Andhra PradeshThe legacy of Kammas in the modern history of Andhra Pradesh :
Their embrace of education. Among the non-Brahmin communities, Kammas were one of the first to take to education in large numbers. Over a period of 10 years, in Guntur District alone, 130 High schools were established by their initiative. Zamindars of Challapalli and Kapileswarapuram founded many schools and libraries. Historically, Kammas have been one of the wealthy communities in Andhra Pradesh; in the recent past, their pace of increase in wealth only accelerated due to their success in business, farming, arts and movie industry, education, medicine, engineering, and high technology. Kammas have a progressive social outlook and work hard at anything they take up. They were adept farmers and as a consequence of the changes that affected the economic landscape of rural India down the centuries, they became prosperous. Kammas gradually diversified into other specialties such as films, media, academia, medicine, business, real estate, industries etc. Even though they fall less in number to the Brahmin Social Reformers, Poets, famous Politicians in whole of Andhra history, they have gained good inroads in recent past. They have an enterprising and diligent nature. Kammas can claim credit for introducing modern agricultural techniques in the state. Today, some of the most efficient professional institutions in the state are run by the Kammas. They are generally found in roles ranging from large scale industries to small scale businesses. One admirable characteristic about them is their recognition and belief in the dignity of labor, and are not above lending a hand to hired help and doing some field work themselves in agriculture if they see a need, which is generally considered something to be avoided in India by the upper castes. Many Kammas in villages are not only peasants but are landlords as well. Kamma population in Andhra Pradesh is nearly 4.3Percentage of the total population (i.e) around 38 lakhs. Kammas are mainly concentrated in South Costal A.P and two Rayalaseema Districts. Kammas population is more in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Khammam, Chittor and Ananthapur Districts when W.Godavari, E.Godavari, Nellore. Kammas are also concentrated in some parts of Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Warangal, Kurnool, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam Districts, in the remaining Districts Kammas are very less in count. Kamma population is more in villages and small towns when compare to Cities and District head quarters. The main reason for this is Kammas are basically agriculturists, their main occupation is agriculture. 15% of the total agriculture land and 20% of the business/Industrial establishments in A.P are owned or leased by Kammas. Zamindaris : MuktyalaNaerJaggayyapet/Krishna District/Andhra Pradesh (Vasireddy clan) Amaravati Guntur District/Andhra Pradesh (Vasireddy clan) Challapalli Krishna District/Andhra Pradesh (Yarlagadda clan) UndrajavaramNearTanuku/West Godavari/Andhra Pradesh (Mullapudi clan) Kapileswarapuram East Godavari/Andhra Pradesh (Bulusu clan) RangapuramNearGudivada/Krishna district/Andhra Pradesh (Adusumalli clan) |