View source for Telaga

{{short description|Hindu community in South India}}
{{pp-sock|small=yes}}
{{use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox caste
|caste_name=Telaga
|country=India
|region=[[South India]]
|classification=[[Forward caste]]
|subdivisions=
|populated_states=Major:<br />[[Andhra Pradesh]]<br>[[Yanam district|Yanam]]<br>Minor:<br>[[Telangana]]<br>[[Orissa]]<br>[[West Bengal]]
|languages=[[Telugu language|Telugu]]
|religions=[[Hinduism]]
}}
'''Telaga''' is a land-owning agrarian community primarily found in the [[Coastal Andhra]] region of India.{{Refn|<ref name=CoI61>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9dQcAQAAMAAJ&q=Telaga+land+owners+most+respected |title=Census of India, 1961 |date=1961 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |volume=2 |pages=8 |language=en |quote=The Kapus who are otherwise popularly known as Telagas in these parts primarily belong to a caste of cultivators and land owners. They are among the most respected of the non-Brahmins. It is said that in the past they were soldiers in the armies of the Hindu Sovereigns. |issue=16}}</ref><ref name=Deepa>{{Cite book |last1=Narayan-Parker |first1=Deepa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hv97bQ7cbOoC&dq=Telaga&pg=PA152 |title=From Many Lands |last2=Petesch |first2=Patti L. |date=2002-01-01 |publisher=[[World Bank Publications]] |isbn=978-0-8213-5049-2 |pages=152 |language=en |quote=About half the 153 households in the village are from the dominant Telaga caste of landed farmers ....}}</ref><ref name=Arnold>{{Cite book |last=Arnold |first=David |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cTYFAQAAIAAJ&q=Telagas |title=Police Power and Colonial Rule, Madras, 1859-1947 |date=1986 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-561893-8 |pages=48 |language=en |author-link=David Arnold (historian)}}</ref><ref name=KVR>{{Cite book |last=K. Veeram Reddy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G70sAAAAMAAJ&q=Telaga |title=Land Reforms and the Emergence of New Agrarian Structure in Andhra Pradesh: A Case Study of Chittoor District |date=1987 |pages=63 |language=en |quote=It was because of the caste composition of land ownership, for most of the agricultural land is owned by the dominant castes - Kamma, Reddy, Velama, Telaga, and Kshatriya communities.}}</ref><ref name=MIDS/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Velcheru Narayana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iycmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA310 |title=Text and Tradition in South India |date=2017-06-01 |publisher=[[State University of New York Press]] |isbn=978-1-4384-6777-1 |pages=310 |language=en |author-link=Velcheru Narayana Rao}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/anotherharmonyne0000unse |title=Another Harmony: New Essays on the Folklore of India |date=1986 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-05498-1 |editor-last=H. Blackburn |editor-first=Stuart |pages=143 |quote=Now let us look at the various castes associated with our epics. Those associated with the Palnati Katha are Telaga, Velamas, and Kammas—all traditionally landowning castes. |editor-last2=A. K. Ramanujan |editor-link2=A. K. Ramanujan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jackson-Laufer |first=Guida Myrl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NZgYAAAAIAAJ&q=Telaga+warriors |title=Encyclopedia of Traditional Epics |date=1994 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=978-0-87436-724-9 |pages=463 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Oddie |first=Geoffrey A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hXEcAAAAMAAJ&q=Telaga+landowners |title=Religion in South Asia: Religious Conversion and Revival Movements in South Asia in Medieval and Modern Times |date=1977 |publisher=Curzon Press |isbn=978-0-7007-0103-2 |pages=81 |language=en}}</ref>|name=LO}} Telaga is a subcaste of the [[Kapu (caste)|Kapu]] community, with both terms often used interchangeably.{{refn|name=terms|<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murty |first=K. Ramachandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LSeOAAAAMAAJ&q=Telagas |title=Parties, Elections, and Mobilisation |date=2001 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-261-0979-1 |pages=21 |language=en |quote=The Kapus of Godavari Districts are quite well off and politically dynamic. They proudly declare themselves as Telagas.}}</ref><ref name="Singh-1992">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iv5s-qwMw30C&q=Telaga+Forward+caste |title=People of India: Andhra Pradesh |date=1992 |publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] |isbn=978-81-7671-006-0 |pages=851 |language=en |quote=The term Kapu is variously used in different regions of Andhra Pradesh. They are equated with Reddis in Rayalaseema districts (Thurston, 1909). In East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, and Guntur districts, the same term refers to a forward caste, often synonymously used with the Telaga and Ontari.|author-link=Kumar Suresh Singh}}</ref><ref name=D&D/>{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=67|loc=Chapter 2|ps=<br/>The Kapus are found all over Andhra Pradesh and they are sub-divided into the Turpu Kapus and Telagas. The Kapus of the East and West Godavari call themselves Telagas or Pedda (Big) Kapus and claim to be superior to the Turpu (East) Kapus. The Turpu Kapus are those belonging to the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.}}<ref name=YSS>{{Cite book |last=Subrahmanyam |first=Y. Subhashini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=es4iAAAAMAAJ&q=Telaga |title=Social Change in Village India: An Andhra Case Study |date=1975 |publisher=Prithvi Raj Publishers |pages=74, 75 |language=en |quote=The Kapu form the bulk of the population and are agriculturists and horticulturists. The Kapus of the East Godavari call themselves Telaga or Pedda (Big) Kapus.}}</ref><ref name=DD/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Satyanarayana |first=A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GultAAAAMAAJ&q=Godavari+telaga+mahasabha |title=Dalits and Upper Castes: Essays in Social History |date=2005 |publisher=Kanishka Publishers, Distributors |isbn=978-81-7391-703-5 |pages=152 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=PoI:AP>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jA4uRbWoGfUC&q=Telaga+in+some+parts+also+use+Kapu+as+synonym |title=People of India: Andhra Pradesh |date=1992 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-7671-006-0 |pages=1817 |language=en |quote=The Telaga are a Telugu speaking dominant cultivator community, concentrated in all the coastal towns and hinterlands of East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Nellore districts of Coastal Andhra and in all the ..... Today we find the Kapu, Ontari and Balija of the state often call themselves Telaga, and the Telaga in some parts also use Kapu as synonym. The Telaga occupy a higher status in the hierarchy among these groups. |author-link=Kumar Suresh Singh}}</ref>}} They are classified as a [[Forward caste]].{{refn|<ref name=MIDS>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tc5HAAAAYAAJ&q=Telaga |title=Bulletin |date=1990 |publisher=[[Madras Institute of Development Studies]] |pages=123 |language=en |quote=Taking Andhra Pradesh alone, all the populous land-owning castes such as Reddy, Kamma, Kapu, Telaga, Velama, Raju, etc. (which are among the forward sections), constitute definitely more than nine percent of the total population which is the proportion of the land-owning castes in the above extrapolation for northern India.}}</ref><ref name="Singh-1992" /><ref>{{citation |last=Murty |first=K. Ramachandra |title=Parties Elections And Mobilisation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LSeOAAAAMAAJ |page=158 |year=2001 |publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt. Limited |isbn=978-81-261-0979-1 |ref={{sfnref|Murty, Parties, Elections and Mobilisation|2001}}}}: "Srikakulam district: ... The Brahmins, Rajus (Kshatriya), Komati, and Telaga communities are considered to be forward communities and these castes constitute around 8 percent of the district."</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PkIvDwUCQeUC&q=Telaga+kapu+forward+caste |title=Census of India, 1971: Andhra Pradesh |date=1976 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |volume=6 |pages=236 |language=en |quote=It is also seen that Brahmin, Vysya, Telaga, Kapu who are considered to be socially and economically forward castes .... |issue=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bernstorff |first=Dagmar |date=1973 |title=Eclipse of "Reddy-Raj"? The Attempted Restructuring of the Congress Party Leadership in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2643005 |journal=[[Asian Survey]] |volume=13 |issue=10 |pages=970 |doi=10.2307/2643005 |jstor=2643005 |issn=0004-4687 |quote=Other forward communities are Brahmins, Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, Telagas, Khaists.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hauck |first=Gerhard |date=1973 |title=Gewaltlosigkeit und Gleichheit als Ideologie: Eine Studie über den Gandhiismus in Indien |trans-title=Nonviolence and Equality as Ideology: A Study of Gandhiism in India |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40877086 |journal=Soziale Welt |language=de |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=102 |jstor=40877086 |issn=0038-6073}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Naidu |first=D. Suran |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KVKKAAAAMAAJ&q=Telaga |title=The Congress Party in Transition: A Study in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh |date=1991 |publisher=National Book Organisation |isbn=978-81-85135-64-9 |pages=27 |language=en |quote=The Brahmin, Raju (Kshatriya), Komati (Vaisya) and Telaga castes are considered 'forward communities' in the district.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Raju |first=Rapaka Satya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K7fDs9fV3TsC&dq=Telaga&pg=PA158 |title=Urban Unorganised Sector in India |date=1989 |publisher=Mittal Publications |pages=158 |language=en |quote=Among the forward communities, Vysya, Telaga and Brahmin communities had higher representation in that order.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-12 |title=Telaga community to fight for BC status |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/telaga-community-to-fight-for-bc-status/article37940823.ece |access-date=2023-04-27 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>|name=FC}} Historically, they were a warrior caste known for their honour and bravery.{{refn|name=wm}}<ref name=":24" />
The origins of the Telaga community are linked to the [[Telugu Chodas|Telugu Choda]] dynasties, particularly the [[Velanati Chodas|Velanadu chiefs]] (1076–1216 CE), who ruled Coastal Andhra and gradually came to be identified as Telagas.<ref name="TC22">{{bulleted list|{{Cite book |last=Chintamani Lakshmanna |title=Caste Dynamics in Village India  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KyRDAQAAIAAJ  |year=1973  |publisher=Nachiketa Publications|page=28}}: "...Velanadu (Krishna and Penna Doab) was ruled by Velanati Chodas and other areas were ruled by Telugu Chodas. In the course of time, these were called Telagas, one of the important non-Brahman castes."|{{Cite book |last=Etukuru Balaramamurthy|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.491430 |year=1953|title=ఆంధ్రుల సంక్షిప్త చరిత్ర |publisher=Visalaandhra Publishing House |language=te |trans-title=A Brief History of the Andhras |quote=(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.}}}}</ref> The community commonly uses the titles [[Naidu]] and Dora.{{Refn|<ref name="Lakshmanna-1973" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMNWHg4VrQYC&q=Telaga+Naidu |title=Census of India, 1961 |date=1962 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |pages=18 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=SSS>{{Cite book |last=Shashi |first=Shyam Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rOIjAQAAIAAJ&q=Telaga+naidu |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes: Andhra Pradesh |date=1994 |publisher=Anmol Publications |isbn=978-81-7041-836-8 |pages=196. 195 |language=en |quote=But Reddis, Kammas, and Telaga Naidu are equal in social rank. They are originally agricultural castes. |author-link=Shyam Singh Shashi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w-swV3uZxMoC&q=Naidu+Telaga+ |title=Madras Christian College Magazine |date=1910 |publisher=[[Madras Christian College]] |volume=27 |pages=461 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Simhadri-1979">{{Cite book |last=Simhadri |first=Y. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ld61AAAAIAAJ&q=Telaga+naidu |title=The Ex-criminal Tribes of India |date=1979 |publisher=National |language=en |author-link=Y. C. Simhadri}}</ref><ref name=CoI>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BhBFAQAAMAAJ&dq=Telaga+army&pg=PA240 |title=Census of India, 1891 |date=1893 |publisher= |volume=13 |pages=240 |language=en |last1=Census Commissioner |first1=India |last2=Baines |first2=Jervoise Athelstane }}</ref>|name=title}} The [[Balija]] and [[Kapu (caste)#Ontari|Ontari]] communities are closely related to the Telagas.{{Refn|<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name="Sarma-1946" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Naidu |first=D. Suran |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/sim_indian-political-science-review_1980-07_14_2/page/250/mode/2up?q=Kapu+Telaga+Balija |title=The Indian Political Science Review |date=July 1980 |publisher= |editor-last=Singh |editor-first=Harnam |volume=XIV |pages=250–251 |language=English |chapter=Andhra Pradesh: A Repeat Performance of the 1977 Election? |issue=2}}</ref><ref name=":1" />{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=77|loc=Chapter 2}}}}
In the erstwhile districts of East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, and Visakhapatnam, the Telagas have long identified as Kapus, while in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, they are still known as Telagas to differentiate them from the unrelated caste of [[Turpu Kapu|Turpu Kapus]] who are also present in the same districts.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=లింగం వీరభద్రయ్య చౌదరి |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.386350/page/469/mode/2up |title=స్వవిషయం రెండవ భాగం |date=1974 |publisher=Triveni Publishers |pages=469, 649–650 |language=te}}</ref>{{Refn|name=PK}}
== History ==
=== Origins ===
Historians like Etukuru Balaramamurthy and Chintamani Lakshmanna note that Telagas are the descendants of [[Telugu Chodas|Telugu Choda]] dynasties like [[Velanati Chodas|Durjayas of Velanadu]] (1076–1216 CE) who ruled Coastal Andhra. These Telugu Chodas later came to be called Telagas over a period of time.<ref name="TC22" />
Various sources mention Telaga as a historically military caste known for their honour and valour.{{Refn|<ref name=Baines>{{Cite book |last=Baines |first=Athelstane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5d0hEAAAQBAJ&dq=Telaga+army&pg=PA54 |title=Ethnography (Castes and Tribes): With a List of the More Important Works on Indian Ethnography by W. Siegling |date=2021-03-22 |publisher=[[De Gruyter]] |isbn=978-3-11-238388-9 |pages=54 |language=en |quote=The Telaga were once a military caste, and were till recently recruited for the native regiments of the British army, but now they are cultivators of a moderately high position, and only differ from their neighbours in being somewhat more fully Brahmanised.}}</ref><ref name=CoI61/><ref name=Brand>{{Cite book |last=Brand |first=Coenraad M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P5gzTp13AXQC&dq=Telagas&pg=PA110 |title=State and Society: A Reader in Comparative Political Sociology |date=1973 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-02490-8 |pages=110 |language=en |quote=... local warrior castes such as Rajus, Kammas, Velamas, Kapus, and Telagas dominated military occupations.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Price |first=Pamela |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v8UeAgAAQBAJ&dq=Telagas+warrior&pg=PA34 |title=Religion and Public Culture: Encounters and Identities in Modern South India |date=2013-11-19 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-81801-1 |editor-last=Yandell |editor-first=Keith E. |editor-link=Keith Yandell |pages=34 |language=en |editor-last2=Paul |editor-first2=John J.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Rao |first1=Velcheru Narayana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X0RuAAAAMAAJ&q=Telagas |title=Textures of Time: Writing History in South India 1600-1800 |last2=Shulman |first2=David Dean |last3=Subrahmanyam |first3=Sanjay |date=2003 |publisher=[[Other Press]] |isbn=978-1-59051-044-5 |pages=8, 30, 83 |language=en |author-link=Velcheru Narayana Rao |author-link2=David Dean Shulman |author-link3=Sanjay Subrahmanyam}}</ref><ref name=Roghair>{{Cite book |last=Roghair |first=Gene Henry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4YoOAAAAYAAJ&q=Telaga+warriors |title=The Epic of Palnāḍu: A Study and Translation of Palnāṭi Vīrula Katha, a Telugu Oral Tradition from Andhra Pradesh, India |date=1982 |publisher=[[Clarendon Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-815456-3 |pages=375 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Park |first=Richard Leonard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mdu1AAAAIAAJ&q=Telagas+warrior |title=Region and Nation in India |date=1985 |publisher=Oxford & IBH Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-204-0002-3 |pages=72 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Fox>{{Cite book |last=Fox |first=Richard Gabriel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CAXULggU0QMC&q=Telaga |title=Realm and Region in Traditional India |date=1977 |publisher=Duke University, Program in Comparative Studies on Southern Asia |isbn=978-0-916994-12-9 |pages=121 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XQ5uAAAAMAAJ&q=Telagas+warrior |title=Indo-British Review |date=1984 |publisher=Indo-British Historical Society |volume=11 |pages=22 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bawa |first=Vasant K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i1HRAAAAMAAJ&q=Telagas+warriors |title=Aspects of Deccan History: Report of a Seminar |date=1975 |publisher=Institute of Asian Studies |pages=101 |language=en}}</ref>|name=wm}}<ref name=":24" /> They were also known as Nayakas and later Naidus. Telaga [[Surname|surnames]] (''intiperlu'' in Telugu) include names of weapons apart from village names. Surnames like Tupakula ([[musket]]), Eetela ([[spear]]), Bakula ([[dagger]]), Soorakattula ([[knife]]), Katari ([[Katar (dagger)|katar]]) are found among them.<ref name=":24">{{Cite book |last=Prasada Bhoopaludu |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.497181/page/1381/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97%E0%B0%BE |title=Andhra Vignanamu |date=1939 |publisher=The Razan Electric Press |volume=3 |pages=1381–1383 |language=te}}</ref> Telagas and Kapus of former Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts are referred to as Pedda Kapu when comparing them with [[Turpu Kapu]].{{Refn|{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=67|loc=Chapter 2|ps=<br/>The Kapus are found all over Andhra Pradesh and they are sub-divided into the Turpu Kapus and Telagas. The Kapus of the East and West Godavari call themselves Telagas or Pedda (Big) Kapus and claim to be superior to the Turpu (East) Kapus. The Turpu Kapus are those belonging to the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.}}<ref name=YSS/><ref name="Lakshmanna-1973">{{Cite book |last=Lakshmanna |first=Chintamani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KyRDAQAAIAAJ&q=Telaga+Naidu |title=Caste Dynamics in Village India |date=1973 |publisher=Nachiketa Publications |pages=26, 137 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=SSS /><ref name="Simhadri-1979" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=M. Prasada |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MTbtAAAAMAAJ&q=Telaga+Naidu |title=Rural Non-farm Growth: Sign of Farm Success Or Failure? |date=2006 |publisher=Serials Publications |isbn=978-81-8387-009-2 |pages=215 |language=en}}</ref>|name=PK}}
=== Medieval period ===
An inscription dating to 1205 [[Common Era|CE]] (1127 [[Shaka era|Saka year]]) mentions ''Teliki Kapulu'', which K. Iswara Dutt interprets as referring to Telagas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kunduri Iswara Dutt |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.377167/page/131/mode/2up?view=theater&q=Telaga |title=Inscriptional Glossary Of Andhra Pradesh |date=1967 |publisher=Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi |pages=131}}</ref>
During the medieval era, many [[Nayak (title)|Nayakas]] belonged to Telaga community along with Velamas and Balijas.<ref>{{Cite book |author=R. Narasimha Rao |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JemvjwEACAAJ |title=Corporate Life in Medieval Andhradesa |publisher=[[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] |year=1967 |page=108}}</ref><ref>P. S. Kanaka Durga (1989). ''Role of Nayakas in Medieval Andhra 1000-1259''. AP History Congress. p. 44.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D. N. Yogeeswarappa |date=28 March 2014 |title=The Study of Nayakatana in the Vijayanagara Empire with Special Reference to Tuluva Dynasty |url=http://sscwtumkur.org/sscwcms/uploads/activities/permanent/2018/12/13/7_1544721945_nayakatana.pdf |page=25}}</ref> In the late medieval era, Telagas led the right-hand caste faction in [[Machilipatnam]] and other places of Andhra. The right-hand caste faction included [[Komati (caste)|Komatis]] and various other castes.<ref name=":222">{{cite book |last=Price |first=Pamela G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x3GuKnZTGG4C&pg=PA34 |title=Religion and Public Culture: Encounters and Identities in Modern South India |publisher=Curzon Press |year=2000 |isbn=9780700711017 |editor1=John Jeya Paul |location=Richmond, Surrey |pages=34 |chapter= |editor2=Keith E. Yandell}}</ref> At the end of the eighteenth century, Telagas, along with [[Niyogi|Niyogi Brahmins]], were the leaders of the Maha-nad, a multi-caste secret assembly that was created to exact retribution for breaking the rules and rights of castes.<ref name=":222" />
There existed Nayak (Telaga) [[Regiment|regiments]] in the Vijayanagara Empire and they later joined the British army after the fall of Vijayanagara.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Holck |first=Frederick H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VMAoAAAAYAAJ&q=Nayak+(+Telaga+) |title=Death and Eastern Thought: Understanding Death in Eastern Religions and Philosophies |date=1974 |publisher=[[Abingdon Press]] |isbn=978-0-687-10341-6 |pages=20 |language=en}}</ref> Telagas of [[Bobbili]] served as commanders and generals in armies.{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=78}} They formed a major part of the [[Bobbili Estate|Bobbili]] army along with Velamas in the famous [[Battle of Bobbili]] in 1757.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Katten |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BHdHAQAAMAAJ |title=Category Creation and the Colonial Setting: Identity Formation in Nineteenth Century Telugu-speaking India |date=1997 |publisher=[[University of California, Berkeley]] |pages=144 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.386141/page/n31/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81 |title=Bobbili Yuddhakatha |date=1956 |publisher=Government Oriental Manuscripts Library |editor-last=Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma |editor-first= |editor-link=Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma |language=te}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=A. Vijaya Kumari |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-ffeWmj2JUC&pg=PA13 |title=Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh |last2=Sepuri Bhaskar |date=1998 |publisher=M.D. Publications |isbn=978-81-7533-072-6 |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref> Telagas in British army held ranks such as [[Major (rank)|Major]], [[Naik (military rank)|Naik]], [[Subedar]], [[Jemadar]], [[Havildar]] etc.<ref name=":24" /> When the British reduced their recruitment in the army, Telagas concentrated on agriculture.<ref name="Baines" />
First edition of [[Charles Philip Brown]]'s ''Telugu-English Dictionary'' (1852) mentioned Telaga caste as equivalent to [[Kapu (caste)#Kapu|Mahanati Kapu]] (మహనాటి కాపు).<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Charles Philip |url=https://archive.org/details/brown-a-dictionary-telugu-and-english-1852-copy-b/page/441/mode/2up?q=Telaga |title=A Dictionary, Telugu and English: Explaining the Colloquial Style Used in Business and the Poetical Dialect, with Explanations in English and in Telugu |date=1852 |publisher=[[Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge]] |edition=1st |pages=442 |author-link=Charles Philip Brown}}</ref> Brown also notes that Mahanati Kapus were leaguesmen and members of the Mahanadu community.<ref name=":72">{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Charles Philip |url=https://archive.org/details/brown-a-dictionary-telugu-and-english-1852-copy-b/page/215/mode/2up |title=A Dictionary, Telugu and English: Explaining the Colloquial Style Used in Business and the Poetical Dialect, with Explanations in English and in Telugu |date=1852 |publisher=[[Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge]] |edition=1st |pages=215 |author-link=Charles Philip Brown}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Charles Philip |author-link=Charles Philip Brown |date=1903 |title=A Telugu-English Dictionary |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/brown_query.py?qs=%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%AA%E0%B1%81&searchhws=yes |website= |publisher=[[Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge]] |pages=271 |via=[[Digital South Asia Library]] |edition=2nd}}</ref>
H. A. Stuart wrote in 1891, "The Telagas are a Telugu caste of cultivators, who were formerly soldiers in the armies of the Hindu sovereigns of Telingana.{{refn|group=note|Until the late medieval era, the terms 'Telingana' and 'Andhra' both referred to all of the Telugu-speaking lands. While Andhra was an ancient name, Telingana was first used in the 14th century to refer to the land inhabited by Telugus.}} This may perhaps account for the name, for it is easy to see that the Telugu soldiers might come to be regarded as the Telugus or Telagas ''par excellence''".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kumari |first=A. Vijaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-ffeWmj2JUC&dq=H.+A.+Stuart+Telaga&pg=PA7 |title=Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh |date=1998 |publisher=M. D. Publications |isbn=978-81-7533-072-6 |pages=7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sōmaśēkharaśarma |first=Mallampalli |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=diYLAQAAIAAJ&q=Telagas |title=History of the Reddi Kingdoms (circa. 1325 A.D. to Circa 1448 A.D.) |date=1948 |publisher=[[Andhra University]] |pages=241 |language=en}}</ref> During the colonial era, they were noted to be highly Brahmanised and of a high social position.<ref name="Frykenberg22">{{Cite journal |last=Frykenberg |first=Robert Eric |date=1965 |title=Elite Groups in a South Indian District: 1788-1858 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2050565 |journal=[[The Journal of Asian Studies]] |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=274 |doi=10.2307/2050565 |issn=0021-9118 |jstor=2050565 |s2cid=153984852}}</ref><ref name=":022">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DoMzAQAAMAAJ&q=Telaga+Naidu |title=Lutheran Woman's Work |date=1922 |publisher=Lutheran Publication Society |volume=15 |pages=322 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":122">{{Cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Jogendra Nath |url=http://archive.org/details/hinducastesands00bhatgoog |title=Hindu Castes and Sects |date=1896 |publisher=Thacker, Spink and Co. |pages=286 |author-link=Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=77}}
=== 20th century ===
The early 20th century witnessed caste consciousness in various social groups of Andhra.<ref>Reddy, G. Samba Siva. “Dethroning Dominance: Caste Associations in Colonial Andhra, 1901-1947.” ''Proceedings of the Indian History Congress'', vol. 72, 2011, pp. 769–80. ''JSTOR'', {{JSTOR|44146769}}. Accessed 28 Apr. 2023.</ref> A Telaga Mahajana Sabha happened at [[Railway Koduru]] in Kadapa district in September 1920.<ref name="DD">{{Cite journal |last=Reddy |first=G. Samba Siva |date=2011 |title=Dethroning Dominance: Caste Associations in Colonial Andhra, 1901-1947 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44146769 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=72 |page=771 |issn=2249-1937 |jstor=44146769 |quote=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.}}</ref> The first Telaga Mahasabha ({{Translation|Telaga Grand Assembly}}) was held on 7 October 1923 in [[Machilipatnam]] and declared 'we are Telagas, we are Kapus'.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBNDAAAAYAAJ&q=telaga+mahasabha+bandar |title=Proceedings - Indian History Congress |date=2006 |publisher=[[Indian History Congress]] |volume=65 |pages=449 |language=en}}</ref> The second Krishna district Telaga Mahajana Sabha was held in February 1925 in [[Pulla, Eluru district|Pūlla]] under the presidentship of the Zamindar of Vallur, Bommadevara Naganna Naidu.<ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/ANDHRAPATRIKA06021925 |title=కృష్ణాజిల్లా ద్వితీయ తెలగ మహాజన సభ - పూళ్ల |date=6 February 1925 |publisher=[[Andhra Patrika]] |volume=11 |page=16 |language=te |issue=260}}</ref>
In 1936, [[Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu]], a leading advocate and Telaga leader was appointed as the [[List of colonial governors and presidents of Madras Presidency|Governor of Madras Presidency]], one of the only two Indians in history to have held the post.<ref name="MM22">{{Cite magazine |last=Randor Guy |author-link=Randor Guy |date=1-15 July 2009 |title=Justice Party policies owed much to him |url=https://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2019%20No%206/justice_party_owed_him_that_much.html |website=[[Madras Musings]] |volume=XIX |access-date=2023-05-03}}</ref><ref name="SB22">{{Cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Sabyasachi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XIR5AAAAIAAJ&q=Kurma+Venkata+Reddy |title=Development of Modern Indian Thought and the Social Sciences |date=2007 |publisher=[[Centre for Studies in Civilizations]] |isbn=978-0-19-568967-9 |pages=211 |language=en}}</ref> In 1937, he was elected as the [[Chief minister (India)|Chief Minister]] of the [[Madras Presidency]], which included the present-day states of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] along with parts of [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]].<ref name="SB22" />
Meraka Veedhi in [[Rajahmundry]], Padamati Veedhi in [[Eluru]], [[Srikakulam]], and [[Bangalore]] were the localities of some historically prominent Telaga clans.<ref name=":24" /><ref name=":4" />
== Geographical distribution ==
Telagas are found in [[Coastal Andhra]] region in the erstwhile districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, and Prakasam.<ref name="D&D">{{Cite book |last1=Grover |first1=Verinder |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gzpuAAAAMAAJ&q=Kapus |title=Encyclopaedia of India and Her States: Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa |last2=Arora |first2=Ranjana |date=1996 |publisher=Deep & Deep |isbn=978-81-7100-730-1 |pages=129 |language=en |quote=The Kapus constitute a separate caste in the Coastal districts of West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam. The Kapus of Coastal regions are politically dynamic. They proudly declare themselves as Telagas.}}</ref> Telagas in most districts (except Srikakulam and Vizianagaram) are referred to as Kapus in general usage.<ref name="DD" /><ref name="D&D" /> In Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, they are primarily referred to as Telagas to distinguish them from the more numerous [[Turpu Kapu|Turpu Kapus]] who are a distinct caste.<ref name="D&D" />
Small communities of Telaga-Kapu also exist in [[Odisha|Orissa]] and [[Kharagpur]], [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Senapati |first1=Nilamani |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JDNuAAAAMAAJ&q=Orissa+District+Gazetteers+Telaga |title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Ganjam |last2=Sahu |first2=Nabin Kumar |date=1966 |publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government Press |pages=247 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iv5s-qwMw30C&q=Orissa+kapu |title=People of India: Andhra Pradesh |date=1992 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-7671-006-0 |pages=821 |language=en}}</ref> In the 19th and early 20th century, Telagas were among the Telugu migrants to [[Myanmar|Burma]], [[Malaysia]], [[Mauritius]] and [[Fiji]].<ref name="Oonk-20072">{{Cite book |last=Oonk |first=Gijsbert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BkwsMTyShi8C&dq=telugu+diaspora+kapu&pg=PA111 |title=Global Indian Diasporas: Exploring Trajectories of Migration and Theory |date=2007 |publisher=[[Amsterdam University Press]] |isbn=978-90-5356-035-8 |pages=95, 111 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Mandali Buddha Prasad |author-link=Mandali Buddha Prasad |title=మారిషస్‌లో తెలుగు తేజం |url=https://te.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%B0%AE%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%B7%E0%B0%B8%E0%B1%8D%E2%80%8C%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%8B_%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%97%E0%B1%81_%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%87%E0%B0%9C%E0%B0%82/%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%83%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%80%E0%B0%AF_%E0%B0%AA%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%AA%E0%B0%82%E0%B0%9A_%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%97%E0%B1%81_%E0%B0%AE%E0%B0%B9%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B8%E0%B0%AD%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81 |website= |publisher=విదేశాంధ్ర సేవాకేంద్ర |page=66 |language=te}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=South Indian Immigrants from India |url=https://sangamfiji.com.fj/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/List.pdf |access-date=13 August 2023 |website=Sangam Fiji}}</ref> Telagas were said to form the largest caste among the Telugu people of Mauritius.<ref name=":02" /> In recent decades, Telagas have migrated to the [[Anglophone]] countries like [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Chakravorty |first1=Sanjoy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQ81DQAAQBAJ |title=The Other One Percent: Indians in America |last2=Kapur |first2=Devesh |last3=Singh |first3=Nirvikar |date=2017 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-064874-9 |pages=68 |language=en |quote=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. |author-link2=Devesh Kapur}}</ref><ref name="Oonk-20072" />
Telaga, a sub-caste of Kapu, has no relation to the [[Mudiraju|Mudiraj]] and [[Teli]] castes who are sometimes referred to as Telaga.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a4wXAQAAMAAJ |title=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1989 |publisher=Sameeksha Trust |pages=66 |language=en}}</ref>
== Telaga zamindaris ==
''[[Andhra Vignanamu]]'' (1939) mentions [[Eluru]], [[Ganapavaram, Eluru district|Ganapavaram]] and [[Akividu]] in former West Godavari district as places ruled by Telagas. They were called ''Telaga-prabhuvula-seemalu'' ({{Translation|Territories of Telaga Lords}}).<ref name=":232">{{Cite book |last=Prasada Bhoopaludu |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.497181/page/1380/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97%E0%B0%BE |title=Andhra Vignanamu |date=1939 |publisher=The Razan Electric Press |volume=3 |page=1380 |language=te}}</ref>
In pre-independent India, Telaga-Kapu also owned various [[Zamindar|zamindari]] estates in Coastal Andhra. [[Kumar Suresh Singh|K. S. Singh]] noted, "In East and West Godavari districts, quite a few Telaga zamindari families exist, with extensive landholdings. Some of them were bestowed with [[Dewan Bahadur|Diwan Bahadur]] and [[Rao Bahadur]] titles."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jA4uRbWoGfUC&q=telaga+zamindar |title=People of India: Andhra Pradesh |date=1992 |publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] |isbn=978-81-7671-006-0 |pages=1817 |language=en |quote=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. |author-link=Kumar Suresh Singh}}</ref> One of the wealthiest zamindaris in former Krishna district was the Vallur Estate of Bommadevara family.<ref name=":322">{{Cite book |last= |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.109923 |title=Kistna District Manual |pages=339–341}}</ref><ref name=":1122">{{Cite book |last=Bhattacharya |first=Jogendra Nath |url=https://archive.org/details/hinducastesands00bhatgoog/page/286/mode/2up |title=Hindu Castes and Sects |date=1896 |publisher=Thacker, Spink and Co. |pages=286 |author-link=Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Venkataswami |first=Maidara Nagaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMoDAAAAMAAJ&q=kapu |title=Life of M. Nagloo (Maidara Nagaya) |date=1929 |publisher=Solden & Company |pages=11 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Janapati Pattabhirama Sastry |url=https://archive.org/details/abhinavasaraswathi19240401/page/n17/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%AC%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%9C+%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97 |title=Abhinava Saraswathi |date=April 1924 |volume=16 |page=17 |language=Telugu |issue=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dr. Tumati Donappa |url=https://archive.org/details/andrasamstanamul025984mbp/page/384/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%82%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%81 |title=ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము |date=1969 |publisher=[[Andhra University]] |pages=385 |trans-title=Andhra Samsthanamulu - Sahithya Poshanamu}}</ref> Further, Gopisetti Narayanaswami Naidu, a Telaga, was the [[Receivership|receiver]] of [[Nidadavolu]] Estate.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=33srAQAAMAAJ&q=Gopisetti+Telaga |title=The Madras Law Times: Law Notes and Notes of Cases of the Madras High Court and of the English Law Courts |date=1916 |publisher=Madras Law Times Office |volume=20 |pages=37 |language=en |quote=.... granted by Gopisetti Narayanaswami Nayudu garu, son of Narasimhulu Nayudu garu, Telaga, residing at .....}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZsrAQAAMAAJ&q=Nidadavole+Gopisetti |title=The Madras Weekly Notes |date=1916 |publisher=N. R. K. Tatachariar |series=Part 2 |pages=240 |language=en}}</ref>
Some of the Telaga zamindaris (samsthanams) include:
* Vallur, [[Krishna district]]<ref name=":1122" /><ref name=":5" />
* [[Dharmavaram, East Godavari district|Dharmavaram]], West Godavari district<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vadivelu |first=A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PeeRRf0EhnIC&q=telaga+zamindar |title=The Ruling Chiefs, Nobles & Zamindars of India |date=1915 |publisher=G.C. Loganadham |pages=671 |language=en |quote=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.}}</ref>
* [[Pulla, Eluru district|Pūlla]], West Godavari district<ref>Sriram Veerabrahmam (1918). నానారాజన్య-విఖ్యాతజన చరిత్రము [''Nanarajanya-Vikhyata Jana Charitramu'']. Vani Press. p.&nbsp;8. "రావు సాహెబ్ కళ్లి చిట్టిఅబ్బాయినాయుడు గారు: పశ్చిమ గోదావరీ మండలమునగల యేలూరు తాలూకాలోని పూళ్ల గ్రామానివాసులును తెలగ సంఘ ప్రముఖులునునగు శ్రీయుత కళ్లి చిట్టి అబ్బాయినాయుడు గారు గొప్ప భూస్వాములును ధనాధికులునునై ....."</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=https://archive.org/details/ANDHRAPATRIKA22051951/page/n3/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97 |title=రావు బహదూర్ కల్లి చిట్టి అబ్బాయి నాయుడు జమీందారు జీవిత సంగ్రహము |date=1951-05-22 |publisher=[[Andhra Patrika]] |volume=38 |pages=4 |language=te |issue=50}}</ref>
* Sudhapalem, East Godavari district<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dr. Tumati Donappa |url=https://archive.org/details/andrasamstanamul025984mbp/page/594/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%97 |title=ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము |date=1969 |publisher=[[Andhra University]] |pages=595 |language=te}}</ref>
* Danthahundam, [[Srikakulam district]]<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Dr. Tumati Donappa |url=https://archive.org/details/andrasamstanamul025984mbp/page/550/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81 |title=ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము |date=1969 |publisher=[[Andhra University]] |pages=550 |language=te}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite book |last=Madhunapantula Satyanarayana Sastry |url=https://te.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%B0%86%E0%B0%82%E0%B0%A7%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B0_%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%9A%E0%B0%AF%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%A4%E0%B0%B2%E0%B1%81/%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%AA%E0%B1%81%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%A8_%E0%B0%B5%E0%B1%87%E0%B0%82%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%9F_%E0%B0%B8%E0%B1%82%E0%B0%B0%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%AF%E0%B0%AA%E0%B1%8D%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%B8%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%A6%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%AF%E0%B0%95%E0%B0%B5%E0%B0%BF |title=ఆంధ్ర రచయితలు |publisher=Addepalli and Co. |year=1950 |pages=273 |language=te |author-link=Madhunapantula Satyanarayana Sastry}}</ref>
* Koyyetipadu and Ogidi, West Godavari district<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dr. Tumati Donappa |url=https://archive.org/details/andrasamstanamul025984mbp/page/546/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97 |title=ఆంధ్ర సంస్థానములు - సాహిత్య పోషణము |date=1969 |publisher=[[Andhra University]] |pages=545–546 |language=te}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last= |url=https://archive.org/details/ANDHRAPATRIKA03051949/page/n3/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97 |title=నర్సాపురం తాలూకా తెలగ మహాసభ |date=1949-05-03 |publisher=[[Andhra Patrika]] |volume=36 |pages=4 |language=te |trans-title=Narsapuram Taluk Telaga Mahasabha |issue=32}}</ref>
== Relation to Balija ==
[[Charles Philip Brown]]'s ''Telugu-English Dictionary'' (1852) mentions Telaga-Balija (తెలగ బలిజె) as a caste name.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Charles Philip |author-link=Charles Philip Brown |date=1903 |title=A Telugu-English Dictionary |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/brown_query.py?qs=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97&searchhws=yes |website= |publisher=[[Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge]] |pages=550, 1412 |via=[[Digital South Asia Library]] |edition=2nd}}</ref> ''[[Castes and Tribes of Southern India]]'' (1909) notes Telaga as a synonym for Balija in [[Northern Circars]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Thurston |first=Edgar |title=Balija |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Castes_and_Tribes_of_Southern_India/Balija |work=Castes and Tribes of Southern India |access-date=2023-06-27 |author-link=Edgar Thurston}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2002 |title=NCBC Andhra Pradesh Bench Findings |url=http://ncbc.nic.in/Pdf/Andhra%20Pradesh/AndhraPradesh-Vol3/2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204102348/http://ncbc.nic.in/Pdf/Andhra%20Pradesh/AndhraPradesh-Vol3/2.pdf |archive-date=4 February 2013 |access-date= |page=13}}</ref> Alvin Texas Fishman wrote in a 1941 study that the main body of [[Balija|Balijas]] is called Telaga.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Fishman |first=Alvin Texas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=doM9AAAAYAAJ&q=Telaga++Vijayanagara |title=Culture Change and the Underprivileged: A Study of Madigas in South India Under Christian Guidance |date=1941 |publisher=Christian Literature Society for India |pages=138 |language=en}}</ref> ''Andhra Vignanamu'' (1939) mentions four sections among Telaga caste {{Em dash}} Telagas (or Naidus), [[Kapu (caste)#Ontari|Ontaris]] (or Doras), Balijas, and Kapus.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Prasada Bhoopaludu |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.497181/page/1381/mode/2up?q=%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%97%E0%B0%BE |title=Andhra Vignanamu |date=1939 |publisher=The Razan Electric Press |volume=3 |pages=1381–1383}}</ref> [[Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma]] (1946) noted that the Telaga community has three sections {{Em dash}} Telaga (proper), Kapu, and Ontari.<ref name="Sarma-1946">{{Cite book |last=Sarma |first=Mallampalli Somasekhara |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32066 |title=History Of The Reddi Kingdoms |date=1946 |publisher=[[Andhra University]] |pages=241 |quote=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. |author-link=Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma}}</ref> According to Etukuru Balarama Murthy, Balijas residing in one part of Telugu land are addressed as Telagas.{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=77|loc=Chapter 2}}
Various sources note the similarities between Kapu, Telaga, Balija, and Ontari communities and these terms are often used as synonyms.{{Refn|name=terms}}<ref name="JASI">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dn1CAAAAYAAJ&q=Kapu+Naidu |title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India |date=1990 |publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] |volume=39 |pages=70 |language=en |quote=The group is also known as Kapu, Naidu, Telaga in coastal districts of the state and is ethnically similar to Balija Naidus of Rayalaseema area of Andhra Pradesh.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Reddi |first1=Agarala Easwara |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vaxxeoPUuqsC&pg=PA339 |title=State Politics in India: Reflections on Andhra Pradesh |last2=Ram |first2=D. Sundar |date=1994 |publisher=M. D. Publications |isbn=978-81-85880-51-8 |pages=339 |language=en |quote=The Kapus, concentrated in Guntur, Krishna, West and East Godavari districts are listed among the forward castes. In Rayalaseema districts they are known as Balijas.}}</ref><ref name="IJAE" /><ref name=":2" /> Andhra Pradesh government's Kapu Welfare and Development Corporation refers to Kapu, Telaga, Balija, and Ontari communities collectively as Kapu.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-05-17 |title='State committed to welfare of Kapus, Balijas' |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/state-committed-to-welfare-of-kapus-balijas/article8613072.ece |access-date=2023-07-22 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== Political participation ==
[[File:KVReddyNaidu.JPG|thumb|228x228px|[[Sir]] [[Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu]] in 1940]]
During the 1920s and 1930s, the Telaga community, along with other feudal landed castes, were major supporters of the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]].<ref name="DIPP22">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FBqeVaNk1TYC&q=Telaga |title=Andhra Pradesh |date=1962 |publisher=Director of Information and Public Relations, Andhra Pradesh |volume=7 |pages=6 |language=en |quote=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.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gundemeda |first=Nagaraju |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mitQBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA79 |title=Education and Hegemony: Social Construction of Knowledge in India in the Era of Globalisation |date=2014-10-02 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-6830-3 |pages=79 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Innaiah |first=N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wUduAAAAMAAJ |title=Between Charisma and Corruption: Politics in Indian States with Special Study of Andhra Pradesh, 1890-1990 |date=1991 |publisher= |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref> Prominent Telaga-Kapu personalities like [[Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu|Raghupati Venkataratnam Naidu]] and [[Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu]] were members of the Justice Party.<ref name="VVK22">{{Cite book |last=Śivarāvu |first=Digavalli |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TSPsAAAAIAAJ&q=Telaga+Justice+Party |title=Vīrēśaliṅgaṃ-velugu nīḍalu |date=1985 |publisher=Vēmana Vikāsa Kēndram |pages=xxxi |language=te |quote=Mr. Raghupati Venkataratnam Naidu who was one of the three pillars of Brahmo in Andhra became a member of the Telaga Sangham and Justice Party in 1917, in the year of its founding.}}</ref><ref name="DIPP22" /> In the government formed after the [[1920 Madras Presidency Legislative Council election|first legislative council election]] to Madras Presidency in December 1920, Venkata Reddy Naidu was one of the three ministers in the Cabinet. In 1936, he was appointed as the [[List of colonial governors and presidents of Madras Presidency|Governor of Madras Presidency]], one of the only two Indians in history to have held the post.<ref name="MM22" /> In 1937, he was elected as the [[Chief Minister of Madras Presidency|Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency]].<ref name="MM22" />
[[Selig S. Harrison]] noted that, in the 1955 legislature of what was then [[Andhra State]], the Telagas had 16 legislators, next only to the [[Reddi|Reddis]] and [[Kamma (caste)|Kammas]]. He states that they formed a "newly active political force".<ref>{{citation |last=Harrison |first=Selig S. |title=Caste and the Andhra Communists |date=June 1956 |journal=The American Political Science Review |volume=50 |number=2 |pages=378–404 |doi=10.2307/1951675 |jstor=1951675 |s2cid=147317455 |author-link=Selig S. Harrison}}</ref> [[Rokkam Lakshmi Narasimham Dora]], a Telaga from Srikakulam district served as the second [[List of speakers of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly#Speakers of Andhra State|speaker]] of Andhra State Assembly from 1955 to 1956.{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=147|loc=Chapter 3}}<ref name="Malhotra-20042">{{Cite book |last=Malhotra |first=G. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFqbAAAAMAAJ&dq=rokkam+dora&pg=PA167 |title=Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature: Motions of Confidence and No-confidence in Lok Sabha and State Legislatures |date=2004 |publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat |isbn=978-81-200-0400-9 |pages=167 |language=en}}</ref>
In 1982, Telagas joined the other Kapu castes to form the Kapunadu movement, launched in [[Vijayawada]]. The movement held annual/biannual meetings since then.{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|loc=Chapter 5, p.&nbsp;220}} For the [[1983 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|1983 election]] for the united [[Andhra Pradesh]], the Kapus, in general, supported the newly formed [[Telugu Desam Party]]. Among the elected, the Telagas made up six legislators, compared to nine legislators belonging to other Kapu castes from the coastal districts.<ref name="Mathew198422">{{citation |last1=Srinivas |first1=G. |title=Shift in Indian Politics: 1983 Elections in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka |pages=115–116 |year=1984 |editor=George Mathew |chapter=Social Background of Telugu Desam Legislators |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zG4JuQMA-a8C&pg=PA115 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |id=GGKEY:XCJKCFX6PAJ |last2=Shatrugna |first2=M. |last3=Narayana |first3=G.}}</ref> According to scholar Balagopal, "The Munnuru Kapus, Balijas, Telagas are collectively referred to as 'Kapus'". They attempted to consolidate into a single community, but "it has remained un-consummated".<ref>{{citation |last=Balagopal |first=K. |title=Probings in the Political Economy of Agrarian Classes and Conflicts |date=1986 |at=Page 183 |publisher=Perspectives Publishers}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|loc=Chapter 5, p.&nbsp;235}}
==Status==
During the colonial era, Telagas were noted to be of a high social position.<ref name="Frykenberg22" /><ref name=":022" /><ref name=":122" /> In a 1965 study on the history of Guntur district, Robert Eric Frykenberg called Telaga, "a high caste with a tradition of military and police employment."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frykenberg |first=Robert Eric |url=https://archive.org/details/gunturdistrict170000unse/page/276/mode/2up?q=Telaga |title=Guntur District, 1788-1848: A History of Local Influence and Central Authority in South India |date=1965 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |pages=276}}</ref> He also categorized them among "elite agricultural (warrior) castes."<ref name="Frykenberg22" /> In 1976, Christopher John Baker in his work on South Indian political history called Telaga, "a respectable cultivator caste of Andhra."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baker |first=Christopher John |url=https://archive.org/details/politicsofsouthi0000bake/page/338/mode/2up?q=Telaga |title=The Politics of South India 1920–1937 |date=1976 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-20755-3 |pages=338}}</ref> In 1982, Barbara D. Miller of [[Syracuse University]] noted, "Generally the Telaga-Kapu rank fairly high in status".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Miller |first=Barbara D. |date=1982 |title=Female Labor Participation and Female Seclusion in Rural India: A Regional View |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3203116 |journal=[[Economic Development and Cultural Change]] |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=791 |doi=10.1086/452589 |issn=0013-0079 |jstor=3203116 |s2cid=154725772}}</ref>
Telagas are a community of land-owners and are one of the [[Dominant caste|dominant communities]] of Andhra Pradesh.{{refn|name=LO}}{{Refn|<ref>{{Cite book |last1=A. Papa Rao |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dn1CAAAAYAAJ |title=The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India |last2=V. S. Deep Kumar |date=1990 |publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] |volume=39 |pages=70 |language=en |quote=The Telaga is one of the numerically and socio-economically dominant castes distributed almost all over Andhra Pradesh.}}</ref><ref name=Deepa/><ref name=PoI:AP/><ref name=KVR/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kuczyński |first=Janusz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUGWAAAAIAAJ |title=Perspectives on Contemporary Youth |date=1988 |publisher=[[United Nations University]] |isbn=978-92-808-0643-4 |pages=253 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Fox/><ref name=IJAE>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PjBHAAAAYAAJ&q=Telaga+dominant+caste |title=The Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics |date=2000 |publisher=Indian Society of Agricultural Economics |volume=55 |pages=707 |language=en |quote=In Andhra Pradesh, at the state level, one might mention a few castes such as Reddy, Velama, Kamma, Raju, Kapu / Telaga / Balija castes as the dominant (cultivator) castes.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Venkateswarlu |first=Davuluri |date=1992 |title=Faulty Empirical Data |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3517743 |journal=[[Social Scientist]] |volume=20 |issue=12 |pages=67–72 |doi=10.2307/3517743 |jstor=3517743 |issn=0970-0293}}</ref>|name=DC}} In recent years, Telaga along with other related Kapu communities launched an agitation demanding quotas.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-14 |title=Kapus moving away from Mudragada, claims Ravindra |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2016-04-14/Kapus-moving-away-from-Mudragada-claims-Ravindra/221350 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=[[The Hans India]] |language=en}}</ref> However, the quota accorded to Kapus was found to be legally untenable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Menon |first=Amarnath K. |date=30 July 2019 |title=Andhra Pradesh: Jagan scraps Kapu quota, says not legally tenable |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/andhra-pradesh-jagan-scraps-kapu-quota-says-not-legally-tenable-1575238-2019-07-30 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 2018 |title=After Centre's objection to quota, government tries to allay fears of Kapus |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2018/feb/16/after-centres-objection-to-quota-government-tries-to-allay-fears-of--kapus-1774060.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> As of 2023, Telagas do not avail any caste-based quotas or reservations and are classified as a [[Forward caste]] both by the Central Government of India as well as the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh Government]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-29 |title=Andhra Pradesh high court notice to govt on Kapu reservation |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/andhra-pradesh-high-court-notice-to-govt-on-kapu-reservation/articleshow/99074978.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-05-01 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>{{refn|name=FC}}
== Notable people ==
[[File:K Ramamurthi Naidu.jpg|thumb|173x173px|Kodi Rammurthi Naidu]]
* [[Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu|Raghupati Venkataratnam Naidu]], social reformer and educationist<ref name="VVK22" />
* [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu]], first Telugu film producer, exhibitor, and film studio owner; widely regarded as the "father of [[Telugu cinema]]"<ref name=":22">Srinivas, S.V.. (2010). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241643987_Making_of_a_Peasant_IndustryTelugu_Cinema_in_the_1930s-1950s Making of a Peasant Industry: Telugu Cinema in the 1930s–1950s]. Bioscope: South Asian Screen Studies. p. 173. 10.1177/097492761000100207.</ref><ref name="VVK22" />
* [[Kanneganti Hanumanthu]], freedom fighter who spearheaded the [[Palnadu]] Rebellion<ref name="The Times of India-20162">{{Cite news |date=2016-05-22 |title=Kapu community says no to 'Chandranna' samkshema bhavan |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/kapu-community-says-no-to-chandranna-samkshema-bhavan/articleshow/52383519.cms |access-date=2023-04-08 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Devi |first=T. Sui |title=Kanneganti Hanumanthu |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/district-reopsitory-detail.htm?11298 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=[[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture, Government of India]] |language=English}}</ref>
* [[Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu]], served as both the [[Chief Minister of Madras Presidency|Chief Minister]] and [[List of colonial governors and presidents of Madras Presidency|Governor]] of [[Madras Presidency]] {{Em dash}} only person to have held both the posts. Member of the Indian delegation to the [[League of Nations]] (1928). India's Agent to the [[Union of South Africa]] (1929{{En dash}}1932)<ref name="SB22" />
* [[Kodi Rammurthy Naidu]], [[strongman]], [[Bodybuilding|bodybuilder]], and [[Wrestling|wrestler]] and an important figure in India’s [[physical culture]] history; known by the epithets "Indian [[Hercules]]" and "[[Kali Yuga|Kaliyuga]] [[Bhima]]"<ref>{{Citation |title=Kodi Rammurthy Naidu: ఛాతీపై ఏనుగును ఎక్కించుకొనేవారు. శత్రువులు చంపాలని చూసిన కోడి రామ్మూర్తి కథేంటి? |date=16 January 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QwGM_pW7MA |access-date=2023-07-03 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |language=te}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Dr. S. Shridevi |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.153999 |title=Luminaries Of Andhra Pradesh |date=1976 |publisher=Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi |pages=115–120}}</ref>
* [[Tripurana Venkata Surya Prasada Rao]], poet, translator and [[zamindar]]<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":14" />
* [[Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu]], [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] violinist, recipient of [[Padma Shri]] and [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]{{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=268–269|loc=Chapter 6}}<ref name="Kumari-199822">{{Cite book |last1=A. Vijaya Kumari |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-ffeWmj2JUC&q=kapu&pg=PA89 |title=Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh |last2=Sepuri Bhaskar |date=1998 |publisher=M.D. Publications |isbn=978-81-7533-072-6 |pages=14 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Rokkam Lakshmi Narasimham Dora]], [[List of speakers of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly#Speakers of Andhra State|2nd speaker of Andhra State Legislative Assembly]] (1955–1956){{Sfn|Kantha Rao|1999|p=147|loc=Chapter 3}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Speakers - Legislative Assembly |url=https://aplegislature.org/web/legislative-assembly/former-speakers |access-date=11 May 2023 |website=Andhra Pradesh State Legislature, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh}}</ref>
* [[Kamichetty Sri Parassourama Varaprassada Rao Naidu|Kamisetty Parasuram Naidu]], 1st [[List of speakers of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly|deputy speaker of Pondicherry Legislative Assembly]] (1963{{En dash}}1964). Speaker of Pondicherry Legislative Assembly (1985{{En dash}}1989)<ref>{{Cite book |last=More |first=J. B. Prashant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cQ1uAAAAMAAJ |title=The Telugus of Yanam and Masulipatnam: From French Rule to Integration with India |date=2007 |publisher= |language=en |author-link=J. B. Prashant More}}</ref>
==Notes==
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==References==
'''Citations'''
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'''Bibliography'''{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Kantha Rao |first=M. L. |title=A Study of the Socio-Political Mobility of the Kapu Caste in Modern Andhra |date=July 1999 |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/25437/ |publisher=University of Hyderabad |hdl=10603/25437}}
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
* {{citation |last=Parthasarathy |first=D. |title=Community and Identities: Contemporary Discourses on Culture and Politics in India |year=2001 |editor=Surinder S. Jodhka |chapter=The Ambiguity of Categories: Community and Identity in the Kapunadu Movement |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZhmJCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT104 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-81-321-1985-2 |ref={{sfnref|Parthasarathy, The Ambiguity of Categories|2001}}}}
[[Category:Telugu society]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Social groups of Andhra Pradesh]]