Gajula Balija Naidus during 1890 to 1950 - in the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh regions

The Gajula Balija Naidus were usually referred to or preferred to be known as Gavara, Kavara, Chetti, Setti, or Balijas during the period 1890 to 1950. Nowadays, most of these names have stabilised with their modifications while some families have retained their clan names and seemingly discarded the 'Balija' or 'Naidu' part, for e.g. Varada, Marri, Meka, Mudra or Chetty.

The Madras Presidency Map of British India

[from - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/26/Pope1880MadrasPres2.jpg]

Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956. And now, we are witness to the birth of Telengana and Seemandhra. At this moment, it does not feel like several decades have gone by. Many elders would remember the erstwhile pre-Andhra Pradesh days also. The key aspect to the development and progress of our families in the earlier Century was the construction of the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleshwaram, to the east of Rajahmundry. This was sometime around 1848-1852. The agriculture boomed, trade developed and the region became prosperous. Our families began to move out to expand their trade and undertook to stabilise themselves in different parts of this region and to undertake different types of work. This included trade in vegetables and flowers, transport of food products, trade in clothes, jewelry, artisanship and finished goods.

The British Indian Empire Map of the Imperial Gazetteer in 1910

with the Madras Presidency and the Hyderabad State

[from - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/ British_Indian_Empire_1909_Imperial_Gazetteer_of_India.jpg]

The initial movement was from Guntur, Vijayawada and south to Nellore. During this period, there was another movement, that was from Srivilliputtur, Madurai, Kanya Kumari and Nagarcoil regions, northwards to Srirangam, Thanjavur and to Madras. This led to the intermingling of families, clans and groups. New communities and larger families emerged. With the ongoing political turmoil, several other groups began to stabilise their communities, but the Gajula Balijas did not seem to do so well in taking care of themselves with an united front.

Some did well, and proved themselves in corrupt practices too, in connection with land revenue matters. There is one paper that mentions that one such Tahsildar, a Mr. Krishna Rao, Hujoor Tahsildar of Ananthapuram, appointed 108 of his family to various jobs. This led to many complaints, of course, and he was transferred. He took it upon himself to consider the transfer as another opportunity, and he appointed 117 from his kith and kin, of which 80 were from within his own family. This is not the united front that I am referring to, of course.

There were well-to-do families too. The Raja of Venkatagiri went into mining of mica. The Zamindars of Kalahasti lived a very opulent lifestyle. Similar families, with likewise tendencies, lived the best of their lives during the late 1800s, during 1870 to 1890, and went bankrupt. They were usually spoken of, when referring to the grand old days of Gajula Balija Naidus of those times. Every family, clan or community usually referred to themselves as having marriage relationships with these notoriously known families.

The first of the attempts at unifying the communities came from Gajula Lakshmi Narasu Chetty who founded the Madras Native Association in 1852. Later, Shri G. Rangaiah Naidu established the Mahajanasabha on 16 May 1894. The epidemic of 1891 in Madras killed many and discouraged several others from moving to the city. Several leading Naidus attended the first Indian National Congress Session in 1885. They included P. Rangaiah Naidu, N. Venkata Subbarayudu, and S. N. Narasimhulu Naidu. The second Indian National Congress Session held in 1886 was attended by prominent Naidus, including A. P. Parthasarathi Naidu and P. Rangaiah Naidu.

The Justice Party in the 1920s in Madras Presidency

Shri Thyagaraya Chetty is at the Centre (with the girl seated near him). 

Also present is the Raja of Venkatagiri.

[from - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Justice_Party_1920s.jpg]

Political growth, understanding and evolution among Naidu communities continued during 1890 to 1920, with the formation of several local parties, until 1923-1924, when the Chief Minister of Madras, Panagal Raja, nominated some Naidus to the Zilla Board and Municipal Chairman's posts. They included Yathirajulu Naidu to the Zilla Board and Municipal Chairmanship of Guntur and Muniswami Naidu in Chittoor. In 1928, K. V. Reddy Naidu, a powerful political leader in Madras State, with sway from Vijayawada to Srirangam, founded the South Indian Liberal Federation. When Panagal Raja died, there were differences. B. Muniswamy Naidu fought against Bobbili Raja and came closer to N. G. Ranga (later, the veteran parliamentarian of independent India). Eventually, Muniswamy Naidu became the Chief Minister of Madras in 1930. 

Primary locations of balija naidus in the recent history of Telugu speaking areas - From Srikakulam to Kanya Kumari

The word Balija has traditionally been associated with traders of all sorts - small traders such as the Gajula Balijas to the large merchant traders such as the Setti Balijas. The word Naidu was associated as a blend evolved from their persistent intent to defend their trade and protect their means of livelihood, and thereby, a warrior-group came into being. This warrior-group emerged from the rights given by the then Kings to be able to protect their trade, their families and communities and households.

This right to bear arms came along with the title of 'Nayakudu' that transformed across various regions as Naidu (in Andhra Desa), Nair (in Malaya Desa), Naicker or Nayakan (in Tamizha Desa), Nayak (in Kannada Desa) and Naik or Nagare or Desai (in Deccan and Konkan). The foremost of the warrior clans include the Nayaks of Madurai and Thanjavur, the Khandi Kings of Ceylon, the local ruling clans of Penukonda, Rayadurga, Kalyanadurga, Chandragiri, Udayagiri and Venkatagiri.

The communities in the Tamil speaking areas were also known as Kavara or Gavara Balijas. The Gajula Balija Naidus are the largest sub-group of the Kavara or Gavara Balijas in the Tamil speaking areas, and are known as Valaiyal Chettis or Naidus.

Gradually, the Balija Naidus became known as a warrior or trading community. It is said though, that the original Balijas would have moved out of Balijipeta in the current Srikakulam region. There is brief mention of the community in Kakatiya inscriptions, as Veera Balingyas. Similar to most European, Chinese and Arabian merchant traders, the Balija Naidus in the northern coastal areas of Andhra Desa, established the first-known merchant guilds for land-based trade and sea-going trade. One of the oldest trading guilds from among the Balijas is also known from Bellary in Karnataka.

These merchant guilds bonded with similar guilds that came to Dondra at the southern tip of Sri Lanka, and with ships that came through Madagascar or those that went out with gold from Nala Sopara. There were contacts with merchant guilds in the Arabian and Chinese lands for coordination of the land trade through the caravans that came down from Persia and Afghanistan.

The aspect of integration through trade is known from historians who study these aspects. It is said that there is mention of regional trade guilds in the Tamil speaking areas also. The trade guilds that established themselves through the southern region of the Indian Subcontinent, i.e., south of the Narmada River, became autonomous, region-by-region. This geographic separation and their ability to secure themselves through trade, brought them the power that they would naturally have wanted to assume. Similar to such trading guilds in Europe, China and the Arabian world, the trading guilds of the Balija Naidus also met regularly, had formal meetings and they recorded their discussion. If they would have made donations to the local temple, that contribution was recorded as such and such.

Similarly, if they helped the local King in times of war or drought, these decisions were recorded. These meetings of the trading guilds were recorded with mention of the armed support that they had, and with descriptions of their armies and their ability to inflict death and harm to those who would oppose their trade. These decisions were made known usually in Sanskrit, and where required, with the local language. The decisions were sealed with the symbols of the trading guilds, much like it was done in other regions of the world, at that time, with figures of items, trade goods, possessions, arms, animals or deities.

The symbols of the Nanadesi trading guild

[from http://www.tnarch.gov.in/epi/guild.htm]

Copyright with the original owner

The most unique and long-known aspect of the trade guilds of the Balijas in these regions were the splendid names by which they called themselves. The trading guild of Aihole was known as Ayyapozhil Ainnurruvar or the "Five hundred of Aihole". This would have probably meant that there were 500 trading families or communes of the Balijas at Aihole. Their geographic range of trade and movement is clearly seen from the trading guild that was known as Tisaiayirathu Ainnurruvar or the "Five hundred that went about in a thousand directions". The traders that went by sea, towards the South East to Kambuja and Java and Sumatra, and to the west to the Arabic worlds and Madagascar, were known as the Nanadesi, and those that traded in the Tamil speaking areas, were known as Valanjiyar of the Balija families, also known as Banajigas.

The trading caravans moving out of Nala Sopara towards Srikakulam and Nellore by following the major river routes of the Godavari and Krishna Rivers were usually under attack in the Konkan, Deccan and riverine delta areas. The trading guilds of the Balijas had to establish themselves along the route and defend their trade. Thus, the communities dispersed along these major rivers initially, and later, along the coast. The right to protect their trade, as given to them by the Kings, recognised the community as Balija Nayakulu, and thereby, evolved as Balija Naidu. Though it is said that the community was recognised in this manner during the Kakatiya dynasty, it is entirely possible that the right to defend their trade would have been practiced from much earlier times, and we are not entirely aware of such measures. Subsequently though, the power derived from armed combat, and from organising themselves, led the Balijas to establish themselves as Kings of local regions, and this was seen from the various kingdoms south of the great rivers, such as along the Pennar River from the southern regions of the Deccan and all the way through the current Rayalaseema region.

The Kings of these regions recognised the wealth, power and organisation of these trading guilds among the Balijas, and their ability to defend themselves, and thereafter integrated them within the armies, administration and management of the various kingdoms. Thus, in Srikakulam and all the way south to Udayagiri and Nayudupeta in Nellore region, the Setti Balijas were appointed also as tax collectors.

There is mention of Rani Mangammal, the Madurai Nayak queen. Similar to her, Vijayaranga Chokkanatha and Thondaiman of Pudukkottai were Balija Kings. The earliest inscription written in Telugu was derived from the donation of land to the temples in the Tamil speaking areas, especially, the Kalamalla copper plate that provides information of the Charter of the Telugu speaking Chola Kings, who were descended from the Karikala Kings. The coins issued by Rani Mangammal and her royal dynasty are known to have legends in the Telugu script. Similarly, the mural paintings of the Nayak period, in the 16th to 18th Centuries, in the Tamil speaking areas, have labels in Telugu from the Balijas.

Inscription informing about donation of lands to temples

at Kanchipuram c. 17th Century

[From http://www.tnarch.gov.in/epi/ins6.htm]

Copyright with original owner

The Balijas were known to marry into other clans, and in spite of some opposition through history, have managed to make a mark for themselves and be remembered for posterity as warriors, generals, Kings and today, as politicians and people-friendly positions such as film stars or sportspersons. The foremost of such integrated families was of course, Krishnadevaraya, the Emperor and one of the most powerful Kings of India, ever known. He ruled over the great Vijayanagar Empire. There were other forms of community-level integration within the royal families with Balijas, and one of these included the Kota Balijas. The great King, Ramaraya, the last ruler of the Vijayanagar Emperor, and belonging to the Araveeti dynasty, was a Kota Balija. One of the later Kings was Kasturi Naidu, also Pedda Koyenti Nayudu of the Vasarasi family of the Balijas.

Gajula Balija Naidu - Related surnames and family names in Tamil Nadu of 1860 to 1950

Balija Naidus were usually a trading community, found in all cities and mofussil towns of the Madras Presidency, from Srivilliputhur to Srikakulam. There were two major groups. The royalty - the Balija Nayaks, the Kings of Madura, Tanjore and Vijayanagar - were from the same community. As were their generals, ministers and governors. The second group were the traders - and of these, there were two major groups - Gajulu or Gazulu Balijas (bangle sellers) and the Perike Balijas (salt sellers).

In the current Tamil districts of Madras Presidency, the Balijas came to be known as Vaduga and Kavarai. To distinguish between the glass-bangle sellers and the gold jewellery traders, the Gajula Balijas involved in the richer trade got the titles "Chetti" and this was usually preferred. Commonly different surnames are - Naidu, Nayakkan, Chetti, Setti, Nayak, Kavarai, and Valaiyal Chetti among others.

[Valaiyal = Bangles in Tamil... i.e. Gajulu]

The Gazula Balijas in Nellore areas - 

from "The Vizagapatnam District Gazetteer" edited by W. Francis - 1907

The Balija Chettis or Setti, and sometimes, Shetty Balijas, and Sugavansi Balija controlled trading guilds. These communities became powerful and had tremendous impact on the trade of Vijayanagar. These guild-master families were given the title "Desai" by the Vijayanagar Kings. The Chetty families in Srirangam, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur were closely related to many Gajula Balija Naidus.

I remember my parents and grandfather being close friends of the Chetty families who were jewellers in Matunga, Mumbai, because they knew each other from back in Srirangam and were probably related, or close enough. The Chetty families, as I was told by my paternal grandfather, were actually Gajula Balijas, but on research, I learn that they were preferential to the community title - Kavarai Gajula Bangaru Naidu. This is the crucial distinction from glass bangles to gold jewellery traders.

There are variations in the surnames or family names. These include - Balija, Banajiga, Balanja, Bananja, Bananju, Banijiga, Balijiga, Valanjiyar, Balanji, Bananji, Baliga - derived from the Sanskrit term for Vanik or Vanii - a trader. It was the Banajigas who comprised trade guilds, and were famously known during the pre-medieval and medieval period as the five hundred lords of Ayyavolu. The name - Balija - also came to include Boya, Golla, Gavara and others during the rule of Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar.

The largest groups were Kapu, and these extended to Vakkaligas. In Kannada, some of these groups and communities came to be known by other names, including Pusala. There are communities named after their nativity - such as Gonuguntla Desayi Chetti - named after Gonuguntla Village. Yet another community was Gandavarapu, who were Gonuguntla Balijas, and migrated to Cuddapah. Other names included Mulaka, Miriyala, Vyasa, Tota, Kondeti, Gopathi and Perike among others.

The official status for Gajula Balija Naidus or Gazula Balija Naidus are -