Reddy

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 Reddy refers to land lords (also Head of the Village/Town) who belong to the Upper class Kshatriya caste in the Hindu Caste system of India. They are generally Telugu-speaking farming community originally from the state of Andhra Pradesh though there are considerable number of Reddys settled in the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu. The word Reddy in particular refers to the Reddy dynasty that ruled in the region around present day Vijayawada and Guntur towns for nearly a hundred years (1328-1428). The Name “Reddy” originated as the head of a village appointed by the king as a raksha bata/rashta kuta (Police) to supervise the law and order of the village. But today Reddys are dominant in every part of Andhra Pradesh and have strong political hold in Rayala seema, telengana and Andhra areas.

Lineage and history

Reddys are an offshoot of Rashtrakuta dynasty. After the decline of Rashtrakuta dynasty, the ruling clan broke off and settled in North and South India. Rashtrakutas were a Rajput clan. The settlers in the north are called Rathods/Rathores, and ruled Marwar in western Rajasthan, while the southern settlers were called Reddys.

The Reddy dynasty sprang from the defeated Kakatiya kingdom. There was another branch of Reddys at Rajahmundry. Many invading kingdoms like the Bahmani sultanate (1458), Vijayanagara empire (1516), the Qutb Shahis of Golconda, (1531, 1537, and 1579), the Mughal army of Aurangzeb in 1687, the French (1752), the Asaf jahi Nizams of Hyderabad, and finally the British (1766 & 1788) constantly ravaged the kingdom. Despite such attacks, somehow the Reddis were able to hold power in concentrated areas until the British put the final nail in the coffin.

The Reddys were known for their fortifications. Two major hill forts, one at Kondapally 20 km north west of Vijayawada and another at Kondavidu about 30 km west of Guntur bear testimony of the fort building skill of the Reddi kings. The other fort which the Reddis were partially involved in building was the Khammam fort. Reddys are found predominantly in Andhra Pradesh, but the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala also have Reddy settlers.

Reddy Kings & Reddy Dynasty (1353 - 1448 AD)

(Span over South India with capital as Addanki (initially) then Kondavidu and later Rajahmundry and main cities included Orugallu (Now Warangal), Bezawada (now Vijayawada), Devagiri (Karnataka now devageri), Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu), Rayagada (Orrisa), Ratnagiri (Maharashtra)).

The Reddys started a movement against the Muhammadan rule in A.P and succeeded in their movement. Rajahmahendravaram was ruled by Reddys approximately for 95 years(1353 - 1448 AD).

The reign of Reddy Kings:  : A revolt was raised against the Mohammedan rule lead by Mr.Prolaya Nayaka and Kapaya Nayaka. Prolaya Nayaka started his revolt from "Rekipally" but died before his revolt succeeded. From 1332 AD Kapaya Nayaka lead the revolt. In the year 1337 AD he conquered Orugallu(Warangal) fort. During the same period Prolaya Vema Reddy established Reddy Dynasty with Addanki as the capital city of his Kingdom. Later it was shifted to Kondaveedu.

Anavota Reddy (1335 - 1364 AD): Anavota Reddy became king of the Reddy dynasty and he conquered many small kingdoms including Nidadavolu(Ruled by Vengi Chalukya's), Vundi (Ruled by Suryavamsa Kshatriya's), Korukonda(Ruled by Kondanayaka's), Pithapuram(Ruled by Koppularaju's) before 1356 AD.

Anavema Reddy (1364 -1386 AD): Anavema Reddy brother of Anavota Reddy was also an able ruler. His ruled his kingdom Nirvajyapuram(Nidadavolu) as his capital city. During his rule he conquered Rajahmahendrapuram, Korukonda, Pithapuram, Kalingam and Simhachalam and annexed them into his kingdom.

Komaragiri(Kumaragiri) Reddy (1386 - 1402 AD): Komaragiri Reddy was the son of Anavota Reddy. Internal disputes raised in the kingdom before his occupation of the throne. Katayavema Reddy (Senapathi) chief of Army of Anavota Reddy and Brother-in-law of Komaragiri Reddy) and PedaKomati Vema Reddy were the root of all the internal disputes. The rulers of different parts of the kingdom announced their Independence and didn't pay their taxes. To suppress the revolt Katayavema Reddy and Anavotareddy, the second visited Rajamahendrapuram.

Harihara Rayalu, the Vijayanagara ruler, married his daughter Hariharamba to Katayavema Reddy on knowing his valor. Though internal disputes stopped for some time, it raised again in no time.

Katayavema Reddy (1395 - 1414 AD): Katayavema Reddy ruled Rajahmundry for 19 years. He fought many wars against Pedakomativema Reddy. He extended his kingdom up to Katam. He had one son, Komaragiri Reddy and two daughters, Anitally and Hariharamba.

Allada Reddy (1414 - 1423 AD): Komaragiri Reddy was only 10yrs old by the time Katayavema Reddy died(in 1414). Allada Reddy ruled the kingdom on his behalf. Unfortunately Komaragiri Reddy also died. Pedakomati Vema Reddy raised a war against the kingdom twice, but Allada Reddy defeated him both the times. Allada Reddy made a treaty with Kalingas and Vijayanagara Emperors.

Veerabhadra Reddy (1423 - 1448): Alladareddy died in the year 1423 AD and Veerabhadra Reddy became the ruler of the Reddy dynasty. Rajamahendravaram was his Kingdom. Devarayalu, the second conquered the Rajamahendravaram and Simhachalam forts. The Reddy dynasty had it's decline started due to the wars raised by the Recharla Velama's and Gajapathi's.


Role in politics

Historically Reddys dominated the politics of the south India and are the most powerful caste in wealth and are highly educated. Interestingly the sixth President of India Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and some of the chief ministers of the State of Andhra Pradesh and many Notable Reddy personalities come from Middle class and very poor families .

*Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Sixth President of India (1977-1982)

Interestingly the first chief ministers of states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu are from the reddy caste:

  • First Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh: Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1-11-1956 –10-1-1960)
  • First Chief Minister of Karnataka: Sri Kyasamballi Chengalaraya Reddy (25-10-1947 30-03-1952)
  • First Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: O P Ramaswamy Reddiyar (March 23, 1947 April 06, 1949) — Immigrant Reddys in Tamil Nadu call themselves Reddiayrs

Out of the 21 elected Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh [some are twice elected] 11 times they were from the Reddy community

  • Sri Dr. Bejawada Gopalareddy (1955 March-1956 October)
  • Sri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy (1-11-1956-10-1-1960)
  • Sri Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy (12-3-1962-28-2-1964)
  • Sri Kasu Brahmananda Reddy(29-2-1964-24-9-1971)
  • Sri Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy(6-3-1978-10-10-1980)
  • Sri Bhavanam VenkatramiReddy(24-2-1982-19-9-1982)
  • Sri Kotla VijayaBhaskar Reddy(20-9-1982-8-1-1983)
  • Sri Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy(3-12-1989-3-12-1990)
  • Sri Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy(4-12-1990-8-10-1992)
  • Sri Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy(9-10-1992-11-12-1994)
  • Sri Dr. Y. S. RajaSekhara Reddy(11-05-2004-Till Date)

Note: Dr. Y. S. RajaSekhara Reddy is born Hindu but has embraced Christianity.

Economic changes in the past four decades

Indira Gandhi's land reform policy in 1969 of putting a ceiling on personal income, private property effected the rich Reddy land lords in the state of Andhra Pradesh and most of them now live in Middle class.

Even though the population of Reddys is 4% in the state of Andhra Pradesh they occupy 40% of the state legislative assembly seats (MLA) and had played a vital role in the social and economic development of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Immigration of community

In the 2004 American Medical Association survey of Last/Middle names in USA revealed 4.02% of the practicing physicians had Reddy as there Middle or Last Name (Even though "Reddy" is the name of the Caste in the Hindu system "Reddy" is referred as Last Name (Mainly in India) and as Middle name (in North America). Read the "Reddy" Name confusion below. Most of them work in the Information Technology fields and there is significant “Reddy” community in Academia and Research at American Universities. Reddys dominate even in the immigrated south Indian communities of USA and are one of the wealthy groups in the Indian-American community.

Confusion with the"Reddy" Name in India and North America (Last Name, Middle Name)

Even though "Reddy" is the Caste name in the Hindu system "Reddy" is referred as Last Name (Mainly in India) and as Middle name (Mainly in North America). The Indian naming system does not differentiate between Last Name and Middle Name or between an appended caste name and a Family Name but the clear distinction of Last and Middle Names in North America where family name is referred as the Last Name and this often leads a confusion to some immigrated south Indian communities who have to experience a new distinction between their Last Name and Middle Name.

E.g., Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, President of India (1977-1982)

Naming convention in India: First name: Sanjiva, Middle Name: Neelam, Last Name: Reddy (or simply "N. Sanjiva Reddy")

Naming Convention in North America (USA/Canada) First name: Sanjiva, Middle Name: Reddy, Last Name: Neelam (or simply "Sanjiva R Neelam")

Notable Reddys

Politicians

See above !

Non-Politicans

See Also

References

  • Abstract from Indian Caste systems, Kingdoms, Rulers by Tom Baker, Oxford University, 1897
  • Abstract from South Indian Princely states, George Barnard, Oxford University, 1877
  • Abstracted from the History of Rajahmundry by Aacharya Betavolu Ramabrahmam
  • Adapted from History and evolution of Caste systems in India, Telugu University.
  • Abstract from Hindu caste system, Pandit Vendanta Sharma & Michel Vincent, University of Delhi, 1923
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