Settibalija

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Settibalija (also Setti Balija, Setty Balija) refers to a sect completely related Goud community in Andhra Pradesh, India. The term Setti Balija (or Chetty Balija) historically referred to a sub-caste of the Goud community.[1] These Setti Balijas were initially Ediga/Idiga group of Goud community. They are currently found in the Godavari districts region and are classified as a Backward Caste.[2]

In 1920, as a part of Sanskritization process, the toddy-tapper community of Godavari districts changed their caste name from Ediga or Eendra to the more respectable name of Chettu Balija (Chettu meaning tree in Telugu), which transformed to Setti Balija over a period of time.[3][4] The Settibalijas of Godavari districts are related to the larger Goud community and are classified as a Backward Caste.[5]

According to Government of Andhra Pradesh, Goud caste is a group of Settibalija, Gamalla, Ediga/Idiga, Kalaalee/Kalali, Srisayana(Segidi), Yaatha.

But Ediga caste in Godavari districts changed their name to Settibalija in 1920 and Gamalla, which is in-fact a sub-group of Goud caste is been identifying as Goud caste.

The remaining parts of Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana, they remained with the same name Ediga and so the Gamalla and Ediga are been identified under Goud caste.

Balija caste in Rayalaseema is different from Settibalija. Balija belongs to a sect of Kapu, Telaga communities of Andhra Pradesh. There is no relation between Balija caste of rayalaseema and Settibalija caste. But some people in Balija caste are getting fake caste certificates as Settibalija for getting reservation for their Education and jobs in Government sector. Balija caste people use title as Rayalu/Royal/Rayudu.

Settibalija caste people use Goud as their title since they are a sect belonging to the Goud community.

Settibalijas of Konaseema[edit]

Main article: Goud

Setti Balija (also known as Setty Balija, Chetty Balija, Balija) is a subgroup of the Goud caste.{{Refn|[1][6][7]{{Rp|page=|quote=According to the Muralidhara Rao Commission, "Setti Balija" of Konaseema are only a sect of the Goud community. In the present-day, they are landholders and are involved in agriculture, business, and trade in food grain.[7]{{Rp|page=|quote=According to the Muralidhara Rao Commission, "Setti Balija" of Konaseema are only a sect of the Goud community. They are completely a part of Goud community and changed their caste name from Ediga to Setti Balija in 1920 to attain social dignity.

History of Settibalijas[edit]

The Settibalijas (also known as Chettu Balija, Ediga, Eendra, Settiga, Settikula)[8] of Coastal Andhra mostly live in the erstwhile districts of East Godavari, West Godavari and in smaller numbers in Visakhapatnam and Krishna districts. Traditionally, they are a community of toddy tappers.[9][10] They are sect of toddy tapping caste Goud, and are a major sect like Gamalla, Ediga, Yatha, Goundla, Srisayana/Segidi etc.[11][5][12]

The Settibalija community of Coastal Andhra is classified as a Backward Caste and is listed under BC-B in the Andhra Pradesh Backward Castes list.[15] They are completely unrelated to the Setty Balija community of Rayalaseema who are traders and landlords.[18]

History

In the early 20th century, toddy tappers of Godavari districts were looked down upon by the upper caste people due to their occupation and low economic status.[19][20] At the time, they were referred to as Ediga (ఈడిగ) or Eendra (ఈండ్ర) with the disparaging suffix -gadu added to the names of men.[24] They were also known as Chettu gallu (Chettu meaning tree in Telugu).[4]

On 25 September 1920, Dommeti Venkata Reddy (1853–1928), a rich merchant from the Ediga/Idiga/Eendra community organised a caste meeting in Bodasakurru, East Godavari district (now in Konaseema district) and passed the resolution that the Ediga/Eendra caste would henceforth only be referred to as Chottu-balija (Chottu meaning tapping; and Balija meaning trader/businessman).[25]

Even though Edigas are a sect to the Goud community, Ediga caste people were referred as Settibalija.[26] Venkata Reddy urged his fellow Edigas to record their caste under their new name in land documents, censuses, and other government records.[27] He also resolved that -gadu would not be used for the names of toddy-tapper families in any manner and submitted a memorandum to the district collector on the same.[28] He also established a high school and undertook other initiatives for the educational development of his caste.[20][21]

In 2020, members of the community celebrated the 100th anniversary of the renaming of their caste from Ediga to Settibalija.[29][22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Paul, John Jeya; Yandell, Keith E. (2000). Religion and Public Culture: Encounters and Identities in Modern South India. Psychology Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-0-7007-1101-7.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Devi, Dr V. Vasanthi (3 May 2021). A Crusade for Social Justice: P. S. Krishnan: Bending Governence Towards The Deprived. South Vision Books. pp. 47–48. In some parts of Andhra Pradesh, the Idiga have assumed the name of "Setty Balija", which is felt as more respectable than the traditional name. But the socio-economic and educational conditions of the Idiga of Andhra Pradesh are now worse than that of Ezhava and Nadar. A large percentage of them continue to still work as toddy-tappers.
  4. ^ a b c Census of India, 1961. Part 6. Vol. 2. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. p. 13. For instance, Chetti Balija or Chettu Balija means a section of people engaged in economic activity whose main raw material base is trees. In other words, Chettu Balija is a section of people who are engaged in tapping the juice from trees particularly ....
  5. ^ a b W. Chandrakanth (27 February 2004). "Gouda, Settibalija conference". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2005. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  6. ^ Reddy, M. Atchi (1996). Lands and Tenants in South India: A Study of Nellore District, 1850-1990. Oxford University Press. p. 139. ISBN 978-0-19-563660-4.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "NCBC Andhra Pradesh Bench Findings" (PDF). National Commission for Backward Classes. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2013.
  8. ^ Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh (3 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. p. 275. ISBN 978-81-85579-09-2.
  9. ^ Proceedings - Indian History Congress. Indian History Congress. 2006. p. 430. Setti Balija / Gamalla / Gaundla are originally toddy tappers by profession, though a few work to cultivation.
  10. ^ Somanaboina, Simhadri; Ramagoud, Akhileshwari (15 November 2021). The Routledge Handbook of the Other Backward Classes in India: Thought, Movements and Development. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-46280-7.
  11. ^ Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 692. ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0. The Idiga or Ediga are toddy-tappers and liquor vendors in the Rayalaseema area. They are referred to as Goundala and Kalali in Telangana and Gowda, Gamalla or Setti Balija in coastal Andhra.
  12. ^ Balasubramanian, Rangaswamy (2001). Social and Economic Dimensions of Caste Organizations in South Indian States. University of Madras. p. 249.
  13. ^ a b c Report of the Backward Classes Commission. Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Commission. 1970.
  14. ^ "Andhra Pradesh Backward Caste List". Srikakulam Online. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  15. ^ [13]: 160, 169 [14][7]: 3–4 
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Prasada-1939 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ [16][13]: 160, 169 [7]: 9–10, 18 [17]
  19. ^ a b Gudikadi Anjaneyulu Goud (2001). గౌడ పురాణం: పటం కథ - ఒక పరిశీలన [Gouda Puranam: Patam Katha - Oka Pariseelana] (in Telugu). Triveni Publications. p. 23. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. ^ a b c d e Gudikadi Anjaneyulu Goud (2001). గౌడ పురాణం: పటం కథ - ఒక పరిశీలన [Gouda Puranam: Patam Katha - Oka Pariseelana] (in Telugu). Triveni Publications. p. 24. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ a b c d Gubbala Satya Prasad (1 September 2019). ""శెట్టిబలిజ" కు నూరేండ్లు" (in Telugu). Bombay Andhra Settibalija Samajam. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  23. ^ "ఆంధ్రభారతి నిఘంటు శోధన - ఈండ్ర". Andhra Bharati. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  24. ^ [19][20][3][21][22][23]
  25. ^ [20][4][21][22][3][7]
  26. ^ [13][7]: 9–10, 18 [17]
  27. ^ a b Gubbala Madhava Murty (30 September 2013). "First Settibalija Mahajana Sabha and its Resolutions" (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  28. ^ [20][21][27][22]
  29. ^ "నూరేండ్ల పండుగ" [Centenary Celebrations]. Bombay Andhra Settibalija Samajam. January 2020. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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