Adi Andhra

Adi-Andhra
Religions
LanguagesTelugu
Populated statesAndhra Pradesh • Telangana • Karnataka
EthnicityTelugus

Adi-Andhra is a Telugu caste found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, primarily in the Coastal Andhra region. They are categorised as a Scheduled Caste by the Government of India.[1]

Adi-Andhra literally means 'the original people of Andhra'.[1][2] The Adi-Andhra group is a composite caste that consists of about 60% of Malas and 40% of Madigas, who belong to second and third generation of educated scheduled castes.[3][4] Many Adi-Andhras are engaged in modern occupations created by western education.[3] A small section of Adi-Andhra also lives in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.[4][5]

As per the 2001 census, Adi-Andhra constituted 9% of the total Scheduled Caste (SC) population of United Andhra Pradesh.[3] As per the 1981 census, Adi-Andhras had the highest literacy rate among the Dalit castes of Andhra Pradesh.[6] They are the most advanced group in terms of education and employment among the Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Andhra Pradesh.[6]

  1. ^ a b K, Srinivasulu (September 2002). "Caste, Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh:Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories" (PDF). Overseas Development Institute, London: vi, 57.
  2. ^ Berg, Dag-Erik (27 February 2020). Dynamics of Caste and Law: Dalits, Oppression and Constitutional Democracy in India: Dalits, Oppression and Constitutional Democracy in India. Cambridge University Press. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-1-108-48987-4.
  3. ^ a b c Jammanna, Akepogu; Sudhakar, Pasala (14 December 2016). Dalits' Struggle for Social Justice in Andhra Pradesh (1956-2008): From Relays to Vacuum Tubes. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-4438-4496-3.
  4. ^ a b Singh, K. S. (1998). India's Communities. Oxford University Press. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
  5. ^ Singh, K. S.; Halbar, B. G. (2003). Karnataka. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 143–150. ISBN 978-81-85938-98-1.
  6. ^ a b Jammanna, Akepogu; Sudhakar, Pasala (14 December 2016). Dalits' Struggle for Social Justice in Andhra Pradesh (1956-2008): From Relays to Vacuum Tubes. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 213, 246. ISBN 978-1-4438-4496-3.