Origin& History-2

Bobbili &Orissa and North coast

On the other hand in the north coastal area, they are employed by the bobboili kingdom under the patronage of velamas. In this period, yellapus had got many setbacks. They lost their respect, as some of the yellapus have become poor and started the menial works under the velamas. Even till today, some velamas treat the yellapus with same attitude. This view is supported by the fact that yellapus in the north coastal area, up of vizag, are still living the nomadic conditions. These people are not accepted by the educated yellapus of telangana area, as they are poor and nomadic. But their body structure is like warriors. Even the women are not inferior to men. The surnames of naradasu and madasu also reveal that they are transformed as servants of king even during kalinga  period. After the great war of bobbili, the velamas lost their kingdom.

Mr.Karunakar Rao has also provided superb links, which includes the book written by micheal katten on Making Caste in Nineteenth-Century India: A History of Telling the Bobbili Katha &Velama Identity. I could produce the following points immediately as follows and comment here under:

There is special mention of Beri Komati sthreelu. In one part of the fort lived the Beri komatis.At the on set of the siege the men of this jati were out gathereing their merchandise, while the women were forced in to action. With the refrain “beri Vari Strilu”(Women of Beri People) author tells of their heroism:

The Beri women tied their hair in knots (tufts), and swung them behind their heads. They knotted the loose ends of their saris. Then they tied up stones, and the pestles available. And they proceeded to throw the entire collection of rocks on top of the 12,000 Frenchmen and the army gathered nearby. Then they struck the white men where they lay. They hit the heads of 200 soldiers. From the tops of elephants observes gathered and watched in sheer amazement.

It also revealed that there are telagas and velamas exist in the fort. They have killed their children and women to show the solidarity to king in the time of distress and to launch their do or die attack.

Out of the two statements we can deduce one certain fact that Beri komatis has corrupted to Bairu shettis in Telangana area. These people later merged into telagas and Yellapus, duly migrating to Telangana area. The family name of Bairushetty exists in Yellapus in Vemulawada in Karimnagar district. It is also existing in Warangal in Telagas.It is not easy to distinguish telagas and Yellapus in Warangal district.There is existence of Ranabheri (Anabheri) families and Bherishetti (Bhairushetty) families among Yellapus. Former are end users and latter are suppliers. Interestingly, there are only two families of Bairushetty exists now. This low number confirms the onslaught of these families during Bobbili war, amalgamation in other caste and forming in to some separate caste.

As told by the Yellapu elders that women use to wage the war equally with men. The above incident of fighting by women against the well disciplined army reveals the fierceness of women among the Yellapus/telagas. I remember that the old age persons, who are descendent of migrants along with my forefathers use to tell that Yellapus are also called telagas( telagalollu) in Nalgonda district.

Thus, yellapus were very much part of Bobbili war. Their women also participated in the war, when other women and children are killed. Some children are got escaped and reached to Nalgonda district finally via Veerabhadraram , near albaka, Warangal district and thorrur.It also supports the reason of very less number of families among the Yellapus.

After the war of Bobbili,yellapus have settled at else where in the vijayanagaram , srikakulam and vishakapatnam districts. As per the information given by madhurima vodnala, yellapus are still existing in the palakonda village.

.  There is one yellapuvanipalem village near vishakapatnam from one sri.Yellapu Mukunda Ramarao, an elder person of Gavara Community and who has been doing research had sent an appreciation on my research and provided the valuable information .As per him, Yellapus lived there long back and name of the village is on that caste dominance. I have also tried to contact the villagers through the face book.This has stimulated thought in my mind that there may be the other villages in the near by places.So far I have found other 3 villages, the details of the villages are as follows:

Akkireddypalem is a Locality in Visakhapatnam City. Sourounded By Nathayyapalem , Mindi Village , BHPV Township , Gajuwaka , Tungalam , Localities . Simhachalam Rail way station is Reachable to Akkireddypalem. Near By Airport is Vishakhapatnam Airport.

Bongaram is a Village in Peda Bayalu Mandal in Visakhapatanam District in Andhra Pradesh State . Bongaram is located 92.6 km distance from its District Main City Visakhapatanam . It is located 440 km distance from its State Main City Hyderabad .

Vellapalem is a small village in Peda Bayalu Mandal in Visakhapatanam District in Andhra Pradesh State. Peda Bayalu, Hukumpeta, Munchingi Puttu, Paderu, are the near by Towns to Vellapalem . Vellapalem is reachable by Padua RailWay Station , Darliput RailWay Station , Gorapur RailWay Station , Bheja RailWay Station , . Its main Village Panchayat is Vellapalem Panchayat .

The other village name that retained by the yellapu family retained is Vurugonda in Vishakapatnam district.The details of village are as follows:

Vurugonda is a small village in Paderu Mandal in Visakhapatanam District in Andhra Pradesh State. Paderu, Hukumpeta, G.Madugula, Peda Bayalu, are the near by Towns to Vurugonda . Vurugonda is reachable by Gorapur RailWay Station , Arakku RailWay Station , Padua RailWay Station , Darliput RailWay Station , . Its main Village Panchayat is Vurugonda Panchayat.

From the above information we can logically deduct that some Yellapu families stayed in the interior areas of Vishakaptnam district, that to in an agency area for the reasons existing at that time, after the Bobbili war.It is to understand in such a way that :

• People migrated during the war have stayed in Khammam, Warangal and Nalgonda districts.
• 
  People migrated to Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts and agriculture as profession (mostly) have comparatively good living along with Velamas.
• The people migrated to vishakapatnam district and who was following the Business during the Bobbilili war time is merged with Gavaras.
• Some people migrated to Telangana area along with Velamas and living mostly in North Telangana after living in the areas of Vishakapatnam and other areas for some time .
• 
  The other people have stayed in the interior areas and continued to be in nomadic condition. 

It also gives the insight of understanding the fact that some of the community people though reject to accept that Yellapi is not the Yellapu is proved to be wrong beyond any doubt, as the most of the inhabited areas are matching.Instead of rejecting the fact blindly, they should strive for the development of those people in poverty.

Nalgonda district

subsequently, yellapus have migrated to the Nalgonda district and stayed at the places of bhuvanagiri, parpelly, sunkishala, and Mothkur.There are evidences of staying of this people at thimmapur, koodali,phanigiri,etc, The surname of bonagiri reveals two things. One, yellapus stayed at these places. Second, these people have migrated to the karimnagar district during the period influenced by the English, as the pronunciation of Bhuvanagiri has changed to Bhonagiri or Bhongir during that period only. The formula of migrate and forget the stayed people has effectively implemented here also. But, this did not happen in case of velamas. The migration to the karimnagar district is taken from the wider horizons of Bhongir division and suryapet division, in contrary to the earlier expectations of bhongir town alone.

The estimated time of migration of kalavala families to Mothkur took place between 1840-50.The war of Bobbili took place in 1757.Hence, between these hundred years they may be at Warangal and khammam districts. In this regard, it is to reiterate that Yellapu families have not migrated from one place to one place at once, as it is told by elders. The migration from Bobbili is also not an exemption.It is clear that some people left Bobbili during the war and some after the war.

The Benevolent Grand father of Mr.Rao, Sri.Narahari Rao has got migrated 20 families to Mothkur for living together, namely Devineni, Polineni, Gandham, Konatham, Gaddam, Duscherla, Adapa, etc.His grand father was called as Rayudu by the villagers with respect.

Sri.kamatam papaiah, maternal Grand father of Mr.rao was a Hazari in the Bhonagiri fort. It clarifies that many Yellapus and Telagas in the Warangal and Nalgonda district have got the status of Hazari or more. Hazari organization is based on the decimal system. In this one leader of soldier leads the military in the multiples of 10 basing on the horses they maintain and assignment of land given to them.However, many Hazaris have merged with telagas in Nalgonda district. There is presence of them in the surrounding villages of Suryapet.

Kaluvala families resided in mothkur in Nalgonda district. These people migrated from Bobbili to Albaka in Khammam district near Kothagudem on the bank of River Godavari. From there, they migrated to Jaffargadh in Warangal district and later to mothkur via thorrur. Earlier, it was thought that the migration took place to Nalgonda district from Bobbili. Now, it is clarified that migration took place to Nalgonda district via khammam and Warangal district. These families have relatives in Jaffargadh a famous fort village. Jaffargadh is 12 km. away from Vardhannapet, on the way to Thorrur from Warangal. Most of these people might have stayed in Jaffargarh before migrating to Mothkur.

On the other hand the after war migration route is not clear. But, one sure fact is that they migrated along with velamas, as told by sri.Kishan Rao, a famous velama leader.

The reason for the migration is that when it was estimated that Bobbili is on loosing end women and children was killed by their family members. About 100 children of kalvala families and their relatives were secretly got escaped to albaka through different routes to their maternal uncles house. It reveals that those people have maintained relations from that distance place. The matrimonial relations were also established from that distant place.

Here these families had continued the tradition of Guru. The Guru of these families was a kannadiga. He followed the vaishnavite tradition. He uses to stay for one week when he arrives in the village. He uses to do the Yagnam for the welfare of the people. He uses to put the sauthrinam, a typical mark put with the burning iron rod.

Guru had agraharams allocated by the kings. Out of which Guru had given 600 Acres to the Kalvala Narahari Rao, Grand father of Sri.Karunakar Rao, for the benevolent and serving nature. Astonishingly, he asked to give the land to the poor also. Guru replied that I will give them land but not as you expected for them. Finally, the poor also got the lands. What an un-imaginable quantity of kindness for poor.

Another interesting fact is that Uncles of Mr.Rao is also using the Rayudu as suffix to the name. Actually, it is being used for the vassals of Kakatiyas.

During my enquiry some of the Telagas in Nalgonda district, who again claim themselves as MunnuruKapus for sake of reservation certificate, even they are vatandars. The family names of Bonagiri, , Kandula, salwadi,Thota, Gandham,Parepally,Mudarapu, Ramishetty, Lakkakula, Mekala, Puppala,Sairi, kotte, Jangeti, Thoom, Palle, puram,etc. amongst the telagas (munnuru kapus) suggests that they are non other than people of yellapus. Here in Nalgonda district the telagas and munnuru kapu has no difference and it is one and same. Only a few people use the suffix of Naidu along with their name amongst the telagas. Unless otherwise these people have the advantage, these people do not reveal that they are telagas.

Another, Important feature that observed among the telagas(kapus) in Nalgonda district is that the surnames of them are similar to that of the Nirmal Kapus, who are believed to have been migrated along with Nimmanaidu from warangal. Hence, the origin of kapus of Nirmal , Nalgonda district and of yellapus are same.All the three have connections with the kakatiyas of Warangal.For curiosity, i have examined the surnames of telagas of Nalgonda town,which do not match with this. Some family names are corrupted.For instance I mention some surnames matched amongst the kapus of nirmal and Nalgonda district as follows:

Marugonda, Kummari , Anumula, Adumula, Bonagiri, Menga, Poddelli, Koona, Gojja, Aindla, Penta, Munigela, Mallepoola, Arikari, Kotte, Jangiti,Manoori, Thoom, Pathike, Panthike, Akula, Naidi, Sriramraju, Dyavarshetti, Ramolu, Japa, Ravula, Vantala, Palle, Chirutha, Cheruku, Munigela, Kunta, Basetti, Nandedapu,Pogula, Manglarapu, Manda, etc.

Interestingly, the surnames of Sangu, Bahroju, Bahunuthula, Chenchi are of Gurjara- Pratihara origin, who migrated from Rajasthan and part of Telagas of suryapet.

Karimnagar district

Subsequently, yellapus were migrated to the karimnagar district and in different places such as buggaram, bommakal , oudyarm, kalvakota, ootpally, nagunoor, narayanpet,Mormoor,Ibrahimpatnam, Madapur, Kondapur,Bandala lingapur, Dharmaram, Manakondur, Polampally, Gullakota, Jainapeta, Rekonda, Chengerla, Godhur, Ilapur,Kodimyala, Paidipally, Velchala,Bhavpet, Huzurabad, duddenapally,Basheerabad,Lakkora,Venkatapuram,Venkatraopet, Sircilla, Poshettypalle,Thadicherla,Simhampeta(medak). I learned during the visit that people of Venkatapuram are migrated from oudhyaram.Only 3 or 4 families are living there.One sri.Maruthi Rao told me that all the Bonthala families have left that village.I was curious to visit this village as mother of my Paternal Grandmother is native of that village.

As seen from the geographical conditions, the inhabited villages of Yellapus are in the surroundings of elagandula fort. Some Yellapus were working as soldiers in the elagandula fort. The Tula families were working as officers responsible for getting weighing of the grain of the king.

I presume that the Bonagiri families have migrated later than other people to karimnagar, as these people are called on the name of migrating town and rest of the others are up keeping the older surnames. This has to be ascertained from the elders.

One interesting point in the migration of Yellapus from Nalgonda to karimnagar district is that these people migrated from different revenue divisions, that are bhongir and suryapet.The villages/others indicated in the surnames are Bonagiri, Rapole, paruvelli, sunki. To explain Bonagiri is a town.Rapole is a corrupt form of Rayaprolu, a temple name in suryapet.parupalli is a village name in rajapet mandal in Bhongir division,6 K.m.away from Mandal Head Quarter.Sunki and sunkara are famous surnames in over all nalgonda district.

Thus, it is beyond any doubt that Yellapus migrated to karimnagar district from different divisions of Nalgonda district.The great man behind this migration is not traced by me.But it is a miraculous act to bind the people of different places and provide them safety during the migration and later.Another superb facet is that other caste people also migrated with this people. Some other caste people of nalgonda are still living in khanapur with Yellapus.

One interesting fact happened at karimnagar district was that yellapus lost their employment and some of them caused unrest. Vexed by the activities of yellapus and following unrest, Nizam of Hyderabad was clever enough to gift lands and made them landlords. All the people were not become land lords in this process. The warrior nature has become advantage in granting the lands to control other people.Some people have purchased the lands with their inherited wealth.Thus,the Yellapus has regained the prestige lost in odisha and north coastal areas.Recently, i came to know that the robbed amount was distributed to poor people, on the lines of Robinhood .Even women was also part of robbing operations, as told by Dr.V.S.Rao. It reveals that unrest is not in the depression for loosing the employment but for sake of higher achievements.

Some people had their own small forts at Mulangur, Gullakota, polampally, Gillakota, Lakkora, and Basheerabad.out of this Mulangur outnumbers all the forts in size of the fort and area of rule. It is on the strategic raod leading from elagandula to Warangal.This was ruled by Kosnam families.

 kosnam families were worked as vassals of Nizam of Hyderabad. The ancestors of Sri.Kosnam Ramchenkder rao, F/O Kishan rao was a vassal of Nizam of Hyderabad. His kingdom was touching Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad and small parts of Warangal district. They ruled from the Mulangur fort. They have also constructed a temple by name Sundaragiri temple.The forte of polampally is belongs to the sisters of sri.Ramachender rao. Thus, this forte may be also belongs to his ancestors. Their vassal area extended to vainganga in Adilabad district.The extent of area is very large and it is far off to the capital of Kakatiyas. This fort is acted as strategic shield fort of Nizam of Hyderabad, from the invading armies. Thus, he may the important vassal and gained the confidence in the kingdom of Nizam of Hyderabad.

The migrations to the peddapally area is in diffent way.One women of Rapole families has brought her four brothers along with her from else where in Rayalaseema on Horses. They carried all the gold with them. She has bought 100 acres of land for each brother in different villages namely vemnur, mormoor,padakanti and madaka all near peddapally and Ramagundam.It was also told that then carried gold was existing till recent times.The family tree of rapole families is existing.Some documents are available with the elder brother. She has mobilized the all other caste people by providing employment and matrimonial relations.What a wonderful technique of amalgamation, followed from ancient days of kings.Hence, some people inherited the lands, some have bought and only a few was gifted by nizam. These people on tour use to prefer to take meals in the families of vyshyas and Brahmins but not in the families of reddis or velamas.

References:

1. Oral stories of yellapu caste elders.
2. Oral stories of dependent castes of yellapu.
3. Oral stories of Velamas.
4. Wikipedia.
5. Indian History- K.Krishna Reddy.
6. Modern Karimnagar History
7. Personal observation of author on present trends.
8. B.C. welfare department website.
9.  

Origin &History-3

Origin& History

Modern Karimnagar history-Role of Yellapus

Yellapus worked at Bandala lingapur samsthan.Originally it is belongs to Raja Shivaraj Bahadur a wazir at Nizam. Banda lingapuram and Peddapalli in Karimnagar district were his Samsthans or Jagirs. He had two sons namely Dharm Karan and Indra Karan. The father and the sons lived in Hyderabad and gave their Jagirs on lease to the Velamas. This continued for generations together. Here Yellapu families seved the Jagirdar faithfully.

In fact, a search was made by a committee /team headed by a Brahmin to identify the efficient successor, so as to adopt him.This team moved to many places. Finally, A Velama boy named Lingala Ananta Kishan Rao, brought from Nizamabad area, was the adopted son and he was the last ruler of Banda Lingapuram Samsthan lying Adjacent to Metpalli Jagir.

Jamedar Venkanna belonging to Yellapi caste was his Diwan. A Velama named Peggerla Rajanna belonging to Raikal was in his service. According to local information Raja Anant Kishan Rao was the first landlord to provide amenities to his people. He built a water tank in his Samsthan village Banda Lingapuram and supplied water through tap system. Even today the same water tank is supplying water in the village. He arranged a generator and electrified his village.Indeed the most wonderful and rare attempt made by Raja Ananta Kishan Rao to provide electricity and water through taps in his village uring the first half of the twentieth century, deserves a high degree of appreciation and admiration.

An anecdote popular in this region reveals that there was a tussle between the Dora of Banda Lingapuram Samsthan and the adjacent Jagirdar of Metpalli over the lands lying at the outskirts of Vellula village. It is said that there were even exchanges of fire some times between both the parties. They filed a case in the High court, which gave judgement in favour of Metpalli Jagirdar. When the Mohatmeem or the Superintendent of Police of Metpalli Jagir went to Vellulla to take over the lands, about hundred sepoys of Samsthan under the command of Jamedar Venkanna raised their guns. The Jagir police is stated to have returned to Metpalli without any action. Such was the power exhibited by Banda Lingapuram Samsthan in those days. It is a tragedy that the Raja of Samsthan faced an untimely death. The samsthan had two more Gadis under its control, one at Ailapuram near Koratla and the other at Ravikanti or Raikal. Raja Anant Kishan Rao is blessed with two sons. Raja Gajasimha Rao and Raja Narasimha Rao, who settled in Hyderabad.

It was told by the yellapu elders that Raja was under many addictions and lost his health, leading to loss of life. During this period many yellapu families were involved in the administration and served samsthan faithfully. I also found that still many yellapu families were living there.

The poet Jaishetty Rajaiah (1842-1921) of Jagtial wrote in his verses that there were 221 villages besides a few Madirasin the old Jagtial Taluk 159, which included the areas of Metpalliand Koratla also in A.D. 1903. The same poet stated in 1903 that the Gandevaru belonging to Yellapi caste had four Jagirs namely Chiluvakoduru, Israjpalle, Vengalapuram and Gullakota in old Jagtial taluk and two more Jagirs Paidipalli and Munjampalli in other taluks of this district. Vengalapur Dharma Rao belonging to Gande family is now residing at Jagtial.These Gadis, which were once the centres of village administration with great pomp and show, now remain in ruins having lost their glory and grandeur.

The Gadis of Banda Lingapuram, Ailapuram, Raikal, Sirikonda, Itikyal, Rudrangi, Chalgal, Bheemaram, Rajaram, Govindaram, Nerella, Buggaram, Koratla, Vemulavada, Sircilla, Racherla Boppapuram, Nimmapalli, Peddapalli, Tadicherla, Gajasingavaram, Lingannapeta, Kamalapur, Uppal, Guduru, Ghanpur, Sarvaipeta, Vangara, Manakonduru, Kodmial, Gorregundam and several other places, which are now in ruins, remind the aristrocratic and oppressive rule of the then landlords during the first half of the twentieth century.

Out of the above Gadis, either ruling or living by the yellapus have been taken place in the following: Banda Lingapuram, Ailapuram, Buggaram, Koratla, Vemulavada, Sircilla, Peddapalli, Tadicherla, , Manakonduru, Kodmial.The other places of Gadis includes kalvakota, ,Mormoor,, Polampally, Gullakota, Chengerla, duddenapally,Basheerabad,Lakkora,Venkatapuram,etc.

The living in and around gadis or forts like elagandula and having them and ruling as de-facto rulers in absence of the land lords had created a myth of Ruling class among many yellapus. All the yellapus were not among the elite class. There have been disparities since ages. To be frank, in case of most developed velamas and reddys, there have been disparities.

Rudraram Gadi

The gotra of Ramineni family is Raginuru gotram . Balakistaiah is the first wathandar.He got 7 villages as Maqta from the Nizam.Nizam use to camp for 10 days in a year at Rampur in parakal Taluq in Warangal district. At that time Sri.Balkistaiah has offered goats, sheeps, grains, etc. to Nizam as Nazarana.Being felt happy for the services rendered, His Highness Nizam has granted 7 villages namely Mutharam, Rudraram, Edlapally, Kondampeta, Kesarapupalle and 2 other hamlets as Maqta. They ruled the people with benovalence.

Before the implementation of land seiling act, they have given 500 Acres of land in Edlapally and 150 Acres in Rudraram as Inam to poor people of deprived classes. This is an amazing act of Benovalence. There is no end to their benovalence till the recent times.He said that that is the reason for the sympathy on their family.

They got dugged two tanks namely Oora cheruvu and Edlapally cheruvu.Earlier, people use to face alot of trouble for irrigation and drinking water prior to establishment of the two tanks.Till 1955, the tanks were under the custody of the Ramineni families and later handedover to the PWD department.

They also got dugged two wells for drinking water purpose for humans and animals as well.One well is dugged near the house of Sri.Ramineni Venkateshwar Rao and another at Sri.Ramineni Rajeshwar Rao. The provision is also made to facilitate the animals to drink water properly by constructing small water tanks.

They constructed a Hanuman temple in their land.They also constructed a School in their land, where a primary school was running and upgraded as Upper primary school in the recent past.

In the recent years , Ramineni families also donated 2 guntas land for construction of mineral water plant.

In olden days, Ramineni families use to distribute the food grains to the people and relatives as well .They also enjoyed the high status.To travel, they used the pallaki.

The prevalent systems of yellapus namely parada was in vogue in Ramineni families. The swords then used are also found now in their houses. These people and their relatives were also fond of hunting.It was told that their relatives use to stay in their building for not less than a month.They used to earmark special Dasis(workers) to the relatives stayed in their building.

Subsequently, the benovalence of these families led to political upsurge upto mandal level . Sri.Ramineni Satyanarayana Rao was continuously surpunch for 35 years for Rudraram village. Sri.Ramineni Sampath Rao was elected as M.P.T.C. Earlier, Sri.Ramineni Bhasker Rao was the first M.P.T.C of the manthani.

It was also told that Sri.Ramineni Satyanarayana Rao has supported Sri.P.V.Narsimha Rao for being elected as M.L.A from manthani constituency. Also they served Sri.Sripada Rao in similar way in same constituency.

The painful incidents in the history of these families is that Rajakars attacked their wathan.These people have to be in Manthani for 10 to 12 years.Thrice they were also attacked by the Naxlites.Still these people enjoy the sympathy from the people for their benovalence. Such stories of Maqtas has to be collected before they disappear.

Bhuthkur Gadi:

The surname of jangal has come from the name of land grant given by the Nizam namely sanath-e-Jangal In Bhuthkur village and other 5 villages includes Gollagudem,Rampur,part of devunigudem and part of dasturabad.The dasturabad allocation was cancelled and allotted to others after independence.

The sanath-e-jangil lands are given as watan to develop the fallow lands into fertile lands, there by developinng the agriculture.Also to have control in the far off and interior areas through their watandars. The sanctioning to hindhus is to take them to their fold and to mitigate the dissatisfaction among the local population.

In this instant case the Buthkur village is near to elagadapa, where the khas lands were present. Khas lands are owned by the king and all the grains produced would be sent to king for his use.Thus , we can presume that lands were given for development and consolidation of power only.

The wathandari succession is as follows: first it was given to pullaiah@pullarao,Ramarao,Muthyamrao and lastly by Ramgopal rao.Sri.Ramgopalrao is father of Krishnamohanrao.Krishnamohan rao has two sons namely vynatheya and Karthikeya.

He also told that one branch of his family was migrated to Warangal.Their family name has corrupted to Jangili.Their gotra   is palakula.I remember that one of their family member has misunderstood the meaning of Jangili and changed his surname all the way.I presume that there is no such position if he knows the right meaning.

They are the ardent devotees of Nallagonda Narasimhaswamy.The temple is originally in the deep forest on a kalleda hill.In the month of Shravana & Bhadrapada months, the huge gathering of 20 villages assemble here for fair.The utsava vigraham is placed in dasturabad.Sri.Ramgopalrao has gifted 2acres and 20 guntas land to temple maintenance and priests.It reveals their liberal mentality and charity.

Under elagandula fort:

Yellapus stayed at elagandula fort after migrating from the Nalgonda district. The reason for the migration is employment again. It is also clear that migrations were not at once. The available evidences are that many yellapu persons were working as officers incharge of weighing the grain. They are called thula . It is a name of a job and later crystallized as family name. This is the reason why there are many gotras in the Thula surname. For this work also they have got lands from the king nizam. In that way also Yellapus have become the land owners and land lords to certain extent.That is the reason the thula families of Bommakal, Dhammannapet, mormoor got the land holdings from the Nizam. The staying village names, possible old surname and their gotras of Thula surname people are as follows:

 S.No      Village name         Gotra            Old surname(Possible)
1. Mormoor, Bommakal    Bharadwaja          Rapole
2. Not obtained                  Kausika            Not obtained
3. Gullakota                       Janakanuri              Basa
 4. Dhammannapeta            Pasupunuri         Not obtained

 The rationality behind my finding and to substantiate the same i state that Mormoor is settled by Rapole families only and their surnames is Bharadwaja only.Hence, it is clear that Rapole families have joined in the service of Nizam and worked as officer responsible for grain weighing. Similarly, The Thula families are nothing but from other families of the castes.

 The evidence also available at this fort for the existence of yellapus at this place is Salvadi Bavi and idol of veera.This idol is worshiped by salvadi and their relative families only. Even now also the worship takes place before marriage of that family member.

Elagandula fort was a famous textile centre in the ancient days.In the later days many weaving families were migrated from there to Khammam and suryapet in nalgonda district, as per the information available to me.In the recent past ,in Khammam, I met one sri.Elagandula Ramakrishna, correspondent of a school.He explained that they were also belongs to warrior class.They were very much acquainted with Ayurveda.His body is also well built resembling the soldier.

Hence, I presumed following information.The padmashalis were also a warrior class.They took up the textile work may be in the peaceful times at elagandula.The ayurveda profession was continued with them till present generations means, yellapus would have also very good relations with them at elagandula as both are of warrior class and who are aquainted with ayurveda.

Anabheri Prabhakar Rao-his role in anti-nizam struggle

In true terms, the history of the Yellapus is incomprehensive, without writing about Sri.Anabheri Prabhakar Rao.The citation from the Modern Karimnagar history is as follows:

Another important son of this soil Anabheri Prabhakar Rao, who fought against the Nizam and Razakars was born to the couple Venkateshwar Rao and Radhabai on 15th August 1910 in a Deshmukh family of Yellapi caste at Polampally village in Thimmapur Mandal near Karimnagar. While studying in Nizam College, he was inspired by the ideals of Gandhiji and entered the Anti-Nizam Movement as a student. On the call given by Baddam Yella Reddy in september 1947 many people joined the struggle. A Dalam or squad was formed under the leadership of Anabheri Prabhakar Rao. The members of the squads burnt the Records of Patels and Patwaris in about forty villages in January 1948. In a fight against the Police and Razakars, there was fearful exchange of fire on 14th March 1948 between the police and the communist squad in the hills and hillocks of Muhammadapur near Husnabad in Karimnagar district. Dr.Sarojini Regani recorded that about 8 members including Anabheri Prabhakar Rao and Singireddy Bhoopathi Reddy died fighting heroically against the reserved police of the Nizam161. But Poreddy Ram Reddy, who participated in the struggle at Muhammadapur as a young man of twenty is alive and lives at Somarampeta village in Ellanthakunta Mandal of Sircilla area. He states that about fifteen people died fighting heroically against the Nizam forces.They were Anabheri Prabhakar Rao from Polampalli, Singireddy Bhoopathi Reddy from Taduru, Musku Chokka Reddy and Yeleti Malla Reddy from Ogulapur, Aireddy Bhoom Reddy from Somarampeta, Narayana from Begumpeta, B.Damodar Reddy from Nallagonda, Illendula Papaiah from Galipalli, Poli Chandra Reddy and Kummari Yellaiah from Somarampeta, Nallagonda Rajaram and Sikkudu Sailu from Regadi Maddikunta and Rondla Madhava Reddy from Repaka etc. Besides these martyrs, many others sustained bullet injuries. It is strange that the name of Poreddy Ram Reddy of Somarampet, who is alive, is included in the list of the dead instead of Poli Chandra Reddy of the same village, who was shot dead and whose name was not found in the list of the dead. All the names of these comrades, who died fighting can be noticed on the stupa erected in their memory near the hills of Muhammadapur 162. The valiant commander of

the Dalam Anabheri Prabhakar Rao and his comrades, who lost their lives, remain immortal in the history of Karimnagar district. Amrutlal Shukla was first a teacher at Sircilla.

Anti-Nizam struggle

Ganapati Rao of Manthani, J.R.Gopal Rao of Sircilla, Juvvadi Chokka Rao of Irukulla, Juvvadi Ramapathi Rao and Juvvadi Madusudhan Rao of Karimnagar, K.Sanjeeva Rao of Velgonda, Dasari Raghavulu of Jagtial, Lingala Satyanarayana Rao of Velagaturu, Gande Jagan Madhava Rao of Chilvakoduru, Vakil Mukundlal Mishra of Karimnagar and Boinapally Venkata Rama Rao of Thotapalli and many others known and unknown are said to have participated in the anti Nizam Struggle. Juvvadi Ramapathi Rao and Juvvadi Chokka Rao were elected to the Parliament from Karimnagar in later times. Boinapally Venkatarama Rao participated in the Sarvodaya, Bhoodan and Grandhalaya movements. He opposed the procurement of paddy from peasants, under the compulsory levy system. He arranged a meeting at Bejjenki which was addressed by Burgula Rama Krishna Rao and T.Haigreeva Chary. He is Known as ‘Thotapalli Gandhi and he is awarded recently the honorary Doctorate Degree by the Kakatiya University.

Adilabad district

consequently, a set of people, who are dependent on the hunting are migrated to Adilabad district following the ruining of the forest in the karimnagar district to Khanapur and its surroundings. As per the statement of the elders, the migration was not done at once. It had taken more than 10 years. The confidence to live in this place was brought by the family members of Bonagiri venkanna, a great hunter, who can shoot 1 paise coin from 50 yards distance. He was equally able to convince other castes to be along with them in migration. He provided the required food at low cost or no cost.when there is need, these families have provided amounts at low interest or no interest. The families of Kuthuru, edla, bathula and Gandla are actually following the yellapus from Nalgonda district.Later on other families of ganta, Basa, chintapandu, lakkakula, elumula followed. Ganta family migrated from Ibrahimpatnam. Kudala family joined in sattenpally at very later date from Jainapet.The gargula, shetty migration to rajura shall be ascertained. The arrival of Balasankula is not exactly known.

Velmula, chintapandu and puppala families have been living in surjapur in main town and palle. Some of them have migrated to Khanapur for the purpose of education.

Some people have been living at Bhavapur, dharmojipet, Revojipet, Bellala. Veeramalla people are dominant at Revojipet and Dharmojipet.However, the number of people living at Dhamrmojipet is dwindled with migrations to other places.

On the other hand the migrations to mancherial were also continued for employment. There are large number of people existing in naspur, Ramakrishnapur, rechini, jannaram, luxetipet and Mancherial.

It is told by elders that saini families had been living in adilabad since many years and the migration to gimma and karimnagar is a recent happening. In the recent past there is countable number of migration to the Adilabad town from the yellapu community for various reasons including the employment and settling there.

Hyderabad

In the recent past there is exodus from karimnagar to alval in Hyderabad.The geographical advantage of easy access of vehicles to karimnagar has made it happen.They also spread to many other places of Hyderabad.However, the size of the population migrated to Hyderabad is quite low.

Foreign Countries

There are countable number of yellapus migrated to foreign countries includes U.S.A., U.K., Australia, Singapur, etc. Most of the people preferred the U.S.A. only. In this karimnagar district stood in front than any other district. The migration in karimnagar was led by Sri. Lakkakula Bhasker Rao. Later many people followed.The relatives of Thula families have been living in many numbers in foreign countries. In Adilabad district the chintapandu families are the front runners in number to reach the foreign countries. They are most enterprenuer cultured families with much fore sight in the district.

Interestingly, the migrations from the Nalgonda distict was very much long ago of more than 20 years. It is led by kaluvala family. They have been supporting many people to reach there and providing sensitive support after reaching

History of B.C. certificate

Eligibility: I feel that Yellapus have certain following eligibilities to access the B.C. Certificate (It is not needed at this time, but it is as a matter of information to young people);

• These people are of tribal origin and later become soldiers. Most of their occupation continued to be hunting till recent times.

• They also worked as personal servants of the kings in the kalinga area and at later stage their positions worsened further. In distress some of them even took up robberies.

• Poverty prevails even in recent times.

• Other kshatriyas communities are included in the B.C. list.

• These people are not the sole rulers’ except at few places.

Efforts:

In true terms there was clear issuing of the B.C. Certificates in Adilabad district. The conflict is only in Karimnagar district. I remember that I have taken caste certificate in my childhood itself. All of a sudden issuing of certificates was stopped, due to agitation by other caste people in karimnagar district.

But, some people have relentlessly tried to get back the B.C. Certificate. Sri.Sadanad Rao, Bheemsen Rao, and others tried their level best. They roamed around the offices, lawyers to plead for the rivival of certificate. At last only after sri.Gaddenna, M.L.A. Mudhole has become the Minister of B.C. Welfare, the process of verification of validity of including the Yellapus in to the B.C. List has started. I can proudly say that my father Sri. Bonagiri Ganga Ram , a close ally of Sri.Kotnak Bheem Rao, the then Minister for Tribal Welfare and M.L.A of Khanapur, has got the persuasion done for the caste through the local Minister. Sri.Gaddenna also personally told me that he has done tremendous work for Yellapus.

Process

Justice Puttuswamy Commission was appointed to enquire in to the genuineness of including the caste in to the B.Cs. he has verified the details at a length. He first visited the Korutla and metpally in Karimnagar district. My father told that Commission questioned the women during the tour of Karmnagar that what is your caste? Women, who were making Beedis, replied that vellithe Yellapulu lekapothe Gulapulu(If they are rich they lead the pompous life. If they have no money, they are like servants).This answer has impressed the Justice a lot and he told in Khanapur that they told rightly.

During the tour the lead was taken by my father Sri.B.Ganga Ram and Venka Rao, the then surpunch Surjapur. The then Tahasildar, Khanapur Sri. Gangadhar, a close friend of my father has taken the Commission to Surjapur. He has verified in the field and found that all are dependent on the Agriculture. Some other fellow B.Cs were also called (I remember even it took place in year 1994). They accepted to state that Yellapus are belongs to Backward Classes only. Later Sri.K.V.Kishan Rao is also stated before the Commission that Yellapus have migrated from Bobbili along with us and they are belongs to B.C. Community. This is a clear combined effort of many people, which is a rarity in the Telangana area.

Finally, Government of Andhra Pradesh has issued a G.O.M.S.No.61, BCW (M) Dept., dated 5-12-1996 including the Yellapus into the B.Cs. I remember even prior to that the status of B.Cs was accepted in Adilabad district.

Profit

• It has brought the cheer in students and unemployed. Students accessed the scholarships. Unemployed got the jobs.

• It has also increased the literacy rate in the caste.

• This brought the social change, as these people have got the jobs, by leaving their entire ego and mingled with others.

• Economically, many people have reached to the strata of middle class by virtue of accessing different facilities.

• Some people have become doctors and now either they are self employed or working under others.

• Some people even went to the foreign countries for education and employment after their engineering, after accessing the reservation.

• People started getting the Gr-2 jobs also. In future there is possibility of accessing the Gr-1 jobs and All India Service Jobs.

•

Lessons to be learnt

• No person has joined the post of All India Services, which is to be seriously thought of.

• There is lacking of unity among the caste, which was delivered during revival of B.C. Certificate. No hostel is constructed or hired for students for their convenience.

• Karimnagar people have to mingle with the people of fellow B.Cs and fight for their problems, to have confidence on them. Again not issuing the caste certificate has started in that district.

• It is fact that far better people like kalingas and palegars are present in the same category. But they do not get the opposition in their region. They exploit all the jobs of B.C (A) Community. But, Yellapus get opposition in karimnagar district because they mingle with velamas than with other B.C. castes. In contra, Adilabad has up kept the tradition of mingling with other castes.

References:

1. Oral stories of yellapu caste elders.
2. Oral stories of dependent castes of yellapu.
3. Oral stories of Velamas.
4. Wikipedia.
5. Indian History- K.Krishna Reddy.
6. Modern Karimnagar History
7. Personal observation of author on present trends.
8. B.C. welfare department website.
9.  

Amazing story of Ramineni family as told by Narayana Rao.

Sri.Ramineni Sampath is an ex-M.P.T.C. and active member of the yellapu community. I introduced to him during the caste meeting held at yellapu sangha bhavanam, vaninagar, saidabad, Hyderabad on 02-11-2014.on next day he happened to come to my home.As usual ,I enquired his family story. .He was unable explain in full but he fecilitated to speak to his paternal uncle Sri.Narayana Rao.He  explained the amazing story of their family. It is the story revealing the intelligence and benovalence. This wonderful story would have been lost, if not brought in to the written form.I whole heartedly thank both Ramineni Sampath Rao and Ramineni Narayan Rao for providing information.

The gotra of Ramineni family is Raginuru gotram . Balakistaiah is the first wathandar.He got 7 villages as Maqta from the Nizam.Nizam use to camp for 10 days in a year at Rampur in parakal Taluq in Warangal district. At that time Sri.Balkistaiah has offered goats, sheeps, grains, etc. to Nizam as Nazarana.Being felt happy for the services rendered, His Highness Nizam has granted 7 villages namely Mutharam, Rudraram, Edlapally, Kondampeta, Kesarapupalle and 2 other hamlets as Maqta. They ruled the people with benovalence.

Before the implementation of land seiling act, they have given 500 Acres of land in Edlapally and 150 Acres in Rudraram as Inam to poor people of deprived classes. This is an amazing act of Benovalence. There is no end to their benovalence till the recent times.He said that that is the reason for the sympathy on their family.

They got dugged two tanks namely Oora cheruvu and Edlapally cheruvu.Earlier, people use to face alot of trouble for irrigation and drinking water prior to establishment of the two tanks.Till 1955, the tanks were under the custody of the Ramineni families and later handedover to the PWD department.

They also got dugged two wells for drinking water purpose for humans and animals as well.One well is dugged near the house of Sri.Ramineni Venkateshwar Rao and another at Sri.Ramineni Rajeshwar Rao. The provision is also made to facilitate the animals to drink water properly by constructing small water tanks.

They constructed a Hanuman temple in their land.They also constructed a School in their land, where a primary school was running and upgraded as Upper primary school in the recent past.

In the recent years , Ramineni families also donated 2 guntas land for construction of mineral water plant.

In olden days, Ramineni families use to distribute the food grains to the people and relatives as well .They also enjoyed the high status.To travel, they used the pallaki.

The prevalent systems of yellapus namely parada was in vogue in Ramineni families. The swords then used are also found now in their houses. These people and their relatives were also fond of hunting.It was told that their relatives use to stay in their building for not less than a month.They used to earmark special Dasis(workers) to the relatives stayed in their building.

Subsequently, the benovalence of these families led to political upsurge upto mandal level . Sri.Ramineni Satyanarayana Rao was continuously surpunch for 35 years for Rudraram village. Sri.Ramineni Sampath Rao was elected as M.P.T.C. Earlier, Sri.Ramineni Bhasker Rao was the first M.P.T.C of the manthani.

It was also told that Sri.Ramineni Satyanarayana Rao has supported Sri.P.V.Narsimha Rao for being elected as M.L.A from manthani constituency. Also they served Sri.Sripada Rao in similar way in same constituency.

The painful incidents in the history of these families is that Rajakars attacked their wathan.These people have to be in Manthani for 10 to 12 years.Thrice they were also attacked by the Naxlites.Still these people enjoy the sympathy from the people for their benovalence. Such stories of Maqtas has to be collected before they disappear.