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'KONDA REDDIS OF TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT'

INTRODUCTION: The contents of this page is purely on the basis of British Period Government records, Historical Books, Anthropological Books, Very old Sale deeds, Settlement Registers(1876), Re-Settlement Registers(1920), various Reports of District Collector, RDO, Tahsildars etc. In Tamil Nadu the Konda Reddis are facing so many problems from Revenue Department as well as from the Employers. Therefore, this Web site will give a clear picture about Konda Reddis Origin, Migration and Settlement. Moreover, I hope this Web Site will help the True Konda Reddis to get their legitimate constitutional rights.

ORIGIN: The Origin of Konda Reddis of Tamil Nadu is East, West Godavari District, Khamman District and Vizagapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh. According to Encyclopedia of Indian Tribes “The Konda Reddis are Princely Tribes – ruled sizable areas in Srikakulam and Godavari District. In West Godavari District the Konda Reddis who styled themselves as Racha Reddis, reigned over the territory covering the present Taluks of Kovvur, Polavaram and Chintalapudi in West Godavari District. The area in fact is called Reddi Seema after the Konda Reddi rulers.”

MIGRATION: After the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire and “Konda Veedu” many Konda Reddis fled into the nearby States Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala etc.

SETTLEMENTS: The Konda Reddis of Tirunelveli District, mostly the origin of Kovvur, Polavaram, Kondapilly (Konda Pally), Gundala, Nelli, Maddhi Veedu etc. of Andhra Pradesh. Though the Konda Reddy Tribes settled in many Villages in Tirunelveli District, their presence is very much felt in Seelathikulam, Parameswarapuram, Samugarengapuram, Chidambarapuram etc. This can be proved from the Settlement Register (1876), Re-Settlement Register (1920), Sale Deeds etc. The Konda Reddis suffixed the Origin Village name with their name. Such names are given below: 01. Kovvur Kumarasamy Reddiar 02. Nelli Konda Reddiar 03. Kovvur Subba Reddiar 04. Gundala Pedda Reddiar 05. Konda Pilli Chinnasamy Reddiar 06. Kovvur Krishnasamy Reddiar 07. Maddhi Veedu Subba Reddiar 08. Gundala Gopala Reddiar

OCCUPATION: When the Konda Reddi tribes migrated from Andhra Pradesh, first they settled in Madurai District. When the Pandya King not favoured the Tribes, they moved to southwards. At that time the Southern parts were overrun with Jungle and there was no much inhabitants, the Konda Reddis settled in Tirunelveli District. After settlement, they cleared the jungles and engaged in Agriculture and allied activities. Settled cultivation is mainly practiced by the Konda Reddis of Tirunelveli District. Due to poor rainfall, some Konda Reddis migrated to Ceylon (Srilanka) and nearby Kerala State.

LANGUAGE: The mother tongue of Konda Reddis is Telugu. But nowadays they speak Tamil also in their homes.

TITLE: The Konda Reddys used to suffix the Title or surname Reddiar, Konda Reddiar and Reddy in earlier days, but now most of them do not use the Titles or Community surnames. In the Book of Edgar Thurston – Castes and Tribes of Southern India (1909) mentioned that “the Konda Reddis call themselves by various high sounding Titles, such as Pandava Reddis, Raja Reddis and Reddis of Solar Race (Surya Vamsa) and do not like the plain name of Konda Reddi”. In the Settlement Register (1876), Re-Settlement Register and in some Old Sale deeds and Voters list the following names are found to prove the above.

01. M.Konda Reddi : Mela Veedu Peria Konda Reddi 02. T.Konda Reddi : Therkku Veedu Konda Reddi 03. T.Konda Reddi : Thamarai Konda Reddi 04. K.Konda Reddi : Keela Veedu Konda Reddi 05. M.Konda Reddi : Mulai Veedu Konda Reddi 06. T.Konda Reddi : Theyilai Konda Reddi 07. R.Konda Reddi : Ramsamy Konda Reddi 08. N.Konda Reddi : Nambi Konda Reddi 09. S.Konda Reddi : Sinna Konda Reddi 10. V.Konda Reddi : Veeravagu Konda Reddi 11. S.R.Konda Reddi : Sinna Ramasamy Konda Reddi 12. S.T.R. Konda Reddi : Seelathikulam Therkku Veedu Ramasamy Konda Reddi 13. S.V.Konda Reddi : Seelathikulam Veera Konda Reddi 14. P.Konda Reddi : Pangula Konda Reddi 15. P.S. Konda Reddi : Pothedi Subbiah Konda Reddi 16. M.Konda Reddi : Muthusamy Konda Reddi 17. A.M.Konda Reddi : Asthar Muthusamy Konda Reddi 18. S.N.Konda Reddi : Seelathikulam Nambi Konda Reddi 19. N.Konda Reddi : Nelli Konda Reddi 20. M.Konda Redi : Machavar Konda Reddi 21. L.Konda Reddi : Lakshmana Konda Reddi 22. S.R.Konda Reddi : Seelathikulam Ramsamy Konda Reddi 23. M.R.Konda Reddi : Mula Veedu Ramasamy Konda Reddi 24. T.Konda Reddi : Thur Konda Reddi 25. M.Konda Reddi : Maddhi Veedu Konda Reddi

EXOGAMOUS UNITS/CLANS: Konda Reddis are divided into Clans. The Clan is permanent and his transference from one clan to another even in case of adoption, impossibility. The main function of Clan is the regulation of Marriage. In accordance with Telugu custom, this name is nowadays described as a “House Name” or Intiperu (Telugu Term). Some important clans of Konda Reddi Tribes of Tirunelveli District are given below:

01. Pothedivar 02. Pangulavar 03. Padavattivar(Descendant of Mela Veedu Peria Konda Reddi) 04. Uttrattivar (Descendant of Vadakku Veedu Konda Reddi) 05. Thatchattivar(Descendant of Therkku Veedu Konda Reddi) 06. Mula Veeddar(Descendant of Mula Veedu Konda Reddi) 07. Thurvattivar (Descendant of Keela Veedu Konda Reddi) 08. Machavar 09. Garvar 10. Gavadivar 11. Maddhittivar 12. Nellivar 13. Poladivar 14. Annadivar 15. Konda Pillivar 16. Batthattivar 17. Kondlavar 18. Chendlavar 19. Kotlavar 20. Menuruvar 21. Rajendrathar 22. Penuruvar 23. Kanabalavar 24. Ventlavar 25. Potlavar 26. Pogulavar 27. Poterivar 28. Kanugulavar 29. Buzarvar 30. Peeruvar 31. Chedlavar 32. Thurvar.

RELIGION AND WORSHIP: Konda Reddis Tribe of Tirunelveli District is all Hindus. They are very superstitious and practice all the rites of demonolatry like the low caste People and besmear their bodies with ashes. The Konda Reddis profess to be both Saivites and Vaishnavites. They worship Muthalamman, Parvathi Amman, Gangamman, Thenattamman and other Village Deities. During Temple Festivals Goats, Pigs, Chickens are offered to the Village Deity and feasts are arranged during Temple Festivals. In the Konda Reddi Villages each Clan has Separate Deities and the Clan Member performs Poojas and arranges Temple Festival. The Konda Reddis also worship ancestors including women who have died before their husbands. The Konda Reddis have the habits of Caste Hindus. Konda Reddis are not untouchables.

SOCIAL ORGANISATION: Konda Reddis have very good administration capacity and practice well defined democratic methods. The system is called Village Panchayat. Each and every Konda Reddi family is a member of the Village Panchayat. In Seelathikulam Village the “Mela Veedu Konda Reddi” family descendants are having the first right to perform poojas in Village Temple. This post is hereditary and belongs to the family that established the clan. Since his authority is mainly religious, he appropriates as the Chief Priest also. The Konda Reddis have a good communication network through a messenger designated by the Community itself. Any message of good or bad is communicated by him to others.

FOOD HABITS: The Konda Reddis of Tirunelveli District are Non-Vegetarians. They eat meat, which strict Vaishnavas in other places will not do. During Temple Festivals at the conclusion ceremony, the Konda Reddis cook meat and will present a portion to the priest and drink arrack. The Konda Reddis will not eat cooked food at the hands of a person of lower caste. Konda Reddi women will not cook during menstruation and after child birth. Nowadays, the Konda Reddi People dines with lower caste people.

PHYSICAL FEATURES: The Konda Reddis of Tirunelveli District look smart and active. In the Book “Tribes of South India” by J.F.KEARNS, Missionary of the Propagation Society, Tinnevelly(1881) narrates as follows – “The Women are finer than the men. They are tall presenting an average height of five feet nine inches. Though so tall, they are well formed; their carriage – indeed, that of all Hindu Women – is very graceful and would bear comparison with that of the most perfect modiste in Europe. No European moves with so much grace and elegance. Their faces are extremely intelligent; the nose is prominent, well formed and angular; the eyebrows well and gracefully arched; and the forehead rising gracefully rounds off over the temples, giving them quite an aristocratic look”

MARRIAGE: The forms of Marriage customs among the Reddis are similar to those obtaining ordinarily in the Telugu Country. If a proper marriage after negotiation is performed, a Brahmin Priest officiates and Tali is tied. Widow Remarriages and divorce are customarily approved practice. The Custom of marrying the deceased elder brother’s widow or sister of deceased wife is also an accepted practice among Konda Reddis. Payment of oli or Bride’s money is a practising custom. Property rights and houses are vested on the paternal side and bequeathed to male progeny only. The Konda Reddis are not debarred from inter-marrying with ordinary Reddis, they had the status of a socially superior class. In the earlier days Konda Reddis marriage was performed with feast for three days.

CURRENT STATUS: The Konda Reddis own land. Now, this Tribe has some Entrepreneurs, Job-holders, Engineers, Doctors, and Lawyers etc. Consequent to the controversy over the Constitutional Status of the Konda Reddis, their identity is under transition. Some sections have retained their identity as ‘Scheduled Tribe’ to get the Government concessions, others have not. Due to contact with the local people, the Konda Reddis changed their life style. They dress in the style of Non-Tribals.

CONCLUSION: The Konda Reddis of Tirunelveli District are having more than 100 vital documents to prove their Origin and Migrational history. After 1980 due to the controversy over the constitutional status of the Konda Reddis, most of the Konda Reddis not claimed any benefits from Government. If any Konda Reddi claimed, the concerned RDO is delaying/not issuing the Community Certificate. However, by a preliminary study over this tribe by an Anthropologist confirmed the Konda Reddis claim as ‘Scheduled Tribe’ is genuine one. Therefore, the Government should consider issuing community Certificates to the genuine Konda Reddy Tribes to avail at least ONE PERCENT RESERVATION provided by the Government.

(For any clarifications pl.email: scmreals@rediffmail.com)