Century A.D. - Kapus share their origins along with similar warrior/agrarian communities like the KurmiKurmiThe Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
s of Bihar and UP and Kunbi Marathas of Maharashtra and VokkaligaVokkaligaThe Vokkaligas are an Indian caste or social group found mainly in the Old Mysore Region of southern Karnataka state. In Tamil Nadu they are known as Okkaligar and use Gowder as a title...
of Karnataka. - The Kapus were primarily a military-agrarian community who took up military service and were into cultivation during peace time. Consequently the Kapu subcastes also evolved based on occupation.
- Kapus engaged in trade were referred to as Balija. Balijas who took up military service and protected trading caravans were called Balija Nayakulu or Balija Naidu.
- A significant number of Kapus have today diversified into industry, arts and academia. However, a substantial segment of the population are still farmers.
Sub Castes
Kapu refers to a social grouping of the sub-castes TelagaTelaga
Telaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
, Balija
Balija
Balija is a social group spread across the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala...
found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching". They are also referred to by the title Naidu
Naidu
Naidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
} ("leader").Kapus speak Telugu and are primarily an agrarian community, forming a heterogeneous peasant Shudra
Shudra
Shudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. The other three varnas are Brahmans - priests, Kshatriya - those with governing functions, Vaishya - agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders...
caste, considered along with the Kamma
Kamma
Kamma may refer to:*Kamma , a caste or social group found largely in Southern India*The Pali and Ardhamagadhi term for karma*Bava Kamma, a traditional Jewish civil law procedure dealing largely with damages and compensation....
, Reddy
Reddy
Reddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
, and Patnaik
Patnaik
Patnaik is an Indian surname and may refer to:*Biju Patnaik , an Indian politician*Devraj Patnaik , a Canadian-born composer, musician and choreographer*Donkada Patnaik , an Indian solicitor and politician...
as the four dominant upper Shudra castes of Andhra Pradesh.
The Kapu community in Andhra Pradesh is predominantly concentrated in the coastal districts, North Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. They are also found in large numbers in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Chattisgarh, Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
and some other Indian states as well as Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
The Kapu subcastes constitute about 22% of the population of Andhra Pradesh, making them the single largest community in the state. In the last decades of the 20th century, some of them have settled abroad, particularly in United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, and Trinidad.
Origin
- Kapus were the earliest inhabitants of the Deccan region, people who migrated from the north, cleared forests for agriculture and built settlements.
- This migrant tribe initially settled down along the banks of the Godavari river, cleared forests and built Settlements and Towns. To this day, a heavy concentration of Munnuru Kapus and Telagas are found on the banks of the Godavari in the North TelanganaTelanganaTelangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
districts of AdilabadAdilabad districtAdilabad District is a district in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is at Adilabad town. A famous Temple of the Goddess Saraswathi, the Hindu Goddess of Education, is located here in the town of Basara.-Origin of name:...
, NizamabadNizamabad districtNizamabad District is located in the north-western region in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also known as Induru. Nizamabad is the current and official name of the district....
, Karimnagar, WarangalWarangal districtWarangal District is located in the northern area in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The administrative seat is Warangal.Warangal District has an area of 12,846 km², and a population of 3,246,004 of which 19.20% was urban as of 2001...
, KhammamKhammam districtKhammam District is a district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It had a population of 2,565,412 of which 19.81% were urban as of 2001 census. Khammam town is the district headquarters. The present name of Khammam is derived from the old name Kammamet. Later it was called Khammam Mettu and subsequently...
, NalgondaNalgonda districtNalgonda / Nallagonda District is a district in Andhra Pradesh. It has a population of 3,483,648 of which 13.32% is urban as of 2001.-Etymology:Its name is derived from two Telugu words Nalla & Konda i.e...
and the coastal districts of East GodavariEast GodavariEast Godavari District is a district situated on the northeast of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Its district headquarters is Kakinada. It is the second richest district in the whole country...
and West GodavariWest GodavariWest Godavari District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. Eluru, is the district headquarter...
, in which lies the Godavari delta and the Krishna Delta(KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
& GunturGunturGuntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
Dt). - The settlement slowly spread among the geographical area of the three Shaiva Lingams of Draksharamam (East Godavari district), SrisailamSrisailamSrisailam is a holy town and mandal, situated in Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of River Krishna, about 232 km south of Hyderabad....
(KurnoolKurnoolKurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
district) and SrikalahastiSrikalahastiSrikalahasti , is a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. It is also informally and wrongly referred to as Kalahasti...
(Chittor district). - This Settlement& Geographical Area was referred to as Tri-linga Desam in the Ancient Texts and the people who were settled in this region were called TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
and the language spoken by them was called Telugu. - This settlement of TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
s started referring to themselves as Balija when the Balijas became quite prominent in the medieval period (around about 1000 CE) with their political and economic contributions primarily the Setty Sub-Division of Balija. - The caste title of the Kapus, NaiduNaiduNaidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
, which is a derivation of the word Nayaka (meaning "leader"), was first used during the era of the VishnukundinaVishnukundinaThe Vishnukundina Empire was an Indian imperial power controlling the Deccan, Orissa and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. It played an important role in the history of the Deccan during the 5th and 6th centuries CE...
dynasty, which ruled the KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and Godavari river deltas during the 3rd Century A.D. - Kapus share their origins along with similar warrior/agrarian communities like the KurmiKurmiThe Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
s of Bihar and UP and Kunbi Marathas of Maharashtra and VokkaligaVokkaligaThe Vokkaligas are an Indian caste or social group found mainly in the Old Mysore Region of southern Karnataka state. In Tamil Nadu they are known as Okkaligar and use Gowder as a title...
of Karnataka. - The Kapus were primarily a military-agrarian community who took up military service and were into cultivation during peace time. Consequently the Kapu subcastes also evolved based on occupation.
- Kapus engaged in trade were referred to as Balija. Balijas who took up military service and protected trading caravans were called Balija Nayakulu or Balija Naidu.
- A significant number of Kapus have today diversified into industry, arts and academia. However, a substantial segment of the population are still farmers.
Sub Castes
- TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
- BalijaBalijaBalija is a social group spread across the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala...
The Balija,Telaga,Ontari, Nagaralu Sub-Castes are Classified as O.C (Forward Caste).
Perika Balija, Krishna Balija, Surya Balija(Kalavatula), Voda Balija (ship traders,merchants), Ediga Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers), Setty Balija/Chettu Balija/Goud (Toddy Tappers) of Coastal Andhra, Ontari-Mudiraj comes under different community
Occupation
The Kapu community served during the medieval ages as warriors or protectors of villages and regions from bandits or invading forces. During times of peace, warriors who stayed close to villages served as village heads or practiced agriculture. During times of war, they served as soldiers, governors (i.e. nayaks) and commanders in armies of many South Indian dynasties. The modern day Kapu community is predominantly agrarian, but a significant number have diversified into business, industry, arts and academia.Occupational titles
Some Kapu names are associated with occupations practiced during the medieval period.- Village and regional defence committees: Vuru Kapu, Pranta Kapu
- Administration: Chinna Kapu, Pedda Kapu.
- Protection of farms and livestock from bandits: Panta Kapu
Branches
Most of these Branches do not exist today as all of them have merged into one and they mostlyprefer to call themselves Kapu.
- Peddakapu
- ChinnaKapu
- Telaganati (Telaga)
- Chalukya Kapu
- Mungaru
- Mogali
- Mekala
- Nagaralu(Patrudu)
- Pakanati (eastern territory)
- Simhapuri (Balija/Reddy)
- Velanati
- Oruganti
- saka
- Neravati
- Pedakanti (Narollu)
- Naagali
- Namadarlu
- Modikarlu
- Koraganji
- Makena
- Uggina
Political, social and cultural contributions to South India
The Kapu community during later centuries spread into other regions developing the Telugu language and culture. The Kapus were originally a peace loving community but due to onslaught of the invading forces from the north it formed itself into a force which protected its individuality by war. The ability to defend the cultural and religious fabric of the society from the invading forces allowed the Kapus to elevated themselves to superior status among all the other varnas all throughout the medieval ages. The Kapu caste through the Vijayanagara EmpireVijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
and through the various Nayaks played a significant role in the formation and expansion of the Telugu Empire and its culture throughout South India and Sri Lanka.
Many leaders who have contributed to the social, cultural and political aspects of South India came from this community. Some of them contributed greatly to the freedom struggle against British and in the upliftment of the downtrodden by fighting hard against oppression and social evils.
Literary contributions
The Telugu poet Tumu Ramadasa Kavi (1856 — 1904) was a Kapu, from Warrangal.Megastar Chiranjeevi (Telugu film industry)
Kapu titles
- Kapu/Balija/Telaga/ communities use the caste title Naidu.
- Balija/Kapu/Telaga/ communities use the title Setty / Setti in their surnames to indicate that they are traders (e.g.Thammishetty, Lakkakula,Chalamalasetty/Chalamalasetti,Naraharisetty, Bethamsetty,Gopisetty, Reminisetty, Polisetty, Perisetty, Pinisetty, Chennamsetti, Matlapudi, Sennamsetty, kesamsetty, tirumalasetty, nagisetty,tummalasetty,Siddamsetty Sankarasetty, Bolisetti, Balisetty, Lakkimsetty, Bavisetty,Yeramsetty, Yengisetty, Pattapu, Pulagam, Ganta, Nagireddy, Ghanta,Konidela,Bandaru , vanguri,thota,kota, Allu,Puli,Chilamkurthy,karnatapu,'ATCHUTASammeta',Meruga,Dasari,Kodeboyina,gangisetty,sanagasetty,mendu,mamidi)
- Munnuru Kapu/Telaga/Kapu/Balija communities use the suffix Reddy in their surnames in Telangana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra as they were rulers are that time.
- Kapus in Telangana area sometimes use the title Patel . In Telangana ,especially in Warangal area Kapus are also known as Hazaris ( Hazari is the prestigious title conferred upon Kapu as Kapu used to supervise 1000 horsemen during the period of Kakatiya dynasty (Example:Kapus with surnames Akula and Samudrala in Warangal area are Hazaris ).
- Kapus /Balijas/Telagas also use title Desayi or Desayi Chetti. In olden days Desayis commanded great respect from the subjects because of their esteemed position of representing justice of peace.As per Ananthakrishna Iyer in "The Mysore Tribes and Castes" almost every taluk in North Arcot had Desayi chetti belonging to Balija caste(Kavarai). Their family name used to be "Dhanapala",meaning "Protector of Wealth".
- The name Gurusthulu is synonymous with Balijas as per R.V.Russell
- Kapu and Balija communities also use the tite Rayudu in their names indicating Vijaynagar affiliation and lineage.
- Telaga names usually have the Suffix Rao in Coastal and Telangana Regions.
- Kapu/Telaga surnames ending with the Neni (e.g. Chittineni, Lakkineni which is a derivation of Nayakuni, indicate ancestors served as Mandaladheesulu/commanders under the Kakateeya dynasty.
- Some /Telaga/Kapu/Balija surnames end with the suffix Pati,Parthi,reddy (e.g. Garikepati,Garikaparthi,Pamidiparthi,Bhogireddy, Kandulapati, Pasupuleti), which indicates ancestors owned large tracts of land in medieval times.
- Chola-Chalukyas have used the title Udayar or Odeyar.
Kapu dynasities
- Nidadavolu Chalukyas
- Telugu ChodasTelugu CholasMany Telugu Choda kingdoms ruled over many regions including the cities on the banks of Krishna River in the period between the seventh and the thirteenth century. It is not known much about these family origins. Some of them claimed descent from the legendary Tamil Karikala Chola . Telugu Cholas...
- Kona Chiefs
- Koppula Chiefs, Pithapuram
- Korukonda Nayaks
- Madurai Nayaks
- Tanjavur Nayaks
- Kandy Nayaks who ruled Sri Lanka
- GingeeGingeeGingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
Nayaks / Chenchi Nayaks, Thundeera
- PenukondaPenukondaPenukonda or Penu Konda is a small town in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 70 km away from Anantapur town.-Geography:Penukonda is located at...
- KalyandurgKalyandurgKalyandurg or Kalyandurgam is a census town located in the Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Kalyandurg is located at . It has an average elevation of 591 metres .-History:...
- Rayadurgam
- ChandragiriChandragiriChandragiri , is a suburb of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, India. Recently it is included under Municipal Corporation limits of Tirupati...
:Kasturi Nayadu and Peda Koneti Nayudu of the Vasarasi family belonged to the Balija caste - UdayagiriUdayagiriUdayagiri is the name of many places in India, among them:*Udayagiri Fort, one in Tamil Nadu and the other in Andhra Pradesh...
- ChannapatnaChannapatnaChannapatna is a small city located 60 km south-west of Bangalore, India on Bangalore-Mysore state highway.The city is famous for its wooden toys and lacquerware. In the native language , Channapatna is also called as "goMbegaLa ooru" meaning toys town in English. These toys are manufactured...
Rayas who ruled Bangalore area - Poligars: Some of the tax collectors of Tamil Nadu were of Balija origin.
- Metla RajuluMetla RajuluMetla Rajulu, also called Metlu Rajas, ruled in Cuddapah. They were the last princely state to be captured by the British when Rayalaseema was ceded to them by the Nizam after laying seize to the fort for a couple of months...
- PanchalankurichiPanchalankurichiPanchalankurichi is a small but historic village, 3 km from Ottapidaram and 18 km from Thoothukudi in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India. Panchalankurichi was once a Palayam and is best known as the birth place of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a 17th century Palayakarrar , who opposed the British...
principality: See Veerapandiya KattabommanVeerapandiya KattabommanVeerapandiya Kattabomman also known as Kattabomman was an 18th century Palayakarrar chieftain from Panchalankurichi of Tamil Nadu, India and the 47th King of Panchalankurichi who fought the British. His ancestors migrated to Tamil Nadu from areas in present day Andhra Pradesh during the...
. - North ArcotNorth ArcotThe Indian District of North Arcot was split on 30-09-1989 into Tiruvannamalai-Sambuvarayar and North Arcot Ambedkar .- History :...
principality
20th century
Though the Kapu community did have a great role to play in the various social, economic, political and cultural aspects of the Telugu society up until the 19th century, it has not enjoyed economic and political success after India's independence. They started getting into a steady decline except for a few sections of the community who adopted to modern education and economic transition. The decline peaked during the 1970s and 1980s. With economic liberalization and with the removal of License Raj and government monopoly on sectors, the community is slowly but steadily rebuilding itself.The Kapu community were slow in adopting the modern techniques of cultivation, education, business and politics. The richer sections of the community primarily in Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
took part in the renaissance but to a larger extent the middle farmers from Rayalaseema and Telangana could not take advantage of this because of not being blessed with natural resources like their coastal counterparts. This resulted in a drastic decrease in education among the community in Rayalaseema, Telangana and North Andhra resulting in poverty.
Although socially still a forward community, lack of Government support by the way of political representation, reservations, welfare measures made the some sections of the Kapus economically deprived. They currently have only about 5% representation in government jobs and services despite being about 20.5% of the state population. They have only about 48 members representing both the Parliament and Assembly seats which does not represent the numbers the community has in the state. It is of the opinion that both the major political parties, the Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and Telugu Desam did not equitably allocate assembly seats to Kapus as per their population. For instance, Balijas, even after being a majority in the Rayalaseema districts have hardly any MLAs representing them in the State Assembly. The lack of strategic or collective decision making and disinclination to join politics are believed to have had a detrimental effect on the community. Off late, however, they are trying to consolidate their representation in elected bodies.
With the emergence of Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
and his joining the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
there are indications of a larger representation for the community.A large number of Kapus have diversified into business, industry, arts and academia both in India and abroad. There are also a number of budding entrepreneurs who have succeeded in different fields.
Sources
- Balijavaaru Puraanam, or Vamsa-Prakaasikai and Naayudugarla Samsthana-Charitram (A brief sketch of the Origin and History of the Balija Caste people or Nayudu Community), written and compiled by the help of the Legend of Coimbatore, Sri Selam Pagadaala Narasimhalu Nayudu, Coimbatore.
- http://www.new.dli.ernet.in/scripts/FullindexDefault.htm?path1=/data/upload/0029/406&first=1&last=284&barcode=2020120029401
- Caste& Class Articulation of Andhra Pradesh http://www.odi.org.uk/livelihoodoptions/papers/wp179.pdf#search='caste%2C%20class%2C%20and%20social%20articulation'
- Social status of Kapus in Hindu Varna system http://alfred.med.yale.edu/alfred/recordinfo.asp?condition=populations.pop_uid='PO000359R
- - Kapu History
- Balijakula Charithra (by Kante Narayana Desayi)
- (6) http://www.indo-european.nl/cgi-bin/response.cgi?root=leiden&morpho=0&basename=%5Cdata%5Cie%5Cslav&first=21
- The Madura Country (James Henry Nelson)
- Hindu Castes And Sects (Jogendranath Bhattacharya)
- - The Warrior Merchants - by Mittison Mines
- India's Silent Revolution - By christophe Jaffrelot
- Social Change in Modern India - by M N Srinivas
- The Trading world of the Tamil Merchant - by Kanakalatha Mukund
- Gazetteer of the Nellore District - by Government of Madras
- Constructing the Colonial Encounter - by Niels Brimnes
- http://books.google.com/books?id=HdSABP70H9sC&pg=PA106&lpg=PA106&dq=kavarais&source=bl&ots=G3G7sIYbGv&sig=drBk-iXmReySjx5aBV9kUBD9Snw&hl=en&ei=xVh_St7bOsa3twe2j9XzAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#v=onepage&q=kavarais&f=false
- The Political Economy and Commerce - by Sanjay Subrahmanyam
- The World of the Weaver in Northern Coromandel, C.1750- C.1850 by P. Swarnalatha
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- http://books.google.com/books?id=P_t3zmwNQVwC&pg=PA366&lpg=PA366&dq=gurusthulu&source=bl&ots=0Va7EgUCR-&sig=f2WZ-KA_NDLPzH4d5TpPjLslUk4&hl=en&ei=xxpZSqDXGoGftgf79pXdCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1
- http://books.google.com/books?id=vERnljM1uiEC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Gazetteer+of+South+India,+Volume+2+By+W.+Francis&source=bl&ots=LRyM_CW3VP&sig=Jk5C3rhmpa2Ia344KFIHsiPftvs&hl=en&ei=r87CSpmkIJPalAejw83IBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false
- Religion in Vijaya nagara Empire (Konduri Sarojini Devi)
- The Mughal State, Oxford in India Readings, Oxford University Press http://web.mit.edu/%7Eshekhar/www/southasia/mughal_state.pdf
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- The Encyclopedia of World history
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- Hindu Castes And Sects (Jogendranath Bhattacharya)
- The Castes and Tribes of The Nizam's Dominions (Syed Siraj Ul Hassan)
- The Mysore Tribes and Castes (L K Ananthakrishna Iyer)
- "Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims" By Alf Hiltebeitel.
- The Wars of The Rajas - by Charles Philip Brown
- The View from Below - By Kanakalatha Mukund
- American Kapu Association(AKA)-http://www.aka-us.org
- Caste & Class Articulation of Andhra Pradesh
- Government Oriental Manuscripts Library in Chennai (Madras), W. C. Mackenzie: Colonel Colin Mackenzie, first Surveyor-General of India. Edinburgh: W&R Chambers, 1952
- Castes And Tribes of Southern India (Edgar Thruston)
- A Hand Book of the Fighting Races of India by P.D Baneerjee .1975
- Mughal State and Tribes in 17th century - by Sunita Ziadi Indian Economic Social History Review.1989; 26: 343-362
- Land and People of Indian States and Union Territories ,Tamil Nadu by Gopal K Bhargava,Shankarlal C.Bhatt
- South Asian Folklore by Peter J.Claus,Sarah Diamond,Margaret Ann Mills
- Asia in the making of Europe by Donald Frederick Lach,Edwin J Van Kley
- sree chennakesavaswami-harijanarchakulu ,Gandham Nageswara Rao
- Genetic Evidence on Caste Origins
- Caste politics in the North, West and South India before Mandal
- http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1&fid=2751468&jid=ASS&volumeId=43&issueId=01&aid=2751460
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