Chundur Massacre
Encyclopedia
Chundur Massacre is an event in the history of Andhra Pradesh
, India
. It happened in 1991, in Chundur village in Tenali
district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
. It became a Mandal (known as Tehsils in other parts of India
) headquarters following the N. T. Rama Rao
government’s restructuring of the Panchayati Raj
system in the mid-1980s. Located on the Chennai
-Tenali railway line
, 15 km from Tenali town, Chundur’s population was estimated at 5,800.
The Reddys constituted a major community, accounting for about half of the village’s population. The next biggest community was that of the Malas
, which accounted for a quarter of the village’s population. Chundur had also benefited from the century-old Krishna canal
. A look at the land distribution pattern provides important clues and insights into the emerging patterns of social tensions in the village. The total land under cultivation in Chundur was 2400 acres (9.7 km²), half of which was owned by the Reddys. The rich peasants all belonged to the Reddy community and owned a maximum of 15-20 acres. The Telaga
/Kapu caste, categorized as one of the Forward Castes, possessed around 250 acres (1 km²), and Brahmins and Vaisyas owned 100 and 65 acres (263,045.9 m²), respectively. The Dalits as a whole had 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) in their ownership.
There was a relatively high level of literacy and fairly large-scale employment among the Dalits. It was estimated that there were around 200 matriculates and 15 postgraduates among the Dalits; literacy was much higher among the Dalits than the Reddys. The railways were the major providers of employment for Dalits, and around 300 men were employed as fitters and gangmen. In addition, they were employed in the telephone department and bank
s. Employment in the public sector gave the Dalits of this village a high sense of security and confidence. The railway connection facilitated mobility for the Dalits of Chundur. This seems to have played an important role in increasing the agricultural laborers’ power to bargain for higher wages, at least during the peak agricultural seasons.
What was noticeable about the labor was the phenomenon of the gumpu contract labor system, i.e. a system in which laborers form a group and execute agricultural operations on a piece-wise basis. Thus, labor groups could be found waiting at Chundur railway station in the morning to take trains to go to places as far as Chirala
and Narasaraopet
to work in both agricultural as well as non-agricultural sectors. They returned home the same evening.
The Dalits also displayed a significant presence in the political arena. Although both the Reddys and Dalits traditionally supported the Indian National Congress
, the upper castes did not take kindly to the Dalits’ political ascendancy to higher levels of the political ladder, such as the Mandal Praja Parishad (besides Chundur, four of the MPPs had Dalit presidents), especially as a result of reservations to local bodies.
The socio-economic
specificity of Chundur rendered the Dalits relatively less dependent on the Reddys and, therefore, less vulnerable to Reddy domination and manipulation. Due to modern education, public sector
employment and easy mobility due to the railway connections, the Dalits of Chundur demonstrated a perceptible transformation in their lifestyle, a great sense of awareness of their rights and, accordingly, assertion. This obviously was not to the liking of the upper caste landowning Reddys not only of Chundur but also of the neighboring Reddy
-dominated villages.
peasantry. What initiated events was a trivial incident that occurred in a cinema hall. It may be noted that access to public places
of entertainment and refreshment in Chundur, unlike in a large number of villages in other parts of the State, was less restricted, a fact symptomatic of Dalit
awareness in Chundur.
This happened on 7 July 1991. In the following days, both the Dalit
boy and his father, who was a schoolteacher in a neighbouring village, were subjected to harassment by the Reddys as a measure of retaliation. ‘Fearing further reprisals from the upper castes, neither Ravi nor his father lodged any complaint with the police. This was resented by the Dalits who imposed a fine of Rs. 25 for submitting to the upper castes.’ This is illustrative of the fairly high level of awareness and assertion among the Dalits of Chundur, who were markedly different from those of other areas in terms of education and employment. This obviously attracted a severe response from the Reddys and their supporters in the village and even from those of neighboring villages.
The following extracts from a fact-finding report give a graphic description of ensuing developments.
The report narrates a sequence of events that clearly show that, while the Reddys of Chundur and their fellow castemen in the neighboring villages were determined to show their might, the Dalits also showed a will to retaliate. The presence of the police deterred them from a head-on collision
. The prohibitory orders were lifted on 29 July, and in two incidents that occurred on 4 and 5 August, two Dalits were attacked and injured and ‘the same night additional forces were rushed to Chundur even as prohibitory orders were reimposed in village.
The final assault on the Dalits came on the morning of 6 August. The ghastly incident was preplanned and well-executed by the upper castes with the alleged connivance of the police officials present in the village.
What followed was:
and the remaining got 1 year imprisonment.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It happened in 1991, in Chundur village in Tenali
Tenali
Tenali , is a town and a mandal in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, South India. It has a population of 149,839 . It is located 16 miles east of Guntur City. Three canals of the Krishna River flow through Tenali making it a part of the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh. One of the canals is...
district of Andhra Pradesh, India.
Background
Chundur is a large village in the district of GunturGuntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
. It became a Mandal (known as Tehsils in other parts of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) headquarters following the N. T. Rama Rao
N. T. Rama Rao
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician...
government’s restructuring of the Panchayati Raj
Panchayati Raj
The panchayat raj is a South Asian political system mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. "Panchayat" literally means assembly of five wise and respected elders chosen and accepted by the local community. Traditionally, these assemblies settled disputes between individuals and villages...
system in the mid-1980s. Located on the Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
-Tenali railway line
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
, 15 km from Tenali town, Chundur’s population was estimated at 5,800.
The Reddys constituted a major community, accounting for about half of the village’s population. The next biggest community was that of the Malas
Malas
Malas may refer to:* Malas -- the waste products of the body in Ayurveda* Mala * malas are, in Indian religions, the three bondages which limit the soul in earthly incarnation...
, which accounted for a quarter of the village’s population. Chundur had also benefited from the century-old Krishna canal
Krishna canal
Krishna canal is a junction station near Vijayawada where one of the railway lines from Guntur meets Howrah-Chennai mainline....
. A look at the land distribution pattern provides important clues and insights into the emerging patterns of social tensions in the village. The total land under cultivation in Chundur was 2400 acres (9.7 km²), half of which was owned by the Reddys. The rich peasants all belonged to the Reddy community and owned a maximum of 15-20 acres. The Telaga
Telaga
Telaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
/Kapu caste, categorized as one of the Forward Castes, possessed around 250 acres (1 km²), and Brahmins and Vaisyas owned 100 and 65 acres (263,045.9 m²), respectively. The Dalits as a whole had 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) in their ownership.
There was a relatively high level of literacy and fairly large-scale employment among the Dalits. It was estimated that there were around 200 matriculates and 15 postgraduates among the Dalits; literacy was much higher among the Dalits than the Reddys. The railways were the major providers of employment for Dalits, and around 300 men were employed as fitters and gangmen. In addition, they were employed in the telephone department and bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
s. Employment in the public sector gave the Dalits of this village a high sense of security and confidence. The railway connection facilitated mobility for the Dalits of Chundur. This seems to have played an important role in increasing the agricultural laborers’ power to bargain for higher wages, at least during the peak agricultural seasons.
What was noticeable about the labor was the phenomenon of the gumpu contract labor system, i.e. a system in which laborers form a group and execute agricultural operations on a piece-wise basis. Thus, labor groups could be found waiting at Chundur railway station in the morning to take trains to go to places as far as Chirala
Chirala
Chirala is a large town, mandal and a municipality located in Prakasam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.It has a population of 85,460 . It used to be a Taluk of Guntur District, and later became part of then formed Prakasam District. The town is situated at a distance of...
and Narasaraopet
Narasaraopet
Narasaraopet or Narasaraopeta is a town in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It had a population of 95,002 at the time of the 2001 Census. The name comes from Narasa Rao, a wealthy landlord who owned much of the surrounding areas...
to work in both agricultural as well as non-agricultural sectors. They returned home the same evening.
The Dalits also displayed a significant presence in the political arena. Although both the Reddys and Dalits traditionally supported the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, the upper castes did not take kindly to the Dalits’ political ascendancy to higher levels of the political ladder, such as the Mandal Praja Parishad (besides Chundur, four of the MPPs had Dalit presidents), especially as a result of reservations to local bodies.
The socio-economic
Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...
specificity of Chundur rendered the Dalits relatively less dependent on the Reddys and, therefore, less vulnerable to Reddy domination and manipulation. Due to modern education, public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
employment and easy mobility due to the railway connections, the Dalits of Chundur demonstrated a perceptible transformation in their lifestyle, a great sense of awareness of their rights and, accordingly, assertion. This obviously was not to the liking of the upper caste landowning Reddys not only of Chundur but also of the neighboring Reddy
Reddy
Reddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
-dominated villages.
Events
What happened on the morning of 6 August 1991 has to be seen against the accumulated frustration of the local ReddyReddy
Reddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
peasantry. What initiated events was a trivial incident that occurred in a cinema hall. It may be noted that access to public places
Public space
A public space is a social space such as a town square that is open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic level. One of the earliest examples of public spaces are commons. For example, no fees or paid tickets are required for entry, nor are the entrants...
of entertainment and refreshment in Chundur, unlike in a large number of villages in other parts of the State, was less restricted, a fact symptomatic of Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
awareness in Chundur.
-
- 'A DalitDalitDalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
youth, Ravi, studying in a postgraduate college in Nagpur, who went to a cinema theatre in Chundur ‘rested his foot on a seat in front which was occupied by an upper caste boy Kurri Srinivas Reddy. A minor altercation ensued between Ravi and Srinivas Reddy when the latter abused the DalitDalitDalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
youth in the name of his caste’. (Andhra Pradesh Civil LibertiesCivil libertiesCivil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
Committee, 1991).
- 'A Dalit
This happened on 7 July 1991. In the following days, both the Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
boy and his father, who was a schoolteacher in a neighbouring village, were subjected to harassment by the Reddys as a measure of retaliation. ‘Fearing further reprisals from the upper castes, neither Ravi nor his father lodged any complaint with the police. This was resented by the Dalits who imposed a fine of Rs. 25 for submitting to the upper castes.’ This is illustrative of the fairly high level of awareness and assertion among the Dalits of Chundur, who were markedly different from those of other areas in terms of education and employment. This obviously attracted a severe response from the Reddys and their supporters in the village and even from those of neighboring villages.
The following extracts from a fact-finding report give a graphic description of ensuing developments.
-
- ‘On July 9, Reddys and TelagaTelagaTelaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
s formed into a committee and decided to enforce a social boycott of the Dalits (MalasMalasMalas may refer to:* Malas -- the waste products of the body in Ayurveda* Mala * malas are, in Indian religions, the three bondages which limit the soul in earthly incarnation...
). The committee was again headed by the village SarpanchSarpanchA sarpanch is a democratically elected head of a village level statutory institution of local self-government called the gram panchayat in India and Pakistan. He, together with other elected Panchas , constitute the Gram Panchayat. The Sarpanch is the focal point of contact between government...
. Since then, the Dalits were not allowed to work in the fields of upper castes nor were they permitted to enter the upper caste locality. Land tenancies of the Dalits were canceled. The social boycott of the dalits led to tension and at this stage section 144 was promulgated in the village. While the upper castes engaged outside labour to work in their fields, the Dalits left to places like TenaliTenaliTenali , is a town and a mandal in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, South India. It has a population of 149,839 . It is located 16 miles east of Guntur City. Three canals of the Krishna River flow through Tenali making it a part of the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh. One of the canals is...
and PonnurPonnurPonnur is an urban town and a municipality located 28 k.m. south of Guntur City in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India.-Demographics: India census, Ponnuru had a population of 57,640. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Ponnur has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher...
in search of work. A 50 strong police picket headed by TenaliTenaliTenali , is a town and a mandal in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, South India. It has a population of 149,839 . It is located 16 miles east of Guntur City. Three canals of the Krishna River flow through Tenali making it a part of the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh. One of the canals is...
Rural Circle Inspector was posted in the village since then.’ (Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, 1991, pp.8-9)
- ‘On July 9, Reddys and Telaga
The report narrates a sequence of events that clearly show that, while the Reddys of Chundur and their fellow castemen in the neighboring villages were determined to show their might, the Dalits also showed a will to retaliate. The presence of the police deterred them from a head-on collision
Head-on collision
A head-on collision is one where the front ends of two ships, trains, planes or vehicles hit each other, as opposed to a side collision or rear-end collision.-Rail transport:...
. The prohibitory orders were lifted on 29 July, and in two incidents that occurred on 4 and 5 August, two Dalits were attacked and injured and ‘the same night additional forces were rushed to Chundur even as prohibitory orders were reimposed in village.
The final assault on the Dalits came on the morning of 6 August. The ghastly incident was preplanned and well-executed by the upper castes with the alleged connivance of the police officials present in the village.
-
- ‘One version is that a few DalitDalitDalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
youth attacked and inflicted minor injuries on some Reddys. However this was blown out of proportions by the Reddys who spread the falsity that three ReddyReddyReddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
men were hacked to death by the Dalits. The ReddyReddyReddy is a social group or caste of India, predominantly inhabiting Andhra Pradesh. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and...
men of nearby Valiveru, Manchala, Munangivaripalam and Vellaturu villages were also mobilised for an assault on Dalits. Around 11 a.m. Saibabu [the CI of police] and Vemuru Sub-Inspector Sheik Madarvali came to the Dalit quarters and asked them to flee as CRPF men from Mangalagiri might raid the village to pick them up following a complaint lodged by the Reddys. When the Dalits were hesitant to leave the village the police virtually chased them away. However all the Dalit women stayed back.’ (Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, 1991)
- ‘One version is that a few Dalit
What followed was:
-
- ‘The marauders, who came in tractors and scooters and were well armed, first caught the fleeing Dalits, beat them with iron rods and killed them with daggers and axes. They then leisurely packed some of the bodies in gunny bags and dumped them in the Tungabhadra drain and irrigation canal. Though the final tally of deaths could not be clearly ascertained immediately as most of the bodies were thrown in the canal, but at least eight Dalits are murdered in the heinous manner and many more injured in what could be described as an unparalled case of brutality.’ (Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, 1991)
Justice
The police has charged 212 people in 12 different cases related to this incident. 33 of the defendants died during the course of the trial. 56 of the remaining defendants have been convicted while the rest 123 have been acquitted. Among the convicted 21 got life sentencesLife imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
and the remaining got 1 year imprisonment.