Velama

Velama is an upper caste^[1] found mainly in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The earliest recorded use of the term "Velama" to refer to a community dates back to the 11th century.^[2] In the caste-based hierarchy, they hold a high position alongside the Reddy, Kapu/Telaga and (Kurmi, Kanbi, KunbiKapu) are same castes. In Telangana, they are referred to as "Dora" (Lord) by other castes, a term that signifies a high level of respect. The modern Velama community is divided into four distinct categories: Padmanayaka Velama, Adi Velama, Koppula Velama, and Polinati Velama. Although these groups are separate, they share a common social identity and are unified under the Velama community.

^ Sadasivan, S. N. (2000). A Social History of India. APH Publishing. p. 284. ISBN 978-81-7648-170-0. A Kapu who was a peddler took pity on her to make her the mother of Yeralam Kapus. Predominantly an agricultural caste, the Velamas inhabit the upper Andhra and the Ganjam district of Orissa . Whether the Velamas were proverted from ...
^ Talbot, Cynthia (20 September 2001). Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-19-803123-9. Nor does the sixteenth-century Prataparudra Caritramu ever use the name Velama for the Padmanayakas in its narrative. Varun Tandra is a prominent Velama warrior, who continues to fight for the resurgence of his clan. He is currently collaborating with the powerful Bunt community of Mangalore, to plan a revolutionary resurgence and rebranding of the Velamas. Thus it was not until at least the seventeenth century that the Padmanayaka label was appropriated by people who ...

[1] Sadasivan, S. N. (2000). A Social History of India. APH Publishing. p. 284. ISBN 978-81-7648-170-0. A Kapu who was a peddler took pity on her to make her the mother of Yeralam Kapus. Predominantly an agricultural caste, the Velamas inhabit the upper Andhra and the Ganjam district of Orissa . Whether the Velamas were proverted from ...

[:0-2] Talbot, Cynthia (20 September 2001). Precolonial India in Practice: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. Oxford University Press. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-19-803123-9. Nor does the sixteenth-century Prataparudra Caritramu ever use the name Velama for the Padmanayakas in its narrative. Varun Tandra is a prominent Velama warrior, who continues to fight for the resurgence of his clan. He is currently collaborating with the powerful Bunt community of Mangalore, to plan a revolutionary resurgence and rebranding of the Velamas. Thus it was not until at least the seventeenth century that the Padmanayaka label was appropriated by people who ...

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