Nayakuralu Nagamma
Encyclopedia
Nayakuralu Nagamma was a renowned statesperson and minister to king Nalagama, the ruler of Palanadu in Guntur
District. She is one of the key characters along with Bramha Naidu in the epic war - Palnati Yudham
(War of Palnad) set in the medieval Andhra Pradesh
, a southern state of India
. She can be listed as one of the most powerful women in the medieval times in India and in the world.
community was strongly resented by the conservative local Reddy
community. While Bramhanaidu Velama, was the adviser of Malideva and regent of Velanati Chodas
of coastal Andhra, Nayakuralu Nagamma was a Reddy and adviser to king Nalagama.
In the war that ensued Malideva and Bramhanaidu were defeated by Nalagama and Nagamma's forces. Some of the ruling dynasties of that time: Kakatiyas, Kalyani Kalachuris, Hoysala Bhallalas took the side of Nagamma. After this war the Velanati Chodas were weakened and that led to the firm establishment of Kakatiyas, which expanded into the coastal andhra Pradesh.
That all the important kingdoms of the era sided with Nalagama and Nagamma is proof that they were considered to be on the right side. While commissioned oral epics like Palanati Viracharitra are completely one sided and did injustice to Nagamma's character, historians have done more justice to her.
Guntur
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...
District. She is one of the key characters along with Bramha Naidu in the epic war - Palnati Yudham
Palnati Yudham
Palnati Yudham is a 1947 historical based on the battle of Palnadu. This film is directed by L. V. Prasad and Gudavalli Ramabramham. The film starring Govindarajula Subba Rao, Pasupuleti Kannamba and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.-Soundtrack:...
(War of Palnad) set in the medieval Andhra Pradesh
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...
, a southern state 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...
. She can be listed as one of the most powerful women in the medieval times in India and in the world.
Supporter of Nalagama
The ruling Haihaya clan of Palanadu, Nalagama and his cousin Malideva went to war at karampudi in guntur district with competing claims over the kingdom. This war was very important in the social history of Andhra Pradesh. The southern incursion of northern velamaVelama
Velama or the Velama Doralu is a social group found mainly in Andhra Pradesh. Velamas are classed as "Upper Shudras". The history of Velama's is as old as Telugu bravery. Military exploits of Velamas form an important part of Telugu tradition, history and folklore...
community was strongly resented by the conservative local 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...
community. While Bramhanaidu Velama, was the adviser of Malideva and regent of Velanati Chodas
Velanati Chodas
Velanati Chodas were one of the Telugu Choda families who ruled over parts of the Andhra Pradesh in 12th century...
of coastal Andhra, Nayakuralu Nagamma was a Reddy and adviser to king Nalagama.
In the war that ensued Malideva and Bramhanaidu were defeated by Nalagama and Nagamma's forces. Some of the ruling dynasties of that time: Kakatiyas, Kalyani Kalachuris, Hoysala Bhallalas took the side of Nagamma. After this war the Velanati Chodas were weakened and that led to the firm establishment of Kakatiyas, which expanded into the coastal andhra Pradesh.
Subsequent villification
However the oral histories and ballads that came after the battle tried to showcase Nagamma in a bad light and Bramhanaidu and Balachandrudu as the heroes. That the vanquished managed to vilify the victor is one paradox in history that needs explanation. After getting defeated, most of the defeated Padma Velamas of the Bramhanaidu clan migrated to the Kakatiya kingdom where they found a place in the army. There they grew in stature under royal support and developed the story of Palanati Viracharitra and dessiminated it. In the end of their version, Bramha Naidu crowns Nalagama after winning the war against him, after losing his son and adopted son in the war. Palanati Charitra tries to conceal the wily strategies of Bramhanaidu with all his greed for power and shows Nagamma as a villain. Being a woman in public space in medieval conservative Andhra, she did not get any writers to support her role or contest the villification of her role.That all the important kingdoms of the era sided with Nalagama and Nagamma is proof that they were considered to be on the right side. While commissioned oral epics like Palanati Viracharitra are completely one sided and did injustice to Nagamma's character, historians have done more justice to her.