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.