Munnuru Kapu

Munnuru Kapu
Religions	Hinduism[1]
Languages	Telugu
Country	India
Region	Telangana

Munnuru Kapu is a Telugu-speaking caste primarily found in the Indian state of Telangana.[2] Traditionally, they are a community of cultivators and are distributed across Telangana.[3] They are also present in Nanded and Latur districts of Maharashtra.[1][4]

Munnuru Kapus are described as an economically and politically prominent community of Telangana.[5][6][7] In the 2018 Telangana Assembly, Munnuru Kapus are the third largest caste in unreserved seats with eight MLAs; next only to Reddy and Velama communities.[8] Some members of the community have also ventured into industry and business, and became established businessmen like B. V. Rao, Vikram Akula, and Myadam Kishan Rao,P.Shiva Shankar (Union Minister) ,Amdiyala Sriramulu (freedom fighter).[9][10]

Etymology

Munnuru means three hundred.[2] and Kapu means cultivator or protector in Telugu. According to some writers, Telangana being a rocky area and deficient in water, has acute water scarcity. The Kapus who were water diviners (Munnuru = Mun + Neeru = water diviner) were said to have been called Munnuru Kapus.[11]

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

Munnuru kapus are different from Kapu (caste)(pedda Kapu/ Telaga / Ontari) of Andhra Pradesh and also Turpu Kapu caste of Andhra Pradesh.

Geographical distribution

Munnuru Kapus are distributed mostly in Telangana.[3] They are also present in few numbers in Nanded and Latur districts of Maharashtra[1][4]

History

Traditionally, they are a community of cultivators and large sections of them are still into agriculture.[3] several served as village Patels, an official who maintained law and order in the village. Some have also risen to a high status as landlords and Zamindars, but the majority are ordinary cultivators.[11]

A considerable portion of the Munnurus over the years have entered government service or become traders.[11] Some members of the community have also ventured into industry and business, and became established businessmen like B. V. Rao, Vikram Akula, and Myadam Kishan Rao.[9][10]

Notable people

• B. V. Rao, founder of the V H Group (Venky's) and father of Indian poultry industry[9][12]
• Vikram Akula, founder of SKS Microfinance[10]
• Myadam Kishan Rao, founder of Bambino Agro (maker of Bambino Vermicelli)[13]
• P. Shiv Shankar, served as Union Minister of External Affairs, Law, Power, and Petroleum and as Governor of Sikkim and Kerala states[14]
• Bandi Sanjay, Central Minister of State for Home Affairs (2024–present)[5][15]
• Dharmapuri Arvind, MP from Nizamabad[5][15]
• K. Laxman, politician[5]
• V. Hanumantha Rao, former president of APPCC in Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.
• Konda Surekha, Cabinet minister in Telangana Government
• Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, current mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)
• D. Srinivas, politician, former Cabinet minister in Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Government and former president of APPCC
• Ponnala Lakshmaiah, former IT minister of Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh[5]

See also

• Kapu (caste)
• Patel

References

1. Singh, Kumar Suresh; Bhanu, B. V. (2004). People of India - Maharashtra. 2. Vol. 30. Popular Prakashan. pp. 1495, 1500. ISBN 978-81-7991-101-3.
2. Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 846. ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0.
3. Proceedings - Indian History Congress. Indian History Congress. 2006.
4. Singh, K. S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 699. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
5. Reddy, R. Ravikanth (7 June 2022). "Caste engineering in Telangana". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
6. Political Science Review. Department of Political Science, University of Rajasthan. 1980. p. 96.
7. "How votes are caste in Telangana". The New Indian Express. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
8. Bhargav, Nimmagadda (28 February 2023). Stringers and the Journalistic Field: Marginalities and Precarious News Labour in Small-Town India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-84035-3.
9. Damodaran, Harish (25 November 2018). India's New Capitalists: Caste, Business, and Industry in a Modern Nation. Hachette India. ISBN 978-93-5195-280-0.
10. "Lunch with BS: Vikram Akula, SKS Microfinance". Business Standard. 12 October 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
11. Kantha Rao, M. L. (July 1999), A Study of the Socio-Political Mobility of the Kapu Caste in Modern Andhra, University of Hyderabad, p. 82. hdl:10603/25437
12. "Father of Indian poultry industry remembered". The Hindu. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
13. Damodaran, Harish (25 November 2018). India's New Capitalists: Caste, Business, and Industry in a Modern Nation. Hachette India. ISBN 978-93-5195-280-0.
14. "Shiv Shankar appointed PRP manifesto panel chairman". The Times of India. 15 November 2008. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
15. Sinha, Akash (21 January 2022). "Bandi Sanjay Kumar episode: What BJP really hopes to gain from the controversy in Telangana". The Financial Express. Retrieved 1 May 2023.