Reddy

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Castes of India
Reddies
Classification	Warriors, farmers, entrepreneurs, leaders, landlords, landowners, businessmen
Subdivisions	52
Significant populations in	Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharastra
Languages	Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malyalam, Hindi, Urdu
Religions	Hinduism

Reddy (Telugu:రెడ్డి, also transliterated as Raddi, Reddi, etc.) is a feudal/farming caste found mainly in the state of Andhra Pradesh in southern India, where its members constitute about 11% to 15% of the population. They are predominantly Telugu-speaking farming landlords from Andhra Pradesh, although there are a number of Reddies with roots in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Reddies in Tamil Nadu are known as Reddiars.

Geography

Reddies are found all over Andhra Pradesh and in the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharastra. In Andhra Pradesh, the Reddies are considered traditional village headmen. The duties of headmen included the collection of tax, guarding the village and representing the village in dealing with outsiders or even the government. Several members of the community are very wealthy landowners and businessmen, but most are small farmers. In most areas of Andhra Pradesh, in the small villages it is the Reddy who speaks authoritatively on behalf of the village; they were the traditional leaders of the village before all castes started taking a role in politics and leadership.

Karnataka Reddies are also called Vokkaligas. Vokkaligas have various sub-castes such as Bunts and Gowdas. Kerala Reddies are known as Nairs. There does not seem to be any ethnic or social connection between the Reddies of the plain and the tribal Kondareddi of the Godavari hills.

History

Origin

It is believed that Reddies are an offshoot of the Rashtrakuta dynasty although no historical evidence was found. It is also believed that the history of Reddies is as old as Telugu was first spoken in South India. After the decline of that 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 Reddies.

The Reddies do not constitute an ethnic group. There are several strands which go to make the Reddies of today. They appear to be basically Deccan plateau inhabitants, which includes Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra of today. Another point to note, in several areas the term Reddi was treated as a sort of title for anyone who was appointed as village headman. Usually this meant a soldier, who got along fine with the other headmen. Gradually the descendants would be absorbed into the larger Reddy grouping.

The earliest reference we have to anyone resembling the Reddies are the Rathis and the Maha rathis before 200 BC. These kings ruled over small principalities in the Deccan plateau area of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra before the Satavahanas and mauryas. They have left coins in northern Andhra Pradesh, also in Kurnool district, and near Pune etc. The coins are found in the levels between the megalithic and satavahana levels in excavations. The term Rathi might refer to "one riding a chariot" (Ratha=horse drawn chariot in prakrit and old sanskrit). A grander Rathi king might be called Maha rathi.

The Satavahanas intermarried with the maharathis. Sri Satakarni married Naaganika Devi, daughter of a maha rathi.(221 – 198 BCE). The Satavahanas ruled over Malwa and parts of Gujarat as well and clashed with the Sakas -Pahlavas (scythians and pallavas) and also intermarried with them. The Deccan was covered with thick forests, only scattered areas were under agriculture, and that too likely slash and burn primitive agriculture. Castes and communities were still forming. Even feudalism hadn't really developed in those days, the tribal structure was slowly dissolving with the influence of Buddhism. So one shouldn't take the caste thing too seriously.

The earliest references speak of Rathis and MahaRathis, dating before 200 BCE, who ruled over small areas of the Deccan plateau – parts of present day Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra – before the advent of the Satavahanas and the Mauryas. They have left coins in Northern Andhra Pradesh, in the Kurnool district, and near Pune (3). The term Rathi refers to a warrior fighting from a chariot, and a more powerful one was called a Maha Rathi. The Satavahanas intermarried with the Maha Rathis — Sri Satakarni Satavahana married Naaganika Devi, daughter of a MahaRathi (around 221 – 198 BCE). But it is a point of contention if the Rathis of yore were the forebears of the Reddy community.

In general, the Reddies appear to have originated in the Deccan plateau and did not originally constitute an ethnic group. In many areas, Reddy signified a title designating the village headman. In the course of time, the descendants of these early headmen formed the community that we know of today as the Reddies.

Reddy are a very wealthy Shudra caste, one of their many professions is agriculure and acquired wealth because of their role in the primitive feudal system of south India. Their agricultural lands became an asset in gaining power in early and late 20th century. Their life as farm workers under harsh South Indian climate made them good soldiers for the feudal kingdoms and were Commissioned Officers so they became what you call knights (this title goes to Commissioned officers). A number of members from the Reddy caste were farm hands, farmland owners. Their wealth was not significant in general except for a few major landlords till the end of 19 th century. With industrialization and modern agriculture the Reddy caste became wealthy and well organized to grab the political power in 20th century and the same trend is still continuing till this day, Reddy's are the most politically active caste in India

Prolaya Vema Reddy

Prolaya Vema Reddy was the first king of the Reddy dynasty. He was the son of a local landlord and described himself as one of the fourth Varna Sudra that emerged from the feet of Vishnu. Reddies were Sudras as per the Vedic Varna system so were the Kakatiya rulers. Vema Reddy seems to have worshipped the Ganges and Kumara, the war-like son of Lord Shiva. He assembled a large army of peasants and herdsmen, and adopted guerilla warfare. He joined hands with Musunuri cousins, Prolaya Nayaka and Kapaya Nayaka, to liberate Warangal from Muslims. Vira Ballala of Dwarasamudra helped the coalition of Vema Reddy and Kapaya Nayaka; that Vema Reddy chased the general of the Tughlaq army, Maqbool Iqbal to the Warangal fort and Kapaya Nayaka then stormed it and took control; that Vema Reddy then led a blitzkrieg on the Kondaividu fort and hacked off the head of Maliq Gurjar, the Muslim commander there and liberated Nidudavolu, Vundi, and Pithapuram after pitched battles. Vema Reddy then defeated an army of Jalaluddin Shah in a raid on Tondaimandalam, while Vira Ballala engaged the Sultan himself. Vema Reddy continues his lightning raids on the Muslim-occupied forts of Bellamkonda, Vinukonda and Nagarjunakonda and captures them all. He then declared himself a Raja with Kondaividu as his capital.

His famous inscriptions from this period state: " I restored all the agraharas of Brahmins, which had been taken away by the evil Moslem kings". "I am indeed an Agastya to the ocean which was made of the Moslem". (17, 18)

Prolaya Vema Reddy commissioned major repairs to the Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swami Temple, and had a flight of steps built from the Krishna river to the Temple. He also had the Sri MahaVishnu Temple at Ahobilam repaired. The restoration of peace starting with his reign brought about a monumental revival of literature and the arts. Errana, the translator of Ramayana, lived during his period

9th century to early 14th century

The first documented evidence of the Reddies comes from inscriptions dating to the time of the Rashtrakutas during the 9th century CE (3,5). The Reddies were also referred to as Rathi, Raddi, and Ratodi. The Rashtrakutas were feudal lords under the Badami Chalukyas, and rose to power under Dantidurga around 753 CE when they ousted the Badami Chalukyas (These Chalukyas had their capital at Badami). The Rashtrakutas (from rashtra, state or region and kutas, chieftain) were masters of a large empire that extended over the Deccan Plateau all the way to Kanauj (Kanyakubja)on the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh. The fall of the Rashtrakutas was sudden when the last king Indra II was defeated by Taila II in 973 CE, who traced his lineage to the Badami Chalukyas. These new Chalukyas were knownas the Kalyani Chalukyas (they had their capital at Kalyani, present day Basava Kaluyana). Many inscriptions have been found in the present-day Medak district (60kms north of Hyderabad) which contain references to Reddies. One of the inscriptions (7) contains an order appointing KadiRaddi MiniRaddi as the village headman, dating 1065. It is surmised that the Reddies owe their descent to the Raddies, the Rashtrakuta soldiers of the Kalyani Chalukya times. Note that the Rashtrakutas established themselves in many parts of present day Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh (8) — the Khyats of the Rathore clan of Jodhpur, the Rashtrakute Maratha clan (one amongst the 96 Maratha clans). Thus, we see the Reddies as an offshoot of the Rahtrakutas in the Andhra Pradesh region.

The historical evidence of the Reddies starts from the 9th century CE. Throughout the 9th to the 12th centuries, the Reddies were very active socio-politically in northern Andhra Pradesh, comprising the present-day Telangana region. When the Kalyani Chalukyas weakened at the beginning of the 12th century, Prola II (1110-1158) declared himself independent from the Chalukyas and established the Kakatiya dynasty. Not much is known about the Reddies during the Kakatiya rule except a few inscriptions about donations from the period (20).

The last Kakatiya ruler, Pratapa Rudra, had been subjected to repeated invasions by the Muslims from the North. Finally, he was defeated in 1323 CE and the Andhra Pradesh region lay open to the Muslim invaders (11, 15). This marks a watershed in the history of the Reddies. The Reddies who have been predominant in the Telangana region migrated towards the coastal areas after the fall of the Kakatiya empire. Whether this was a gradual movement over a long period of time, or happened within a few years, is unclear. But the outcome is that the Reddies gave a stiff resistance to the Muslim incursions in the present day Andhra region. Musunuri cousins, Prolaya Nayaka and Kapaya Nayaka fought the Muslims in the present day Telangana region. When Prolaya Nayaka died in 1332 CE, Kapaya Nayaka lead the revolt and conquered Orugallu in 1337 CE. Around the same period, Prolaya Vema Reddy dealt a humiliating blow to the Muslims, going on to establish the Reddy kingdom with Addanki as its capital, which was later shifted to Kondaividu.

The next mention of the Reddies seems to be during the rise of the Rashtrakutas. The Reddies are also called ratthi, raddi and rattodi in old inscriptions dating back to the 9th century. The Rashtrakuta soldiers were among the elite troops of the Chalukyas: they founded an empire after the Badami chalukyas faded from the scene. A section who migrated to rajasthan became the well known rathodis, who later are found as one of the Rajput clans. After the Rashtrakuta empire faded away we find interesting inscriptions of the succeeding Kalyani Chalukyas in Andhra Pradesh, where Reddies are mentioned (900 CE). They were soldiers appointed as headmen of villages in Medak district by the Kalyani Chalukyas. Some of the names mentioned are Mini Raddi and Kati Raddi. (these are surnames even today).

An inscription details the appointment of a Reddy as in charge of a place in the western Chalukya area of Mulug, now in Medak District, Andhra Pradesh some sixty kilometres north of present-day Hyderabad. Mulug is roughly halfway between Patancheru (Pottelakere) and Kolanupaka (Kollipaka) which were important centres of the Kalyani Chalukyas. The Kalyani Chalukyas supplanted the Rashtrakutas. They were followed by the Kakatiyas, the Yadavas, Hoysalas etc. The Kalyani Chalukyas were earlier associated as feudatories under the powerful Rashtrakutas. As the inscription illustrates, the Kalyani Chalukyas often appointed Reddies (Rashtrakuta soldiers) as headmen of strategic villages in their dominions.

The inscription mentions the name of the appointee, the authorised appointer, the important personages of the areas and surrounding villages. A land grant was made at the time too. Interestingly enough, this took place almost a thousand years ago. Every village mentioned in the inscription is still around and flourishing. The Reddies, the Gouds, the mahajans (i.e., important persons), agraharam residents etc. are still prominent in the area, although they are not necessarily related to the persons mentioned in the inscription text.

The Reddies in the Telangana region were active in the Kakatiya kingdom. (1000–1223 CE). They were knights and barons and subordinate kings who ruled regions, in turn they had to pay taxes/ a part of the plunder and organise troops for campaigns. Several large dams and lakes were constructed by the Reddies of the time, and they still serve their purpose.

After the kakatiya kingdom disintegrated many Reddies migrated to coastal Andhra – Addanki and Kondaveedu, and later Rajahmundry on the Godavari – and founded their own independent kingdoms which flourished between 1325–1448 CE. Komati Prolaya Vemareddy, son of Komati Prola Reddy founded this kingdom. There are explanations of why the name Komdi or Komati was their surname.

While the area and extent may not have been large, these Reddy Raja states are historically significant because Telugu literature got a strong impetus. Vemareddi has left many inscriptions, the well preserved ones detailing the repairs he made to temples like Srisailam and Ahobilam.

During the Vijayanagar empire (roughly 1300–1600 CE) too they were prominent especially in Rayalseema, where they became independent zamindars or landholders and were constantly engaged in clan feuding. (the feuds continue to this day). The Rayalseema Reddies are closely related to the landlord Gowdas of Karnataka and the Reddiars of Tamilnad. There are also a few Reddy principalities which managed to survive independently between large warring states, in Mahabubnagar district (Old Palamoor) like Gadwal and Wanaparthi. The Reddies around these areas have a tradition they are descended from ancient Chalukya ancestors.

Fall of the Kakatiya Empire

By the early 14th century the Kakatiya Empire was under threat from the Delhi Sultanate. The Kakatiya emperors agreed to pay tribute, but then withheld the payment and this provoked the final and fatal attack in 1323. The Kakatiya emperor had seventy-two Nayaks to protect Warangal Fort, of which the majority were Padmanayaka Velamas, the emperor's favourites. After a three-month siege of the fort by Muslim troops led by Ulugh Khan, the Reddy Nayaks led by Bhoji Reddy became jealous of the Velama Nayaks and opened the fort's gates. King Prataparudra was captured died en route to Delhi. Thus the Muslims were victorious and this one act of treachery is considered to have changed the whole course of south Indian history.

Reddy dynasty

Main article: Reddy dynasty

The Reddies ruled a small coastal area of Andhra Pradesh from 1353 to 1448. The initial capital of the kingdom was Addanki and then Kondavidu and later shifted to Rajahmundry. Reddies became independent after the martyrdom of Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka at the hands of Recherla Velamas in the Battle of Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir in Telangana region). The dynasty declined due to the wars with Recharla chiefs and Gajapathis of Orissa. In later years, Reddies had to be content as vassals of Golconda Muslim kings. The Reddies were known for their fortifications. Two major hill forts, one at Kondapally twenty kilometres north west of Vijayawada and another at Kondavidu about thirty kilometres west of Guntur bear testimony of the fort building skill of the Reddy kings. Reddies also ruled many local dominions (samsthanams) until the British seized their power.

The Reddy kingdoms were neither very large nor lasted for a long time. Nevertheless, this period was known for a flowering of culture and particularly for the translation of the Indian epics into Telugu.

18th to 21st centuries

Reddies are also prominent in Nellore and Chittoor district also. In these areas, during British times they often visited nearby Madras, took to modern education in the Madras presidency, and also joined the military.

In the Golkonda region, throughout Turkish rule and under recent Nizams too, the Reddies continued to be headmen, village policemen, tax collectors, and farmers. The larger Reddy landlords were styled as Desais and Doras. (and continued their bitter nine-hundred year old rivalry with the Velamas, another feudal clan. The rivalry exists to this day in rural areas). Several Reddies were noblemen during the Nizam's time, too.

The Reddies of these various regions have different traditions and notions and do not seem to have much in common with each other: they have more in common with other communities of their regions. Given the background one would expect they are all feudal reactionary upper caste bigots: not so, they were prominent in reform activities too. In medieval times they were enthusisatic backers of Saivite and Vaishnavite reform movements too. In south coastal areas the saivite Reddies intermarried with Brahmins. In Telangana area they used to wed girls from other communities but the offspring would not bear the clan name. In north Andhra Pradesh, during the communist-led Telangana people's movement against the feudal Nizam state in the 1940s, there were many comrades from a Reddy background. Large number of Reddies went into business especially construction and films and have made a name for themselves in the field. In recent times they are prominent in the world pharmaceutical industry too, like Anji Reddy. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was a President of India.

Socially, it appears today their outlook or watchword is "status quo" or "slow gradual change is best". Womenfolk are not as independent minded as in some other communities. In politics they are usually backers of the Congress: they are not well represented in the Telugu Desam party which is now not in power in the state. While the older generation of Reddies had a feeling for the land and a flair for farming, nowadays there is a rapid change in rural areas: the younger Reddies are losing interest in rural life (not just farming, but the ramifications like district politics) and migrating to the cities, becoming urban professionals and businessmen. Fairly large numbers have migrated to the USA, where they are prominent in Telugu organisations.

Legendary rivalry

The Velamas are considered traditional enemies of Reddies. Both the groups got along fine as feudatories of the Kakatiyas but to gain prominence in the royal court the professional rivalry went to the extremes:

The Padmanayakas were favorites of the King. Commander Bobba/Bhoji Reddy decided to show the King who exactly were the valorous fighters. He decided to wait till the Velama contingent got mauled by the Muslim army and then jump in to save the Velamas as well as the King. Unfortunately his timing was not good and both got beaten leading to the downfall of Kakatiya empire. Ever since, the Velamas blamed the Reddies for the historical blunder and continuously waged battles against Reddy kings. Later they managed to found independent states of Rajakonda and Devarakonda.

On the other hand, Reddies accuse the Velamas of colluding with alien Bahamanis to keep their state intact and indulge in attacking the Reddy kingdoms at every given opportunity. The Velamas say if not for Reddy cleverness and opportunistic attitude during the battle with Delhi Sultan's army, Kakatiya empire would have been intact at least till the British colonial period.

After the defeat of Prataparudra, Andhra Pradesh and Hindu religion succumbed to bad times. Annaya Mantri and Kolanu Rudradeva tried to unify the remaining Nayaka Chieftains belonging to various communities such as Velama, Reddy, Kamma, Balija and Telaga communities and appointed a Chief, Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka as the leader. The Nayaka confederation rebelled and recaptured Warangal. Prolaneedu was succeeded by his cousin Kaapaanedu which was resented by the Velama Nayakas. They again sought the help of the Bahmani sultan and killed Kaapaya Nayaka. Thus ended the unity of Telugu land.

The Velamas subsequently fought the Reddy Kingdom and Vijayanagar Empire on behalf of Bahmanis. Ultimately, Krishnadevaraya vanquished all and unified Andhra Pradesh. Velamas had to join the imperial service of Vijayanagar as military contingents and regional governors. Many Velamas thus settled in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere.

Relationship with Kshatriyas

There is evidence that Reddy rulers had marital relationships with Kshatriyas. Mahamuni Kavya Kantha Ganapathi Shastry who wrote the foreword for Mr. Shastry’s book mentioned this. Raja Dantuluri Ganna Bhoopal gave his daughter Surambika to Ana Vema Reddy in marriage. This was said to be the first marriage between Reddy and Kshatriya communities. Chandravanshi Maharaja Harihara Deva Raya married Hari Ramba the daughter of Kataya Vema Reddy. Bheema Raju, son of Bhakthiswara Choda who belonged to Suryavanshi married his daughter Vemabika to Allada Reddy.

Customs

Marriage

Those Reddies who have settled in different southern states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for several generations have adapted their rituals and ceremonies to suit the local customs, so slight variations will be apparent in the sequence of events in a marriage.

The marriage rituals begin with a promise made by both families to each other that a wedding will be solemnized. After consultations with an astrologer, an auspicious day and time are fixed for the marriage ceremony and both the concerned parties draw up written contracts. These contracts are then placed in yellow cloth bundles along with betel leaf, turmeric, nuts and fruits and blessed by an officiating 'pujari'.

List of ceremonies

Patrika: A marriage contract is drawn up by both families
Nisachaitharthum: The engagement
Vara Puja: A 'puja' is performed in honour of the bridegroom
Paindlipilla or Haldipaspu: Ritual bath and beautification of the bride
Vivaham (Muhurtham) : Commencement of the marriage ceremonies
Kankana Shastra: Invoking the blessings of all the deities
Kanyadaan: Giving away the bride
Saptapadi: Seven steps around the sacred fire
Grahapravesham: The couple enters the marital home
Reception: Post wedding celebrations
Kalyanautsavam: A 'puja' in the Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupathi

Vivaham (older form)

The marriage ceremony among Reddies has changed considerably over the past two hundred years. Originally, the process started with the examination of the horoscopes of the bride and bridegroom to see if their respective stars agree astrologically. This is still done today in some conservative Reddy families. If the stars do not match, families may go so far as to cancel the marriage and seek another prospective bride or groom. If the astrological predictions are favourable, further examination is taken to appoint an auspicious date and time for the ceremony. During the celebration, there would be a presentation of danom (wealth or alms) to Brahmins, and a sadhya (feast). The bride and bridegroom would meet in the central room of the house, rice would be sprinkled on their heads. These proceedings essentially describe a basic Reddy marriage as was the custom about two hundred years ago. In addition to these general ceremonies, there are local variations.

In Telangana there is a Podamuri or Vastradanam ceremony. In this ceremony, the initial examination of horoscopes takes place at the house of the bride in the presence of the bride's and bridegroom's families. The astrologer writes his calculations and opinion on a piece of palmyra leaf and hands it over to the bridegroom's relations. If the horoscopes match, a day is fixed for the ceremony. This date is also written down and handed to the bride's family and to the bridegroom's relations. The astrologer and the bridegroom's party are then invited to a feast in the bride's house. The astrologer also receives gifts in the form of money or cloth.

Three to four days prior to the wedding date, the bridegroom visits his Family and caste-elders to receive permission to leave for the wedding. The bridegroom presents them with betel and nut and obtains formal sanction for the wedding. The bridegroom then proceeds, accompanied by a number of his friends to the house of his bride. He is received at the gate of the house by the bride's relations and is led with his friends, to seats provided in the main hall of the house. The bridegroom distributes gifts to all the Brahmins present. After this, the whole party is invited to take part in another sadhya. The astrologer then appears announces the auspicious hour that has been fixed and leaves after receiving his dues. The bridegroom is then taken by one of his friends to the padinitta (principal/western room of the house, where religious ceremonies are conducted). New clothes and betel leaf and nut, that the bridegroom's party has brought are placed in this room. The room will be decorated and turned into a bedroom for the occasion. In this room will also be placed a number of lighted lamps as well as the ashtamangaliam (eight articles symbolizing mangaliam or marriage). These are rice, paddy, the tender leaves of the coconut tree, an arrow, a looking glass, a well-washed cloth, a burning fire, and a small rounded wooden box. The bridegroom with his groomsman enters the room through the eastern door, while the bride, dressed in beautiful clothes and decorated with jewelry enters the room through the western door accompanied by her aunt or another elderly lady of the family. The bride stands facing east with the ashtamangaliam and lit-up lamps in front of her. The groomsman hands over to the bridegroom a few pieces of the new cloth and the bridegroom puts them into the hands of the bride. After this, the lady who accompanied the bride sprinkles rice over the lit-up lamps and over the heads and shoulders of the bride and bridegroom. The bridegroom then leaves the room to go to the thekina to present his elders and friends with cakes and betel leaf and nut. After the guests have left, the bride and bridegroom retire to the bedroom. Next morning a ceremony is conducted and the bridegroom's female relations take the bride to the husband's house, where a feast is held in honour of the occasion. After marriage, the bride remains in her own home, and her husband will often visit her, while remaining a member of his own home. The children, of course, will belong to their mother's home in accordance with the marumakkathaayam system.

Vivaham (newer form)

These days, a number of the individual ceremonies have been abandoned or condensed. However, one can still see elements of the older ceremonies in the new ones. Families may observe all or part of the following ceremonies. The first ceremony is the Vivaha Nischayam or simply Nischayam. In this ceremony, an astrologer is consulted to set an auspicious date for the wedding. Horoscopes may or may not be compared depending on the wish of the individual or their families. After both families consent to the marriage, the couple visits the bride's home. This meeting may be a simple affair, or a large celebration. During the celebration, there may be a Nisachaitharthum (ring exchange) ceremony. This ceremony may also be conducted later, during the actual vivaham ceremony. If it is done at bride's house, it is usually done around a lit nila vilakku (brass oil lamp).

On the evening before the wedding the families of both the bride and the broom, gather in their respective homes to bless them. On the day of the wedding, the bride and the groom will separately visit a temple near their homes. The temple can belong to any God except Lord Ayyappa or Lord Hanuman as they are bachelors. The bride's parents carry the mangalyasutram or taali, a necklace that is a symbol of eternal union, to be blessed by the priests. Upon returning home, the bride and groom touch the feet of the elders of the family and receive blessings. This is called Namaskaaram.

The actual wedding may take place in a kalyana mandapam (a hall rented for the occasion), temple, or hotel. The bride's family receives the groom's family at the entrance of the venue to the tune of nadaswarams (long wind-instruments) and the beats of the thayli (large drums beaten with curved sticks). The groom stands on a wooden plank while the bride's younger brother washes his feet. The bride's aunts perform aarti for the groom with a thaali (platter), on which are arranged wicks made of twisted cotton. The groom is then escorted to the mandapam (platform constructed to perform the wedding rites) by two rows of young girls. One girl carries the changala vatta (sacred oil lamp), while another carries the ashtamangaliya. The girls following the first two, carry the taala phuli (platters of rice, turmeric, and flowers on which oil lamps made of coconut shells are placed). With his parents on either side, the groom follows the girls around the mandapam and seats himself on the right side of the canopy, which is decorated by flowers, fabric, palm fronds, and banana stalks. The bride is then escorted by her aunt to the mandapam to the sound of the nadaswarams and thaylis. All those who are present on the mandapam stand when the bride arrives. She stands facing to the east, with the groom facing her. At the auspicious moment set by the astrologer for the muhurtham (the most auspicious time), the groom ties the thali around the bride's neck to the beating of drums. He is assisted by the bride's uncle because on no account should the thaali be allowed to fall. In some Reddy communities, the traditional thaali is a gold pendant strung on a yellow thread. The bride has to wear this for three days after the wedding ceremony. After the three days have passed, the thread is replaced by a golden chain.

After the tying of the thaali, the groom gifts the bride a sari and a blouse on a platter. This signifies that he will now assume the responsibility of providing for her. The groom's mother also gifts the bride with some jewelry at this time. The couple then exchange garlands accepting each other as life partners. The bride's father then places the bride's hand in the groom's, thus handing over his daughter to the groom in holy matrimony. The couple is then escorted to a room by their older relatives, who bless them. After the marriage ceremony, the bride gets a send-off from her house. The couple leaves for the groom's house escorted by a few people from the bride's family. The groom's mother and older female relatives perform aarti with an oil lamp (which rests on a platter heaped with rice mixed with turmeric) and receive them at the entrance. Both bride and groom enter the house, right foot forward. The bride is then required to kick over a large pot containing rice, symbolizing prosperity.

After the wedding ceremony a wedding reception may be performed if the families so wish.

Childbirth

Seemantham or pulikudi is performed when a woman is six months pregnant. On an auspicious day, after applying home-made ayurvedic oil with massage, a customary bath is carried out with the help of the elderly women in the family and then the family deity is worshipped, by invoking all the paradevatas. After that a concoction of herbal medicines prepared in the traditional way is given to the woman. The woman will be dressed up in new clothes and ornaments used for such occasions. The family then offers a feast to all the relatives. The woman continues with the prescribed medicines and routines until the birth.

Jananam accompanies the birth of a child. The newborn is bathed. Gold rubbed on a stone with honey with vayampu (a herbal medicine) is applied on the tongue of the newborn as the first food.

Role in politics

Historically, Reddies, a very wealthy and educated caste, have dominated the politics of southern India and are still continuing to do so. 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. Dr. Bejawada Gopalareddy served as the chief minister of Andhra State from March, 1955 to October, 1956. Ten of the twenty[3] elected Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh including the present chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy are from the Reddy community. Sixth President of India, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy who was in office from 1977 to 1982 is also from the Reddy community. Even though the population of Reddies is 15% in the state of Andhra Pradesh they occupy 80% 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. Situation is changing from the last ten years because of the rise of reservations at every level and more and more people are opposing the Reddy dominations. If the same trend continues it is very hard to have many Reddy politicicians in the coming days. But as a very respected caste in India the Reddies will put up a fight for the politics of South India and especially the politics of Andhra Pradesh. Many Reddy Ministers belonged to different sub-castes some of them are: Marri Chenna Reddy belonged to the kapu community. Tanguturi Anjaiah and Nimma Raja Reddy belonged to the Gone sub caste. Neelam Sanjiva reddy bolonged to pakanati. Motati and Gudati are yet become ministers of any sort, though they are more popular compared to other sub-castes as they always fight with the each other.

Reddies have played a significant role in Andhra politics and a vital role in the social and economic development of the state. They were one of the first non-Brahmin communities to actively participate in the new democracy. The population of Reddies is 10% to 15% in Andhra Pradesh but at one time they occupied up to 80% of the state legislative assembly seats (MLA). Out of the five Reddy chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, one was of the Gudati sub-caste (Chenna Reddy), and one was of the Gone sub-caste (Anjaiah Reddy). Neelam Sanjiva Reddy belonged to Pakanati group. Sanjeeva Reddy wrote his caste as Kapu reddy. The term Reddy comes from "Redu", which is a village term (Vikruthi) of "Raju" means King in telugu. Another interpretation is that "Reddy" means a title given to a person who can authorise capital punishment.

Their percentage of seats occupied has been decreasing because of the many sub-castes and varying religious affiliations that divides the Reddy community and because more and more communities as getting involved because of reservations.

In the Nehruvian era, most political institutions, formal and informal were sufficiently self-regulating and the Congress Party’s "cluster of regional political machines processed the substance and the reach to manage most of the social tensions that arose". However, the erosion of that capacity since the late 1960s due to the crystallization of interest groups, (caste, community, student and women) that became increasingly assertive of their rights over resources, sharing power, claiming self-respect and articulating their political concerns in more organized ways, has made it difficult for the Central government to manage the demands on it.

Above all, the resentment against the authoritarian and personalized rule of the Congress leader, Indira Gandhi had serious implications for both the political fate of the Congress party and the political process in A.P. The post-Emergency debacle of the Congress in the parliamentary elections unsettled its role in national politics and ushered in coalition governments at the Centre. The return of the Congress Party for a brief period witnessed her assassination in the hands of her own security guards unleashing the accumulated anger of the Sikhs at the humiliation meted out to them by the Congress Party’s government at the Centre. In the meantime in Andhra Pradesh, politics took a different turn when the Telugu matinee idol NTR launched the Telugu Desam Party in March 1982.

In AP Indira Gandhi succeeded in removing the dominant leader (Kasu Brahmaananda Reddy, of the Reddy caste) and replaced him with Narasimha Rao, a Brahmin compromise candidate with no independent electoral base (Srinivasulu 1999). Rao sought to strengthen his position by forming an alliance outside of the Reddy and Kamma groups (Reddy 1990; Vakil 1990). This strategy received the high command's support in the larger, national game of securing Indira Gandhi's dominance by sidelining the dominant castes trying to destabilize her (represented, for instance, by the Syndicate, of which the Reddy leader Sanjeeva Reddy was a part).

For instance, Bernstor (1973) wrote an article entitled “The Eclipse of Reddy Raj?”. Randa (1972) notes that 60% of Congress tickets in the 1972 state elections were given to women, backward classes, SCs, STs, youth, and labor, and a third of the sitting members of the Andhra Assembly were retired. In Rao's 26-member ministry, there were only nine dominant castes (Velamas, Reddies, Kammas, and Brahmins).

Srinivasulu (1999) writes:

"In pursuit of his political survival in the political context dominated by the Reddy, Kamma and velama castes, Rao sought to forge a social bloc consisting of backward castes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities by giving them political berths in the Cabinet, greater representation to this bloc, and reducing the Reddy preponderance in the 1972 assembly election. Corresponding to this, measures like the AP Land Ceiling Act of 1972 and the launching of anti-poverty programs, more than their reactive implementation played a catalytic role in furthering the social polarization within the Congress. While on the one hand it led to the closing up of ranks among the landed gentry, it contributed in a significant way to the rise of awareness among the backward communities on the other." [2], [3]

Emigration

Economic changes of the 1960s and 1970s triggered the migration of the community to North America. A contributing factor was Indira Gandhi's land reform policy in 1969; putting a ceiling on personal income and private property affected the rich Reddy landlords in the state of Andhra Pradesh.^[1]

Many of the Reddies who moved to North America work in information technology and there is a significant Reddy community in academia and research at American universities. Reddies are regarded as a very influential and affluent group among the South Indian communities of North America. The Reddy community has been recently ranked as the second wealthiest community in the United States. The TANA and ATA associations have provided a vehicle for NRI Andhras to maintain their cultural affinity towards India. In 2004, an American Medical Association survey of last or middle names in the United States revealed that 50.6% of practicing physicians had "Reddy" as their middle or last name.^{[citation needed]}

In contrast to those many Reddies who were educated between 1940 and 1950 and who migrated to the USA or UK, Reddy communities from places where reservations are 100% lead a hand to mouth existence as agricultural labour.

Large Reddy communities are found in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.^{[citation needed]}

Reddies have a strong influence in South India especially in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Strong Reddy communities are found mainly in the Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh, although there are many Reddies living in the Kostha and Rayalseema Regions. Some places where strong Reddy communities are found are: Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Adilabad, Nalgonda, Medak, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Prakasam district, and Rangareddy district.

Most of the Tamil Nadu Reddies are people migrated from the neighbouring Rayalseema and Andhra areas and the roots are very hard to trace. In Karnataka most Reddies living in Rural areas work in agriculture. Most of the Reddy's live in the city and are a very influential group and a very important part of the Bangalore IT industry

They vary in some of their customs. For example, Pedakanti Reddy women do not wear talibottu and Kapu Reddy women wear a saree with a belt-like accessory from the center. But after modernisation and urbanisation, the sub castes in the Reddy community are being erased slowly and it is very difficult to find out the sub caste of Reddies. There are now marriages among all the sub castes. Most of the Reddies now do not know about their sub castes as most of them are formed according to their professions; for example, Reddies who used to sell milk are known as Pala Reddies. There are approximately 52 sub-castes and 10,000 surnames in the Reddy community. Peddapola is a surname among those in Karnataka and western Andhra Pradesh.

Reddy subcastes and surnames

For more information on Indian naming conventions, see Indian family name.

The Reddy name

Reddies use a surname followed by a given name and then a caste name, which is a common practice in all the communities of Andhra Pradesh. For example Arava Kartheek Reddy. Arava is his surname, followed by his given name and ending with his caste name (Reddy). Many Reddies and members of the Andhra community living outside of India have adopted the practice of omitting the caste name or using it as a middle name and use their actual family name as their last name. Some others have chosen to eliminate Reddy altogether from their name. For example if A.K. Reddy had grown up in the US he probably would have his name as Kartheek Reddy Arava or Kartheek Arava.

Surnames are generally from the names of villages and professions. Regarding gotras, there are several versions about their formation.

Reddy subcastes

Some of the better known of the fifty-two Reddy subcastes:

Lingamathi Reddies
Arava Reddies
Ayodhi Reddies
Dodla Reddies
Motati Reddies
Neravati Reddies
Pedakanti Reddies
Chowdary Reddies or Saudary Reddies
Gudati Reddies or Gurati Reddies
Reddy Gandla
Pakanati Reddies
Pala Reddies
Kami Reddies
Velanati Reddies
Gandla Reddies
Palnati Reddies
Namadarlu Reddies
Vadde Reddies
Panta Reddies
Desuru Reddies
Pedakanti Reddies
Neravati Reddies
Sadi Reddies
Andla Reddies
Bhumanchi Reddies
Ganjam Reddies
Pakanati Reddies
Nanugonda Reddies
Gone Kapus
Palle Reddies
Reddy Kapus

Hyderabad and Rangareddy are dominated by Gudati, Gone Kapu and Reddy Kapu sub castes[2]. Adilabad and Karimnagar have Reddy Gandla, Gudati and Motati in majority. Mahaboobnagar is mostly dominated by Motati Reddies. The Kostha area has Panta and Pakanati Reddies. Arava Reddies have their origin at Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu connected areas of Andhra. Arava Reddies living in Tamil Nadu are also known as Reddiars.

Common Reddy surnames

Annapureddy
Annareddy
Annapareddy
Vesireddy
Katta
Nimma
Challa
Marri
Nagilla
Dodda
Marthala
Vuppala
Kadigari
Yenumula
Gangavarapu
Gaddameedi
Yeruva
Eswarawaka
Narapureddy
Thanigundala
Mallareddy
Katipelly
Kopparthi
Kopparti
Sanikommu
Bojjireddy
Maryada
Pitti
Vattigunta
Gurijala
Sirapu
Pulikanti
Bhanuri
Vasanthu
Kosana
Patlolla
Gosula
Vodnala
Kotla
Atla
Gaddam
Mukkara
Chintakunta
Levaku
Japa
Cherukupally
Kondaveeti
Mukkamalla
Medapati
Devireddy
Yerramreddy
Yellamreddy
Raamana
Chinthalapalli
Lakkireddy
Lankireddy
Katangur
Sajjanareddy
Gopidi
Chandiri
Kannareddy
Inamadugu
Devarenti
Madapati
Punuru
Kandula
Gundala
Nallavelli
Chirreddy
Anumandla
Paradarami
Gogireddy
Pothuka
Lingala
Konda
Ganuthula
Pingili
Kancherla
Chintalapani
Yatharla
Nallu
Mekala
Vittalreddy
Alla
Saluvendri
Pagadala
Bhimavarapu
Aleti
Palwai
Vadde
Aaluri
Pallaka
Kasara
Sarakinti
Koppula
Male
Vaka
Chirra
Devarapalli
Dagumati
Mandepudi
Chaganti
Putchakayala
Beemireddy
Kundoor
Gade
Patil
Bussy Reddy
Bommu
Kosnam
Sripathi
Talakola
Chandupatla
Madadi
Mannuru
Kolagotla
Nalla
Poreddy
Goli
Hanumanthu
Talakanti
Thippireddy
Edla
Venumbaka
Dubba
Padala
Nallamilli
Pothamsetti
Karri
Kovvuri
Sabbella
Tadi
Velagala
Chinnam
Satti
Medapati
Dwarampudi
Tandra
Eddula
Mekala
Gunapati
Pinnapureddy
Chilamakuri
Anantula
Reddibattula
Gunnapareddy
Avuthu
Maddireddy
Kaminany
Bhmireddy
Oruganti
Kompally
Vachepally
Peripydi
Devagiri
Gopireddy
Kokkanti
Mallepally
Keesara
Chintapally
Mereddy

Cities and towns named after Reddies

Rangareddy
Sangareddy
Kamareddy
Jangareddigudem
Redde Palli
Pothi Reddy Paadu
Anni Reddy Gudem
Po Reddy Gudem
Reddy Baavi
Subba Reddy Palem
Venkat Reddy Palli
Buchi Reddy Palem
Jajireddy Gudem
Jangareddy Gudem
Appa Reddy Palli
Appi Reddy Palli
Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar
Anki Reddy Palli
Rami Reddy Palli
Laki Reddy Palli
Konda Reddy Palli
Reddiarpalayam
Reddy Uur
Reddiyapatti
Reddi Palem
Nalapa Reddy Palli
Nagi Reddy Palem
Gangi Reddy Palem
Thipi Reddy Palli
Rami Reddy Palli
Sidam Reddy palli
Malla Reddy Palli
Shiva Reddy Palli
Budithi Reddy Palli
Shiva Reddy Gudam
Anna Reddy Palem
Reddy Vari Palem
Kethi Reddy Palli
Malla Reddy Gudem
Chinnagi Reddy Gari Palli
Veera Reddy Gari Palli
Annapu Reddy Palli
Yella Reddy Guda
Reddy Ganapavaram
Thippar Reddy Halli
Beda Reddy Halli
Deva Reddy Halli
Pothi Reddy Palli
Thimma Reddy Palli
Budda Reddy Palli
Nagi Reddy Palem
Pedda Reddy Palem
Chinna Reddy Palem
Basi Reddy Palam
Chanchi Reddy Palam
Kotha Reddy Palem
Pothi Reddy Palli
Narayana Reddy Palli
Ragans Reddy Dist
B N Reddy Nagar
Bai Reddy Palli
Vemana Reddy colony
Linga Reddy Palli
Pedhi Reddy Palli
Nage Reddy Palli
R N Reddy Nagar
Kallem Anji Reddy Nagar
Basi Reddy Palli
Chandra Reddy Palem
Reddy Nagar
Pera Reddy Palli
Sarve Reddy Palem
Shiva Reddy Pet
Kantha Reddy Nagar
Chimpa Reddy palem
Reddy Seema
Nagi Reddy Palli
Raj Reddy Nagar
Reddy Chavady
Pedda Malla Reddy
Chinna Malla Reddy

Notable Reddies

Academia and science

C.R Reddy - founder and vice-chancellor of Andhra University, vice-chancellor of Mysore University
Raj Reddy - computer scientist and Turing Award winner
P. Siva Reddy - ophthalmologist
Anji Reddy - Scientist and entrepreneur (Dr Reddy's Labs)
G. Pulla Reddy - entrepreneur and educationalist

Arts

Vemana - poet and yogi
Gonabudda Reddy - 13th-century poet and translator of the Ramayana
Suravaram Pratap Reddy - historian and writer
Nitin Kumar Reddy - film actor
Bomireddi Narasimha Reddy - film director
C. Narayana Reddy - poet
Shreya Reddy - actor

Business

Lakireddy Bali Reddy - hotelier in USA, imprisoned

Politics

Nimma Raja Reddy - Telugu Desam Party, former MLA

National government

Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy - former President of India (1977-1982) and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
Jaipal Reddy - Cabinet Minister for Urban Development, Government of India (2004 to present), member of the Lok Sabha

State government

Y S Rajashekar Reddy - Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2003 to present)
Marri Chenna Reddy – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1989 to 1990), Governor of Uttar Pradesh (1974 to 1977), Governor of Punjab (1982-1983), Governor of Rajasthan (1992 to 1993), Governor of Tamil Nadu (1993 to 1996)
Nimma Raja Reddy - Former MLA and Power Minister Of Andhra Pradesh
Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1990 to 1992)
Kotla VijayaBhaskara Reddy – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1982 to 1984 and 1992 to 1994)
Tanguturi Anjaiah alias Ramakrishnareddi Talla – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1980 to 1982)
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1964 to 1971)
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy – Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (1956 to 1960 and 1962 to 1964)
Kysamballi Chengalraya Reddy - First Chief Minister of the former Mysore State (now Karnataka) (1947 to 1952)
O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar - Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1947 to 1949)

Members of the Lok Sabha

Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
Anantha Venkatarami Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
Kotla Jayasurya Prakasha Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
S. P. Y. Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
Madhusudhan Reddy Takkala - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh
Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy - member of Lok Sabha for Andhra Pradesh

Sport

Bharath Reddy - former Indian cricketer

Other

Potu Narsimha Reddy - social reformer, Satyagraha Movement member

Notes

^ [1]

^ http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=VOTE_2004&file_name=vote983.txt&counter_img=983
^ http://www.odi.org.uk/livelihoodoptions/papers/wp179.pdf#search='caste%2C%20class%2C%20an%20social%20articulation'
^ A Manual of the Kurnool State in the Presidency of Madras by Narahari Gopalakrishnamh Chetty, Government Press, Madras, 1886) p.139
^ Some were elected more than once.
^ Reddies in Tamil Nadu are called as Reddiyars as a courtesy of High respect.
^ Even though "Reddy" is the name of the caste in the Hindu system, "Reddy" is the last name in India and as the middle name in North America. Read the Reddy name confusion section.
^ {http://www.vepachedu.org/castemore.htm.
^ http://indculture0.tripod.com/reddis.htm
http://www.timesofindia.com/today/11indi7.htm