Kālingi (also Kalinga and Kālinji) is a Hindu warrior caste residing in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.[1] In Andhra, they are primarily found in the erstwhile Srikakulam district with smaller numbers in neighbouring districts. Some of the community members also served as temple priests in the past.[2] [3] They are categorized as an Other Backward Classes (OBC) by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Turpu Kapus are one of the dominant castes of Srikakulam district along with Kalingi and Polinati Velama.[4] Kālingis form around 10 percent of the total population of former Srikakulam district. They are heavily concentrated in the talukas of Sompeta, Tekkali and parts of Srikakulam and Palakonda in the district.
In the Telugu parts, the caste is called Kalinga or Kālingi and in the Oriya country they are known as Kālinji.[5]
There are four further diviisions among Kalingas like Buragam and Kinthali Kalingas. The other two unpopularly subgroups were Kalinga Brahmana with titles Panda, Patro, Sahoo, Panigrahi and Kalinga Raju.[6] Both Kinthala and Buragam Kalingas are categorized as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.[7] Kinthala widows are permitted to remarry if they have no male heir, but Buragam widows are not.