Munnuru Kapu

Munnuru Kapu
(patel)
Classification	Sub caste of kapu
Religions	hinduism
Languages	Telugu
Country	India
Region	Telangana,maharastra,parts of karnataka

Munnuru Kapu is a backward caste community of the Telangana region in India and forms a part of the broader Kapu caste.

In order to overcome internal feuds the Kakatiya dynasty of southern India divided military service among various caste groups of their period, i.e. the Velama, Reddy, Kamma Kapu apart from the Islamic Invasion. The Munnuru Kapu were another of these.

Etymology

Munnuru Kapu is a combination of two Telugu words: Munnuru, meaning 300, and Kapu, meaning protector of the land, the task they perform during wars, while becoming farmers during peacetime. This appears to be a caste classification given in the later period of the Kakatiya Empire in present-day Andhra Pradesh, India.

Origin

There are several stories regarding the origin of the "Munnuru Kapu"

Munnuru Kapus are primarily concentrated in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. They are a military branch of the Kapu or Naidu community, who farmed during peace time.

Munnuru kapus were part of the Original migration which took place to the Deccan and settled along the banks of the Godavari from Nizamabad to the Delta regions in Coastal Andrra. To support this theory even today most of the Munnuru kapu population can be found in the Northern Telangana Districts of Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam.

Munnuru Kapus are located primarily in the Telangana. The Munnuru Kapu functioned as interior palace guards or cavalry in kingdoms such as those of the Tanjavore Nayaks, Devarakonda, and Nizam.

The name Munnuru Kapu did not Exist initially during the Medieval Ages but it was a recent adoption by the Kapus/Telagas settled in Telangana because of the following events.

Munnuru Kapus were also referred to as Thota Balijas, Telugus, Telengas, Munnurwar, Telenga Kunbi and Thopatkari in the Ancient days. They apparently moved to Chanda region from Telugu country travelling along Godavari and Pranahitha rivers. They are originally Kapus which is a huge caste. Offlate they prefer to be called as Kapus but not as Munnuru kapu.

There are several stories regarding the origin of the "Munnuru Kapu":

King Ganapati Deva of Kakatiya needed support of agrarian communities from coastal Andhra region during the establishment and expansion of the empire, since he had not established power over the Telugu Chodas (Telaga) and Chalukyas in that region. In order to bring legitimacy to their rule and to strengthen its roots, he requested the migration of three hundred families of Kapu / Telaga soldiers from the Kondavidu region of the current Krishna District. The descendants of those who migrated with three hundred families are called Munnuru Kapu. This migration occurred around about 900 years ago.

Queen Rudrama Devi of Kakateeya wanted to cultivate large tracts of the Telangana region. A large migration of agriculturists from coastal Andhra region came after her alliance with the Chalukyan Prince. Three hundred Kapu / Telaga families were dispatched by the prince to bring these vast Telangana lands under cultivation. These three hundred families are called as Munnuru Kapu.

The Nawab of Hyderabad requested the Tanjavore Nayaks to send a battalion of his best infantry and cavalry for his personal security. The Nayak dispatched three hundred Telaga men and their families from their imperial guard. The descendants of these three hundred families are now called Munnuru Kapu.

The Perika (Puragiri Kshatriya / Perike) community in Rayalaseema, recall fighting a great battle against three hundred Balijas to prove their valor. As there was no community called Munnuru Balija at that time, it was likely to be the Munnuru Kapus who fought this battle.

According to R.S. Mugali in "The Heritage of Karnataka" the Munnurvar (the three hundred) were among the representatives corresponding to the members of a corporation of the cities in the 12th century A.D in Karnataka. According to the same author "Jagattamunnuru" (the three hundred of the World) was the name given to the village assembly of Niruvara under the Vijayanagar rulers.

History

The Kapus were primarily a military and agrarian community who took up military service in wartime and were cultivators during peacetime. Consequently Kapu also evolved sub-castes based on occupation. Kapu sub-castes dedicated to military service included the Telaga, Munnuru Kapu and Ontari (who served as special forces). The Munnuru Kapus were a detachment of the Telagas who migrated to the current Telangana and served under the Kakatiyas and Nizams.

The Munnuru Kapus are primarily concentrated in Telangana. A common occupation in the community is farming. They were a part of the Telaga community and were the imperial guard of the Tanjore Nayaks. The Nawabs of Hyderabad asked the Tanjavore Nayaks to send a battalion of their best infantry and cavalry for their kingdom's protection. The Tanjore Nayaks dispatched three hundred Telaga men and their families. The descendants of these three hundred families are now called Munnuru Kapu. The Munnuru Kapus have traditionally been associated with safeguarding and protecting one kingdom or another, such as the Tanjavore Nayaks, Devarakondas, Nizams etc.

Renowned personalities

Gundam veeraiah Narsapur Ex MLA P.Shivasankar served as Union Cabinet Minister for several Ministries, Leader of the House, and Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha Dharmapuri Srinivas Ex-PCC President, Andhra Pradesh. K. Keshava Rao Ex-PCC President, Andhra Pradesh. V. Hanumantha Rao Ex-PCC President, Andhra Pradesh. Vikram Akula, founder of SKS Micro Finance, was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in the year 2006, and a Young Global Leader Award winner in 2008 from World Economic Forum. Danam Nagendar, minster of labour welfare,Govt Ap Ponnala Lakshmaiah, minister of Information &technology,Govt Ap Konda Murali, Ex MLC Konda Surekha,Ex minster,MLA Gangula Kamalakar, MLA Somarapu Satyanarayana, MLA Kaveti Sammaiah, MLA Bajireddy Govardhan Reddy, ex MLA Alladi Raj Kumar, Ex RajyaSabha floor leader Dr. K Laxman , Ex MLA YENDALA LAXMI NARAYANA MLA NIZAMABAD BJP FLOOR LEADER AP LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY