Munnuru Kapu

Munnuru Kapu is a Telugu-speaking caste primarily found in the Indian state of Telangana. Traditionally, they are a community of cultivators and are distributed across Telangana. They are also present in Nanded and Latur districts of Maharashtra. Munnuru Kapus are distinct from the Kapu caste of Coastal Andhra.

Munnuru Kapus are described as an economically and politically prominent community of Telangana. In the 2018 Telangana Assembly, Munnuru Kapus are the third largest caste in unreserved seats with eight MLAs; next only to Reddy and Velama communities. Some members of the community have also ventured into industry and business, and became established businessmen like B. V. Rao, Vikram Akula, and Myadam Kishan Rao.

Etymology
Kapu means cultivator or protector in Telugu. Munnuru means three hundred. According to some writers, Telangana being a rocky area and deficient in water, has acute water scarcity. The Kapus who were water diviners (Munnuru = Mun + Neeru = water diviner) were said to have been called Munnuru Kapus.

Another version of the etymology also exists. As per some other writers, 300 kshatriya families migrated to present-day Telangana in the medieval period and they came to be called as Munnuru Kapus.

Geographical distribution
Munnuru Kapus are distributed across the state of Telangana. They are also present in Nanded and Latur districts of Maharashtra and in seven mandals of Andhra Pradesh that were transferred to it from Telangana in 2014.

History
Traditionally, they are a community of cultivators and large sections of them are still into agriculture. A few have served as village Patels (equivalent to Munasabu in Andhra), an official who maintained law and order in the village. Some have also risen to a high status as landlords and Zamindars, but the majority are ordinary cultivators.

A considerable portion of the Munnurus over the years have entered government service or become traders. Some members of the community have also ventured into industry and business, and became established businessmen like B. V. Rao, Vikram Akula, and Myadam Kishan Rao.

Notable people

 * B. V. Rao, founder of the V H Group (Venky's) and father of Indian poultry industry
 * Vikram Akula, founder of SKS Microfinance
 * Myadam Kishan Rao, founder of Bambino Agro (maker of Bambino Vermicelli)
 * P. Shiv Shankar, served as Union Minister of External Affairs, Law, Power, and Petroleum and as Governor of Sikkim and Kerala states
 * Bandi Sanjay, politician
 * Endela Lakshminarayana, BJP Former assembly floor leader, politician
 * Dharmapuri Arvind, politician
 * K. Laxman, politician
 * Korukanti Chandar, politician, BRS
 * V. Hanumantha Rao, politician, political leader from the Indian National Congress party
 * Konda Surekha, politician, political leader from the BRS party
 * Dasyam Vinay Bhasker, politician, political leader from the BRS party
 * Endela Lakshminarayana, politician, political leader from the BJP party
 * Jogu Ramanna, politician, political leader from the BJP party
 * Danthala Bharath Naidu, politician, youth political leader from the BJP
 * Vanama Venkateshwara Rao, politician, political leader from the BRS party
 * Gangula Kamalakar, politician, BRS
 * Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, politician, BRS current mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) since 11 February 2021.
 * D. Srinivas (politician), politician, Indian National Congress former President of APPCC.
 * Somarapu Satyanarayana, politician, Former RTC Chairman of Telangana
 * Ponnala Lakshmaiah, former IT Minister of Andhra Pradesh
 * Danam Nagender, politician, BRS
 * Danam Nagender, politician, BRS