Pithapuram Kingdom - Velama Dynasty

Velamas are the great kings of the ANDHRA PRADESH. Velamas own many kingdoms in Costal Andhra, Telangana and rayalaseema region. So, here comes the first in my series of posts about velama kingdoms, The kingdom Pithapuram, which is now famous for pada gaya sarovaram.

This is a famous Velama kingdom that is now part of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Poets like Vinjamuri Somesha who wrote Ragahvayadaveeyamu were at the court of Pithapuramu. Vakkalanka Veerabhadrakavi wrote 'vasavadattaaparinayamu' and dedicated to the King of Pithapuram, Nayani Madhavarao (1679-1704). Famous poet Kuchimachi Timmakavi was honored by king Madhavarayalu (1710-1755) with the title, 'kavisarvabhouma' (emperor of poets). The following are the poets of Pithapuram kingdom and their works.



Kings of Pithapuram and their descendents had invested a lot of money to support Telugu literature and established literary organizations like "Andhrasahitya Parishattu."

Famous Velama personalities in various fields like FILM, POLITICS etc

Dear Velamaites, Here I am providing a list of Famous Personalities in VELAMAs. I will try to update this regularly from now on If u people suggest me with the missed out names.I will also try to post details about them. So friends, your contributions are appreciated.


NOTE: VELAMA MPs and MLAs who won in 2009 are posted in another post titled "Velamas won in 2009 Elections -A.P Assembly, Parliament"

Current Era:
1. Puri Jagannath - A very famous Film Director in TELUGU FILM INDUSTRY. He directed many block busters. His direction includes BADRI, ITLU SRAVANI SUBRAMANYAM, IDIOT, AMMA NANNA TAMIL AMMAY, ANDHRAWALA,SIVAMANI, POKIRI, DESAMUDURU, CHIRUTHA, BUJJIGADU, NENITHE

2. R.Narayana Murthy - Famous Film director cum Actor for many movies that dealt with communism. He has got some block busters lik Erra Sainyam, Orey Riksha etc.

3. Beela SuryaNarayana - A.U. Vice Chancellor

4.Vamshi. paidipally (Munna director)

Other MLC's and ZPTC CHAIR PERSONS:

1. Gade Srinivasulu Naidu - MLC (Uttarandhra Teachers Constituency)
2. Vasireddy Varadara Rama Rao - MLC Vizianagaram Dt.
3. Adireddi Veeraraghavamma - Mayor Rajahmundry
4. Gorle Ramamurthy Naidu - ZP Chairperson Visakhapatnam Dt
5. Mariserla Sivnu Naidu - DCCB Chairperson Vizianagaram Dt.
6. KVP Rama Chandra Rao - Rajyasabha member and family friend to YSR.

Velamas won in 2009 Elections -A.P Assembly, Parliament

This time in 2009, Many velamas dominated other castes in many areas. Though some bigger names like Chintakayala Ayyannapatrudu, Erram Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya couldn't win the battle, a lot of new lot have succeeded this time. Here i have collected some of their names and their constituencies. I am posting them in this site for your reference. If i miss any of them, Please feel free to comment here, i will update them.

Assembly:

1. Dharmana prasad Rao- Srikakulam-Indian National Congress- M.L.A-2009

2. Kalvakuntla Vidyasagar Rao- Koratla-Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS)- M.L.A-2009

3. Kalvakuntla Tarakaramarao- Siricilla-Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS)- M.L.A-2009

4. Thaneeru Harish Rao - Siddipet- Telangana Rasthra Samithi(TRS)- M.L.A-2009

5. Mynampalli Hanumanth rao- Medak- Telangana Rashtra samithi(TRS)- M.L.A-2009

6. Gavireddi Rama Naidu - Madugula- Telugu desam party(TDP)- M.L.A-2009

7. Bolem Muthayalapapa - Narsipatnam-TDP-M.L.A-2009, defeated Chintakayala Ayyanapatrudu.

8. Thyanala Vijay Kumar - Vishakapatnam North-Indian National Congress(INC)-M.L.A-2009

9. Dharmana krishna Das- Narasanna peta- Indian National Congress(INC)-M.L.A-2009

10.Venkata Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao Ravu-Bobbili- Indian National Congress(INC)-M.L.A-2009

11. Jupally Krishna Rao - Kollapur- Indian National Congress(INC)- M.L.A-2009

12. Kolla Lalitha Kumari-Srungavarapu Kota- Telugu Desam party(T.D.P)-M.L.A-2009

13. chennamaneni Ramesh babu - MLA - Vemulawada.

14. chintrhakunta Vijaya Ramana Rao -MLA - Peddapelli.

Parliament:

1. Kalvakuntla Chandra Sekhar rao(K.C.R)- Mahabubnagar- Telugu Desam party-M.P-2009

2. Sabbam Hari - Anakapalli- Indian National Congress(INC)- M.P-2009,defeated Allu Arvind

Please let me know If you know any other velamas who won.

Thanking you,

Urs Ganesh Velama

VELAMA ASSOCIATION

Updated: Velama Association forum is here. Click Go and share your feelings there.



Guys,
As suggested by many of us, A full pledged VELAMA ASSOCIATION GROUP is to be started soon in all places of the world.

Velama Associations that come under these are:
1. Andhra Pradesh VELAMA ASSOCIATION
2. US Velama Association
3. UK Velama Association
4. Chennai Velama Association
5. and subdivisions in various cities, like hyderabad, Vizag, Vijayawada etc.
I want you to come up with ideas that make VELAMA ORGANISATIONS successfull.
These are the suggestions i got earlier through mails.
1. It should be adveertised. so need advertisements all over the newspapers and TVs like TV9.
2. It should make people to find a helping hand. Suppose, you are a student and going to US to do your MS or MBA, You need a helping hand in US to suggest you. so this can be done through a forum.
3. staff List to be prepared for every association with voluntary leaders.
Discussions ahead:
Please tell me who among you can take our association formations. i.e., who among you can take the lead of the associations. please specify ur valuable suggestion and information in details.
Urs,
Ganesh Velama

Koppula Velama Sir Names/ Koppula Velama Surnames

Dear Guys,
I have collected some of our Koppula Velama surnames and posting here. please go thru them, and if i forgot or missed any of them please intimate me here and i will update the list.
1. LALAM
2. Adireddi / reddy
3. Akkena
4. allu
5. Allu
6. Ankareddi / reddy
7. Arnepalli
8. Avugaddi
9. Badi
10. Baggu
11. Bandaru
12. Bandaru
13. Barla
14. Batna
15. Beella
16. Bhommi
17. Bhumireddi / reddy
18. Bhureddi / reddy
19. Boddakayala
20. boddu
21. Boddu
22. Boddu
23. Boddu
24. Borapureddi / reddy
25. Budi
26. Burada
27. Busari
28. Busari
29. Byrapudi
30. Chalamuri
31. challa
32. chalumuri
33. Chandana
34. Chandana
35. Chandana
36. Chappa
37. Chappa
38. Cheekati
39. Cheera
40. Chinnala
41. Chintakalaya
42. chintakayala
43. Chintala
44. Chintala
45. Chipurupalli
46. Chiravarapu
47. Chiriki(siriki)
48. Chokkapu
49. choppa
50. Dasari
51. Datti
52. Datti
53. Dharmana
54. Doddi
55. Doddi
56. dokula
57. Dokula
58. Dwarapureddi / reddy
59. Edipilli
60. Eedu
61. Egireddi / reddy
62. Erle
63. Gaadi
64. Gadi
65. gandi
66. Gandi
67. Ganta
68. Gedala
69. Gedala
70. Geddam
71. Ghanta
72. Goddu
73. Gogada
74. Golivi
75. Gollangi
76. GOLLU
77. Gorle
78. gorripati
79. Gorrupati
80. Gorrupotu
81. Gottapu
82. Gudupuri
83. Gullipalli
84. Gullipalli
85. Gunda
86. Guntreddi / reddy
87. Gunuru
88. Idubilli
89. Jagana
90. Jagarapu
91. jakkana
92. Jarugulla
93. Jureddi / reddy
94. Karri
95. Kasireddi / reddy
96. Kasireddy
97. Ketireddi / reddy
98. Kilaparti
99. killi
100. Kinjarapu
101. Koduri
102. Kolla
103. Kolli
104. Korikani
105. Kota
106. Kothali
107. Kotnana
108. Kottala
109. Kubireddi / reddy
110. Kundrapu
111. Kurucha
112. Lagudu
113. Lekkala
114. lokavarapu
115. Madireddi / reddy
116. Madireddi / reddy
117. MARADANI
118. Maradani
119. Maricherla
120. Marrapu
121. Mathsa
122. Menda
123. Merapala
124. Miriyalu
125. Mudaddla
126. Muddada
127. Mukulla
128. Muramulla
129. Murru
130. Nagireddi / reddy
131. Nakka
132. Narsupalli
133. Nemmadi
134. Nikku
135. Nukarapu
136. Palli
137. PARUPALLI
138. Pasala
139. Pasila
140. Peddini
141. Peddinti
142. Peddireddi / reddy
143. Penaganti
144. Penta
145. Petla
146. pila
147. Pola
148. Ponnana
149. poripireddy
150. Pottipireddi / reddy
151. Pudi
152. Rajana
153. randhi
154. Ravada
155. Ravada
156. Reddi / reddy
157. reddy
158. Rongali
159. RONGALI
160. Ruthala
161. ruthhala
162. Ruttala
163. Sabbam
164. sabbavarapu
165. Sabbavarapu
166. Sambhangi
167. Samireddi / reddy
168. Sappa
169. setti
170. Simma
171. Singireddi / reddy
172. siraparapu
173. sirapurapu
174. Siriki
175. Sureddi / reddy
176. Sureddy
177. Tammireddi / reddy
178. teela
179. Terli
180. thamarana
181. Thangi
182. Thanna
183. Thelu
184. Udamala
185. Ungata
186. Vaikuntham
187. Vakada
188. Varadapureddi / reddy
189. varri
190. Varri
191. Vasireddi / reddy
192. vechalapu
193. Vechalapu
194. Velamala
195. Yalla
196. Yandrapu
197. Yasarapu
198. Yerra
Updated: 
As commented by our friends, i am updating the surnames
199.AMBATI
200.CHUKKA
201.Vobbili Reddi
202.Gumuluru
203.Bolem
204.Rajana
205.bomminayuni
206.thentu
207.chelapareddy
208.nalla
209.Masarapu
210.Maddu
211.Kannuru
212.Niddara
213.Killada
214.Sabbarapu
215.Vangapandu
216.Pothula/Pothala
217.vemali
218.vennela




As always, need ur constant support, to make the blog better :)

Urs Ganesh Velama

Velama Sir Names / Velama Surnames

I have found the following Surnmaes till now under velamas. If I missed any Surnames, please do let us know help me in refining the result. These surnames are provided to help people know who comes under velamas.

Update : The list has been updated and can be found here.

As always, i need support from u guys to make this blog better. Keep reading for more updates.



Urs Ganesh Velama

Total seats in every party alloted for velamas

In 2009 AP Assembly Elections, Velamas got considerable number of seats to contest in all the major parties including CONGRESS(INC), TELUGU DESAM PARTY(TDP), PRAJARAJYAM(PRP)

PARTY WISE ALLOTMENT OF SEATS TO VELAMAS

CONGRESS (INC)- VELAMAS(8), KOPPULA VELAMAS(5) - TOTAL (13)
MAHA KUTAMI - VELAMAS(12),KOPPULA VELAMAS(8) - TOTAL (20)
(TELUGU DESAM PARTY, CPI, CPM, TRS)
PRAJA RAJYAM - VELAMAS(7), KOPPULA VELAMAS(9) - TOTAL (16)

MAHA KUTAMI, The combination of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), CPI, CPM, Telangana Rastra Samithi(TRS) is the top giver to VELAMAS in the elections 2009. K.Chandra Sekhar Rao(KCR),the founder of TRS is a Velama. People believe this as the main reason behind alloting more seats in his party to VELAMAS.

Thank u,
Urs Ganesh Velama

Origin of 'Rao' title to Velama Dora's:

Origin of 'Rao' title to Velama Dora's:

Origin of Rao title to Velama Dora's, according to the second edition of book, 'Bobbili Zemindary' written by a former Bobbili Maharaja Sri Ravu Sir Venkata Swetachalapathi Ranga Rao Bahadur. (Check Reference section for a link to the book freely available on the Internet)

In his own sentences from the book given below...

" The family name of Rao Varu is one of historical importance, but it is not the name of place where the family members lived. Its origin is this:

The Maharaja Pratapa Rudra of Warangal conferred this name of honour on the family of Chevi Reddi alias Bhetala naidu, the founder of the Venkatagiri samstanam, and also ordered that every Velama Dora must have Ravu added at the end of his name. In the history of "Pratapa Charithra" there is a verse in regard to this family name, which translated runs as follows:-

"He who has the title Rao, which was bestowed by the king, prefixed to his name, is the ruler; and if it is affixed to the name, then it is a general mark of the Velama Caste."

Reference: A Revised and Enlarged Account of the Bobbili Zemindari, Second edition, By Sir Ravu Venkata Swetachalapati Ranga Rao, Maharaja of Bobbili.