Hazaris

Hazari
Classification	Warriors, Senapati, Landlords
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Telugu, Marathi, Kannada
Populated States	Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, North Karnataka.
Subdivisions	Hazari-Karimnagar, Warangal, Hyderabad Naidu-Warangal, Nizambad Yellapu-Karimnagar, Nizambad Rao-Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar

Hazari is one of the castes or social groups in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, predominantly present in areas Warangal, Karimnagar, Hyderabad and Nizambad. Hazaris regard Telugu as their mother tongue.

Hazaris traditionally belonged to the class of warriors and feudal landlords, who had links to all the major ruling dynasties of South India like Madurai Nayak, Chalukya, Chola, Kakatiya and Vijayanagar.^[1] They have the caste titles Naidu, Rao which indicate their feudal and warrior past.

Origin

• The earliest occurrence of 'Hazaris' in inscriptions dates between 11th and 13th Centuries during the reign of Kakatiyas
• Hazaris, also called Yellapus, belongs to warrior class originated in the Rajasthan and Gujarath. These people are also called vellapus and Yellapis. The yellepi denotes the singular form and vellapu is the earliest name of the caste. The ancestors are from the surroundings of Delhi. The history of Vaageshwari Maatha temple in Rajasthan reveals the story of Vellapus. They moved from rajasthan to many places and got themselves transformed to fit into the region they moved. After entering in to the Andhraprasedsh, they moved to different districts on their jobs as vassals and staff of Kakatiyas. After the downfall of Kakatiya Dynasty, some people moved to Rachakonda dynasty and some people moved to Vijayanagara Empire. During their period they moved to Rayalaseema and Karnataka, later to Kalinga area and Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, vellapus have shown substantial impact there by having villages, plants on their community and family names.

Etymology

• Hazaris-Hazari-Hazar- thousand
• Army class during Medieval India.^[2]

History

• Hazari is the prestigious title conferred upon to supervise 1000 warriors during the Kakatiya Dynasty period. Most of the Hazaris are Zamindars and landlords from Kaktiya period till the modern era.
• The root caste of Hazaris is Yellapu. Many Yellapu people have worked as Hazaris, a leader of soldiers. They maintain the army for the king on sanction of lands and grant or on salary basis. These people worked under Gurjara-Pratiharas or belongs to same clan. Later worked under kakatiyas, Vijayanagara and participated in two important battles against kalinga and father of vishwanathanaika. They were important soldier community under Bobbili kings. Surnames such as Saluvaji, bethi and rachakonda are related to kings. ^[3]
• Some families maintained their own forts at Polampally, Mulangur, Basheerabad, Lakkora, Gullakota, Gillakota etc. ^[4]
• Yellapus lived predominantly in the fort towns/villages such as Elagandula, Rachakonda, Bonagiri, Orugallu, bobbili, cuttack, karnavathi etc.
• The Raja of Mirzapuram in Nuzvid was well known for his generous and charitable nature.^[5] Most of the ruling clan in Nuzivid were chieftains of Kakatiya Dynasty and close links especially during Rani Rudrama Devi's rule^[6]
• Sri. Kamatam Papaiah was a Hazari in the Bhongir Fort. It clarifies that many Yellapus and Telagas in the Warangal and Nalgonda district have got the status of Hazari or more. Hazari organization is based on the decimal system. In this one leader of soldier leads the military in the multiples of 10 basing on the horses they maintain and assignment of land given to them.^[7]
• According to the Yellapu history it clarifies that many Yellapus in the warangal and Nalgonda district have got the status of Hazari or more. It is based on the decimal system. In this one leader of soldier leads the military in the multiples of 10 basing on the assignment of land given to them.^[7]
• Eventually some of the Hazaris are again divided into Naidus as time passed. Most of the Hazaris lived in the Eastern part of Warangal. Hazaris were highly influenced people during the 19th century they were involved in Building schools, recreation clubs and theaters.
• In Karimnagar and Nizambad Hazaris are referred as Yellapu. One of the most noted personality is Anabheri Prabhakar Rao (15 August 1910 – 14 March 1948), Telangana freedom fighter.
• Over the years this clan has dwindled in numbers due to lack of unity or merging into other communities. This clan over the years dispersed widely, reclined its power, yet lived with pride, what they carry among themselves as wealth and power.
• Hazaris are kshatriya warriors. Kshatriya is one of the four varnas (social orders) in Hinduism. It constitutes the military and ruling order of the traditional Vedic-Hindu social system as outlined by the Vedas and the Laws of Manu. However, some sources also argue Hazaris having common origin with Reddy as both emerged from Kapu

Modern History

• Hazaris were Senapathis, Sainyadhikaris, Supreme warriors & Kings. They were also kings sourrounding the main kingdom. They were often been called as "Kind Hearted Rulers". They were part of battles as Kshatriyas and fought fearless till death
• Yellapus worked at Bandala lingapur samsthan. Originally it belonged to Raja Shivaraj Bahadur a wazir at Nizam. Banda lingapuram and Peddapalli in Karimnagar district were his Samsthans or Jagirs. He had two sons namely Dharm Karan and Indra Karan. The father and the sons lived in Hyderabad and gave their Jagirs on lease to the Velamas. This continued for generations together. Here Yellapu families served the Jagirdar faithfully. A search committee to identify the efficient successor, so as to adopt him was constituted, this team moved to many places. Finally, A Velama boy named Lingala Ananta Kishan Rao, brought from Nizamabad area, was the adopted son and he was the last ruler of Banda Lingapuram Samsthan lying Adjacent to Metpalli Jagir. Jamedar Venkanna belonging to Yellapi caste was his Diwan. A Velama named Peggerla Rajanna belonging to Raikal was in his service.
• The kosnam families were worked as vassals of Kakatiya Dynasty kings. The ancestors of Sri. Kosnam Ramchender rao was a vassal of Kakatiyas. His kingdom was touching Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad and small parts of Warangal district. They ruled from the Mulangur fort. They have also constructed a temple by name Sundaragiri temple. The forte of Polampally belongs to the sisters of sri. Ramachender rao. Thus, this fort may be also belong to his ancestors. Their vassal area extended to Vainganga in Adilabad district. The extent of area is very large and it is far off from the capital of Kakatiyas. This fort acted as a strategic shield fort of Kakatiyas, from the invading armies. Thus, he may the important vassal and gained the confidence in the kingdom of Kakatiyas. It was also found that Kalwal is a shakha in Rajputs. There are several Kalvala villages in Nalgonda, Khammam, Karimnagar, Warangal, Mahboobnagar and Northern India (Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan).
• Hazari ancestral history reveals their warrior class origins and migration from Bobbili after the Bobbili war.
• The famous, colossal Ratham (Chariot) on the Govinda Rajula Gutta which was made of precious material was built by the Hazaris in Warangal

References

1. "Naidus". naidus-naidus.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
2. Chandra, S. (2005). Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals Part - II. Har-Anand Publications. ISBN 9788124110669. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
3. https://vellapuhistory.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/vellapu-history/
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99L8Wm0LGvk
5. "RAJA and RAJKUMAR OF MIRZAPURAM: Raja and Rajkumar Of Mirzapuram". rajkumarrajamirzapuram-veenus.blogspot.in. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
6. Nuzvid
7. "Yellapu Charitha: September 2011". yellapucharitha.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2015-04-05.

3. Yellapu charitha, Hazari history records http://yellapucharitha.blogspot.com/2011/09/story-as-told-by-kalvala-karunakar-rao.html.

4. http://yellapucharitha.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html

5. Naidu history, http://naidus-naidus.blogspot.com/

6. Social change among Balijas: majority community of Andhra Pradesh, http://books.google.com/books?id=r-ffeWmj2JUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=social+change+among+balija&ei=IHtWSICFKYTStgPPsJigDQ&sig=K_ulpBWOr36H7D0xeBfFnDZmagc#v=onepage&q=social%20change%20among%20balija&f=false

7. Making Caste in Nineteenth-Century India: A History of Telling the Bobbili Katha &Velama Identity by Micheal katten

8. http://rajkumarrajamirzapuram-veenus.blogspot.in/2010/02/raja-and-rajkumar-of-mirzapuram.html

9. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/molangur-fort-under-threat/article6301492.ece

10. History Of Medieval India by Satish Chandra- http://books.google.co.in/books/about/Medieval_India_From_Sultanat_to_the_Mugh.html?id=0Rm9MC4DDrcC

11. https://vellapuhistory.wordpress.com/2015/09/02/vellapu-history/

12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99L8Wm0LGvk