THE HISTORY OF BALIJA/KAPU/TELAGA/ONTARI

Balija is a social group of the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. In Karnataka, they are known as Banajigas.

ORIGINS:

Variations of the name in use in the medieval era were Balanja, Bananja, Bananju, and Banijiga, with probable cognates Balijiga, Valanjiyar, Balanji, Bananji and derivatives such as Baliga, all of which are said to be derived from the Sanskrit term Vanik or Vanij, for trader.

Beginning in the 11th century, references are found in inscriptions throughout the Kannada and Tamil areas to a trading network, which is sometimes referred to as a guild, called the Five Hundred Lords of Ayyavolu. From the 13th century, inscriptions referring to "Vira Balanjyas" (warrior merchants) started appearing in the Andhra country. The Vira Balanjyas, whose origins are often claimed to lie in the Ayyavolu, represented long-distance trading networks that employed fighters to protect their warehouses and goods in transit. The terms balanjya-setti and balija were also used for these traders, and in later times naidu and chetti. These traders formed collectives called pekkandru and differentiated themselves from other collectives called nagaram, which probably represented merchants. The pekkandru collectives also included members of other communities with status titles reddi, boyaand nayaka.They spread all over South India, Sri Lanka, and also some countries in the Southeast Asia.

Rao et al. note that the Balijas included a configuration of castes representing a combination of the martial and the mercantile. They were mobilised politically by the Vijayanagaraemperor Krishnadevaraya. Later, in the 15th and 16th centuries, they colonised the Tamil country and established Nayaka chieftaincies. At this time, Balija was often an umbrella term that, in addition to the Balija proper, included the Boyas, Gollas, Gavaras, and other castes. Cynthia Talbot believes that in Andhra the transformation of occupational descriptors into caste-based descriptors did not occur until at least the 17th century.

The classification of people as Balija was one of many challenges for the census enumerators of the British Raj era, whose desire was to reduce a complex social system to one of administrative simplicity using theories of evolutionary anthropology. Early Raj census attempts in Chennai Presidency recorded a wide variety of people claiming to be members of Balija subcastes but who appeared to share little in common and thus defied the administrative desire for what it considered to be a rational and convenient taxonomy. Those who claimed to be Chetty had an obvious connection through their engagement in trade and those who called themselves Kavarai were simply using the Tamil word for Balija but, for example, the Linga based their claim to Balija status on a sectarian identification, the Gazula were bangle-makers by occupation, the Telaga had Telugu origins and the Rajamahendram also appeared to be a geographic claim based on their origins in the town of Rajahmundry. Subsequent attempts to rationalise the enumeration merely created other anomalies and caused upset.

Hundreds of ancient inscriptions and literary texts from the Rigvedian period to the 18th century reveal the ancient ancient history of the Balias

Several hundred inscriptions of Balija caste laid out in Andhra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu until the 18th centurySri Raja Vijayangara Chakranadhi Nairi, the Maharaja of Madurai, Madurai in the 1730s, is the "Sri Vanges Prakraka" book of Vijayanagara Raja relatives. And their handicap reveals a few hundred quarters.

The history of Madurai, Thanjavur, Jinji, Kandi (Sri Lanka), Baramahalu, Rayudharga, Pelenhunda, Keladi, Balam and Vijayanagara Rajas Vimsiyyar dynasty that ruled till the 17th century. These are known as Balijavar.

In the 18th century, a British traveler named Buchanan collected "Bali Caste Histories"

In the 18th century, the British Surveyor, Colonel McKenzie, "Balinese caste histories"

In the 19th century, British Surveyor collected the "Bali Caste Histories" in the Book of Caste and Tribes,

"Bali History", published in Kannada in the 19th century

The book "Gauriputra History - Bali History" printed in the 19th century

In 1905, in Tamil, in Coimbatore, in Tamil and Sri Lankan caste, all the houses of Sri Pagadala Narasimals Naidu is the book of "Balija Vantha Puram".

"Polygamy - Balaji Caste History" printed in 1927 - Swamnis of flowers - Visakhapatnam

Balaji Caste History" - Shri Kanthe Narayana Desai - Nellore - printed in the 1950s, is a book that has been included in the state of Bali, Telang, Single and Kapu.

Printed in 1950 - "Balija Vasheedhasam" - Alludur Rajamanthi Naidu - Nellore

Andhra Pradesh Prisons" printed in 1964 - Dust Gurumurti Naidu - Srikakulam

There are also some palm leaflets in the name of "Balija Purana" in the Balaji families of Godavari districts

All of these also confirm that our caste is "Balijakulam".

BALIJA DINASTY:

During the Vijayanagar period, the Balijas were appointed as tax-collectors. The empire was based on an expanding, cash-oriented economy, with the collection of taxes from both agriculture and trade regularized and enhanced by Balija tax-farming.

Many of the Polygars, the local military chieftains of South India, belonged to the Balija caste The Vijayanagar rulers had a policy of consolidating power by granting Polygars local administrative rights in exchange for support from the soldiers that the Polygars put at their disposal in times of war.

Balijas are concentrated throughout Andhra and Rayalseema Region, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This is the only Subcaste of Kapu which bears both the titles Setty and Naidu. Balija is Primarily a Warrior/Trading community by Occupation they seem to have been formed by a small Social Change that seem to have occurred among some sections of the Kapu community the Original Balijas seem to have migrated form the Balijipeta, Srikakulam District According to some Historians. Veera Balaingyas were mentioned in Kakatiya inscriptions. They were powerful and wealthy merchants who were highly respected in Kakatiyan society. The Balijas had the title Setty and were primarily Tax collectors and Merchants. The following are the major Balija ruling clans or Dynasities which comprised the heart of Vijayanagar Empire. It is also said the great Emperor KrishnadevaRaya had a Balija/Kapu Origin. Araveeti Dynasity the last Dynasty of Vijaynagar and its ruler Ramaraya the last ruler of the Vijaynagar Empire was a Kota Balija. Maduri Nayaks Tanjavur nayaks Ceylon Khandi Kings Penukonda Kalyanadurg RayaDurgam Chandragiri Udayagiri Kasturi Nayadu, Peda Koneti Nayudu of the Vasarasi family of Balija caste ruled these Provinces. Most of the Balijas refer themselves as Kapu/Telaga in Andhra and as Munnuru Kapu in Telangana. But in Rayalaseema Area they are not referred as Kapu but as Balija/Setty Balija/Balija Naidu/Naidu here Kapu refers to Reddys another Community. However they retain the caste title Naidu Balija Branches Setty Balija These were the Rich and Powerful Traders and Merchants of the Kakatiya Dynasty. There was mention of some very old Trading Guilds concentrated in Bellary in Karnataka. In fact Historian's suggest this was the first branch in Balijas. Balija Naidu Balija Naidu is a derivation of the term Balija Nayakulu. This sub caste seems to have formed during the Kakatiya Dynasty times primarily to protect the Balija / Setty trading caravans from being attacked by bandits. The current Anantapur Dt and Nellore Dt were ruled by Balija Naidu Kings/Families. Kota Balijasthe Araveedu dynasty of Vijayanagar Empire was from this lineage so are the Madurai nayaks and the Tanjavore nayaks. Gajula Balija/Sugavansi Balija (Pure) Myth is that Siva’s wife Parvati made a penance in order to look beautiful for Siva and the person that brought her bangles riding a donkey was the ancestor of the Gajula Balija. Kavarai (Kavara Balija Naidu or Gavara Balija Naidu)."Kavarai is the name for Balijas (Telugu trading caste), who have settled in the Tamil country" as per Thurston of Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Kavarais call themselves Balijas (Born from fire).They use the titles Naidu, Nayakkan, Chetti or Setti and Nayak. Gajula Balija is the largest sub -division of Kavarais. The equivalent name for Gajula Balija in Tamil is Valaiyal Chetti. (The meaning of Tamil name Valaiyal in Telugu is Gajulu (Bangles).Gajula Balijas attained this name as they were involved in manufacturing and selling bangles initially though they made their mark in various other fields later. Rajamahendravaram Balija or Musu Kamma Balija (Named after a special ear ornament worn by women) Gandavallu or Gundapodi Vandlu (Supposed to have originally Komatis) Odda (Vada) Balija a subcaste of the Balija based in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and E.Godavari dist., a community of Sea-faring Traders and Merchants. PROMINENT BALIJAS:  Freedom fighters  Politics: In Lok Sabha  In Rajya Sabha In Assembly   Zamindars   Judiciary   Armed Forces & Services   Sports   Intellectuals   Entrepreneurs   Information Technology / Corporate   Arts Poetry Classical Music Dance Drama Novelist  Film Industry Producers Directors Actors Music Directors Writers Technical Support  Educational Institutions Freedom fighters  Late Akula Venkata Subbaiah (Freedom Fighter - Tirupathi).  Late kodi Ramamurthy Naidu (Freedom Fighter - Vizianagaram).  Kanneganti Hanumanthu (Palanadu, Freedom Fighter Started the Palandu Rebellion against British General Rutherford)  Kondra Pydithalli Naidu(Member of Famous Indian National Army founded by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose,Fought with British in World War II)  Polisetty Swamy Naidu (Freedom Fighter, Gudala, East Godavari District Board Member and organizer) Politics: In Lok Sabha Name Segment Party  Annayyagari,sai Pratap Rajampet INC  Badiga Ramakrishna Machilipatnam INC  Botcha Jhansi Lakshmi Bobbili INC  Chalapathirao Pappala Anakapalli TDP  Raju Pallam Mangapati Mallipudi Kakinada INC  Vallabbhaneni Balashowary Tenali INC  Rajya Sabha Name Segment Party  chennamsetty Ramchandraiah TDP  Dasari Narayana Rao INC  Kancherla Keshava Rao INC  V.Hanumantha Rao INC  In Assembly Name Segement Party  A S Manohar Chittoor TDP  Alla Nani Eluru INC  Aruna Padala Gajapathinagaram TDP  Bajireddy Goverdhan Banswada INC  Bandaru Satyananda Rao E.Godavari.Dt TDP  Botcha Satyanarayana Cheepurupalli INC  Buddha Prasad Mandali Avanigadda INC  Buragadda Vedavyas Malleswaram INC  Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy Palacole TDP  D.Nagender Asafnagar TDP  Dharmapuri Srinivasa Rao Nizamabad INC  Dharmasri Karanam G.Madugula INC  Eli Nani Tadepalli Gudem PRP  Ganta Srinivasarao Chodavaram TDP  Pulaparthy Ramanjaneyul Bhimavaram INC  Jakkampudi Ramamohan Rao Kadiam INC  K Mohan Rao Patapatnam TDP  P. Narayana Swami Naidu Bhogapuram TDP  Kanna Lakshmi Narayana Peddakurapadu INC  Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao Vunukuru TDP  Komoreddi Ramlu Metpalli JP  Konda Surekha Shyampet INC  Kothapalli Subbaraidu Narasapur TDP  Kottu Satyanarayana Tadepalligudem INC  M.Venkata Ramana Tirupathi INC  P Dora Babu Pithapuram BJP  Pagadaala Ramaiah Giddalur INC  Palakondrayudu Sugavasi Rayachoty TDP  Perni Venkata Ramaiah Bandar INC  Ponnala Lakshmaiah Jangaon INC  Routhu Suryaprakasa Rao Rajahmundry INC  Sana Maruthi Choppadandi TDP  Satish Paul Raj Vemur INC  Seetharamu Karri Bheemunipatnam INC  Subba Rao Varupula Prathipadu INC  Thota Gopala Krishna Peddapuram INC  Thota Narsimham Jaggampeta INC  Udayabhanu Samineni Jaggayyapet INC  Vanama Venkateswara Rao Kothagudem INC  Vangaveeti Radha Krishnan Vijayawada (East) INC  Vatti Vasant Kumar Ungutur INC Zamindars  Anisetti Butchi Venkayya Dora  Attili: Annem Family (West Godavari District)  Bendamurlanka: Yalla Family (East Godavari Dist.)  Bhimavaram: Gannabhatulla Family (WG Dist)  Buttaigudem: Karatam Family (WG Dist; mentioned in Andhrula Sanghika Charitra)  Chegondi Hari Rama Jogayya (Dhoddipatla, West Godavari)  Dhangeru: Polisetty Family (EG Dist)  Dharmavaram: Kanchumarthi Narasayya Naidu and Venkata Seetha Ram Chandra Rao  Dharsiparru: Dulam Family (West Godavri Dist)  Dontihundam: Tripurana Family (Srikakulam Dist)  Kalyandurg: Butna family (Ananthapur Dist)  Kamatalapalli: Allam Family (Veeravasaram Mandal, W.G.Dt) (About 1000 Acres)  Kesireddy Family Vempadu, West Godavari  Kathirisetti Venkata Narasayya Naidu - Kathirisetti Family (Srikakulam)  Kurasala Nageswara Rao - KURASALA Family (West Godavari District)  Late Palacholla Ramakotaiah (Ponnuru, Guntur District)  Late Yalavarthi SitaRamaiah Naidu (Ponnuru, Guntur district)  Mothey Family (East Godavari)  Narsampet: Mehaboob Reddy (Warangal district)  Narsapuram: Pappula Venkananna (w g dist)  Nimmakala Family (East Godavri)  Osuri Family (Narasapur, West Godavari)  Palluri Family(Vijayanagaram Dist)  Pantham Family (East Godavari)  Papppula Venkatawara Rao-(Narsapuram -West Godavari Dist)  Penugonda: Javvadi Family (WG Dist) - koyyetipadu, ogidi estatedhars  Pitapuram Maharaja: Pasupuleti  Porandla Laxmi Narayana Patel (Maddunuru,Karimnagar Dist,AP)  Rau Sahib Errobrolu Sri Ramulu Naidu (Vijayawada)  Sudhapalem: Sirangu Family (EG Dist)  Sunku Ramayya (Ganapavaram, West Godavari)  Tadepalligudem: Mendu Padmanabiah and Annapoornamma  Thota Family (Thota Ramaswamy Bahadur, Late Dr. Thota Dhanapathy Rao Naidu Family).  Ungarala Family (East Godavri, Late Dr. Ungarala Sita Ram Swamy Naidu of Kakinada)  Vella: (Sri Vattikuti Family; EG Dist).  Vuyyuru Samsthanam: Bommadevera Rajas (Spanned West Godavari and Krishna Dst Existed for 300 years)  Yerra Suryam Zamindhar (Uppuluru, West Godavari) Judiciary Name Designation  Hon'ble Justice Ambati Lakshman Rao Retd.Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh High Courts  Hon'ble Justice Grandhi Bhavani Prasad Judge, AP High Court  HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE IYYAPU PANDURANGA RAO Judge of High Court of Andhra Pradesh  I Venkat Rao Retd. Judge of A.P,High Court  Kadim Manikyala Rao Senior Advocate,A.P High Court,Ex Standing Council of Endowments, Andhra Pradesh Government  Hon'ble Justice Mutha Gopala Krishna Former Chief Justice AP High Court  Hon'ble Justice N Vidya Prasad Principal Sessions Judge, Visakapatnam  Poluru Gangaiah Naidu Senior Advocate,High Court & Supreme Court, Hyderabad  Hon'ble Justice Ponnuri DurgaPrasad Sessions Judge,Nampally  P Shiv Shanker Former Minister for Law and Company Affair, Government of India and Former Judge,AP High court  Hon'ble Justice Ramineni Ramanujam Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh and retired Jugde,A.P High Court  Hon'ble Justice S. Rajendra Babu Former Chief Justice of India  Hon'ble Justice Thota Lakshmaiah Naidu Former Justice  Hon'ble Justice Toom MeenaKumari Judge, AP High Court  Hon'ble Justice Tamada Gopalakrishna Judge, AP High Court  Armed Forces & Service  Badiga Potha Raju (Retd DSP Hyderabad)  BhogiReddy Prithvi Narayana (DSP Narasa Rao Pet)  Brig. Mendu Aiyanna Naidu (Chennai)  Brig. Puppala Raj Kumar (Hyd)  Channamsetti Chakrapani (Rtd DSP Guntur)  G.P.Rao I.A.S (Retd Addl Sec Government of India and former Chairman, APERC)  Gandrothu Venkateswara Rao (DSP Special Branch)  Harshavardha Vanagala (Deputy Commissioner Commerical Taxes)  I. J. Naidu I.A.S (Former Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh)  K. Subba Rao I.F.S (Retd Principal chief Conservater & Famous writer)  K.S.N.Murthy IPS (Retd IGP, Coordination Go AP)  K.Satyanarayana Rao, I.P.S (Peda Babu) (DIG)  K.V.S.Murthy I.P.S (Additional Director General of Police, Chennai, TamilNadu  Kadim Narayan Kumar I.A.S Director, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.  Kadim Padmaja I.R.S (Indian Railways)  Kolla Sai (I.F.S, Bangalore)  M. Kamal Naidu, I.F.S (Shaurya Chakra)- Principal Chief Conservator Forests Chairman-Godavari Valley Development Authority (Retd)  M. V. Bhaskara Rao I.P.S (Former DGP, Andhra Pradesh)  P. V. Rajeshwar Rao I.R.S ,Chief Commissioner of Income Tax  H. Srinivasulu I.R.S ,Commissioner of Income Tax  P. V. Rao I.R.S ,Commissioner of Income Tax  Kameswari I.R.S ,Commissioner of Income Tax  Balakrishna I.R.S ,Joint Commisssioner of Income Tax  S. Srinivas I.R.S ,Deputy Commisssioner of Income Tax  P. Satya Prasanth I.R.S ,Deputy Commisssioner of Income Tax  M. V. Krishna Rao I.P.S (Vice Charman and Managing Director of APSRTC)  M.Gopala Krishna I.A.S (Retd. Special Cheif Secretary , Andhra Pradesh)  Motupalli Venkataratnam I.A.S (former Chairman Andhra Bank)  Murali IPS (SP, Vizag Rural)  Murali Krishna IPS (Jt. Director ACB,GoAP)  Nakka Balasubramanyam I.P.S (Ongole SP)  Namana Venkata Krishniah, Founding Chief Engineer, Nagarjuna Sagar dam project  Naresh Kumar IAS (Collector Hyderabad District)  Nookala Jayaram IFS (Chief principal Conservator of Forests AP)  P. V. Rangaiah Naidu I.P.S (Former DGP, Former Union minister)  P.Madan Mohan Rao IRTS (Indian Railways)  P.V.Rao IRS (Addl Comm.Admn. Incom Tax)  Padma Bhushan G.A.Narasimha Rao (United Nations Special Advisor for Water Resources, Chairman for Central Water Power Commission, Chief Engineer for   Nagarjuna Sagar Dam)  Pinisetty Satchidananda Murthy I.F.S  R. K. Ragala, I.P.S, D.G.P. (Rtd.)  R.M.Gonela IAS  Ragamsetty Janardhana ( OSD to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh)  S.V. Prasad, I.A.S ( Ex Principal Secretary to Chandra Babu Naidu & Present Special Chief Secretary)  S.V. Ramana Murthy, I.P.S ( I.G.P Computers)  SriRamulu Naidu (D.S.P, Bobbili)  Cdr.Thota Venkateshwara Rao (Indian Navy ) ,Chennai  Dr.Thota Venkateswara Rao (Director of State Medical Services)  T.Vikram IPS (SP, Kerala)  Tavvala Subba Rao Naidu (Income Tax Commissioner)  Vice Admiral R. D. Katari (First Chief of Naval Staff from 22 April 1958 - 4 June 1962)  Y.Srilakshmi IAS (Secy GoAP) Sports  Addagarla Parasayya Naidu (Known as 'Sixer Naidu'. Famous Cricketer & Coach , Jt. Sectary VDCA/ACA)  Ambati Thirupathi Rayudu (Dynamic young cricketer)  Andhra Simha Bandaru Sreerama Satyanadha Rao Naidu (Boxing)  Badeti Tejaswini Naidu (Power lifter)  Bodda Prathyusha Nine-year-old chess prodigy from Mangavaram vishakapatnam  Badeti Venkatramaiah (Gen Secretary of South India Weight Lifting Association)  Bondada Satyanarayana (Ex. OLYMPIAN) Worked with the TATA group in Jamshedpur  Chaladi Ramesh Babu (Kadavakollu Ramesh Naidu - Kabaddi - National Kabaddi Player)  Cottari Kankayya Naidu (C. K. Naidu - Former Indian Cricket Captain)  D.Meher Baba (Andhra and Hyderabad Ranji Teams)  I. Ram Prasad- Atheltic sports  K Partha Sarathy (International Cricket Umpire)  K.Srinvasa Rao (Jr Asian Golden Medal in 4x400 mts Relly)  Kodi Ramamurthy Naidu (Greatest wrestler India has produced)  Kommireddy Family (Kommireddy Gopanna, Kommireddy Baskarrama Murthy Sr, Baskarram  Murthy Jr. , Kommireddy Kamaraju-Andhra Ranji Team)  Kothapalli Seshu Babu (Former National Volleyball Player)  Padma Raju (Kabbadi player from Vizag, represented India)  Savaram Mastan Rao (Cricketer Businessman Guntur)  Saladi Sattiraju (Asst. director spots authority of india)  s.s.p. satyanarayanarao (Retired dy director in (/br>sports authority of india)  Vaddi Sudhakar(Badminton, National Player)  Vaddi Narsingh Rao (Director, Sports Authority of India)  Vanka Pratap(Hyderabad Ranji Player and Captain)  Y. Venu Gopal Rao (Cricketer) Intellectuals  Dr. A.V. Rama Rao (Former Director Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, received "Padmashree" from Government of India, Founder of Avra Laboratories)  Dr. Allam Appa Rao (Principal College of Engineering, Andhra University)  Dr. Anumakonda Jagadeesh ,scientist (Wind Energy)   Dr. Anisetti Satyanarayana Murty (Professor Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University)  Brahmarshi, Rao Bahaddur and Sir Raghupathi Venkata Rathnam Naidu (Great Educationist and Social Reformer)  Dr. CH. Umesh Chandra (Renowned Cardiologist)  Dr. Ganapathi Venkata Lakshmi Narasimha Rao Pulaparthi(Famous economist)  Dr. Gopalam Subramanyam (Former Registrar of Andhra University)  G. Sreerama Murthy (editor suryaa telugu daily ,formerly for Andhra Prabha and Andhra Patrika)  Dr. Gopalam Veera Hanumantha Rao  Professor I.Chalapathi Naidu (Surgeon and former principal of Guntur Medical College)  Dr.Kotikala Pudi Kanaka Prasada Rao - eminent sugar cane scientist  Dr. K.V. Naidu (Prominent CT surgeon and Former Director, SVIMS, Tirupati. Played an instrumental role in the success of the institute)  Dr. Sasiprabha (Former Director of Medical and Health Education; Superintendent of King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam)  Dr. Sekhar Tam Tam (Awarded Member of the British Empire 2006 by Queen Elizabeth II for service as District Medical Officer in the British Caribbean island of Grenada)  Dr. Sunkara Balparmeshwar Rao (India's Top Neurosurgeon)  Dr. Sunkara Venkata Adinarayana (Renowned Orthopedician,       Founder, Director General of Prema Hospital, Visakhapatnam)  Dr. Suresh K. Alahari (Professor of Biochemistry,       at LSU Medical College, New Orleans, USA)  Dr. Thota Lakshmi Narasimha Rao, Opthlamologist, Former Superintendent of King  George Hospital, Visakhapatnam  Govinda Rajulu Naidu (First Vice Chancellor of SV University, Tirupati)  Kalala Ranganatham (Special Officer, Orissa Power Corporation.       Former CMD-NPDCL,SPDCL, AP Power Corporation)  Kurma Venugopala Swami Naidu (Former Registrar of Andhra University)  M. Gopalkrishna I.A.S (Chairman APSFC, one of the foremost economists in India)  M.V. Rao (Former VC AP Agricultural University)  Manikonda Chalapathi Rao (Legendary Editor of National Herald for 30 years and a close friend of Jawaharlal Nehru)  Mendu Ram Mohan Rao (Dean, Indian School of Business, ISB)  Pentapati Pulla Rao (Famous economist)  Rao Bahadur Veenam Veranna (Engineer who helped Arthur Cotton in Dowleswaram       dam construction)  Rokkam Radhakrishna (Former VC Andhra University)  Smt. Rohini Kamal Naidu (Internationally renowned classical Dancer, Educationist and Behavioral Specialist)  Venkatesh "Venky" Narayanamurti (Dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences,Harvard University)  Entrepreneurs  Akula Siva Naidu (Integrated Chips Manufacturer, Hyderabad)  Akula Sri Ramulu (Chairman of ASR group of colleges & ASR Group of Industries)  Akula Vikram [Time Magazine's list of 100 most influential people 2006]  Badiga Ramakrishna (M.P & Industrialist Ramayya Group of Companies)  Bonam Kanakaih (Education institutions)  Chadalvada Krishnamurthi (Industrialist from Tirupathi, Ex MLA)  D.K. Adikesavulu Naidu (KBD Ltd. (Bangalore), Vani Sugars, etc.; Chittor MP)  Dr. D.N. Rao (Managing Partner, Shakthi group, Vijayawada)  Dr. P. Narayana (Founder and Chairman of Narayana Group of Educational Institutions)  Dr. Parvathareddi Anand (MD of Anand Enterprises and Anand Granite Exports Pvt. Ltd)  Dr. Sunkara Venkata Adinarayana ( Founder, Director General of Prema Hospital,Vizag)  Geddam Surya Chandra Rao (Rekha Corportion, Seven hill software companies)  Ghanta Srinivas Rao (Shipping Business,Visakhapatnam)  Gopalam Venkata Gurunatham ( MD, ESA Group of companies)  I.R. Sekhar Rao (MD, Vance and Health, Hyd)- Pharmaceuticals  K.V.S.Chalapathi Rao (Founder/CEO Tech4solutions-USA/India)  Kalavakolanu Thulasi (Lay Cloth Exporter, Narsapuram, WG Dist.)  Kilaru Venkata Rosiah (MD of Vijaya Krishna International and President of Mirch Association)  Krishna Bhogadi (Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Inforaise Technologies Pvt. LTD.)  Kumarayya (MD of Salivahana Constructions & Owner of Minerva Complex, Secunderabad)  L.V. Ramaiah (Yadalam and Company Founder)  Lakshmi Bhowmick (Chairperson, Swethambari Constructions, Hyderabad)  M.S. Ramiah (Bangalore based Industrialist, Educational/Medical Institutes)  N.Anand(NANDINI GROUP OF RESTAURANTS)  Nukala Ramakrishna (Fishing & Marine Exports)  Poluru Srikanth Naidu (Manufacturing & Barite Exports)  Ranganath Katari (Founder and CEO of Velosys Corporation - A Katari Group company, Honorary Chairman of Business Advisory Council for NRCC - National Republican Congressional Committee)  Rayala Apparao (Red Chillies Business and Cold Storages in Gudivada & Guntur)  Sakuntala Rangarajan (Industrialist & Veltech Group)  Sanakkayala Satyanarayana (Kranthi transport,Vijayawada)  Saradhi (Train Tyre Manufacturer, Nuziveedu, Krishna Dist.)  Swamy Karatam (MD, Wicube Solutions Pvt Ltd, London)  T.Styanandam (Konark Power Projects)  TC Ashok (Founder/CEO - Fortuna Technologies - USA/India)  Thadi Thata Rao (Liquor Manufacturing Company, Contractor, Amalapuram, EG Dist)  Thoram Trinadha Babu (Satya Group of Companies, Bhimavaram, WG Dist.)  Thota Satayanarayana (Jagdish Marines, Bhimavaram, WG Dist.)  Thota Subba Rayudu (Turbo Tyre Manufacturer, Hyderabad)  Tulasi Ranchnadra Prabhu (MD Tulasi Group of Companies)  Vajramsetti Chadrasekhar (MD of Vajaram Star Hotes and Vajram Constructions Banglore)  Vamsi Vikas Ganesula (Chairman & MD, Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools Ltd, Hyderabad)  Vanapalli Babu Rao (Kalyani Agro.T.P.Gudem,Power Projects in Andhra, Maharashtra)  Vanka Ravindranath (Indian Hair Industries, Tanuku, WG Dist.)  IT/Corporate  Adapa Raja Suresh (MD, GE Capital India)  Allam Adiseshu Babu (MD - McCoy, Chennai)  B. Verabhadra Rao (former CEO Intergraph, India)  B.V. Naidu (Chairman, STPI)  Bhogadi Krishna (MD, Inforaise Technologies Ltd,HYD)  C.S. Rao (Former President and CEO Lucent, India)  Chinthagunta Kalyan Rao (MD,Concept Infotech Sol.,USA)  Dr.Venkata Ramana Rao CEO - RSI Health Care (for computer organizations)  G Sitaram (CTO 7Hills Business Solutions Limited, India and US)  Gandluru Umamaheswar (First American Corporation)  Hari Rangisetty (RadiTechLLC , USA)  K.V.S.Chalapathi Rao (former MD&CEO Goldstone Technologies Limited)  Kolla Srihari (Chairperson - Aruntech Solutions, HYD)  Naresh (Managing Director, Naresh Technologies)  Nirup Krishnamurthy Naidu (CTO, Northern Trust Corporation, Former CIO United Airlines)  Panchakarla Srinivas(CEO Pinnacle Business Application Solutions Pvt.Ltd., United Kingdom,Leicester/ India,Hyderabad)  Posina Ganesh (CEO Pronest Inc USA,NJ)  Pothula Ranga Ram (Executive Director EMC Corporation)  Prasad Bhogadi (Vice President, INFO RAISE, INDIA)  Prasad.V.lokam(CEO /President Miracle Software Systems Inc)  Raghu Mendu (Founder and CEO Metamor)  Ranganath Thota, former CEO Mobile2Win, China; Business Head Hindustan Times Group  Ravindranath Thota,Vice president, Standard Chartered Bank ,Dubai  Rokkam Kiran (First American Corporation)  S. Srinath Naidu (Dy CEO - Actia Siemens Asia Pacific Division, New Delhi)  Srini Kopollu (MD Microsoft India)  Srinivas Kishen (GM, Wipro Technologies)  Subbu Kota (CEO Boston Technology Group)  Sunkari Venkata Satya Ramdas, CIO , Ministry of Higher Education & Science Research, Abu Dhabi, UAE  Surya Panditi (Former CEO Avici Systems)  TC Ashok (Founder/CEO - Fortuna Technologies - USA/India)  Thota Suryanarayana (General Manager, SIRIS IMPEX pharmaceutical company, Vijayawada)  Vasu Kamireddi (Vice President, Volga Systems Services, San Jose, CA)  Yerramsetti Ramesh (MD,GSS Technologies,Hyd and USA) Arts Poetry  Chekuru Siddha Kavi  Gudaru Venkatadasa Kavi  Konidena Nagaya Kavi  Manku Sri (Manku Sreenivas,Kopparru)  Matcha Venkataraya Kavi  Nanne Choda  Pagadala Narasimhulu Naidu  Raghunatha Naidu  Rani Ganga Devi  Rani Thirumalamba Devi  S V T Kumar - Tamilnadu (Pasupuleti)  Salem Pagadala Narasimhalu Nayadu Coimbatore  Samukham Venkatakrishnappa Naidu  Srikrishna Devarayulu(According to Thurston Vijaya Nagar, Madura and Thanjavur Kings were Balija Naidus)  Thapi Dharma Rao Naidu  Thumu Ramadasa Kavi  Thupakula Anantha Bhoopaludu  Tripurana Venkata Surya Prasada Rao Dora  Vemana(Vemana wrote in his poems that he belonged to Kapu caste)  Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Naidu  Yerra Venkata Swamy Classical Music  D. Anantha Venkata Swamy Naidu  D. Venkata Krishnaiah (Violinist)  Dr. D.Lakshmi (Artiste for national integration, special feature in Dooradarshan, and all India Radio)  Dwaram Bhavanarayana ("Sangeetha Kalaprapoorna", "Gandharva Vidyabhooshana" and renowned musicologist)  Dwaram Mangatayaru  Dwaram Venkata Swamy Naidu (Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Violin Virtuoso  - Greatest Musicians A.P has Produced)  Pithapuram Nageswara Rao (Singer)  Vijayalakshmi Kanna Rao (Singer)  Dance  Sobha Naidu (Famous Kuchipudi dancer)  Tanneru Lavanya Bhagya Sree (famous upcoming child dancer) Drama - Stage performance  Achanta Ventaka Rathnam Naidu  Bhagavathasekhara Chebrolu Balakrishna Dasu  Dudala Ranga Rao  DV Subba Rao (last name is Dubbu and he is very popular for his Sathya Harischandra play in Guntur/Prakasam districts)  Novelists  Challa Subramanyam  Chandu Sombabu  Dasam Gopalakrishna  Mummidi  Devaraya  Mummidi Shyamala Rani  Pinisetty Sri Ramamurthy (Ravi Raja Pinisetty's father)  S V T Kumar - Tamilnadu (Pasupuleti) svtkumar@gmail.com  Yerramsetti Sai Film Industry Producers  A. M. Rathnam (Alahari)  Adapa Satyanarayana (Tataji)  Addala Chanti  Adinarayana Rao (Anjali pictures)  Akula Sreeramulu  Allu Aravind  Arjun Daluvoy (Hollywood producer and Chairman Indo-American film association)  B. A. Subba Rao (Chenchulakshmi fame)  B. V. Ramanandam (Varudhini)  Badeti Satyanarayana  Badiga Subrahmanyam (Lakshmi Ganapathi films)  Chalam (Sambarala Rambabu)  Chegondi Hari Babu (Harirama Jogayya)  Dasari Narayana Rao - darsakaratna  Dundeswara Rao (Doondi)  Edida Nageshwar Rao (Most of Vishwanath's movies were produced by his Poornodaya Creations)  Edida Nageswara Rao (producer of Sankarabaranam)  Editor Mohan  Garikepati Raja Rao  Gavara Sarathi [produced Mr. Pellam and the telugu version of Chandramukhi]  Gummalla Ganesh (Executive Producer of Tagore)  Jaya krishna  K. Raghava (Tata Manavadu Producer)  Kaikala Nageswara Rao  K.Naga babu (anjali productions)  Kannamba and Nagabhooshanam (Rajarajeswari Films)  Karatam Krishnamurti  Karatam Rambabu [producer of Nandi award winning Devullu]  Kondeti Suresh  M. S. Gopinath  N. V. Prasad (ex.Vasantham producer)  Nachu Seshagiri Rao  Nagendra Babu  P. Pullaiah and Shantha Kumari (Padmasri pictures)  Pantham Chinna Rao  Pantham Nanaji [one of the producers of Sri Baktha Ramdas]  Polisetty Veera Venkata Satyanarayana (abbai) dhangeru - bhatti vikramaarka - 1960  Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu (Father of Telugu Cinema, First Producer, Introducer of Movies to Srilanka and Burma,First builder of Movie theater in Chennai(Geity)and other theaters (Crown and Globe)  Rayala Radha Krishna (Producer of Bengali Hit films - Adharer Bon ,Nainer Alo ,Krodhi etc under banner B.R. Productions)  S.Bhavanarayana (Related to D.Yoganand)  S.V.S. RamaRao (Producer of Chinnamma katha Jaimini Productions)  Sana Yadi Reddy  Sekhar Kammula  Shanthakumari and Srihari  T. Trivikrama Rao (Vijaya Lakshmi Productions)  Thadi Thatha Rao  Thota Subba Rao  Vaddi Sreenivasulu  Vakada Appa Rao  Venkateswarlu  Vijaykanth (Also called "Captain".Producer ,actor,politician and President of South Indian Film Artistes Association)  Actors  Achyut Kunapareddy  Akula Vijaya Vardhan  Allu Arjun  Anjali Devi  Arja Janardhana Rao  Bhanu Chandar  Bhusarapu Venkateswara Rao  Brahmaji  Ch.Krishna Murthi  Chalam (Sambarala Rambabu fame)  Chiranjeevi (Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad, Padmabhusan,Supreme Hero, Megastar)  Dasari Arunkumar  Dasari Narayana Rao  Danush(Venkatesh Prabhu) Tamil Super Star  Devika  Edida Sreeram  G (Garikepati) Varalakshmi  Hari Varun  Hema Sundar (played as Chiru's father VET movie and he is an elder brother of Thota Tharani)  Kaikala Satyanarayana (Navarasa Nata Saarvabhowma)  Kamal Kama Raju ( actor in Godavri movie)  Kanaka (Daughter of Devika)  Kanakadurga  Kanakala Devadas  Kodi Ramakrishna   Konidela Siva Sankara Vara Prasad ( Chiranjeevi)   Konidela Pawan Kalyan   Konidela Ram Charan Teja  Lakshman Naidu (Pasupuleti)  M. R. Radha  M. S. Narayana (Comedian)  M.R.Vasu(Son of M.R.Radha,actor and producer of Tamil movies)  Nagarathna  Nagendra Babu (Actor/Producer)  Nissankararao Savithri (Mahanati Savithri)  P. Shantha Kumari  Padmasri Allu Rama Lingaiah (Legendary actor and comedian)  Pasupuleti Kannamba  Pawan Kalyan (Konidela Kalyan)  Pinisetty Sreerama Murthy  Pradeep Pinisetti  Prasanna Rani  Rajanala Kalliah  Rajanala Nageswara Rao  Rajasree (acted in lot of Janapada movies and she is the wife of Thota Panchajanya from Purushottama Patnam, Guntur dt)  Rajeev Kanakala  Ramakrishna  Ravi (Tamil and Telugu Actor, Editor Mohan's son)  Ravi Krishna (Son of producer A.M. Rathnam)  Ravikiran (Tamil and Kannada actor)  S. Varalakshmi  S.V.Ranga Rao Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (Known as S.V.R) - Vishwa Nata Chakravarthi  S.V. Jagga Rao  Sandhya Rani  Sreenivas (son of Ramakrishna and Geethanjali)  Srihari (Raghumudri Sri Hari)  Suresh (S/o MS Gopinath, Producer)  Tara (famous Kannada actress)  Thoogudeepa Darshan  Thyaga Raju  Vikram (Son of M.S.Narayana)  Directors  Adapala Poornachandra Rao(Poorna Adapala)  Addala Srikanth (Kotha Bangaru Lokam )Fame  B.A. Subba Rao  Beeram Mastan Rao  D. Yoganand  Dasari Narayana Rao  Dhavala Sathyam  Guna Sekhar  Jampana Chandrasekhara Rao (Krishnaleelalu fame)  K.Veera Shankar (Director Gudumba Shankar)  Kanakala Devadas  Kandula Vara Prasada Rao  Kasturi Raja(Tamil Director)  Kodi Ramkrishna  Kunapareddy Nandan Rao  Kummala Sekhar  M.S. Narayana  Manjula Naidu  Nagesh Kukunoor  Naidu Sisters  Nimmala Shankar  P. Pulliah  P.LakshmiNarayana  Pasupuleti Vamsi Krishna (Krishna Vamsi)  Pusala Radhakrishna  Raja (Editor Mohan's son)  Ravi Raja Pinisetty  sattaru praveen (L.B.W ) Fame  Selva raghavan(Tamil Director) 7G Brindhavan Colony  S. Bhavanarayana  S.V.S.RamaRao (Director-Chinnamma katha)  Savitri(Chinnari Papalu,Mathru Devatha etc)  Sekhar Kammula  Sukumar Bandreddy  Thapi Chanakya  V.V. Vinayak  Vannemreddy Raja (Kshemamga velli Labhamgarandi fame)  Veeru.K(Director of Aaro Pranam)  Music Directors  Adinarayana Rao  Akula Appal Raj (A.A. Raj)  Devi Sri Prasad  Gandham Sagar  Jilla Chakri  Salur Koteshwar Rao (Koti)  Salur Rajeswara Rao  Kunche Raghu (Singer and anchor)  Master Venu  Ramana Gogula  Ramesh Naidu  Siva  Writers  A. M. Rathnam  Akula Siva  Ananth Sriram (lyric writer)  Anisetti Subba Rao  Bollimuntha Sivarama Krishna  Chandu Sombabu  Chinni Krishna  Chittareddy Surya Kumari  Dasam Gopala krishna  Dasari Narayana Rao  Gandham Satyamurthi  Pinisetty Sreerama Murthy  Pusala  R. Sandhya Devi (surname is Rolla)  Sekhar Kammula  Thapi Dharma Rao Naidu  Vardhineedi Suresh Babu (Oka Oorilo)(Veeravasaram,West Godavari Dt.,)  Vijayalakshmi Seelamsetty  Yarramsetti Sai  Technical Support  A.L. Krishna Prasad (Founder of South Indian Still Cameraman Association)  Addala Chanti (Art Director/Producer)  Bandi Gopala Rao (Editor)  Bandi Nayudu (Make up man)  Bandreddy Venkata Subba Rao (Dubbing Organizer and Dubbing artist)  C.Nageswara Rao (Cinematographer)  Chandra (Makeup man)  Chota K. Naidu (Kommareddi Naidu)(Cinematographer)  Gunda Murthy (Co-Director,Nee Navve Chaalu,Teepi Gurthu, Veeravasaram)  Kattula Dattu (Cameraman)  K.M.Marthand(Editor, nephew of director and producer B.A.Subba Rao)  Kodi Lakshman (Cameraman)  Marthand Venkatesh(Editor, son of K.M.Marthand)  Mohan (Editor)  Mohanji-Jaganji (Still Photographers)  Pinisetti Ram (Cinematographer)  Potha Raju (Makeup man)  S.V.S.RamaRao (Art Director-Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam )  Syam K. Naidu (Cameraman)  Thota Ramana (Cameraman)  Thota Tharini (Art Director)  Thota Venkateswara Rao (Art director)  V.S.R. Swamy (Cinematographer/Director)  Educational Institutions  Akula Gopayya Engineering College, Tadepalligudem  Akula Sriramulu Engineering College, Tanuku, West Godavari.  Avanthi Degree College, Vishakapatnam  Avanthi Group of Engineering Colleges (Narispatnam, Gunthapallynam, Cherukupally)  Avanthi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Cherukupally, Vijayanagaram  Bonam Venkata Chalamaiah Engineering College, Odalarevu Amalapuram(via)East Godavari  Bonam VenkataChalamaiah Institute of Technology, Amalapuram, East Godavari.  Delhi Public School (Hyderabad, Secundrabad)  Dr. Allu Ramalingaiah Govt Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Rajahmundry, East Godavari.  Dr.Satheesh PaulRaju College Of Engineering, Bhadrachalam, Khammam District  Kakinada Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kakinada.  KGRL College, Bhimavaram  Loyola Institute of Tech & Management Dhulipalla (V),Guntur Nagarjuna University  Mavericks School Of Business, Kompally,Andhra Pradesh  Maddala Ramakrishna Polytechnic, Veeravasaram, West Godavari  MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore  MS Ramayya Engineering College, Bangalore  Narayana Group of Educational Institutions, Nellore.  Nova Group of Colleges, Jangareddy Gudem, W.G  Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Management Studies , Kakinada  Rao & Naidu College of Engineering, Ongole  S. V. L. Polytechnic college, Machilipatnam  Saptha Giri College , Vijayawada.  Sreenivas Institute of Technology and Management Studies, Chittoor (SITAMS)  Sri Adarsha Junior College, Attili, West Godavari.  Sri Saradhi College of Engineering & Technology, Nuziveedu, Krishna Dist.  Sri Srinivasa Vidya Parishad group of Colleges, Vishakapatnam (Sri Sunkar Alwardas education society) [18]  St. Anns College of Engineering & Technology Vetapalem (M), Chirala , Prakasam  St. Theressa Institute of Engieering& Technology, Vijayanagaram  Sweekaar Special School and Rehabilitation Institute for handicapped children, Secunderabad.  Veltech Group Of Engineering Colleges, Chennai  Videhi Medical College, Banglore  Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore.  Yerramilli Narayana Rao(Y.N College Narsapuram - 100 Years Old College)

Here some of the surnames and gothras :