Kapu (caste) explained

Caste Name:Kapu
Country:India
Region:South India
Classification:Forward caste
Populated States:Major:
Andhra Pradesh
Yanam
Minor:
Telangana
Orissa
Languages:Telugu
Religions:Hinduism
Subdivisions:Telaga, Ontari

Kapu is a Hindu caste mainly found in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They are classified as a Forward caste. They are a community of land-owning agriculturists. Historically, they have also been warriors and military generals (Nayakas) in Hindu armies. They are a dominant caste of Andhra Pradesh. Kapus commonly carry the title Naidu. They are primarily present in Coastal Andhra with major concentration in the Godavari-Krishna delta region.[1]

Telaga and Ontari are the Kapu subcastes. Traditionally, both were warrior communities known for their honour and bravery.[2] The terms Kapu and Telaga are often used synonymously. The origins of Telagas have been linked to Telugu Choda dynasties like Durjayas of Velanadu (1076–1216 CE) who ruled Coastal Andhra and later came to be called Telagas over a period of time.[3]

Kapu, Telaga and Ontari are all referred to as Kapu across Coastal Andhra except for the erstwhile Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts where they are known as Telaga.[4] Balija community of Rayalaseema is closely related to Kapu caste and both are often enumerated together in governmental, sociological and psephological contexts.

Kapus of Coastal Andhra are distinct from communities like the Munnuru Kapus of Telangana, the Turpu Kapus of Uttarandhra and Reddys of Rayalaseema and Telangana.

Etymology

Kāpu literally means cultivator or protector in Telugu. More specifically, Kāpu refers to landowning cultivators in the context of the Jajmani system. In several places, the landowning cultivators are addressed by the agricultural labourers as Kāpu.[5]

History

Origins

Various subgroups of Kapus (cultivators) branched off into separate communities in the post-Kakatiya period (Velamas, Panta Kapus and Pakanati Kapus—both of whom got labelled Reddys, and Kapus of Kammanadu—eventually labelled Kammas). The remaining Kapus continue to use the original label. B. S. L. Hanumantha Rao while explaining the term Kapu noted, "people who are into cultivation, or farming, but who do not belong to Kammas, Reddys and Velamas are known as Kapus." All the cultivator caste clusters have a common ancestry in the legends. According to Cynthia Talbot, the transformation of occupational identities as caste labels occurred in the late Vijayanagara period or later.

Medieval era

An inscription dating to 1205 CE (1127 Saka year) mentions Teliki Kapulu, which K. Iswara Dutt interprets as referring to Telagas.[6]

The earliest occupation of Kapu community was farming along with military service. In the medieval period, Kapus served as protectors of villages from bandits and as village headmen. They were recruited into army during periods of war and served as governors (nayaks), commanders and soldiers in various Andhra kingdoms.[7] They returned to agriculture during times of peace. Kapus were one of the five major land-owning castes during the Qutub Shahi (1518–1687) rule. Hanumantha Rao notes that Kapus have embraced military as well as farming till the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Kapu sub-castes like Telagas and Ontaris were recorded as warrior communities in the medieval era. Ontaris were elite warriors who engaged in hand-to-hand combat and wielded heavy weapons like maces. They were great wrestlers and received rent-free lands for their military service. Inscriptions from the 15th century register gifts of lands to temples by Ontarlu.

During the medieval era, many Nayakas were Telagas along with Velamas and Balijas.[8] [9] [10] There existed Nayak (Telaga) regiments in the Vijayanagara Empire and they later joined the British army after the fall of Vijayanagara.[11] Telagas in British army held ranks such as Major, Naik, Subedar, Jemadar, Havildar etc. Telagas of Bobbili served as commanders and generals in armies. They formed a major part of the Bobbili army along with Velamas in the famous Battle of Bobbili in 1757.[12] [13] [14]

In the late medieval era, Telagas led the right-hand caste faction, which included Komatis and various other castes, in Machilipatnam and other places of Andhra.[15] At the end of the eighteenth century, Telagas, along with Niyogi Brahmins, were the leaders of the Maha-nadu, a multi-caste assembly to enforce norms in the society.

Colonial era

During the colonial regime, Kapu-Telaga along with other warrior castes dominated military occupations. When the British reduced military recruitment from agrarian castes and opted for lower castes in order to have more control over the army, Kapus concentrated on agriculture. Kapus held the village headman and munasabu (munsif) position in many villages.[16] [17] [18] [19] In the Godavari districts, some Kapus also held the Karanam (village accountant) post, usually the preserve of Niyogi Brahmins.The latter half of the 19th century saw the emergence of important social reformers, educationists and literary figures, who left an impact on the social consciousness of the people of Andhra. Prominent Kapus like Raghupati Venkataratnam Naidu and Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu were at the forefront of the social reform movement.[20] Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu (1862–1939) worked for the eradication of untouchability, promoted widow remarriages, encouraged women's education, and strived for a reformation of the Devadasi system.[21] [22] [23] Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu (1875–1942), a prominent leader of the Justice Party, formulated policies that promoted social equality, abolition of untouchability, social reform and established the first women's college in Andhra region in Eluru.[24]

Kanneganti Hanumanthu (1870–1922), a Kapu from Palnadu region, rebelled against the British rule and spearheaded the Palnadu Rebellion. When the British imposed 'Pullari' tax on farmers for using the forest produce, Hanumanthu mobilised people to not pay the tax and organised a social boycott of Revenue and Forest department officials. British executed Hanumanthu by a firing squad in 1922.[25] Many Kapus participated in the Swadesi movement, civil disobedience movement and the Quit India movement.[26] [27]

Since Kapu was a generic term for people involved in kapudanam (farming), the British India censuses from 1871 till 1921 clubbed Kapus together with Reddys for enumeration purposes. But, Reddys are distinct from the Kapu community of Coastal Andhra.[28]

Present-day

Apart from zamindars and large landlords, many Kapus are small-and-medium landholding farmers. Historically, Kapus owned most of the land in the Godavari districts. They also own most of the coconut fields and affiliated agri-businesses in Konaseema region.

Some Kapus also diversified their surplus economy into several entrepreneurial domains like movie theatres and hotels in cities like Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Rajahmundry. There are also multigenerational Kapu military families in places like Madhavaram in West Godavari. As of 2011, the percentage of graduates among Kapus is one of the highest among Telugu castes.[29]

Film industry

Kapus have historically played a prominent role in Telugu cinema. Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu, a Kapu from Machilipatnam, was the first Telugu film producer and exhibitor and is regarded as the "father of Telugu cinema". Kapus figure as A-list actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, music composers and technicians in the Telugu film industry. Well-known Telugu cinema icons like S. V. Ranga Rao, Savitri, Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Allu Arjun, Ram Charan, Dasari Narayana Rao hail from the Kapu community.[30]

Geographical distribution

Native

Kapus are primarily present in the Coastal Andhra region with major concentration in the erstwhile districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, and Visakhapatnam.[31] They are present in smaller numbers in the former districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram (where they are primarily referred to as Telagas), and in Prakasam. Kapus are also native to Yanam district of Puducherry and are the second largest caste there.[32] [33]

Diaspora

A significant number of Kapu settlers are present in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region of Telangana.[34] [35] [36] Small communities of Telaga-Kapu also exist in Orissa and Kharagpur, West Bengal.[37] [38]

In the 19th and early 20th century, Kapu-Telaga were among the Telugu migrants to Burma, Malaysia, Mauritius and Fiji.[39] [40] [41] Telagas were said to form the largest caste among the Telugu people of Mauritius. In recent decades, Kapus have migrated to the Anglophone countries like United States.[42]

Distinct castes with similar names

There also exist other Kapu communities like the Munnuru Kapus in Telangana, and the Turpu Kapus in Uttarandhra who are enumerated separately from Coastal Andhra Kapus.

Due to Kāpu being a generic Telugu term for landowning cultivator, Reddy caste is sometimes referred to as Kapu in parts of Rayalaseema and Telangana. But, Reddys are distinct from the Kapus of Coastal Andhra.[43] Kapu caste is also unrelated to Konda Kapu, Pattapu Kapu, Vanne Kapu, Palli Kapu, Are Kapu, Morasu Kapu, Kapu Savara castes.[44]

Telaga, a sub-caste of Kapu, has no relation to the Mudiraj and Teli castes who are sometimes referred to as Telaga.[45]

Subcastes

Kapu, Telaga and Ontari are the subcastes of Kapu community. All three frequently inter-marry and are usually classed as a single unit.[46] Most Telagas and Ontaris have also referred to themselves as Kapus for a long time.[47] [48] The terms Kapu and Telaga are often used as synonyms to collectively refer to all three sections.

Kapu

Manati Kapu (మానాటి కాపు) or Mahanati Kapu (మహనాటి కాపు) is a section of Kapu community along with Telaga and Ontari. They are popularly known as Kapus and are classified as a Forward caste. They are distinct from Turpu Kapus. Traditionally, Manati Kapus did not recognise divorce and their women would not leave their houses. They were agriculturists and were of a good social standing. Manati Kapu and Telaga are together referred to as Pedda Kapu in comparison with Turpu Kapu.

Charles Philip Brown's Telugu-English Dictionary (1852) mentions Mahanati Kapu as equivalent to Telaga caste.[49] Brown also notes that Mahanati Kapus were leaguesmen and members of the Mahanadu community.[50] [51] Mahanadu was a multi-caste assembly which enforced norms in the society.[52] [53] Andhra Vignanamu, Volume 3 (1939) mentions that Manati Kapus were present in large numbers in erstwhile East and West Godavari districts and in smaller numbers in Krishna, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and Ganjam districts of Madras Presidency.

Telaga

See main article: Telaga. Telaga is a subcaste of Kapu and both terms are often used synonymously. Historians like Etukuru Balaramamurthy and Chintamani Lakshmanna note that Telagas are the descendants of Telugu Choda dynasties like Durjayas of Velanadu (1076–1216 CE) who ruled Coastal Andhra. Telagas are classified as a Forward caste. They are a land-owning agrarian community. Historically, they were a warrior caste before taking up cultivation. During the colonial era, Telagas were noted to be of a high social position.[54] [55]

Ontari

Ontari (also Vontari, Vantari) are a section of Kapu caste.[56] [57] [58] Ontaris are classified as a Forward caste. They are a small community and are primarily found in Kakinada and Anakapalli districts and in smaller numbers in erstwhile West Godavari and Guntur districts. 1901 Census of India describers vantarlu as a sub-caste of Telagas and notes that their name literally means 'a strong man'.[59]

In the present day, Ontaris are landholding agriculturists. Historically, Ontaris were exclusively into military service.[60] Ontari literally means 'the lone one' which referred to their bravery in the context of historical warfare.[61] M. L. Kantha Rao calls Ontaris 'a great warrior class'. They were a clan of warriors in medieval Andhra who engaged in hand-to-hand combat and wielded heavy weapons like maces.

Srinatha mentions Ontarlu in his Palnati Veera Charitra and Bhimeswara Puranam, written in early 15th century. Inscriptions from Vellaturu (dated to 1418 CE) and Tangeda in former Guntur district register gifts of lands to temples by Ontarlu.[62] Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma notes that Ontari was the vernacular equivalent of the Sanskrit word Ekangavira a hero who fights the combat alone. Major towns and villages of medieval Andhra had gymnasiums for Ontarlu.[63] Analysing literary sources, Sarma notes that Ontaris, also known as Ekkatis, took part in hand-to-hand fight called Ekkati Kayyamu, the combat of singles. He adds:

Ontari forces served as the reserve army, and each fighter in this division was probably a great wrestler and also wielded heavy weapons like maces and the like. The ekkatis of the Reddi period gradually formed into a separate military caste or community, and are now popularly called Vantarlu. These now form one of the three sections of the Telaga community, the other two being the Telaga (proper), and the Kapu.
As per K. S. Singh, "The title Ontari was awarded to them during the time of Sri Krishnadevaraya in the sixteenth century as a reward for their bravery in warfare. Prior to this, they were only known as Telaga." They received rent-free lands for their services as warriors. During the colonial era, Ontaris were recorded as people who valued honour over their lives. They were known to carry daggers on their waists at all times. Ontari women previously observed gosha. Ontaris in Parlakimidi (Orissa), Bobbili, Pitapuram were referred to as Dora (lord or master).[64]

Relation to Balija

Balijas are closely related to Kapus and both are often enumerated together in government, sociological and psephological contexts. Andhra Vignanamu, Volume 3 (1939) mentions four sections in Telaga community Telagas (or Naidus), Ontaris (or Doras), Balijas, and Kapus. Anthropological Survey of India notes that Balijas of Rayalaseema are ethnically similar to Kapus of Coastal Andhra.

Various sources note the similarities between the communities of Kapu, Telaga, Balija, and Ontari. These terms are often used as synonyms and are mentioned as sections of each other. Kapu, Telaga, and Balija are considered as variant names of the same community in different regions.[65] Andhra Pradesh government's Kapu Welfare and Development Corporation refers to Kapu, Telaga, Balija, and Ontari communities collectively as Kapu.

Status

Kapus are classified as a Forward caste both by the Central Government of India as well as the Andhra Pradesh Government. As of 2023, they do not avail any caste-based quotas or reservations.[66] They are a community of land-owning cultivators and are one of the dominant castes of Andhra Pradesh.

The four-tier varna system of ranking never really took hold in South Indian society. The two intermediate dvija varnas—the Kshatriyas and Vaishyas—did not exist. In South India, on the other hand, there existed only three distinguishable classesthe Brahmins, the non-Brahmins and the Dalits. Kapus are referred to as a non-Brahmin upper-caste. They are considered to be a "Sat Shudra" (also known as "upper/high-caste/clean Shudra")[67] community in the traditional Hindu ritual ranking system.

In a study on the history of Guntur district, Robert Eric Frykenberg categorized Kapus and Telagas among "elite agricultural (warrior) castes".[68] In 1982, Barbara D. Miller of Syracuse University remarked, "Generally the Telaga-Kapu rank fairly high in status".[69] K. C. Suri notes that non-Brahman caste groups like Kapus, whose main occupation has been cultivation, are the most important social groups in Andhra Pradesh in terms of numerical strength, land control, and access to political power. K. Srinisavulu notes that Kapus are fairly prosperous and are dominant in the erstwhile districts of East Godavari and West Godavari.[70]

Politics

During the 1920s and 1930s, Kapus, along with other feudal landed castes, were major supporters of the Justice Party.[71] [72] [73] Prominent Kapu leader Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu was a member of the Justice Party and formulated policies that promoted social equality, abolition of untouchability, and social reform.[74] [75] In 1920, the first legislative council elections to Madras Presidency were held after the passing of the Government of India Act 1919. Naidu was one of the three ministers in the Cabinet holding the portfolios of Development and Industries.[76] [77] In 1936, he was appointed as the Governor of Madras Presidency, one of the only two Indians in history to have held the post. In 1937, he was elected as the Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency. He was the only person to have held both the posts of Chief Minister and Governor of the Madras Presidency (which included all of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu along with parts of Kerala and Karnataka).[78]

After Indian independence, Andhra State was formed in 1953. Pasala Suryachandra Rao, a Kapu from West Godavari district was the first deputy speaker of Andhra State Assembly from 1953 to 1954.[79] Rokkam Lakshmi Narasimham Dora, a Telaga Kapu from Srikakulam district served as the second speaker of Andhra State Assembly from 1955 to 1956.[80] In the 1955 Andhra State legislature, there were 16 Kapu legislators, the third-highest among all castes. In Pondicherry, Kamisetty Parasuram Naidu, a Kapu leader from Yanam[81] served as the first deputy speaker of Pondicherry Assembly from 19631964.[82] [83] He also served as the speaker of Pondicherry Assembly from 19851989.

In 2009 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, Kapu community had 19 MLAs the third-highest among unreserved communities. In the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, 24 Kapus were elected as MLAs, next only to Reddys and higher than Kammas. Together, these three upper castes accounted for nearly two-thirds of unreserved seats in the Assembly.[84] [85] In the past decade, there have been three Kapu Deputy Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh Nimmakayala Chinarajappa (20142019),[86] Alla Nani (20192022), and Kottu Satyanarayana (2022present).[87]

Kapunadu movement

Kapunadu movement was formed in the early 1980s and under the leadership of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga they demanded quotas for Kapu, Telaga, Balija, and Ontari communities. However, the N. K. Muralidhar Rao commission in 1982 did not recommend quotas for Kapus and noted as follows:

"Kapus are land owners and enjoy social status in the villages. They are already politically conscious and socially forward. On the educational side also they are not backward as the students belonging to the Kapu Community are in considerable number in the educational institutions in the state. The literacy in this community is higher than the state average. There is a good representation from Kapu Community in the employment under the state government, semi-government and local bodies. The Commission thinks that it is not necessary to disturb this."
In early 2016, the Kapus of the residual Andhra Pradesh state launched an agitation demanding quotas, leading to violent protests.[88] [89] Due to the support provided by Kapus in the 2014 assembly elections which helped it come to power, the Telugu Desam Party-led state government allocated 5% quota for Kapus in educational institutions and government jobs in the state. However, this was opposed by the Central Government and was found to be legally untenable.[90] In July 2019, the subsequent YSR Congress government reversed the decision.[91] As of 2024, Kapus do not avail any quotas and are classified as a Forward caste.

Kapu zamindaris

Andhra Vignanamu, Volume 3 (1939) mentions Eluru, Ganapavaram and Akividu in former West Godavari district as places ruled by Telagas. They were called Telaga-prabhuvula-seemalu .[92]

In pre-independent India, many Kapu-Telaga zamindari families with extensive landholdings existed, especially in Godavari districts. Some of them were bestowed with Diwan Bahadur and Rao Bahadur titles.[93] One of the wealthiest zamindaris in former Krishna district was the Vallur Estate of Bommadevara family.[94] [95] [96] Further, Gopisetti Narayanaswami Naidu, a Telaga, was the receiver of Nidadavolu Estate.[97] [98]

Some of the Kapu zamindaris (samsthanams) include:

Notable people

Note: The list only includes people from Kapu and sub-castes (Telaga, Ontari), not Balija, Turpu Kapu, and other castes.

Politics

Sports

Social Activists

Sciences

Film

Arts

Literature

References

Citations

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Book: A. Vijaya Kumari . Sepuri Bhaskar. Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh . 1998 . M.D. Publications . 978-81-7533-072-6 . 14 . en.
  2. Book: Prasada Bhoopaludu . Andhra Vignanamu . 1939 . The Razan Electric Press . 3 . 1381–1383 . te.
  3. Book: ఏటుకూరు బలరామమూర్తి . ఆంధ్రుల సంక్షిప్త చరిత్ర . 1953 . Visalaandhra Publishing House . te . A Brief History of the Andhras . (p. 97) తాము చతుర్ధ వంశస్టులమని, దుర్జయ కులోద్భవులమని వెలనాటి చోడులు చెప్పుకున్నారు. మిగతా తెలుగు చోడులు తాము సూర్యవంశజులమని, కరికాల చోళుని వంశస్థులమని చెప్పుకున్నారు. కాని వాస్తవానికి అందరూ ఒకే కుదురునుండి ప్రారంభమైన చతుర్ధ వంశస్థులే తప్ప వేరు కారు. వీరందరికీ కాలక్రమేణా తెలగాలు లేక కాపులు అను పేరు స్థిరమైంది. (p. 114) కోట బేతరాజు మొదలైనవారు తెలుగుచోడులు. వీరు క్రమంగా తెలగాలుగా మారారు..
  4. Book: లింగం వీరభద్రయ్య చౌదరి . స్వవిషయం రెండవ భాగం . 1974 . Triveni Publishers . 469, 649–650 . te.
  5. Web site: K. C. Suri . September 2002 . Democratic Process and Electoral Politics in Andhra Pradesh, India . https://web.archive.org/web/20210409214021/https://cdn.odi.org/media/documents/2690.pdf . 9 April 2021 . .
  6. Book: Kunduri Iswara Dutt . Inscriptional Glossary Of Andhra Pradesh . 1967 . Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi . 131.
  7. Web site: Dr. E. Venkatesu . 30 June 2017 . Constitution, Reservation Policy and Dominant Castes Demand for Other Backward Classes Status in India . International Public Policy Association (IPPA) . 18.
  8. R. Narasimha Rao (1967). Corporate Life in Medieval Andhradesa. University Grants Commission. p. 108.
  9. P. S. Kanaka Durga (1989). Role of Nayakas in Medieval Andhra 1000-1259. AP History Congress. p. 44.
  10. Web site: D. N. Yogeeswarappa . 28 March 2014 . The Study of Nayakatana in the Vijayanagara Empire with Special Reference to Tuluva Dynasty . 25.
  11. Book: Holck, Frederick H. . Death and Eastern Thought: Understanding Death in Eastern Religions and Philosophies . 1974 . . 978-0-687-10341-6 . 20 . en.
  12. Book: Katten, Michael . Category Creation and the Colonial Setting: Identity Formation in Nineteenth Century Telugu-speaking India . 1997 . . 144 . en.
  13. Web site: 25 September 2016 . The warrior factory . 2023-06-22 . . Most of them who opt for military service from this village belong to the Kapu community ..... Though the Kapu community is now chiefly agrarian, there was a time when they were soldiers. They gained reputation when they took part in the famous Battle of Bobbili on January 23, 1757..
  14. Book: Bobbili Yuddhakatha . 1956 . Government Oriental Manuscripts Library . Sarma . Mallampalli Somasekhara . Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma . te.
  15. Book: Price, Pamela G. . Religion and Public Culture: Encounters and Identities in Modern South India . Curzon Press . 2000 . 9780700711017 . John Jeya Paul . Richmond, Surrey . 34 . Keith E. Yandell.
  16. Book: Still, Clarinda . Dalit Women: Honour and Patriarchy in South India . 2017-07-06 . . 978-1-351-58818-8 . en.
  17. Herrenschmidt . Olivier . 1982 . Quelles Fêtes pour quelles castes? . . fr . 22 . 3 . 33 . 10.3406/hom.1982.368302 . 25131883 . 0439-4216.
  18. Book: Census of India, 1961 . 29 November 1961. . Part 6 . 2 . 18 . en . 21.
  19. Book: Subrahmanyam, Y. Subhashini . Social Change in Village India: An Andhra Case Study . 1975 . Prithvi Raj Publishers . 74 . en.
  20. V. Rama Krishna (1983), Social Reform in Andhra, 1848-1919, Vikas Publishing House. p. 57–58.
  21. Book: Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi . Education and the Disprivileged: Nineteenth and Twentieth Century India . Orient Blackswan . 2002 . 978-81-250-2192-6 . 95.
  22. Book: Subbamma, Mallādi . Women's Movement and Associations: Regional Perspective, 1860-1993 . Booklinks . 1994 . 978-81-85194-30-1 . 14.
  23. Itihas (1984) Vol 12. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 24
  24. Web site: 15 December 2017 . భారతీయ కవితా కోకిల (ప్రపంచ తెలుగు మహాసభలు) . 2023-05-09 . . te.
  25. Web site: Kanneganti Hanumanthu . 2023-04-08 . . English.
  26. M. Venkatarangaiya (ed.) (1974). The Freedom Struggle in Andhra Pradesh (Andhra). Vol. IV. pp. 591–592.
  27. Andhra Patrika. 6 May 1930.
  28. Book: Singh, K. S. . People of India: Andhra Pradesh . 1992 . . 978-81-7671-006-0 . 1525 . en . The Reddi, are also known as Kapu (different from the Kapu community of coastal Andhra). . Kumar Suresh Singh.
  29. Web site: India Human Development Survey-II (IHDS-II), 2011-12 . 2023-06-04 . . en.
  30. News: 2016-05-22 . Kapu community says no to 'Chandranna' samkshema bhavan . The Times of India . 2023-04-08 . 0971-8257.
  31. Web site: Janyala . Sreenivas . 2014-05-06 . The Kapus, 27% and key to Seemandhra . 2023-04-07 . . en.
  32. Book: More, J. B. Prashant . The Telugus of Yanam and Masulipatnam: From French Rule to Integration with India . 2007 . en . J. B. Prashant More.
  33. Web site: 2021-03-18 . Once a Cong bastion in Puducherry, Yanam to witness a close contest . 2023-06-07 . . en.
  34. Web site: S. N. C. N. Acharyulu . 11 November 2018 . Settlers' role decisive in 25 Telangana Assembly seats . 19 May 2023 . Deccan Chronicle.
  35. Web site: 2018-11-09 . Which way will Andhra settlers in Telangana swing as TRS tries to woo them? . 2023-05-19 . . en.
  36. News: 2023-06-06 . Ambati Rayudu keeps political parties in Telugu states guessing . . 2023-06-18 . 0013-0389 . The constituency also has a good number of voters from Kapu community, to which Rayudu belongs..
  37. Book: Senapati . Nilamani . Sahu . Nabin Kumar . Orissa District Gazetteers: Ganjam . 1966 . Superintendent, Orissa Government Press . 247 . en.
  38. Book: Singh, K. S. . People of India: Andhra Pradesh . 1992 . Anthropological Survey of India . 978-81-7671-006-0 . 821 . en.
  39. Book: Oonk, Gijsbert . Global Indian Diasporas: Exploring Trajectories of Migration and Theory . 2007 . . 978-90-5356-035-8 . 95, 111 . en.
  40. Web site: Mandali Buddha Prasad . Mandali Buddha Prasad . మారిషస్‌లో తెలుగు తేజం . విదేశాంధ్ర సేవాకేంద్ర . 66 . te.
  41. Web site: South Indian Immigrants from India . 13 August 2023 . Sangam Fiji.
  42. Book: Chakravorty . Sanjoy . The Other One Percent: Indians in America . Kapur . Devesh . Singh . Nirvikar . 2017 . . 978-0-19-064874-9 . 68 . en . High castes (like Brahmins) and dominant castes (like Patels in Gujarat and Kapu and Kamma in Andhra Pradesh) constitute over 90 percent of Indians in America. . Devesh Kapur.
  43. Book: జాగరగల్లు సుబ్బరాయుడు . త్రిలిఙ్గ రజతోత్సవము (శ్రీ వావిళ్ల వేంకటేశ్వరశాస్త్రులు గారి సమ్మాన సంపుటము) . 1941 . . 176 . te . గోదావరి కృష్ణా జిల్లాలలో రెడ్లకు, కాపులకు భేదమున్నది. కాపులను 'తెలగాలు' 'నాయుళ్లు' అని పిలుచుచుందురు. కాని కడప కర్నూలు ప్రాంతములలో 'రెడ్ల'న్నను 'కాపు'లన్నను ఒక్కకులమునకే వాడుచున్నారు. పర్యాయపదములుగా నుపయోగించుచున్నారు..
  44. Web site: J. Eswara Prasad . Jasti Eswara Prasad . Govt. Of Andhra Pradesh and ... vs R. K. Ragala and another on 31 January, 1994 . Andhra Pradesh High Court.
  45. Book: Economic and Political Weekly . 1989 . Sameeksha Trust . 66 . en.
  46. Book: Parthasarathy, D. . Collective Violence in a Provincial City . 1997 . . 978-0-19-564139-4 . en.
  47. Reddy . G. Samba Siva . 2011 . Dethroning Dominance: Caste Associations in Colonial Andhra, 1901-1947 . Proceedings of the Indian History Congress . 72 . 771 . 2249-1937 . 44146769 . Telagas termed themselves as Kapus and by profession were agriculturists. The first Telaga Mahajana Sabha of the region met at Railway Kodur in Kadapa district in September 1920. The later Telaga Conferences were held mostly in the Coastal Andhra areas than in the Rayalaseema region since the population of Telagas was more in the former region than in the latter. But some of the leaders of the region participated in these conferences as they had good rapport, with the prominent Coastal Andhra leaders like Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu, who seldom visited the region..
  48. Book: Proceedings - Indian History Congress . 2006 . . 65 . 449 . en.
  49. Book: Brown, Charles Philip . A Dictionary, Telugu and English: Explaining the Colloquial Style Used in Business and the Poetical Dialect, with Explanations in English and in Telugu . 1852 . . 1st . 442 . Charles Philip Brown.
  50. Book: Brown, Charles Philip . A Dictionary, Telugu and English: Explaining the Colloquial Style Used in Business and the Poetical Dialect, with Explanations in English and in Telugu . 1852 . . 1st . 215 . Charles Philip Brown.
  51. Web site: Brown . Charles Philip . Charles Philip Brown . 1903 . A Telugu-English Dictionary . . 271 . . 2nd.
  52. Book: Brown, William . తెనుగు-ఇంగ్లీష్ నిఘంటువు . Cultural Books Limited . 1953 . 2nd . 264.
  53. Book: Brown, William . A Vocabulary of Gentoo and English . 1818 . Commercial Press, Madras . 282–283.
  54. Book: Lutheran Woman's Work . 1922 . Lutheran Publication Society . 15 . 322 . en.
  55. Book: Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath . Hindu Castes and Sects . 1896 . Thacker, Spink and Co. . 286 . Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya.
  56. Book: Singh, K. S. . India's Communities . 1998 . . 978-0-19-563354-2 . 2673–2674 . en . Kumar Suresh Singh.
  57. Book: Census of India, 1971: Andhra Pradesh . 1976 . . 232 . en.
  58. Book: Sarma, Mallampalli Somasekhara . History Of The Reddi Kingdoms . 1946 . . 241 . Another important division of the infantry was ekkatlu, the plural form of the term ekkati, a contracted form of Ekkatidu. Ekkati, otherwise called Ontari, was, as his name indicates, brought into the field of battle almost at the end of the fight, when it was a losing game, and was ordered to take part in hand to hand fight. Ekkati kayyamu, the combat of singles, began only after every prospect of victory was lost. The ekkati forces served probably as the reserve army, and each fighter in this division was probably a great wrestler and wielded also heavy weapons like maces and the like. There were ekkatis in every important town and village in the kingdom. The ekkatis of Velanturu (Vellaturu), Tangeda and Polepalli are mentioned in the records of the Reddi period. From the way in which these ekkatis made gifts to local gods, we come to know that they were remunerated for their services by grants of land. All these sections of infantry are mentioned in the Palnativiracaritra, produced in this period. In this work ekkatlu are referred to as Ontarlu (Selagola prajalanu heccu vantarla; Vantari is the corrupt form of Ontari). Ekkati and its synonym Ontari seem to have been the vernacular equivalents of the Sanskrit word Ekangavira, the hero who fights the combat singly. These ekkatis of the Reddi period gradually formed into a separate military caste or community, and are now popularly called Vantarlu. These now form one of the three sections of the Telaga community, the other two being the Telaga (proper), and the Kapu. . Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma.
  59. Book: W. Francis . Census of India, 1901 . Government Press . 1902 . XV . 183.
  60. Book: Sarma, Mallampalli Somasekhara . History Of The Reddi Kingdoms . 1946 . . 277 . Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma.
  61. Book: Singh, K. S. . People of India: Andhra Pradesh . 1992 . . 978-81-7671-006-0 . 1326 . en . Kumar Suresh Singh.
  62. Book: Dr. Raavi Bharati . Sahitya Vyasaalu . 1985 . Visalaandhra Publishing House . 60 . te.
  63. Book: Telugu Vignana Sarvasvamu . 1958 . Telugu Bhasha Samithi . Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma . Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma . Telugu Samskruthi . 3 . 22 . Mamidipudi Venkatarangayya . Mamidipudi Venkatarangayya . Moturi Satyanarayana . Moturi Satyanarayana.
  64. Book: బి.ఎస్.ఎస్.మూర్తి . నా అనుభవాలు జ్ఞాపకాలు . 1994.
  65. Book: కావు మహా సభ . 16 April 1913 . . 44 . te.
  66. News: 2023-03-29 . Andhra Pradesh high court notice to govt on Kapu reservation . The Times of India . 2023-05-01 . 0971-8257.
  67. Book: Gundimeda, Sambaiah . Dalit Politics in Contemporary India . 2015-10-14 . . 978-1-317-38105-1 . 19 . en.
  68. Frykenberg . Robert Eric . 1965 . Elite Groups in a South Indian District: 1788-1858 . . 24 . 2 . 261–281 . 10.2307/2050565 . 0021-9118 . 2050565 . 153984852.
  69. Miller . Barbara D. . 1982 . Female Labor Participation and Female Seclusion in Rural India: A Regional View . . 30 . 4 . 791 . 10.1086/452589 . 0013-0079 . 3203116 . 154725772.
  70. Book: Srinivasulu, K. . Caste & Class Articulation of Andhra Pradesh . September 2002 . Overseas Development Institute . 0-85003-612-7 . London . 3, 4 . 20 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060720172106/https://www.odi.org.uk/livelihoodoptions/papers/wp179.pdf . 20 July 2006 . dead.
  71. Book: Andhra Pradesh . 1962 . Director of Information and Public Relations, Andhra Pradesh . 7 . 6 . en . The Kapu (Telaga) community in the Circar districts of Andhra was entirely in the grip of the Justice Party ... One of the staunch leaders of the Justice Party was Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu, a leading advocate of Eluru, who was closely related to the rich landlords of the Kapu community in the Circar districts. ... But it was felt that the backing of the Kapu community was also essential to the Congress, as that community was in a considerable position and status in the Circars..
  72. Book: Gundemeda, Nagaraju . Education and Hegemony: Social Construction of Knowledge in India in the Era of Globalisation . 2014-10-02 . Cambridge Scholars Publishing . 978-1-4438-6830-3 . 79 . en.
  73. Book: Innaiah, N. . Between Charisma and Corruption: Politics in Indian States with Special Study of Andhra Pradesh, 1890-1990 . 1991 . 29 . en.
  74. Book: Irschick, Eugene F. . Politics and Social Conflict in South India . . 175 . en . Eugene F. Irschick.
  75. Randor Guy . Randor Guy . 1-15 July 2009 . Justice Party policies owed much to him . . XIX . 2023-05-03.
  76. Book: Saroja Sundararajan . March to freedom in Madras Presidency, 1916-1947 . Lalitha Publications . 1989 . 329–332.
  77. Book: Satyanārāyaṇa, Garimeḷḷa . Garimella's Heart of India . 1994 . Shanu Publishers . 188 . en.
  78. Book: Muthiah, S. . Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India . 2008 . Palaniappa Brothers . 978-81-8379-468-8 . 336 . en . S. Muthiah.
  79. Book: A.P. Year Book . 1979 . Hyderabad Publications & Newspapers. . 295 . en.
  80. Book: Malhotra, G. C. . Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature: Motions of Confidence and No-confidence in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures . 2004 . Lok Sabha Secretariat . 978-81-200-0400-9 . 167 . en.
  81. Book: More, J. B. Prashant . The Telugus of Yanam and Masulipatnam: From French Rule to Integration with India . 2007 . 263 . en . J. B. Prashant More.
  82. Web site: Pondicherry Legislative Assembly . 29 May 2023.
  83. Web site: 1964 . India, A Reference Annual 1964 . Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India . Publications Division . 398.
  84. Book: Bhargav, Nimmagadda . Stringers and the Journalistic Field: Marginalities and Precarious News Labour in Small-Town India . February 2023 . . 978-1-000-84035-3 . en.
  85. News: 2019-05-30 . Two-third of AP MLAs belong to 3 upper castes . The Times of India . 2023-05-07 . 0971-8257.
  86. News: 2014-06-04 . Naidu to grapple with Cabinet composition . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-05-07 . 0971-751X.
  87. News: Naidu . T. Appala . 2022-10-31 . Kapu Ministers, MLAs to draw action plan to ensure political gain for the community . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-05-15 . 0971-751X.
  88. Web site: 2016-02-01 . 5 things to know about Kapus, their reservation demand and protests . 2023-05-30 . Hindustan Times . en.
  89. News: 2016-02-01 . Kapus in Andhra set 6 train bogies, 2 police stations ablaze for quota . The Times of India . 2023-05-30 . 0971-8257.
  90. Web site: 16 February 2018 . After Centre's objection to quota, government tries to allay fears of Kapus . 2023-04-28 . The New Indian Express.
  91. Web site: Menon . Amarnath K. . 30 July 2019 . Andhra Pradesh: Jagan scraps Kapu quota, says not legally tenable . 2023-04-28 . India Today . en.
  92. Book: Prasada Bhoopaludu . Andhra Vignanamu . 1939 . The Razan Electric Press . 3 . 1380 . te.
  93. Book: Singh, K. S. . People of India: Andhra Pradesh . 1992 . . 978-81-7671-006-0 . 1817 . en . In East and West Godavari districts, quite a few Telaga zamindari families exist, with extensive landholdings. Some of them were bestowed with Diwan Bahadur and Rao Bahadur titles. . Kumar Suresh Singh.
  94. Book: Kistna District Manual . 339–341.
  95. Book: Venkataswami, Maidara Nagaya . Life of M. Nagloo (Maidara Nagaya) . 1929 . Solden & Company . 11 . en.
  96. Book: Dr. Tumati Donappa . ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము . 1969 . . 385 . Andhra Samsthanamulu - Sahithya Poshanamu.
  97. Book: The Madras Law Times: Law Notes and Notes of Cases of the Madras High Court and of the English Law Courts . 1916 . Madras Law Times Office . 20 . 37 . en . .... granted by Gopisetti Narayanaswami Nayudu garu, son of Narasimhulu Nayudu garu, Telaga, residing at ......
  98. Book: The Madras Weekly Notes . 1916 . N. R. K. Tatachariar . Part 2 . 240 . en.
  99. Book: Janapati Pattabhirama Sastry . Abhinava Saraswathi . April 1924 . 16 . 17 . Telugu . 1.
  100. Web site: 2 February 2016 . Election promises haunt Chandrababu Naidu . 14 May 2023 . . The community also has zamindars who are of the ruling class including the samsthans of Athili..
  101. Book: Vadivelu, A. . The Ruling Chiefs, Nobles & Zamindars of India . 1915 . G. C. Loganadham . 671 . en . K. V. S. Ramachandra Rao garu, Zamindar of Dharmavaram: This gentleman, born in 1870, comes of a respectable Telaga family of Merakaveedhi, Rajahmundry, in the Godavari District, Madras Presidency..
  102. Sriram Veerabrahmam (1918). నానారాజన్య-విఖ్యాతజన చరిత్రము [''Nanarajanya-Vikhyata Jana Charitramu'']. Vani Press. p. 8. "రావు సాహెబ్ కళ్లి చిట్టిఅబ్బాయినాయుడు గారు: పశ్చిమ గోదావరీ మండలమునగల యేలూరు తాలూకాలోని పూళ్ల గ్రామానివాసులును తెలగ సంఘ ప్రముఖులునునగు శ్రీయుత కళ్లి చిట్టి అబ్బాయినాయుడు గారు గొప్ప భూస్వాములును ధనాధికులునునై ....."
  103. Book: రావు బహదూర్ కల్లి చిట్టి అబ్బాయి నాయుడు జమీందారు జీవిత సంగ్రహము . 1951-05-22 . . 38 . 4 . te . 50.
  104. Book: Dr. Tumati Donappa . ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము . 1969 . . 595 . te.
  105. Book: Dr. Tumati Donappa . ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము . 1969 . . 545–546 . te.
  106. Book: నర్సాపురం తాలూకా తెలగ మహాసభ . 1949-05-03 . . 36 . 4 . te . Narsapuram Taluk Telaga Mahasabha . 32.
  107. Book: Dr. Tumati Donappa . ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము . 1969 . . 550 . te.
  108. Book: Madhunapantula Satyanarayana Sastry . ఆంధ్ర రచయితలు . Addepalli and Co. . 1950 . 273 . te . Madhunapantula Satyanarayana Sastry.
  109. News: After Series of 'Outsiders', Sasikala to be first Tamil CM in 29 Years . News18 . 2017-02-12.
  110. Book: Seshadri, K. . Social Ethos of South India . 1991 . Arihant Publishers . 73 . en.
  111. Web site: 21 June 2014 . Buddha Prasad Set to Become Deputy Speaker of AP House . 2023-05-13 . The New Indian Express.
  112. News: Sankar . K. N. Murali . 2019-03-26 . Battle equally poised in port town Kakinada . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-08 . 0971-751X.
  113. Web site: Dey . Soumik . 31 March 2018 . A tribute to MS Sanjeevi Rao, India's father of electronics . 2021-07-13 . . en.
  114. Web site: 2022-09-08 . P.V Rangaiah Naidu book release :చురుగ్గా ఉండేందుకు రోజంతా ప్రయత్నిస్తా... . 2023-05-10 . . te.
  115. Web site: 2 May 2012 . Ummareddy to quit TDP, join YSR Congress? . 2023-05-13 . The New Indian Express.
  116. Web site: 13 March 2023 . Kapu community leader Jogaiah wants 'Jagan Povali, Pawan Ravali' in Andhra Pradesh . 2023-05-11 . The New Indian Express.
  117. News: Andhra House of Cards: The political triangle between TDP, BJP and Kapu Padmanabham . The News Minute . 2018-02-24.
  118. Book: A. Vijaya Kumari . Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh . Sepuri Bhaskar . 1998 . M.D. Publications . 978-81-7533-072-6 . 14 . en.
  119. Book: Majumdar, Boria . Once Upon a Furore: Lost Pages of Indian Cricket . 2004 . Yoda Press . 978-81-902272-0-9 . 50 . en . C. K. Nayudu is today universally acknowledged as one of the greatest Indian cricketers that ever lived. . Boria Majumdar.
  120. News: Dani . Bipin . 5 April 2021 . India's first woman commentator Chandra Nayudu no more . .
  121. Web site: 2018-06-28 . జనసేన పార్టీ తీర్థం పుచ్చుకున్న మాజీ క్రికెటర్ . 2023-06-18 . Zee News Telugu .
  122. News: Reddy . R. Ravikanth . 2023-04-11 . From pitch to politics: cricketer Ambati Rayudu set to start new innings . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-05-03 . 0971-751X . He hails from the Kapu community ....
  123. News: 2023-04-14 . Rayudu to debut on political pitch in AP . The Times of India . 2023-05-03 . 0971-8257.
  124. Book: Parthasarathy, D. . Collective Violence in a Provincial City . 1997 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-564139-4 . 116 . en.
  125. Web site: Devi . T. Sui . Kanneganti Hanumanthu . 2023-04-08 . . English.
  126. Bhavaraju . Subba Rao . 2019-05-01 . Obituary: Dr. Sunkara Balaparameswara Rao . . en . 67 . 3 . 961 . 10.4103/0028-3886.263261 . free. 0028-3886 . 31347608.
  127. News: Bhattacharjee . Sumit . 2022-12-12 . Another attempt to bring Kapus onto one platform in Andhra Pradesh . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-04-21 . 0971-751X.
  128. Web site: 2016-03-09 . Noted agriculture scientist MV Rao passes away . 2023-05-12 . . en.
  129. Web site: 2017-03-31 . Young industrialist feted . 2023-04-10 . . en.
  130. Srinivas, S.V.. (2010). Making of a Peasant Industry: Telugu Cinema in the 1930s–1950s. Bioscope: South Asian Screen Studies. p. 173. 10.1177/097492761000100207.
  131. Web site: 11 September 2011 . Telugu film industry turns 80 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210924164853/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/Telugu-film-industry-turns-80/article20334643.ece . 24 September 2021 . 2022-10-11 . . Mr Raghupati Venkaiah, regarded as the father of Telugu film industry, laid the foundation stone for the industry in the South by setting up Glass Studio and bringing one of the first cameras into the country..
  132. Book: Limca Book of Records . 2006 . Bisleri Beverages . 978-81-902837-2-4 . 113 . en . First woman producer Dasari Kotiratnam produced Anasuya in 1935..
  133. Book: Ōlgā . Womanscape . 2001 . Asmita Resource Centre for Women . 978-81-7525-206-6 . 1944 . Dasari Kotiratnam was the first actress to set up a theatre group while Venkubai and Kamala of the Surabhi Company were well-known stage artists. Dasari Kotiratnam later became the first woman to produce films..
  134. Web site: 2 February 2016 . Election promises haunt Chandrababu Naidu . 14 May 2023 . Deccan Chronicle.
  135. News: 2009-03-29 . Cong changes list; Konathala fielded against Allu Aravind . The Times of India . 2023-05-07 . 0971-8257.
  136. News: Kapu leaders rally behind Mudragada . The Hindu . 2018-12-21.
  137. News: 2008-05-04 . Snubbed Dasari to stir up Kapus . The Times of India . 2023-06-14 . 0971-8257.
  138. News: Kapu card may cast(e) Chiranjeevi in the CM's role . India Today . 2013-12-07.
  139. Web site: Megastar Chiranjeevi backs Kapu agitation . 2023-08-06 . . en.
  140. Web site: 2022-11-10 . పెద్ద మనసు చాటుకున్న డైరెక్టర్‌ సుకుమార్‌.. క్యాన్సర్‌ బాధితుడికి ఆర్థిక సాయం . 2023-08-05 . .
  141. Web site: 2021-11-07 . Mixed handling of Caste in Shekhar Kammula's "Love Story" . 2023-08-05 . Round Table India . en-US.
  142. Web site: Prominent People in Rajamahendravaram . 2023-08-05 . Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation.
  143. Web site: 19 February 2022 . 'My music has a universal approach' . 6 August 2023 . Deccan Chronicle.
  144. Web site: Sreeja . Addla . 2022-11-18 . Allu Arjun changes his name? Here's a viral photo . 2023-04-07 . . en-US . Allu Arjun reportedly hails from the Kapu community .....
  145. Book: S. V. Srinivas . Megastar: Chiranjeevi and Telugu Cinema After N. T. Rama Rao . 2009 . . 978-0-19-569308-9 . 19 . en.
  146. Web site: Md. Ilyas . 7 April 2019 . In Guntur West, every party stands a chance hopeful optimistic confident . 2 June 2023 . Deccan Chronicle.
  147. Web site: 18 July 2019 . Personalities: Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu . 2023-05-13 . Andhra Cultural Portal . en-US.
  148. News: 2016-10-17 . Thapi Dharma Rao, a doyen of colloquial language in journalism . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-06-13 . 0971-751X.
  149. Web site: YV Ramakotaiah . 2015-03-08 . The Great Indian Editor . 2023-05-14 . . en.
  150. Event occurs from 5:24 to 5:40

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