Home >> Information >> Castes and Tribes during early 20th Century   Among the castes first in numerical importance are the Kapus (Reddi community), who are the principal landowners of the Deccan. They constitute nearly one-fourth of the total population of the district, and consist of many sub-divisions. Of these the Pedakanti, Motati, Kodide and Pokanati Kapus are chiefly found in the taluks of Jammalamadugu, Proddatur, Pulivendla, Kadapa and Kamalapuram ; while the Velanadu and Yelama Kapus, the latter of whom are vegetarians, seem to be the commonest sub-divisions in the three eastern taluks of the district. The Kapus are good steady farmers, true sons of the soil, andvery conservative. Having no interest in life beyond the welfare of their crops, their natural obstinacy and love of contention finds an outlet in forming factions and fomenting the bitterest quarrels. Though there are factions in every village of the district, and these are by no means confined to Kapus, yet in the black cotton country where this caste largely predominates they are developed to a very high degree of animosity and are a fruitful source of crime, as they not infrequently result in regular blood feuds.   The highest Social ambition of a wealthy Kapu in Jammalamadugu taluk is to become the leader of a powerful faction. Such a man will not leave his village unaccompanied by a body of armed retainers, so that free fights occur with passable regularity. In this part of the district it is a curious custom of the Kapus, and consequently also of the lower castes who all take their cue from them, to bend the head and take off the turban with both hands as a mark of respect when presenting a petition : which appears at first sight to be very similar to the western practice of taking off the hat. It has however been suggested that the action probably signifies the sashtaangamulu, or prostration of eight members, in the performance of which the turban will not stay on the head and so is removed beforehand.   Next to the Kapus, in point of number, come the Boyas, but they are of little importance as a distinct social element and occupy but a low place in the social scale. In old days their proper occupation was that of palanquin bearers. It is also said that the poligars' forces and Haidar Ali's famous troops were largely recruited from these people. This may account in part for the tradition, preserved in many stories, that they are blood-thirsty and cruel. They are good shikaris and at the foot of the great hill ranges they trade in forestproduce and are said to be versed in forest lore. In the towns they live by cooly.   Balijas, though fewer in number than the Boyas, have a larger stake in the district. In Rayachoti taluk many of them are landowners. In the rest of the district they are mainly occupied in trade. Many of them are Lingayats.   Next come the Gollas who slightly outnumber both the Malas and the Madigas. The Gollas are herdsmen, and, perhaps from their being accustomed to handle cattle, the pujaris who perform animal sacrifices are generally of this caste. They are also largely employed as agricultural labourers. The Malas and Madigas are the lowest in the social scale, and, like the Paraiyans of the Tamil country, occupy separate hamlets apart from the rest of the village community. The Malas' principal occupation is weaving. The Madigas are the leather workers and coolies of the community. In the black cotton country there is a marked antagonism between these two classes, of which the longstanding bitterness is illustrated, if not sufficiently explained, by the currency of various mythological stories which present either Mala or Madiga in a very discreditable light. For example, in one of these stories a Mala is represented as having fled from a Social Madiga, leaving his sword and turban behind. Their enmity Life, is kept alive at the present day by disputes regarding the division of the flesh of dead cattle. The rights of the Malas and Madigas in this respect are immemorial, the Madigas taking the skin and one share of the flesh, and the Malas taking two shares of the flesh. It appears that in some villages the owners of the dead beasts claim to sell the skin, and the Madiga to make up for his loss tries to appropriate part of the Malas' perquisites. Strife having once arisen, the spark is speedily fanned into a flame by taunting references to the old stories, and the great opportunity comes at the annual Peddamma festival, when the Madigas perform the "Chindhu dance", wearing red turbans and carrying swords when feeling runs high, in reference to the discreditable story of the Mala alluded to above : which they also sing as they dance, so as to place their meaning beyond reasonable doubt. It is interesting to note that on occasions of " Chindhu dancing " the whole village joins in supporting one side or the other. The castes who encourage the Madigas are, principally, Kamsalas, Kurubas and Boyas, while on the other hand those who agree with the Malas in objecting to the dance are the potters, barbers and washermen as well as Balijas and certain sub-divisions of the Kapu caste. So, if the dance ends in a fight, as is not infrequently the case, it involves not only the parties immediately concerned but the whole village : and the Chindhu becomes a ' shindy ' of the liveliest description.   Of other communities, the Komatis (Vysya Community) are the principal traders of the district. The trade of the big towns is chiefly in their hands.   The weaving castes, excluding the Malas who only weave coarse cotton stuffs, are represented by the Togatas, Sales and Devangas in the order of their numerical importance. Of the village artisans no special mention need be made. The only notable caste occupied in agriculture outside the Kapus and Balijas, is that of the Kammas.   The Oddes, or navvies, are fairly numerous. The toddy-drawers are Idigas. The Upparas furnish an interesting example of a caste whose occupation is gone. They used to live by making earth-salt. When the manufacture of salt became a Government monopoly, the Upparas took to agriculture, and this is their usual occupation nowadays. Next >>