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*Kamma origin: Buddhist's from the [[Gangetic plains]] migrated to the Krishna River delta in large numbers to escape the persecution of Pushyamitra Sunga (184 BCE).<ref>''Kammavari Charitra'' (in Telugu language) by Kotha Bhavaiah Chowdary, 1939. Revised Edition (2006), Pavuluri Publishers, Guntur (A Brief History of Kammas, K. B. Choudary, 1954, University of California, Digitized 2007)</ref> Buddhism was already flourishing in [[Dharanikota]], [[Bhattiprolu]], Chandavolu etc., in this fertile area.<ref>[http://www.buddhavihara.in/ancient.htm Buddhist Heritage of Andhra Pradesh]</ref> Historians surmised that the Sanskrit word Karma became Kamma (pali word) in later years.<ref>''Samagra Andhra Desa Charitra-Samskriti'', Volume III, 2002, M. H. Rao, Kamalaa Publications, Hyderabad</ref>
*Kamma origin: Buddhist's from the [[Gangetic plains]] migrated to the Krishna River delta in large numbers to escape the persecution of Pushyamitra Sunga (184 BCE).<ref>''Kammavari Charitra'' (in Telugu language) by Kotha Bhavaiah Chowdary, 1939. Revised Edition (2006), Pavuluri Publishers, Guntur (A Brief History of Kammas, K. B. Choudary, 1954, University of California, Digitized 2007)</ref> Buddhism was already flourishing in [[Dharanikota]], [[Bhattiprolu]], Chandavolu etc., in this fertile area.<ref>[http://www.buddhavihara.in/ancient.htm Buddhist Heritage of Andhra Pradesh]</ref> Historians surmised that the Sanskrit word Karma became Kamma (pali word) in later years.<ref>''Samagra Andhra Desa Charitra-Samskriti'', Volume III, 2002, M. H. Rao, Kamalaa Publications, Hyderabad</ref>

== Varna Status ==

The [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] designation of Kammas is a contested and complex topic. Even after the introduction of the varna concept to [[south India]], caste boundaries in south India were not as marked as in [[north India]], where the four-tier varna system placed the priestly [[Brahmin]]s on top followed by the [[Kshatriyas]], [[Vaishyas]], and [[Shudras]]. In south India, on the other hand, there existed only three distinguishable classes, the Brahmins, the non-Brahmins and the [[Dalit]]s. The two intermediate [[dvija]] varnas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas did not exist.<ref name="Jalal1995">{{cite book|author=Ayesha Jalal|title=Democracy and authoritarianism in South Asia: a comparative and historical perspective |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=GNJHlFTPBT0C&pg=PA204 |accessdate=30 July 2011|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-47862-5|pages=204–}}</ref><ref name="Bernard2001">{{cite book|author=Jean Alphonse Bernard|title=From raj to the republic: a political history of India, 1935–2000 |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=dP9tAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=31 July 2011|year=2001|publisher=Har Anand Publications|page=37}}</ref><ref name="Joseph2004">{{cite book|author=M. P. Joseph|title=Legitimately divided: towards a counter narrative of the ethnographic history of Kerala Christianity |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=fNLYAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=30 July 2011|year=2004|publisher=Christava Sahitya Samithi|isbn=978-81-7821-040-7|page=62}}</ref><ref name="RaychaudhuriHabib1982">{{cite book|author1=Tapan Raychaudhuri|author2=Irfan Habib|author3=Dharma Kumar|title=The Cambridge Economic History of India: c.1200–c.1750 |url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=L-s8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA26|accessdate=31 July 2011|year=1982|publisher=CUP Archive|isbn=978-0-521-22692-9|page=27}}</ref>

During the British Raj, the Kammas were considered Shudras in the varna system.<ref name="Bhattacharya2002">{{cite book|author=Sabyasachi Bhattacharya|title=Education and the disprivileged: nineteenth and twentieth century India|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=f-jBIp3iWdEC&pg=PA17&dq=kamma+shudras#v=onepage&q=kamma%20shudras&f=false|accessdate=23 July 2011|year=2002|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-250-2192-6|pages=17–}}</ref><ref name="AyresOldenburg2002">{{cite book|author1=Alyssa Ayres|author2=Philip Oldenburg|title=India briefing: quickening the pace of change|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=SJI3jApnTI8C&pg=PA138|accessdate=23 July 2011|year=2002|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|isbn=978-0-7656-0813-0|pages=138–}}</ref>


== Medieval history ==
== Medieval history ==

Revision as of 09:37, 1 February 2014

Kamma
ReligionsHinduism
Languages
Country
Region
Subdivisions
  • Chowdary — Coastal Andhra Pradesh
  • Rao, Rayudu — Andhra Pradesh
  • Nayaka — Medieval Andhra Pradesh, Medieval Karnataka
  • Naidu — South Andhra Pradesh, North & West Tamil Nadu
  • Naicker — South Tamil Nadu

Kamma or the Kammavaru is a social group found largely in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Starting from the 1960s, a sizable number have emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly to the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.[1]

Ancient history

Origin

There are many theories about the origins of the word "Kamma" and the social group known as the Kammas. These include:

  • Kamma origin: Buddhist's from the Gangetic plains migrated to the Krishna River delta in large numbers to escape the persecution of Pushyamitra Sunga (184 BCE).[7] Buddhism was already flourishing in Dharanikota, Bhattiprolu, Chandavolu etc., in this fertile area.[8] Historians surmised that the Sanskrit word Karma became Kamma (pali word) in later years.[9]

Medieval history

Kakatiya period

Kammas grew to prominence during the Kakatiya dynasty's reign (1083-1323 CE) by also holding important positions in their army. One of the most famous commanders during the time of Rudrama Devi and Prataparudra II was Dadi Nagadeva who played a prominent role in warding off the attack of the Yadava king of Devagiri.[citation needed] Nagadeva’s son, Ganna Mantri, also called Ganna Senani or Yugandhar, was a great warrior and a patron of arts and literature. Ganna was the commander of Warangal fort. He was captured, converted to Islam, given the name Malik Maqbul and was taken to Delhi along with Prataparudra.[citation needed] Subsequently, he rose to the position of Wazir in Delhi durbar and was sent to rule Punjab.[10][page needed][11] Nagadeva’s other sons Ellaya Nayaka and Mechaya Nayaka were also valiant fighters. Another warrior of repute was Muppidi Nayaka who went on an expedition to Kanchi, defeated the Pandya king and merged it with Kakatiya dynasty in 1316 CE. Other prominent Kamma Nayaks of the Kakatiya dynasty were Gonka I who rose to become a viceroy and Beta I (AD 1000 - 1050) who emerged from a Samanta Vishti Vamsa, a feudatory family from among the Buddhist peasants.[12]

In prolonged battles with Muslims between 1296 and 1323 CE. thousands of Kamma Nayakas perished along with others, in the defense of Warangal.[citation needed] A group of nobles formed in opposition to Muslim rule and were led by a Kamma called Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka, although details of the circumstances surrounding his rise are uncertain. Also uncertain are the methods used that enabled some limited amount of success for the venture, which saw the rebels defeating the Muslim armies in some battles and disrupting their cohesion in the region. The nobles were able to assert control in the Godavari area, over which Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka became ruler from 1325 until his death in 1333. He left no children and was succeeded by a cousin, Kapaya Nayaka, who governed until 1368 and attempted further to expand the Hindu rule. He took control of Warangal from Malik Maqbul in 1336 and thus also of a wider swathe of eastern Telangana that was governed from there. He also tried to support other rebels in surrounding areas, although in the case of aid given to Jaffar Khan — also known as Alauddin Baharnan Shah — the outcome was that his ambitious, unscrupulous and emboldened fellow rebel turned on him. Several military engagements with Khan followed over a period of years, during which Kapaya Nayaka had to cede various forts and territories. His weakened position was exploited by the Reddis and the Velamas, the latter of whom caused his death in battle at Bhimavaram and ended the period of Kamma rule.[13][14]

Vijayanagara period

After the death of Kapaya Nayaka, many Kammas migrated to the Vijayanagara kingdom. During the reign of Sri Krishnadevaraya Kammas belonging to thirty seven gotras were living in the city of Vijayanagar.[15] Kamma Nayaks formed the bulwark of Vijayanagara army and were appointed as governors in many areas of Tamil Nadu.[16] Their role in protecting the last great Hindu kingdom of India was significant.[17]

Golkonda period

Vijayanagara kingdom underwent very difficult times after the battle of Tallikota in 1565. Pemmasani Nayaks, Ravella Nayaks and Sayapaneni Nayaks steadfastly helped the Araviti kings in keeping the Muslims at bay. It took another 90 years to consolidate the Muslim power in Andhra country with the capture of Gandikota in 1652. Kamma nayaks migrated in large numbers to the Tamil region. During the Golkonda period, the Sayapaneni Nayaks (1626–1802) ruled Dupadu region as vassals of the Golkonda sultans.[18][19] Gangappa Nayudu, Venkatadri Nayudu and Rangappa Nayudu were famous among them. Ibrahim Qutb Shah captured Kondavidu in 1579. Khasa Raya Rao, his Maratha commander, appointed Deshmukhs and Chowdarys in 497 villages.[20] The usage of the title ‘Chowdary’ in coastal Andhra Pradesh commenced at this time.[citation needed]

Virappa Nayudu built a fort at Chintapalli and ruled it until 1710 CE. His successors ruled until 1760. During this period the French and the British were trying to gain control of the Andhra country. Jaggayya ruled Chintapalli from 1763 onwards. He was killed by French troops sent by Basalat Jung, brother of the Golkonda Nawab in 1771. Jaggayya’s wife Acchamma committed Sati. Jaggayya’s son Venkatadri recovered Chintapalii in 1777 and earned fame as a benevolent and illustrious ruler.[21] (Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu and Vasireddy Clan). The British gained control of Andhra by 1788 from Golkonda Nawabs. Another Kamma principality during Golkonda period was Devarakota with Challapalli as its capital. Its ruler, Yarlagadda Guruvarayudu was subdued by Abdullah Qutb Shah in 1576. His successors ruled as vassals of Golkonda till the French took over in 1751 and later the British in 1765.

Modern history

After the decline of major kingdoms, Kammas controlled large fertile areas in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, as a legacy of their martial past. The British recognized their prominence and made them village heads (Talari) also known as Chowdary to collect taxes.They also proved themselves to be adept at farming.There are many proverbs in Telugu language which speak of the Kammas’ adeptness in agriculture and their emotional attachment to the soil, such as Kammavaariki Bhumi Bhayapaduthundi (Template:Lang-te) (The earth fears Kammas).[22]

M. S. Randhawa, an agricultural scientist, has eulogized the spirit of Kamma farmers.[23]

Construction of dams and barrages and establishment of an irrigation system in Godavari and Krishna River deltas by Sir Arthur Cotton was a great boon to the Kamma farmers. Availability of water and the natural propensity for hard work made the Kammas wealthy and prosperous.[24] The money was put to good use by establishing numerous schools and libraries and encouraging their children to take up modern education.[25] Over a period of 10 years, in Guntur District alone, 130 High schools and hostels were established by their initiative. The zamindars of Challapalli and Kapileswarapuram founded many schools and libraries. In the modern times, the pace of the growth in wealth accelerated due to their enterprise and notable achievements in business, real estate, farming, arts and movie industry, education, medicine, engineering, media and high technology.[26]

The Kammas of Southern Tamil Nadu have also excelled in the cultivation of black cotton soils and later diversified into various industrial enterprises, particularly in Coimbatore and Kovilpatti.[27][28][29]

Zamindaris

Some of the prominent Kamma Zamindaris in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were:[30]

  • Challapalli - Yarlagadda Clan
  • Chintapalli/Amaravati - Vasireddy clan[31][32]
  • Ilayarasanendal (Tirunelvelli Dt) - Ravella clan[33]
  • Kuruvikulam (Tirunelvelli Dt) - Medasani clan[33]
  • Neikarapatti (Dindugal Dt) – Pemmasani clan[34]

Politics

During the British Raj, the Kammas were considered Shudras under the varna system of ritual ranking.[35][36] In the present day, they and the Reddys are politically dominant in the state.[37]

During the 1980s, they played a key role in state and national politics with the inception of the Telugu Desam Party by its then President Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao also called as NTR.[38] Nara Chandrababu Naidu gave a progressive direction to Andhra Pradesh and won global recognition to the state.[39]

Notes

  1. ^ G. Oonk, Global Indian Diasporas, 2007, Amsterdam University Press, p. 89, ISBN 978-90-5356-035-8
  2. ^ Kammavari Charitra (in Telugu language) by Kotha Bhavaiah Chowdary, 1939. Revised Edition (2006), Pavuluri Publishers, Guntur
  3. ^ Telugu Vignana Sarvaswamu, Volume 2, History, Telugu University, Hyderabad
  4. ^ V. R. Vemuri, 2003, Telugu-English Dictionary, Asian Educational Services, p. 99, ISBN 81-206-1637-5
  5. ^ A History of Telugu Literature, Chenchaiah Chowdary, B. and Bhujanga Rao, R. M., 1988, Asian Educational Services, p.50, ISBN 81-206-0313-3
  6. ^ C., Veerabhadra Rao (1910). Andhrula Charitra (PDF). Vol 1. p. 232.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ Kammavari Charitra (in Telugu language) by Kotha Bhavaiah Chowdary, 1939. Revised Edition (2006), Pavuluri Publishers, Guntur (A Brief History of Kammas, K. B. Choudary, 1954, University of California, Digitized 2007)
  8. ^ Buddhist Heritage of Andhra Pradesh
  9. ^ Samagra Andhra Desa Charitra-Samskriti, Volume III, 2002, M. H. Rao, Kamalaa Publications, Hyderabad
  10. ^ Jackson, Peter (2003) [1999]. The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521543293.
  11. ^ The Cambridge History of Islam, B. Lewis, A. K. S. Lambton and P. M. Holtp, Cambridge University Press, 1977, p 19, ISBN 0-521-29137-2
  12. ^ Ranga, N. G. (1971). Kakatiya Nayaks: their contribution to Dakshinapath's independence, 1300-1370 A.D,. Indian Peasant Institute. pp. 12–15.
  13. ^ Prasad, J. Durga (1988). History of the Andhras up to 1565 AD. P. G. Publishers. pp. 168–172.
  14. ^ Talbot, Cynthia (2001). Pre-colonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. pp. 177–182. ISBN 9780198031239.
  15. ^ Further Sources of Vijayanagara History, K. A. Nilakanta Sastry, 1946.
  16. ^ Kamma Commanders of the Vijayanagara Empire, K. I. Dutt, In: Journal of the Andhra Historical Society, 1926, Vol. X, p. 223
  17. ^ Vijayanagara Voices by William Jackson, Ashgate Publishing Ltd., 2005, p.124, ISBN 0-7546-3950-9
  18. ^ Textures of Time: Writing History in South India, V. Narayanarau, D. D. Shulman and S. Subrahmanyam, 2003, Other Press LLC, p. 264, ISBN 1-59051-044-5
  19. ^ Kammavari Charitra, K. B. Choudary, 1939, Revised Edition (2006), Pavuluri Publishers, Guntur
  20. ^ State and Society: A reader in comparative political sociology, Reinhard, Bendix, Robert Eric Frykenberg, 1968, University of California Press, p. 112, ISBN 0-520-02490-7
  21. ^ Sri Raja Vasireddy Venkadadri Nayudu, 1963, K. Lakshminarayana.
  22. ^ Gazetteer of the Nellore District: Madras District, Government Press, Madras, 1942, p.104
  23. ^ Farmers of India, 1959, M. S. Randhawa, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi
  24. ^ Parties, Elections and Mobilisation, K. R. Murty, 2001, Anmol Publications, New Delhi, p. 20
  25. ^ Education and the Disprivileged, S. Bhattacharya, 2002, Orient Longman, p. 58, ISBN 81-250-2192-2
  26. ^ Caste and the Andhra Communists, S. Harrison, APSR, Vol. 50, pp. 378-404
  27. ^ Vijayanagara, Burton Stein, Cambridge University Press, 1989, p.46, ISBN 0-521-26693-9
  28. ^ Fraternal Capital, Sharad Chari, 2004, Stanford University Press, p. 162, ISBN 0-8047-4873-X
  29. ^ Rural Society in Southeast Asia, K. Gough, 1981, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p. 29, ISBN 0-521-04019-1
  30. ^ Kammavari Charitra (in Telugu) by Kotha Bhavaiah Chowdary, 1939. Revised Edition (2006), Pavuluri Publishers, Guntur, p. 157
  31. ^ Indian Monuments, N. S. Ramaswami, 1971, Abhinav Publications, ISBN 0-89684-091-3, p. 115
  32. ^ State and Society: A Reader in Political Sociology, R. Bendix and C.M. Brand, p.114, Little, Brown and Co., 1968
  33. ^ a b Vadivelu, A. (1903). The Aristocracy of Southern India. Madras: Vest Publication. p. 159.
  34. ^ Vadivelu, A. (1903). The Aristocracy of Southern India. Madras: Vest Publication. p. 169.
  35. ^ Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (2002). Education and the disprivileged: nineteenth and twentieth century India. Orient Blackswan. pp. 17–. ISBN 978-81-250-2192-6. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  36. ^ Alyssa Ayres; Philip Oldenburg (2002). India briefing: quickening the pace of change. M.E. Sharpe. pp. 138–. ISBN 978-0-7656-0813-0. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  37. ^ Srinivasulu, K. (September 2002). "Caste, Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh: Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories" (PDF). London: Overseas Development Institute. p. 3. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  38. ^ Political Parties in South Asia, S. K. Mitra and M. Enskat, 2004, Praeger/Greenwood, p.115, ISBN 0-275-96832-4
  39. ^ The Impact of Asian Powers on Global Developments, E. Reiter and P. Hazdra, 2004, Springer, p. 125, ISBN 3-7908-0092-9

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