Reddy
Encyclopedia
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 later became feudal overlords and peasant proprietors. Historically they have been the land-owning aristocracy of the villages. Their prowess as rulers and warriors is well documented in Telugu history.The Reddy dynasty
(1325 - 1448 CE) ruled coastal
and central Andhra
for over a hundred years. The origin of the social group of Reddys has been linked to the Rashtrakutas
.
Reddys regard Telugu
as their mother tongue. According to the 1921 census, they constituted 6.5% of the population of Andhra Pradesh
.
from ancient times. The word "Rathi" or "Ratti" is also found under various forms such as Reddi, Ratta, Rashtrakuta, Rahtor, Rathaur. Some linguists also surmised the word Reddy originated from the medieval term Rattodu, which is derived from Rashtrakutudu. One more theory is that the word "Rashtrakuta" is the Sanskrit version of the word "Rettakudi". Rettakudi is converted into Rettadi and later Reddy.
, it is important to understand the pre-Brahmin
era in the history of south India. The south Indian society did not subscribe to chaturvarna or the four fold varna concept. Even after the introduction of the varna concept to southern India by the arrival of Brahmin
s, caste boundaries in south India were not as marked as in north India
. In north India there existed a four-tier varna system which placed the priestly Brahmin
s on top followed by the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. This four fold system did not hold the same relevance in south Indian society. In south India, there existed only three distinguishable classes, the Brahmins, non-Brahmins and the scheduled castes and tribes. The two intermediate dvija
varnas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas did not exist.
The ruling castes of south India like Reddys and Nair
s held a status in society analogous to the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas of the north with the difference that religion did not sanctify them i.e they were not accorded the status of Kshatriyas and Vaishyas by the Brahmins in the Brahmanical varna system. The ruling south Indian clans like Reddys became the military elites and have been described as taking the caste status of Kshatriyas. Historically, land-owning castes like the Reddys have belonged to the kingly/ruling class and are analogous to the Kshatriyas of the Brahmanical society. It should be noted that in Andhra
, before the arrival of Brahmins, the hierarchical social order placed the priests below the warrior/kingly classes like Reddys, Kammas and Velamas.
After the arrival of Brahmins to southern India, the Brahmins placed themselves on top of the hierarchical social order. They viewed the ruling castes like the Reddys, Nairs and Vellalar
s as sat-Shudras meaning shudras of "true being”. Sat-shudras are also known as clean shudras, upper shudras, pure or high-caste shudras. This classification and also the four fold Brahmanical varna concept has never been accepted by the ruling castes like Reddys, Vellalars and Nairs. They challenged the authority of Brahmins who described them as shudras.
and Reddys seem to share a similar origin, from the great "Rattas" or "Rathis" or "Rashtrikas" who ruled the Deccan
from ancient times. The "Rathis" ruled over small principalities in the Deccan plateau before 200 BCE, before the Satavahana
s and Mauryas. The word "Rathi" or "Ratti" is found under various forms such as Reddi, Ratta, Rashtrakuta, Rahtor, Rathaur. They left coins in northern Andhra Pradesh
, Kurnool
district, and near Pune
. The coins are found in the levels between the megalithic and Satavahana
levels in excavations. The usage of the word Reddy specifically was first seen in the inscriptions made during the Renati
Chola period (7th century CE).
The 19th century writer Edgar Thurston
in his book, Castes and Tribes of Southern India stated that Reddys were the village chiefs and listed them under the section Kapu. The village chiefs were given the title 'Reddy'. The census carried out during the British period in the Madras Presidency listed Reddy and Kapu together. People belonging to other agrarian communities such as Telaga, Balija, Kamma, Velama and Yadava sometimes use 'Reddy' title in their names.
Chalukyas faded from the scene. After the Rashtrakutas declined, the Kalyani Chalukyas succeeded them. The Kalyani Chalukyas often appointed Raddis (Rashtrakuta soldiers) as chieftains of villages. The inscriptions of the Kalyani Chalukyas in Andhra Pradesh
mention Reddys (900 CE). A Kalyani Chalukyan inscription dated 1065 CE found in Mulug
in Medak
district of Andhra Pradesh records the procedure of how one Kadiraddi Miniraddi was formally appointed as headman of the area in the presence of other headmen and important persons (maha janam) of the neighbouring areas. The witnesses include Reddys of the villages around Mulug. The inscription mentions the name of the appointee, the authorized appointer, the important personages of the areas and surrounding villages.
Reddy chiefs. Two inscriptions found in the Zamindar
i of Munagala at Tadavayi, two miles west of Munagala - one dated 1300 CE, and the other dated 1306 CE show that the Munagala Reddy chiefs were feudatories to the Kakatiya dynasty. The inscriptions proclaim Annaya Reddy of Munagala as a chieftain of Kakatiya ruler Pratapa Rudra.
The Reddy feudatories fought against invading muslim sultans and defended the region from coming under muslim rule. Eventually, the muslim army of the Delhi Sultanate
invaded Warangal
and captured Pratapa Rudra. After the death of Pratapa Rudra in 1323 CE and the subsequent fall of the Kakatiya empire, the Reddy chiefs became independent. Prolaya Vema Reddy proclaimed independence and established the Reddy kingdom in Addanki
.
(1325 - 1448 CE) ruled coastal
and central Andhra
for over a hundred years. The Reddy chieftains who were feudatories to the Kakatiya dynasty became independent after the death of Kakatiya ruler Pratapa Rudra in 1323 CE and the subsequent fall of the Kakatiya empire. Prolaya Vema Reddy proclaimed independence and established the Reddy kingdom in Addanki
. The Reddy dynasty that first rose to power came from the Pantakula or the Panta Vamsa Reddys. Prolaya Vema Reddy was the first king of the Reddy dynasty. Prolaya Vema Reddy was part of a coalition of Telugu
rulers who overthrew the invading muslim armies and then established independent kingdoms of their own. The capital of the Reddy kingdom was Addanki
which was moved to Kondavidu and subsequently to Rajahmundry
.His reign was characterized by restoration of peace, patronage of arts and literature, and all round development. Errana, the translator of Ramayana
, lived during this period.
and central Andhra
for over a hundred years from 1325 to 1448 CE. At its maximum extent, the Reddy kingdom stretched from Simhachalam
to the north, Kanchi
to the south and Srisailam
to the west. The initial capital of the kingdom was Addanki. Later it was moved to Kondavidu and subsequently to Rajahmundry.The Reddys were known for their fortifications. Two major hill forts, one at Kondapalli
, north west of Vijayawada
and another at Kondavidu near Guntur
stand testimony to the fort building skill of the Reddys. The forts of Bellamkonda, Vinukonda and Nagarjunakonda in the Palnadu
region were also part of the Reddy kingdom. The dynasty remained in power till the middle of the 15th century and was supplanted by the Gajapatis
of Orissa
, who gained control of coastal Andhra. The Gajapatis eventually lost control of coastal Andhra after the death of Gajapati ruler Kapilendra
. The territories of the Reddy kingdom eventually came under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire
.
The post-Kakatiya period saw the emergence of the Reddy kingdom
(established in 1325 CE) and the Vijayanagara Empire
(established in 1336 CE). Initially, the rising kingdoms of Vijayanagara and the Reddy kingdom were locked up in a territorial struggle for supremacy in the coastal region of Andhra
. Later, they united and became allies against their common archrivals – the Bahmani sultans
and the Recherla Velamas of Rachakonda who had formed an alliance. This political alliance between Vijayanagara and the Reddy kingdom was cemented further by a matrimonial alliance. Harihara II
of Vijayanagara gave his daughter in marriage to Kataya Vema Reddy’s son Kataya. The Reddy rulers of Rajahmundry exercised a policy of annexation and invasion of Kalinga (modern day Orissa
). However, the suzerainty
of Kalinga rulers was to be recognized. In 1443 CE, determined to put an end to the aggressions of the Reddy kingdom, the Gajapati
ruler Kapilendra
of Kalinga formed an alliance with the Velamas and launched an attack on the Reddy kingdom of Rajahmundry
. Veerabhadra Reddy allied himself with Vijayanagara ruler Devaraya II
and defeated Kapilendra. After the death of Devaraya II in 1446 CE, he was succeeded by his son, Mallikarjuna Raya
. Overwhelmed by difficulties at home, Mallikarjuna Raya recalled the Vijayanagara forces from Rajahmundry. Veerabhadra Reddy died in 1448 CE. Seizing this opportunity, the Gajapati ruler Kapilendra sent an army under the leadership of his son Hamvira into the Reddy kingdom, took Rajahmundry and gained control of the Reddy kingdom. The Gajapatis eventually lost control of coastal Andhra after the death of Kapilendra. The territories of the Reddy kingdom eventually came under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Later, Reddys became the military chieftains of the Vijayanagara
rulers. They along with their private armies accompanied and supported the Vijayanagara army in the conquest of new territories. These chieftains were known by the title of Poligar
s. The Reddy poligars were appointed to render military services in times of war, collect revenue from the populace and pay to the royal treasury. The chieftains exercised considerable autonomy in their respective provinces. The ancestors of the legendary Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
- who led an armed rebellion against the British East India company
, were poligars. The famous Vellore Fort
was built in the 16th century by Bommi Reddi who was a chieftain of the Vijayanagara ruler Sadasiva Raya
. Reddys were historically dominant in the province of Rayalaseema
– part of modern day Andhra Pradesh
. By the end of the 16th century, during the regime of the Vijayanagara King Aliya Ramaraju, when the Vijayanagara empire was declining, several poligar chieftains from Rayalaseema declared their independence and continued to rule over their territories.
Once independent, the erstwhile chiefs of the Vijayanagara empire indulged in several internal squabbles for supremacy in their areas. This constant warring between powerful feudal warlords for fiefdoms and power manifests itself even in modern day Rayalaseema
in the form of a brutally violent phenomenon termed as “factionalism”, “factional violence” or simply “faction”. Thus the origin of factionalism in Rayalaseema can be traced to the Poligar chieftains of the medieval period.
area. They ruled as vassal
s of Golkonda
sultans. Prominent among them were Ramakrishna Reddy, Pedda Venkat Reddy and Immadi Venkat Reddy. In the 16th century, the Pangal fort situated in Mahbubnagar
district of Andhra Pradesh
was ruled by Veera Krishna Reddy. Immadi Venkat Reddy was recognized by the Golkonda sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah
as a regular provider of military forces to the Golkonda armies. The Gadwal samsthanam
situated in Mahbubnagar
was ruled by King Somasekhar Ananda Reddy also known as Raja Somanadri. The famous Gadwal
fort was built in 1710 CE by Raja Somanadri. Reddys continued to be chieftains, village policemen and tax collectors in the Telangana region, throughout the Golkonda rule.
known as the deshmukhs and part of the Nizam
's administration. The Reddy landlords styled themselves as Desais , Doras and Patel. Several Reddys were noblemen in the court of Nizam Nawab
s and held many high positions in the Nizam's administrative set up. Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy was made Kotwal
of Hyderabad in 1920 CE during the reign of the seventh Nizam Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII. Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy was the first Hindu
to be made kotwal
of Hyderabad as in the late 19th and early 20th century, during the Islamic rule of the Nizams, the powerful position of Kotwal
of Hyderabad was held only by muslims. His tenure lasted almost 14 years and he commanded great respect among the public for his outstanding police administration. He was conferred the title of Order of the British Empire (OBE)
by King George V
.
Several Reddys were at the forefront of the anti-Nizam movement. In 1941, communist leaders Raavi Narayana Reddy
and Baddam Yella Reddy
transformed the Andhra Mahasabha
into an anti-Nizam united mass militant organisation and led an armed struggle against the Nizam's regime. A. Lakshmi Narasimha Reddy and Kodanda Rami Reddy were also part of this movement.
s and tax collectors. They were also enlisted in the British army. One of most prominent figures from the community during the British period is Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
. He challenged the British and led an armed rebellion against the British East India company
in 1846. He was finally captured and hanged in 1847. His uprising was one of the earlier rebellions against the British rule in India as it was 10 years before the famous Indian Rebellion of 1857
.
/samsthanams:
, Reddys have always had a close relationship with land and agriculture. Early 20th century ethnographer Edgar Thurston
in his book, Castes and Tribes of Southern India writes -
Presently Reddys are found in various fields such as industry, commerce, and skilled professions.
, a number of former chief ministers and business leaders belong to this community. The list of chief ministers include Bezawada Gopala Reddy
, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy
, Bhavanam Venkataram Reddy
, Tanguturi Anjaiah
, Marri Chenna Reddy
, Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy
, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
and Kiran Kumar Reddy who collectively ruled the state for more than 25 years after the formation of state in 1956. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
was the sixth President 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...
, predominantly inhabiting 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...
. They are enlisted as a forward caste by the government. Traditionally, they are a high-caste community of nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
, warriors and cultivators. According to academics, they were a warrior caste in the remote past and later became feudal overlords and peasant proprietors. Historically they have been the land-owning aristocracy of the villages. Their prowess as rulers and warriors is well documented in Telugu history.The Reddy dynasty
Reddy dynasty
The Reddy kingdom was established in southern India by Prolaya Vema Reddy. The region that was ruled by the Reddy dynasty is now part of modern day coastal and central Andhra Pradesh...
(1325 - 1448 CE) ruled coastal
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
and central Andhra
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...
for over a hundred years. The origin of the social group of Reddys has been linked to the Rashtrakutas
Rashtrakuta Dynasty
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
.
Reddys regard Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
as their mother tongue. According to the 1921 census, they constituted 6.5% of the population of 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...
.
Etymology
The word Reddy derives from the great "Rathis" or "Rattis", also known as the "Rattas" or "Rashtrikas" who ruled the DeccanDeccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country. It rises a hundred meters high in the north, rising further to more than a kilometers high in the south, forming a raised triangle nested within the familiar downward-pointing triangle of...
from ancient times. The word "Rathi" or "Ratti" is also found under various forms such as Reddi, Ratta, Rashtrakuta, Rahtor, Rathaur. Some linguists also surmised the word Reddy originated from the medieval term Rattodu, which is derived from Rashtrakutudu. One more theory is that the word "Rashtrakuta" is the Sanskrit version of the word "Rettakudi". Rettakudi is converted into Rettadi and later Reddy.
Varna status
The varna designation of Reddys is a contested and complex topic. To fully comprehend the complexities and the contentiousness of varna related topics in south IndiaSouth India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
, it is important to understand the pre-Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
era in the history of south India. The south Indian society did not subscribe to chaturvarna or the four fold varna concept. Even after the introduction of the varna concept to southern India by the arrival of Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s, caste boundaries in south India were not as marked as in north India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
. In north India there existed a four-tier varna system which placed the priestly Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s on top followed by the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras. This four fold system did not hold the same relevance in south Indian society. In south India, there existed only three distinguishable classes, the Brahmins, non-Brahmins and the scheduled castes and tribes. The two intermediate dvija
Dvija
Dvija is one of the members of the first three varnas in Hindu Dharma. Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are included in Dvija.The first birth is physical. The second occurs when one uptakes fulfilling a role in society...
varnas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas did not exist.
The ruling castes of south India like Reddys and Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
s held a status in society analogous to the Kshatriyas, Vaishyas of the north with the difference that religion did not sanctify them i.e they were not accorded the status of Kshatriyas and Vaishyas by the Brahmins in the Brahmanical varna system. The ruling south Indian clans like Reddys became the military elites and have been described as taking the caste status of Kshatriyas. Historically, land-owning castes like the Reddys have belonged to the kingly/ruling class and are analogous to the Kshatriyas of the Brahmanical society. It should be noted that in Andhra
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...
, before the arrival of Brahmins, the hierarchical social order placed the priests below the warrior/kingly classes like Reddys, Kammas and Velamas.
After the arrival of Brahmins to southern India, the Brahmins placed themselves on top of the hierarchical social order. They viewed the ruling castes like the Reddys, Nairs and Vellalar
Vellalar
Vellalars were, originally, an elite caste of Tamil agricultural landlords in Tamil Nadu, Kerala states in India and in neighbouring Sri Lanka; they were the nobility, aristocracy of the ancient Tamil order and had close relations with the different royal dynasties...
s as sat-Shudras meaning shudras of "true being”. Sat-shudras are also known as clean shudras, upper shudras, pure or high-caste shudras. This classification and also the four fold Brahmanical varna concept has never been accepted by the ruling castes like Reddys, Vellalars and Nairs. They challenged the authority of Brahmins who described them as shudras.
Origin
The RashtrakutasRashtrakuta Dynasty
The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...
and Reddys seem to share a similar origin, from the great "Rattas" or "Rathis" or "Rashtrikas" who ruled the Deccan
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country. It rises a hundred meters high in the north, rising further to more than a kilometers high in the south, forming a raised triangle nested within the familiar downward-pointing triangle of...
from ancient times. The "Rathis" ruled over small principalities in the Deccan plateau before 200 BCE, before the Satavahana
Satavahana
The Sātavāhana Empire or Andhra Empire, was a royal Indian dynasty based from Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar and Prathisthan in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward...
s and Mauryas. The word "Rathi" or "Ratti" is found under various forms such as Reddi, Ratta, Rashtrakuta, Rahtor, Rathaur. They left coins in northern 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...
, Kurnool
Kurnool
Kurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
district, and near Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. The coins are found in the levels between the megalithic and Satavahana
Satavahana
The Sātavāhana Empire or Andhra Empire, was a royal Indian dynasty based from Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar and Prathisthan in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward...
levels in excavations. The usage of the word Reddy specifically was first seen in the inscriptions made during the Renati
Telugu Cholas
Many Telugu Choda kingdoms ruled over many regions including the cities on the banks of Krishna River in the period between the seventh and the thirteenth century. It is not known much about these family origins. Some of them claimed descent from the legendary Tamil Karikala Chola . Telugu Cholas...
Chola period (7th century CE).
The 19th century writer Edgar Thurston
Edgar Thurston
Edgar Thurston CIE was a British museologist and ethnographer working in colonial Southern India. In 1885 he was appointed to the Madras Government Museum, where he held the role of Superintendent...
in his book, Castes and Tribes of Southern India stated that Reddys were the village chiefs and listed them under the section Kapu. The village chiefs were given the title 'Reddy'. The census carried out during the British period in the Madras Presidency listed Reddy and Kapu together. People belonging to other agrarian communities such as Telaga, Balija, Kamma, Velama and Yadava sometimes use 'Reddy' title in their names.
Early history
The Rashtrakutas were initially the elite troops of the Chalukyas. They founded an empire after the BadamiBadami
Badami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
Chalukyas faded from the scene. After the Rashtrakutas declined, the Kalyani Chalukyas succeeded them. The Kalyani Chalukyas often appointed Raddis (Rashtrakuta soldiers) as chieftains of villages. The inscriptions of the Kalyani Chalukyas in 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...
mention Reddys (900 CE). A Kalyani Chalukyan inscription dated 1065 CE found in Mulug
Mulug, Medak
Mulug is a Mandal in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh, India.The villages in Mulug mandal includes: Achaipalle, Aliabad, Bahilampur, Banda Mailaram, Baswapur, Chilla Sagar, Damarakunta, Karkapatla, Kasireddypally, Kokkonda, Kothur, Kotyal, Lakshmakkapalle, Mamidiyal, Markook, Mulug,...
in Medak
Medak district
Medak District is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Sangareddy is the district headquarters of Medak. The district had a population of 2,670,097, of which 14.36% were urban as of 2001...
district of Andhra Pradesh records the procedure of how one Kadiraddi Miniraddi was formally appointed as headman of the area in the presence of other headmen and important persons (maha janam) of the neighbouring areas. The witnesses include Reddys of the villages around Mulug. The inscription mentions the name of the appointee, the authorized appointer, the important personages of the areas and surrounding villages.
Kakatiya period
After the decline of Kalyani Chalukyas at the beginning of the 12th century, Prola II (1110-1158 CE) declared himself independent from the Chalukyas and established the Kakatiya dynasty. Prola used the title of Reddi in his inscriptions.The first of the Reddy clans came into prominence during this period. The Reddy chiefs were appointed as generals and soldiers under the Kakatiyas. Reddys were among the feudatories of Kakatiya ruler Pratapa Rudra. During this time, the Reddys carved out feudal principalities for themselves. Prominent among them were the MunagalaMunagala
Munagala is a town and mandal in the Nalgonda district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.It is Located on National Highway 9 and there are many small villages besides this town. Even though NH9 highway passes through it, still it is under developed. The nearest big towns are Kodada and...
Reddy chiefs. Two inscriptions found in the Zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
i of Munagala at Tadavayi, two miles west of Munagala - one dated 1300 CE, and the other dated 1306 CE show that the Munagala Reddy chiefs were feudatories to the Kakatiya dynasty. The inscriptions proclaim Annaya Reddy of Munagala as a chieftain of Kakatiya ruler Pratapa Rudra.
The Reddy feudatories fought against invading muslim sultans and defended the region from coming under muslim rule. Eventually, the muslim army of the Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
invaded Warangal
Warangal
Warangal is a city and a municipal corporation in Warangal district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Warangal is located northeast of the state capital of Hyderabad and is the administrative headquarters of Warangal District. This district is a combination of three cities: Warangal,...
and captured Pratapa Rudra. After the death of Pratapa Rudra in 1323 CE and the subsequent fall of the Kakatiya empire, the Reddy chiefs became independent. Prolaya Vema Reddy proclaimed independence and established the Reddy kingdom in Addanki
Addanki
Addanki , is a town and a Mandal headquarters in Prakasam district, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.- Geography :Addanki town located at...
.
Reddy dynasty
The Reddy dynastyReddy dynasty
The Reddy kingdom was established in southern India by Prolaya Vema Reddy. The region that was ruled by the Reddy dynasty is now part of modern day coastal and central Andhra Pradesh...
(1325 - 1448 CE) ruled coastal
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
and central Andhra
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...
for over a hundred years. The Reddy chieftains who were feudatories to the Kakatiya dynasty became independent after the death of Kakatiya ruler Pratapa Rudra in 1323 CE and the subsequent fall of the Kakatiya empire. Prolaya Vema Reddy proclaimed independence and established the Reddy kingdom in Addanki
Addanki
Addanki , is a town and a Mandal headquarters in Prakasam district, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.- Geography :Addanki town located at...
. The Reddy dynasty that first rose to power came from the Pantakula or the Panta Vamsa Reddys. Prolaya Vema Reddy was the first king of the Reddy dynasty. Prolaya Vema Reddy was part of a coalition of Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
rulers who overthrew the invading muslim armies and then established independent kingdoms of their own. The capital of the Reddy kingdom was Addanki
Addanki
Addanki , is a town and a Mandal headquarters in Prakasam district, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.- Geography :Addanki town located at...
which was moved to Kondavidu and subsequently to Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
.His reign was characterized by restoration of peace, patronage of arts and literature, and all round development. Errana, the translator of Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, lived during this period.
Extent of rule
They ruled coastalCoastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
and central Andhra
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...
for over a hundred years from 1325 to 1448 CE. At its maximum extent, the Reddy kingdom stretched from Simhachalam
Simhachalam
Simhadri or Simhachalam temple is a Hindu temple located near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, South India. It is dedicated to the incarnation of Vishnu known as Narasimha...
to the north, Kanchi
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
to the south and Srisailam
Srisailam
Srisailam is a holy town and mandal, situated in Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of River Krishna, about 232 km south of Hyderabad....
to the west. The initial capital of the kingdom was Addanki. Later it was moved to Kondavidu and subsequently to Rajahmundry.The Reddys were known for their fortifications. Two major hill forts, one at Kondapalli
Kondapalli
Kondapalli is an industrial town near Vijayawada city, Andhra Pradesh, India with population of nearly 38000. It is 16 km by road from Vijayawada on National Highway 221 and on Hyderabad–Vijayawada railway line.....
, north west of Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
and another at Kondavidu near Guntur
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...
stand testimony to the fort building skill of the Reddys. The forts of Bellamkonda, Vinukonda and Nagarjunakonda in the Palnadu
Palnadu
Palnadu is the northern region of Guntur District in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Also known as Pallava Nadu, it occupies an important place in Telugu history. After the decline of the Satavahana dynasty, the Pallavas became independent in Krishna river valley. The region is known as...
region were also part of the Reddy kingdom. The dynasty remained in power till the middle of the 15th century and was supplanted by the Gajapatis
Gajapati Kingdom
The Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu dynasty that ruled over Kalinga , large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and the southern parts of Bihar from 1434-1541. Gajapati dynasty was established by Kapilendra Deva in 1434...
of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, who gained control of coastal Andhra. The Gajapatis eventually lost control of coastal Andhra after the death of Gajapati ruler Kapilendra
Kapilendradeva
Kapilendradeva or Kapilendra Routray was the emperor of Kalinga-Utkal and the founder of the Suryavansi Gajapati empire which annexed large swathes of territory in Telengana,...
. The territories of the Reddy kingdom eventually came under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
.
Vijayanagara period
Reddy dynasty
The Reddy kingdom was established in southern India by Prolaya Vema Reddy. The region that was ruled by the Reddy dynasty is now part of modern day coastal and central Andhra Pradesh...
(established in 1325 CE) and the Vijayanagara Empire
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
(established in 1336 CE). Initially, the rising kingdoms of Vijayanagara and the Reddy kingdom were locked up in a territorial struggle for supremacy in the coastal region of Andhra
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
. Later, they united and became allies against their common archrivals – the Bahmani sultans
Bahmani Sultanate
The Bahmani Sultanate was a Muslim state of the Deccan in southern India and one of the great medieval Indian kingdoms...
and the Recherla Velamas of Rachakonda who had formed an alliance. This political alliance between Vijayanagara and the Reddy kingdom was cemented further by a matrimonial alliance. Harihara II
Harihara II
Harihara II was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from the Sangama Dynasty. He patronised Kannada poet Madhura, a Jaina. An important work on Vedas was completed during his time...
of Vijayanagara gave his daughter in marriage to Kataya Vema Reddy’s son Kataya. The Reddy rulers of Rajahmundry exercised a policy of annexation and invasion of Kalinga (modern day Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
). However, the suzerainty
Suzerainty
Suzerainty occurs where a region or people is a tributary to a more powerful entity which controls its foreign affairs while allowing the tributary vassal state some limited domestic autonomy. The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a...
of Kalinga rulers was to be recognized. In 1443 CE, determined to put an end to the aggressions of the Reddy kingdom, the Gajapati
Gajapati Kingdom
The Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu dynasty that ruled over Kalinga , large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and the southern parts of Bihar from 1434-1541. Gajapati dynasty was established by Kapilendra Deva in 1434...
ruler Kapilendra
Kapilendradeva
Kapilendradeva or Kapilendra Routray was the emperor of Kalinga-Utkal and the founder of the Suryavansi Gajapati empire which annexed large swathes of territory in Telengana,...
of Kalinga formed an alliance with the Velamas and launched an attack on the Reddy kingdom of Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
. Veerabhadra Reddy allied himself with Vijayanagara ruler Devaraya II
Deva Raya II
Deva Raya II was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from the Sangama Dynasty. Perhaps the greatest of the Sangama dynasty rulers, he patronised some of the famous Kannada and Telugu poets of the time...
and defeated Kapilendra. After the death of Devaraya II in 1446 CE, he was succeeded by his son, Mallikarjuna Raya
Mallikarjuna Raya
Mallikarjuna Raya was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from the Sangama Dynasty.Mallikarjuna Raya succeeded his father Deva Raya II, who had brought prosperity throughout the Vijayanagara empire as well as a golden age for the Sangama Dynasty...
. Overwhelmed by difficulties at home, Mallikarjuna Raya recalled the Vijayanagara forces from Rajahmundry. Veerabhadra Reddy died in 1448 CE. Seizing this opportunity, the Gajapati ruler Kapilendra sent an army under the leadership of his son Hamvira into the Reddy kingdom, took Rajahmundry and gained control of the Reddy kingdom. The Gajapatis eventually lost control of coastal Andhra after the death of Kapilendra. The territories of the Reddy kingdom eventually came under the control of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Later, Reddys became the military chieftains of the Vijayanagara
Vijayanagara Empire
The Vijayanagara Empire , referred as the Kingdom of Bisnaga by the Portuguese, was an empire based in South Indian in the Deccan Plateau region. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of the Yadava lineage. The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts...
rulers. They along with their private armies accompanied and supported the Vijayanagara army in the conquest of new territories. These chieftains were known by the title of Poligar
Palaiyakkarar
Palaiyakkarar, Poligar, Polygar or Palegar or Polegar was the feudal title for a class of territorial administrative and military chiefs appointed by the Naicker rulers of South India during 16th - 18th centuries...
s. The Reddy poligars were appointed to render military services in times of war, collect revenue from the populace and pay to the royal treasury. The chieftains exercised considerable autonomy in their respective provinces. The ancestors of the legendary Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is credited to be one of the first freedom fighters in India. He led one of the first revolts in India against British occupation, 10 years earlier than the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857.-Early life:...
- who led an armed rebellion against the British East India company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, were poligars. The famous Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort
Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in Vellore city near Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Fort was at one point of time the headquarters of the Vijayanagara Empire...
was built in the 16th century by Bommi Reddi who was a chieftain of the Vijayanagara ruler Sadasiva Raya
Sadasiva Raya
Tuluva Sadasiva Raya was a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, a powerful South Indian empire based in the Deccan in 16th century India.When the Vijayannagara ruler, Achyuta Raya who was half brother of Krishnadeva Raya died in AD 1541, his son, Venkatadri, succeeded him...
. Reddys were historically dominant in the province of Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema is a geographic region in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It includes the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool. These Telugu speaking districts were part of Madras Presidency until 1953 when Telugu speaking districts of Madras presidency were carved out to form...
– part of modern day 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...
. By the end of the 16th century, during the regime of the Vijayanagara King Aliya Ramaraju, when the Vijayanagara empire was declining, several poligar chieftains from Rayalaseema declared their independence and continued to rule over their territories.
Once independent, the erstwhile chiefs of the Vijayanagara empire indulged in several internal squabbles for supremacy in their areas. This constant warring between powerful feudal warlords for fiefdoms and power manifests itself even in modern day Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema
Rayalaseema is a geographic region in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It includes the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool. These Telugu speaking districts were part of Madras Presidency until 1953 when Telugu speaking districts of Madras presidency were carved out to form...
in the form of a brutally violent phenomenon termed as “factionalism”, “factional violence” or simply “faction”. Thus the origin of factionalism in Rayalaseema can be traced to the Poligar chieftains of the medieval period.
Golkonda period
During this period, Reddys ruled several "samsthanams" (dominions) in the TelanganaTelangana
Telangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
area. They ruled as vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
s of Golkonda
Golkonda
Golkonda or Golla konda a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda , is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King...
sultans. Prominent among them were Ramakrishna Reddy, Pedda Venkat Reddy and Immadi Venkat Reddy. In the 16th century, the Pangal fort situated in Mahbubnagar
Mahbubnagar
Mahabubnagar or Mahboobnagar is the biggest town in Mahabubnagar District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The city of Mahabubnagar is located at a distance of 100 km from Hyderabad. Formerly known as, Rukmammapeta and Palamoor, it was named as Mahabubnagar on 4 December 1890, in the honour of Mir...
district of 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...
was ruled by Veera Krishna Reddy. Immadi Venkat Reddy was recognized by the Golkonda sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah
Abdullah Qutb Shah
Abdullah Qutb Shah was the seventh ruler of the kingdom of Golconda in southern India under the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ruled from 1625 to 1672....
as a regular provider of military forces to the Golkonda armies. The Gadwal samsthanam
Gadwal
Gadwal is a town, Mandal and a municipality in Mahbubnagar district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 188 km from Hyderabad, the state's capital.- Geography :Gadwal is located at...
situated in Mahbubnagar
Mahbubnagar
Mahabubnagar or Mahboobnagar is the biggest town in Mahabubnagar District of Andhra Pradesh, India. The city of Mahabubnagar is located at a distance of 100 km from Hyderabad. Formerly known as, Rukmammapeta and Palamoor, it was named as Mahabubnagar on 4 December 1890, in the honour of Mir...
was ruled by King Somasekhar Ananda Reddy also known as Raja Somanadri. The famous Gadwal
Gadwal
Gadwal is a town, Mandal and a municipality in Mahbubnagar district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 188 km from Hyderabad, the state's capital.- Geography :Gadwal is located at...
fort was built in 1710 CE by Raja Somanadri. Reddys continued to be chieftains, village policemen and tax collectors in the Telangana region, throughout the Golkonda rule.
Nizam period
Reddys were the landed gentryLanded gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
known as the deshmukhs and part of the Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
's administration. The Reddy landlords styled themselves as Desais , Doras and Patel. Several Reddys were noblemen in the court of Nizam Nawab
Nawab
A Nawab or Nawaab is an honorific title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in South Asia. It is the Muslim equivalent of the term "maharaja" that was granted to Hindu rulers....
s and held many high positions in the Nizam's administrative set up. Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy was made Kotwal
Kotwal
Kotwal was a title used in medieval India for the leader of a Kot or fort. Kotwals often controlled the fort of a major town or an area of smaller towns on behalf of another ruler. It was similar in function to a British India Zaildar From Mughal times the title was given to the local ruler of a...
of Hyderabad in 1920 CE during the reign of the seventh Nizam Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII. Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy was the first Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
to be made kotwal
Kotwal
Kotwal was a title used in medieval India for the leader of a Kot or fort. Kotwals often controlled the fort of a major town or an area of smaller towns on behalf of another ruler. It was similar in function to a British India Zaildar From Mughal times the title was given to the local ruler of a...
of Hyderabad as in the late 19th and early 20th century, during the Islamic rule of the Nizams, the powerful position of Kotwal
Kotwal
Kotwal was a title used in medieval India for the leader of a Kot or fort. Kotwals often controlled the fort of a major town or an area of smaller towns on behalf of another ruler. It was similar in function to a British India Zaildar From Mughal times the title was given to the local ruler of a...
of Hyderabad was held only by muslims. His tenure lasted almost 14 years and he commanded great respect among the public for his outstanding police administration. He was conferred the title of Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
.
Several Reddys were at the forefront of the anti-Nizam movement. In 1941, communist leaders Raavi Narayana Reddy
Raavi Narayana Reddy
Shri. Ravi Narayana Reddy, , , was a founding member of the Communist Party of India. He was a leader in the Telengana Rebellion against the rule of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII...
and Baddam Yella Reddy
Baddam Yella Reddy
Baddam Yella Reddy was an Indian communist politician from Telengana. He was one of the prominent leaders in Telengana armed struggle against the Nizam regime.-Early activism:Yella Reddy became influenced by the socialist ideas of Jawaharlal Nehru...
transformed the Andhra Mahasabha
Andhra Mahasabha
Andhra Mahasabha was a people's organisation in the erstwhile Hyderabad state of India. Started as a subsidiary of the Indian National Congress, it had later moved away from it permanently to join hands with the Communist Party of India.- History :...
into an anti-Nizam united mass militant organisation and led an armed struggle against the Nizam's regime. A. Lakshmi Narasimha Reddy and Kodanda Rami Reddy were also part of this movement.
British period
Reddys ruled many local dominions (samsthanams) until the British seized their power.The British appointed Reddys as zamindarZamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
s and tax collectors. They were also enlisted in the British army. One of most prominent figures from the community during the British period is Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is credited to be one of the first freedom fighters in India. He led one of the first revolts in India against British occupation, 10 years earlier than the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857.-Early life:...
. He challenged the British and led an armed rebellion against the British East India company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
in 1846. He was finally captured and hanged in 1847. His uprising was one of the earlier rebellions against the British rule in India as it was 10 years before the famous Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
.
Zamindaris
Some of the prominent Reddy zamindarisZamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
/samsthanams:
- MunagalaMunagalaMunagala is a town and mandal in the Nalgonda district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.It is Located on National Highway 9 and there are many small villages besides this town. Even though NH9 highway passes through it, still it is under developed. The nearest big towns are Kodada and...
– Gurlapaty clan - GadwalGadwalGadwal is a town, Mandal and a municipality in Mahbubnagar district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 188 km from Hyderabad, the state's capital.- Geography :Gadwal is located at...
– Raja Somasekhar Ananda Reddy or Somanadri - WanaparthyWanaparthiWanaparthy or Wanaparthi is a town and a nagar panchayat in Mahbubnagar district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Demographics: India census, Wanaparthy had a population of 50,262. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%...
(Originally known as Sugur) – Founded by Veera Krishna Reddy - Domakonda
- Amarchinta
- Chundi
- Vardhamanapuram - Gona clan
Modern history
As one of the prominent land-owning communities of Andhra PradeshAndhra 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...
, Reddys have always had a close relationship with land and agriculture. Early 20th century ethnographer Edgar Thurston
Edgar Thurston
Edgar Thurston CIE was a British museologist and ethnographer working in colonial Southern India. In 1885 he was appointed to the Madras Government Museum, where he held the role of Superintendent...
in his book, Castes and Tribes of Southern India writes -
Presently Reddys are found in various fields such as industry, commerce, and skilled professions.
Role in politics
Influenced by their long tradition as rulers, military chieftains and village headmen, Reddys continue to be very active in local, state and national politics. Reddy community holds the distinction of producing the most number of Chief Ministers for the state of Andhra Pradesh. Particularly in the state of Andhra PradeshAndhra 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 number of former chief ministers and business leaders belong to this community. The list of chief ministers include Bezawada Gopala Reddy
Bezawada Gopala Reddy
Bezawada Gopala Reddy was an Indian politician. He was Chief Minister of Andhra State and Governor of Uttar Pradesh .-See also:*List of Chief Ministers of Andhra PradeshMember A.I.C.C., since 1931 ; M.L.A., Madras, 1937–46 ; was...
, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the sixth President of India, serving from 1977 to 1982 and was the only person to be elected President of India unopposed....
, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy at Hyderabad, was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India from 29 February 1964 to 30 September 1971. On 3 June 1977 he was elected president of the Indian National Congress.-Early life:...
, Bhavanam Venkataram Reddy
Bhavanam Venkataram Reddy
Bhavanam Venkatrami Reddy was the chief minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh between February 1982 and September 1982. Reddy was a member of the Congress party and served as cabinet minister in various AP governments.Bhavanam was born in Muppala village in Guntur district...
, Tanguturi Anjaiah
Tanguturi Anjaiah
Tanguturi Anjaiah or Ramakrishna Reddi Talla was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, India from October 1980 to February 1982.-Career:T...
, Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Channa Reddy was an Indian politician active in several states. He was the governor of Uttar Pradesh , governor of Punjab , governor of Rajasthan from February 1992 to May 1993, and governor of Tamil Nadu from 1993 until his death. He was a leader of Indian National Congress Party...
, Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy
Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy
Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy is a member of the 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Visakhapatnam constituency of Andhra Pradesh and is a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also a Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1990 to 1992...
, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the...
and Kiran Kumar Reddy who collectively ruled the state for more than 25 years after the formation of state in 1956. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the sixth President of India, serving from 1977 to 1982 and was the only person to be elected President of India unopposed....
was the sixth President of India.