TO RESTORE PITCHIGUNTLA TO VAMSHARAJ

          TO RESTORE PITCHIGUNTLA TO VAMSHARAJ   

Sri K.Venkata Subba Reddy, President, Rastra KuntiMallareddy Sangham submitted an application to the commission praying  to restore ‘Pitchiguntla community in BC-A Group and also to add the synonymas ‘Kunti Mallareddy’. It was represented that since a long time their community was called as ‘Pitchiguntla’ and it is not proper to delete the said name and to call it as ‘Vamsharaj’. They have been obtaining certificates as ‘Pitchiguntla’ and therefore the name of the said caste may be restored. He also traced the history and justified to call the community as ‘Kunti Mallareddy’. ‘Kunti Mallareddy’ was their ancestor and therefore their community may also to be called as ‘Kunti Mallareddy’ and he has  requested to add the same as a synonym. He also produced certain historical data to justify his stand. Subsequent to the request made by him, a Notification dated 31-3-2006 was issued which was published in A.P. Gazette dated 13-04-2006 as to why the synonyms to ‘Vamsharaj’ Caste as ‘Pitchiguntla’ and‘Kunti Mallareddy’ could not be added. There was strong objection for adding the said synonyms. It was contended that the name of the caste has been changed long ago and they are now called as ‘Vamsharaj’. Since they were looked down by the society to call them as ‘Pitchiguntla’, they got the name changed as ‘Vamsharaj’. It was further contended that the previous commission issued Notification calling for objections and after elaborate enquiry; the name of the caste was changed. After issue of Notification and on receipt of objections, Public hearing was held on 23-05-2006 and 24-05-2006. There was very strongobjection from the group of persons belonging to R.R. District Association who  opposed the adding of any synonyms. As there were heated exchanges between the two groups, the meeting could not be conducted peacefully and it had to be  adjourned abruptly, as we apprehended clash between the two groups. -2- ‘Pitchiguntla’ community was reocgnised as a backward class as per G.O.Ms No. 1880, Education (II) Dept. dated 29-07-1966. Subsequently Anantharaman commission had also recognized the said caste as backward class as per G.O.Ms No.1793, Education, Dt. 23-9-1970 and included at Serial No.18 under Group ‘A’ in the list of Backward Classes. On 14-09-1994 the secretary, Vamsharaj Welfare Association submitted an application for change of  name as ‘Vamsharaj’ instead of ‘Pitchiguntla’ on the ground that their community is looked down socially by others. Then the commission issued a Notification on 16-12-1994 calling for objections from the public. As seen from the file, no objections were received and in fact Rayalaseema Pitchiguntla Samkhema Sangam welcomed the move and after due enquiry the Commission resolved to change the castename ‘Pitchiguntla’ to ‘Vamsharaj’ on two grounds namely that the caste name ‘Pitchiguntla’ is treated with disgrace, disrespect causing considerable humiliation to the members of their caste, more so to the school / college going children of their caste and that the new name ‘Vamsharaj’ has nexus to the traditional occupationof their caste of telling ‘Vamsa gothras’ of others. The decision of the Commission  was communicated to the Prl. Secretary to Govt. B.C. Welfare Department and subsequently G.O.Ms No 27 B.C. Welfare (M1) Department, Dt. 23-6-1995 was issued deleting ‘Pitchiguntla’ and it is placed at Sl.No.18 as ‘Vamsharaj’, to G.O.Ms. No. 1793, Dt. 23-9-1970. Syed Siraj Ul Hassan in his book ‘Castes and Tribes of the Nizam’s Dominion at page 569 referred the caste Pitchiguntla as “Telugucaste of wandering beggars, genealogists and mat-makers who are supposed to derive their name from Bhiksha Kuntala (Bhikha, begging, Kunta, lame) probably an  opprobrious epithet denoting a lame beggar. They beg only from Kapus and Gollas byreciting their gotras and family history, of which they are believed to be the custodians”. Edgar Thurston and K.Rangachary in their book, ‘Castes and Tribes of Southern India’ referred ‘Pitchiguntla’ as an assembly of beggars who are described as being in the Telugu country, a classes of mendicants, who are herbalists and physic people for fever, stomachache and other ailments. -3- Anantharaman Commission recognized this caste as a‘Nomadic Tribe and rightly included at Serial no. 18 under Group – A in the list of Backward Classes. The said community was called as ‘Pitchiguntla’ till itwas amended in the year 1995 as per G.O.Ms. No. 27 dated 23-6-1995. The said changeof name of the said caste was on account of the recommendations of the commissionwhich was done after due enquiry. Subsequently in the year 2005 some people from Cuddapah raised objections for being called as ‘Vamsharaj’ and they wanted to  restore ‘Pitchiguntla’ and also to add synonyms as ‘Kunti Mallareddy’. As already observed above, the Associations in R.R. District opposed the change of the community from ‘Vamsharaj’ but the Associations from Cuddapah wanted to restore the original name ‘Pichikutala’. Since they are recognized only as ‘Pitchiguntla’ and the  name ‘Vamsharaj’ is new to them. Therefore, they pleaded to restore the original name ‘Pitchiguntla’. In view of the fact that the original name of the caste was ‘Pitchiguntla’ which was replaced by a new name as ‘Vamsharaj’, there is no difficulty forrestoring the original name of the caste as ‘Pitchiguntla’. The request of the Association is not only to restore the original name ‘Pitchiguntla’ but also to add the synonym as ‘Kunti Mallareddy’. Public hearing was disturbed an account of the fact that the two groups were about to clash. To decide whether the people are also calledas ‘Kunti Mallareddy’ or not an elaborate enquiry is required and historical back ground has to be traced and it will take some more time. In view of the urgency, the original name ‘Pitchiguntla’ can be restored to ‘Vamsharaj’. If anyone feels that by calling ‘Pitchiguntla’, itwill cause humiliation and disgrace, they can call as ‘Vamsharaj’, and no prejudice will be caused by calling by both the names. The request to add ‘Kunti Mallareddy’ as a synonym is to be considered later. -4- The commission in its meeting held on 29-01-2008 decided to restore the original name ‘Pitchiguntla’ to ‘Vamsharaj’ at Serial No. 18 under Group – A in the existing list of Backward Classes, pending enquiry  with regard to the fact whether ‘Kunti Mallareddy’ has to be added as synonym or not. The commission after due deliberations and detailed consideration unanimously resolved to make the following recommendation and tender the following advice to the Government. 1.  To restore the original name Pitchiguntlato  Vamsharajat serial no. 18 under Group – A in the list of backward classes.2.  The principles of exclusion of socially advanced persons / sections (creamy layer) already laid down by the state Government will automatically and naturally apply to the above class now recommended for restoration. 1.  Justice Dalava Subrahmanyam, Chairman 2.  Sri N.Laxminarayana Mudiraj, Member 3.  Sri V. Krishna Mohan Rao, Member 4.  Sri R.M Gonela, Member Secretary