Balija Caste Classifications and Census Operations

Balija Caste Classifications and Census Operations

With reference to the letter dated 25th May 1901 of the Superintendent of Census Operations, Madras, our Collector has ap- pointed the following gentlemen, Messrs E. T. Vedanayagam Pillay, Avl, Tahsildar, Coimbatore Viz. President,’ H. Rama Row Avl. 1st Grade Pleader, C. Bujanga Row Avl. B. A., Asst. Master Coimbatore College, Rajapurohitham Venkatasubba Sastrilu and S.P. Narasimmulu Naidu, Editor of the Coimbatore Crescent as members of the District Committee to discuss and criticize this scheme in so far as it relates to the Castes and tribes commonly found in Coimbatore District.

The members met twice on Saturday the 6th and on Wednesday the 10th Instant, at the Taluk Office and carefully scrutinized the existing Clasi- fication. With regard to the Balija Caste which was placed in the 4th Class of the Classification the members recorded that they (Balija Caste) have good claim to be classed as Kshatriyas. One of the members (S. P. Narasimmulu Naidu) filed a pamphlet containing the following letter &c. to the Superintendent of Census Operations, Madras.

“THE CRESCENT” OFFICE,

COIMBATORE,

10th July 1904,

Το

M. FRANCIS Esq. I. C. S.
Superintendent of Census Operations,
MADRAS.

SIR,
In reference to your letter No. 1018 of the 25th May 1901, enclosing a ‘Classification of Castes and tribes’, forwarded to all collect- ors with a view to have the Classification carefully scrutinized, I have the honour to bring to your notice that the Balija Caste mentioned in the 4th page of the said classification is given a wrong place inasmuch as it ought to be placed in Group 11 under the head of Kshatriyas.
The Balija caste people are Kshatriyas of the Lunar Race as can be proved by a reference to the Bhagavatham, Vishnupuranam and Brahmmandapuranam &c. (Vide XXIII Chap. of the IX Scanda of Bhagavatham. Journal of the Asiatic Society and District Manuals of Tanjore, Madura, Nellore &c.)

In this connection, it will be interesting to note that one Sevappa Naidu married Murthiammal, sister-in-law to Achutha Deva Rayulu of Narapathi Samasthanam of Vijianagar and, as a marriage portion or dowry, received the territory of Tanjore over which he ruled as king for a long period. It was at this time that the celebrated Tirumalay Naidu of Madura took as wife one of the daughters of Sevappa Naidu’s family. Tirumalay Naidu’s grandson, one Chockalinga Naidu, married Mangammal daughter of Vijiaragavalu Naidu, a grandson of the said Tanjore Sevappa Naidu. It will thus be seen that the Naidu rulers of Tanjore, Trichy and Madura were all relations of Narapathi Samastha- nam of Vijianagaram. (Vide Pages 502, 503, 504, 505- Vol VI Part II. The Journal of Asiatic Society, &c. The District Manuals of Madura, Tanjore &c.)

That these Narapathies of Vijianagaram were Kshatriyas of the Lunar Race can be seen clearly by a reference to Manucharithra, Pari- jathapaharanam, Prouda Prabanda Kavi Cheritra &c. (Page 521, Vol VI The Journal of Asiatic Society of 1838), and that they were direct descendants of the great Andra kings can be proved with equal satis- faction by refering to Col. Mackenzie’s M. S. S. in the introduction of A. D. Campbell’s Telugu Grammer and James Prinsep’s Indian Anti- quities. Useful tables on Andra kings, Pages 241 and 242 will shew that the Andras were immediate descendants of the well-known Yayathi Raja of the Lunar Race.

I have also the honour to state that,in 1896, a Tamil book called Balijavaru Puranum was published by me proving the above facts in the most incontestable manner. The book was circulated among learned Pundits and Brahmins, among whom may be mentioned M. R. Ry. Sabapathy Pillai Avl, Hd. Tamil Pundit of the Coimbatore College, M. R. Ry. Tiruchittrambalam Pillai Avl, Tamil Pundit, L. M. High School, and Samakulam Venkataramana Iyengar, a well known Brah- min pundit. These have not only commended the arguments in the book and acknowledged the truth of the line of reasoning but have also furnished me with Frp (e) to shew their appreciation of the work.

Besides the above mentioned gentlemen, the great Vaishnava Iyengar Brahmin priests (Addangi Thirumalay Vatapatrasayie Thata Chariar, V. S. Kandadai Alaga Chariar of Y Marks, and Raiguru, Koti Kannikathanam, Keel Thirumaligai, Chinna Gopalasamy Thatha Chariar, Raiguru; Koti Kannikathanam, Sreenivasa Thatha Chariar of Marks) of Srivilliputhur have also approved of it as authoritative history and sent in a sis to all Balija Casta people advising them how to fill up the names, titles, castes &c. in the recent Census Forms. A copy of the book nnd the authentication శ్రీం శ్రీ (శ్రీముఖము ) and a geneological chart of the Balija Caste are herewith submitted for your perusal.

Under these circumstances, I think it will only be just and reasonable that the Balija caste should be spared the ignominy of being placed lower than the Komitees and other similar classes when their (Balija’s) real status is that of Kshatriyas.

I have the honour to be
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
S. P. NARASIMHALU NAIDU,
Editor of the Coimbatore Crescent,

‘The Coimbatore Crescent” 12th July 1901.

హిందూజాతి నియమనము.

మన దేశమునందు సమీపకాలములో జన సంఖ్య యెత్తినదాని వలన, జనులయొక్క జాతి వర్ణ భేద అంతస్థులను, ఆ జనగణితీ పుస్తకము నందు వ్రాయనెంచి, ఒక్కొక జిల్లాలోనుండు పెద్దమనుష్యులు కొండఱిని సభ చేర్చి, తెలిపించవలయునని ఆ యిలాకా సూఫ్రెం డెంటు వారి ఉత్తరము ప్రకారముగా కోయముత్తూరిలో జిల్లా కలెక్టరువారు తాసీల్ దారు మొదలగు గొప్ప ఉద్యోగస్థులను, మఱికొందఱు పెద్ద మనుష్యు లను ఒక కమిటిగా జేర్చిరి. వారు రెండుమాట్లు సభ చేసిరి. వారంద ఱును దీర్ఘాలోచన జేసి, జాతి పట్టికలో కనిన పేర్లను బహు జాగ్రత్తగా తగిన చోట్లకు మార్చిరి. ఆ జాతిపట్టికలో బలిజవారిని శూద్రులని కని యుండుటను ఆలోచించి, ఆజాతివారిని క్షత్రియ తరగతిలో చేర్చుటకు తగిన ఆధారములున్నదని రికార్డు చేసిరి. ఆమీద ఆ సభ్యులలో నొకరైన S. P. నరసింహులు నాయడు ఆ విషయమును గూర్చి దృఢపఱచగా, దిగువ కనబఱచిన కాగితమును, దానికిందగిన ఆధారములను ఒక చిన్న గ్రంథముగా ముద్రించి సూప్రెండెంటు గారికి పంపునట్లు దాఖల్ చేసిరి. అదే యిది.

End

Learn about the Balija caste, its classifications, historical background, and role in Indian census operations, highlighting its social and cultural significance.