Kamma is a largely Hindu caste from South India. The community of Kammas is believed to have originated from agriculturists of the Kammanadu region of the erstwhile Guntur district and Ongole division in Andhra Pradesh. Propelled by their military activity in the Vijayanagara Empire, Kammas are believed to have spread out from the region during the Vijayanagara period, followed by some in-migration during the British period and out-migration again during the twentieth century. Today they are regarded as one of the richest groups in Andhra Pradesh and are a dominant caste from Coastal Andhra with socio-economic and political prominence throughout the Telugu-speaking regions of India.
Naidu is a Telugu title commonly used by various Telugu castes. 'Nayudu/Naidu' (నాయుడు) is a contraction of the Telugu word 'Nayakudu' (నాయకుడు) meaning leader, chief, or headman. Telugu castes such as the Kapu/Balija Kamma, Gavara, Golla, Turpu Kapu, Velama, Boya among others use this title. In Coastal Andhra, the term Naidu primarily refers to Kapu caste.
Mala is a Telugu caste from the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They are also present in smaller numbers in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. They are classified as a Scheduled Caste (SC) by the Government of India. According to 2001 census data, Malas constituted 41.6 percent of the Scheduled Castes population in the then state of Andhra Pradesh, which also included the present state of Telangana.
Telugu Brahmins are Telugu-speaking Brahmin communities native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India. Telugu Brahmins are further divided into sections like Vaidiki, Niyogi, Deshastha, Dravida, Golkonda Vyapari among others.
Madiga is a Telugu caste from southern India. They mainly live in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, with a small minority in Tamil Nadu. Madigas are historically associated with the work of tannery, leatherwork and small handicrafts. Today, most are agricultural labourers. They are categorized as a Scheduled Caste by the Government of India. Within the Madiga community, there are various sub-castes include Bindla they work mostly known to make shoes, Chindu They are nomadic performing caste, Chindus constantly travel to different villages and live with Madigas they can be identified as worshippers of Yellamma diety, Dakkali, Dakkala or Dakkali is the name of a class of mendicants who beg from Mādigas only, Mashti, a nomadic tribe with martial art skills has by and large gone unnoticed in this part of East Godavari. They are unknown to many beyond the district and deprived of any support from the authorities. They are known as ‘Mala Mashtis’, Sangaris they are known for making handicrafts and wood carving. The priestly class is known as Madiga Dasu they are associated with temple worships and have had a long history of being agricultural land owners they are also worshippers of Venkateswara or Narasimha dieties.
The Raju are a Telugu caste found mostly in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Kapu is a Hindu caste primarily found in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kapus are classified as a Forward caste, and are a community of land-owning agriculturists. Historically, they also served as military generals (Nayakas) and warriors in Hindu kingdoms such as the Vijayanagara Empire. Kapus are a dominant caste of Andhra Pradesh. They are primarily present in Coastal Andhra, with a major concentration in the Godavari-Krishna delta region. Kapus commonly use the title Naidu.
Gavara is a term used to refer to four different South Indian communities.
Telaga is a land-owning agrarian community primarily found in the Coastal Andhra region of India. Telaga is a subcaste of the Kapu community, with both terms often used interchangeably. They are classified as a Forward caste. Historically, they were a warrior caste known for their honour and bravery.
Munnuru Kapu is a Telugu-speaking caste primarily found in the Indian state of Telangana. Traditionally, they are a community of cultivators and are distributed across Telangana. They are also present in Nanded and Latur districts of Maharashtra. Munnuru Kapus are distinct from the Kapu caste of Coastal Andhra.
Settibalija refers to two distinct and completely unrelated communities in Andhra Pradesh, India. The term Setti Balija historically referred to a sub-caste of the Balija community. These Setti Balijas were a prominent mercantile community of South India with a history dating back to the Vijayanagara Empire. They are currently found in the Rayalaseema region and are classified as a Forward Caste.
Burra Katha or Burrakatha, is an oral storytelling technique in the Jangam Katha tradition, performed in villages of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The troupe consists of one main performer and two co-performers. It is a narrative entertainment that consists of prayers, solo drama, dance, songs, poems and jokes. The topic will be either a Hindu mythological story or a contemporary social issue. It became a popular art form during the Telangana Rebellion in the early 1930-1950s.
Tellapadu is a village of Doddavaram Panchayathi in Maddipadu Mandal of Prakasam District in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
Those with the last name Nanduri are said to hail from the village of Nanduru which is near Bapatla and Ponnur, small towns in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. There is a village called Nanduru in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh as well which leads to some ambiguity.
Bhatraju is an Indian caste of Telugu-speaking ballad reciters, panegyrists, and religious musicians. They are primarily found in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and also in smaller numbers in the neighbouring states. They are also known as Bhatturaju or Bhataraju or Bhatrajulu or Jathikirthulu.
Uppara, also known as Sagara, is a Hindu caste predominantly found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. They are classified as an Other Backward Class.
Turpu Kapu is an Indian caste in the state of Andhra Pradesh. They are primarily found in the erstwhile districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, with smaller numbers in other regions of the state. Traditionally, they are an agrarian caste. They are a politically prominent community in the Uttarandhra region of the state.
It is not easy to trace out the origins of the Telugu folk literature, for that matter any folk literature. It is as difficult as tracing the origin of a language. In other words, one can argue that the origin and existence of any folk literature can be a parallel phenomenon along with that language, because the folk expressive traditions of any ethnic group are much earlier than the language of that particular ethnic group. Need not say about the developed literature in written tradition. The cave paintings and line drawings found in different archeological sites prove the ability of the creative expressions of prehistoric human beings even before they were not able to speak. The addition of verbal creativity in latter periods has widened the folk expressive tradition in another medium that is verbal folk arts or the folk literature. Therefore, the existence of any folk literature can go back to the time of the given language correspondingly.
The Komati is a Telugu-speaking trading community which is a Vaishya community that is currently organised as a caste. They are primarily found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and in smaller numbers in neighbouring states. The members of the Komati caste are commonly engaged as moneylenders, businessmen, and shopkeepers. The community consists of many sects who are followers of Hinduism, namely the Gomata, the Thrivarnika, and the Kalinga, along with the Jaina Komatis who are followers of Jainism. Traditionally, most Komatis are vegetarian due to their belief in ahimsa (nonviolence).
Karanam or Karnam was an office and title native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Traditionally, Karanam was an official who maintained the accounts and records of the villages and collected the taxes. Karanam was one of the two village-level administrative posts that existed in Andhra along with 'Munasabu' (Munsiff). The Karanam kept an elaborate system of village accounts.
