A crie de couer from a Kshatriya from Andhra Part II

A great race, over a span of a hundred years has lost its ferocity, greatness and identity. Now, in this era of turmoil,it is at the crossroads,either to go further down sliding or organise itself, so that whatever little glory left is salvaged and rebuild the past glory by rejuvenating the sunken race which means developing a powerful individual and aligning the powers of the individuals towards common goals of the community. (gigantic force like Elecricity is generated, when the electrons in a circuit are stopped from moving in zigzag ways and moved in a single direction ).A feeling of oneness (brotherhood) should be built, so that the sorrow and humiliation of one is felt by all and the victory and glory of one shall be enjoyed by all. Segmentary lineage followed by the Pathans or the Gana soceity of ancient Aryans is quiet suitable to the Kammas who have fiercely independent nature , which is the root cause of the disunity among them.
 
Segmentary lineage is the bane of Arab societies. There is a proverb amongst Arabs "Me against my brother. My brother and I against my cousins. My cousins and I against my clan. My clan and I against the tribe. The tribe and I against the world"
The person who arguably encapsulated this the most was Saddam Hussain who had to overcome challenges from his Tikriti tribe which took him to a path where he challenged the United States. Admirable but foolish.
A tribal and clannish approach would lead only a myopic view and lose a lot of allies in the process. During Operation Desert Storm, he had only two Arab allies left-Yemen and Jordan.

Now, the immediate task of the Kammas is to organise themselves into unions from village to state level and once again become a major force in all the fields and redeem their past glory, self-esteem and supremacy. Of late many hitherto lower classes have become immensely rich (actually hundreds of times richer than the previous rajas and Zamindars) and powerful by resorting to unlimited corruption in political, contract and some official fields.
 
That is not because they are lower castes neccesarily but because in those days in order to be rich in the private sector you had to be corrupt and grease many palms.
 
They shall be made to cough up this public money they had looted and shown their 'just' position in the soceity, even by means of destruction or cospiracy. ( Similar to the Ramayana story where Sri Rama collected the evaded taxes of 14 years, when he was in Vanavasam The farmers in his kingdom were said to have become arrogant and unruly because there was no supervision over them and no one collected taxes in those 14 years, thus allowing them to accumulate wealth ). The Kammas should reform themselves at individual, social and spirutual levels and become once again the fearsome race they once were. The fear and respect they used to command shall be reinstated among the other communities.
Since the Kammas were protectors of the 'dharma', the 'Dharma' (justice or order) in the soceity also started to deteriorate along with the Kammas.
 
Getting ahead of yourself. No evidence to show Kammas were considered protectors of Dharma.
  
Till the advent of Independence, of the famous temples in Andhra, except Tirumala temple which was governed by the 'mirasis' , all others were looked after by the hereditary trustees belonging to the royal families of Kamma and Velama clans. For example Mangalagiri, Vijayawada, Amaravati, Srisailam, Srikakulandhra Vishnu etc.,were governed by Kammas, whereas Annavaram and Kotappa konda had Velamas as Trustees. The Simhachalam Appanna is the family deity of Gajapathi kings. These kings over generations donated vast lands and huge gold to the temples and created a self-sustaining institution consisting of priests, devadasis, musicians, torch-bearers, mahvouts etc. The kings worshipped the gods as their Ilavelpu and took utmost care of the temples.
 
Ilavelpu loosely translates to glory of our abode.
 
Now, we have a constitution that promised to bring about equality of all. But after 60 years people are realising that the change of guard only helped a few immoral characters to come to power and their lives had become rather miserable. The nobility were stripped of their riches and powers in the name of equality and in their place oppurtunistic, immoral and unethical people have become rich and powerful. The constitution is so illogical and immoral and arbitrary. As a result the country has become a haven for murderers, anarchists ,corruption and terrorists. The political system is thrown into a vicious circle where politcal power earns money and money fetches power. The system throws out any honest and outright person. The system is catapulting all sorts of corrupt and characterless people to the top. A characterless creature like Indira Gandhi, could humiliate a person of the stature of the Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur belonging to a thousand year old reknowned royal family and considered one of the beautiest women in the world.
 
A woman with a face like Indira Gandhi is not likely to be courteous to beautiful women. Indira Gandhi herself was also riddled with complexes about her appearance and this compelled to act out in deviant ways as a result of which she was expelled from Shanti Niketan for sexual misconduct.
 
Despite all these lapses in the system, the country is being drawn along by the last fabric of "dharma" (and tolerance) which is the soul of this land. Once, this last thread is broken , the country is sure to break into a civil war out of which a new and more natural system may emerge.
        A retired brahmin employee, whose life long earning was a plot in Hyderabad, after
 it was encroached by a congress leader with full support from the government commented;
 "son,our country was under foreign rule for a thousand years and it has become impure.
 A lot of blood ought to have flown to cleanse it, but that didnot happen because we
 begged our Independence, rather than fight for it. Till the country is cleansed (by 
        flowing rivers of blood), this sort of "adharma" will go on".
 
 
Agreed, As Thomas Paine had stated so eloquently "The tree of liberty has to watered with the blood of tyrants" and by tyrants, he referred to the English while Paine himself was a native born Englishman.
Once upon a time we would kill our cousins,uncles and grandfathers in the name of dharma. But for "independence" we killed our own (Nehru backstabbing the INA) when they fight for their rights and hand them over to the Englsih while Englishmen like Thomas Paine do not hesitate to slaughter other Englishman in the name of liberty.

 
And this constitution brought about the endowments act and took posession of all the great temples (which have lots of land and gold). And ,new trustees are being appointed by the governments who are invariably politicians. A majority of these politicians are basically brokers and brothels. So, what's happening today?. Temple lands are being sold off or encroached upon. There is no tag on the invaluable jewellary of the temples. And,in some places the idols themselves are being stolen. The christian CM and the shadow PM might be only too glad at these developments, whereby the institution of Temples which is the heart of Hindu Dharma is getting diluted making it easy for their religion to gain ground.
 
Cheap shot against YSR Reddy, Sonia deserves it though. YSR Reddy actually stopped the practice of Christian conversion in Tirupati. And despite a Christian himself, he was a proud devotee of Venkateswara.
 
Agreed with the rest of  it.
 
It is high time all the truthful Hindus rise like one caste to save their dharma. The present constitution is invincible from the front (when approached as per rules), but helpless from the flank. So ,let the holes in the rules be utilised to save the dharma (which is already being done by various politicians and mafia, but for 'adharma' . The limitations and helplessness of the constitution are amply demonsrarted by the AP CM YSR. He could get his opponents killed at his will, release his followers who are convicted for murder, made fun of even high court and CAG by accusing even the judges and auditors ).
 
In all fairness, Chandra Babu Naidu and NTR were not shrinking violets when it came to violence. NTR coopted Paritala Ravi and unleashed him on an entire Reddy clan killing most of the family members and co travelers associated with him and the Congress party.
 
Let the previous Zamindars ( who are in any aspect far superior to the present trustees) made the trustees once again and the temples be liberated from the hold of these brokers and brothels.
 
Gee I don't know , zamindars were hardly paragons of virtue and good judgement. They themselves could be quite exploitative. Anyway the concept of zamindari is a late Mughal invention which was supported and expanded by the British as they themselves came from a feudal society at the time.
 
Let us once again establish our 'Vedic Culture' which preaches to live in harmony with nature, rather than become guinea pigs and 'customer base' for the multinationals of the materialistic west. (The government says plastic is hazardous to the environment and asks people not to use it. Why does n't it ban it in the first place. Even governments (after all only immoral and lowly people are part of it nowadays ) are puppets in the hands of these multinationals ). We can clearly understand their 'modus operandi',if we read books of patriotic scholars like 'Dasarathi Rangacharya', where he narrates beautifully how an unnecessary item , 'TEA' was introduced and how people were 'made' addicted to it so much so it became a most 'necessary' commodity. ( Shall we wake up to the fact that even TV's etc. are serving only 5% purpose and 95% business). Now, the govt. says the tribals in forests are not happy (all forest dwellers along with the various animals will be happy if these dirty bastards don't enter their territories ), and they shall change their lifestyle by starting to brush their teeth with a colgate toothpaste and use soaps and so...on. Ultimately, developing the customer base for the multinationals.
 
I agree with you about marketing useless products such as "tea" but how do you what is useless and what is truly valuable unless you are aware? What is your solution to this "multinational" dilemma? Should we go back to becoming frogs in a well unaware of the outside world? That didn't turn out so well for us. On a political level it led to Muslim and later British conquest of India.On an economic level, it led to nationalization, tariffs, license raj and wide spread poverty.
 
We are renowned for our industry and trading prowess since ancient times which is what made us prosperous. Let us end this idea of the boogeyman multinational.
 
The Kammas shall follow some fundamental principles, which they forgot unfortunately, as discussed below.
 
# 1. Pratyupakaram (repay any help) and Prateekaram (revenge) are two noble qualities to be followed as the most basic principles of life
If you are known to repay any help you got (not forget your well-wisher irrespective of his status or creed),people will be eager to stand by you. And,once it is sure you will take revenge even after a 100 years (i.e. blood-debt of your fore-fathers also), people will in the first place hesitate to harm you.
 
I agree that a person who maintains blood debts is a feared individual. I think even communities like Maravars (Thevars) had similar customs .
On the flipside this can easily degenerate into Rayalaseema type vendettas and factionalism(a side effect of the segmentary lineage discussed earlier). This is where the central authority has to step in and end it for the common good.
 
The above principle is another form of the famous saying ( about the major quality a king or leader should possess ) that both "your anger (agraham) and pleasure (anugraham) shall bear fruit". The greatness of a man manifests itself in two noble qualities, 'Nirbhayam' (fearlessness) and 'Nirlobham' (greedlessness). A man who possesses these qualities irrespective of his caste or creed, profession or status will be loved and respected by all.
 
Ok then , why not admire this in Reddys and lower castes if they possess. If such meritocracy is the standard then why special privileges for Kammas thriving on the glories of their ancestor's deeds?
 
Actually ,everyone yearns to have these qualities in his innermost conscience. Even, a bandit and outlaw like veerappan evoked tremendous awe among the entire country men, just because he was said to be fearless. These are the basic qualities found in any great leader or mythological and folk heroes. Unfotrunately, the Kammas of today have a dearth of these two qualities, because they became materialistic and money-minded, and automatically fear and greed set in. There are countless doctors, actors, engineers, poets, industrialists, scientists etc. from the community excelling in their fields. But,there was one and only one Paritala Ravi in the entire state, whereas there ought to have been atleast one PR in each Kamma village , if not in each family.
 
One shudders to think of a Paritala Ravi in every family. Perhaps it made sense in a more ancient era but not now. I am not asking anyone to be a pacifist ,indeed I wish the Arms Act to be repealed so that everyone can conceal and carry. But let us not wish for one of family members to be a clannish warlord.
 
# 2. The most essential quality a Kamma Prabhu (Kshatriya) should have is able and strong body (Deha Darudhyam).
It was said that the Gandikota kings could decapitate a horseman as well as the horse with a single stroke of their sword. Even two generations back there was perceptible difference in physical feutures like height between Kammas and non-Kammas. A sizeable number of Kamma men used to come out into the streets weilding swords and spears on the slightest provocation.
 
Yes college fights in Hyderabad particularly with Kamma youth were especially brutal. And based on these incidents two Kammas(Nagarjuna and Ramgopal Varma) came together to make a film richly encapsulating this violence (Shiva).
 
 Physical power coupled with courage was the basis of their supremacy and command over others. What is the situation today?.
The Kammas who were once feared by the Pathans are fearing street rowdies.

This is the problem with northern Kshatriyas also. Able bodied and courageous Rajputs and Jat men enter colleges like JNU only to graduate with a feeble form and parroting praises of Gandhi,vegetarianism, peace with Pakistan and non violence

 The Kammas over the past century came up with some wrong notions. They weaned away from a natural way of life and became materialistic in the illusion it is civilised. They could not learn from history that any over-civilised soceity is due to collapse, and no match for a naturally brought up race. ( Rome was devastated by barbarians; all of medieval civilisations by the Huns; Lakhs of Indians could not match pathans in thousands; Even Raja Venkatadri Naidu was tormented by a few hundred Chenchus). They felt that money is the most important thing in life and if they pass on huge amounts of wealth to their children, they will be happy. They forgot that they should be made strong enough atleast to defend what they were given. Strong physically, intellectually and spirutually ."Give fish to your child. He has food for that day. Teach him how to fish . He will have food for his entire life" goes a chinese proverb. The Kammas forgot to teach their children how to fish. Sitting and studying was all they expected from their children. They put their children in residential schools ( no lesser than jails)
 
Indeed I agree , these schools are jails. Even worse , with coaching centres in the evening, you are led from one jail to the other!
 
since infant stage and deprived them of a natural way of growing up and ignorant of their traditions. Finally , from a race dreaded by Pathans, they developed a fragile race afraid of street-rowdies and rickshaw pullers, not even competent to defend themselves, let alone save others who have sought protection (which is the basic duty of Kammas). A good physique and health are required not only to defend themselves and subdue others, but even to enjoy the beautiful life given by the god. Wealth, status etc., are a human phenomena while beauty, strength and health are godly.
 
This is true and basis of tantra where you can achieve to the gods only with a strong and healthy mind and physique. Which is why it was usually Kshatriyas who were siddhis
 
A capable person finds life filled with enjoyment, while an incapale fellow finds it filled with obstacles.
Let the young men be exposed to all the rough and testing circumstances so that they become battle-hardy and do not shy away from an oppurtunity to fight just like their forefathers who considered dying in a battle-field a previlege equal to a marriage.
So,let the 12-18 age group boys be given thorough training in swimming,climbing,yoga and atleast one form of warfare (martial arts) ,encouraged to make friends i.e. improve their circle and deal harshly with enemies.
 
How about MMA, hunting, boxing and training with the latest weaponry as well.
 
# 3.Social Strength (Jana Balam) has to be developed.
In the olden days, the qualifying criteria for a leader were noble birth and noble qualities like strength, courage, good judgement and sacrificial nature. But, in today's democratic setup quantities ( majority of numbers) are more essential than qualities. As a natural rule leaders or kings will always be a minority numerically. The Kammas are estimated to constitute only around 3-4% of AP's population. To make up for their numerical weakness, the Kammas have to make social alliances with some 'friendly' and 'loyal' communities.
It is a good sign that by and large the Kammas are leaving aside the differences of sects like "pedda Kamma", "Chinna Kamma" etc. and are entering into marital alliances with one another. The Velamas who in fact were an offshoot of the Kammas can be welcomed and they can both join together like split brothers. The existing friendly ties with the Kshatriya Rajus shall be maintained and further strengthened.
 
Rajus are Kshatirya kings for sure. And Kammas were their generals and aristocrats.
 
The Yadavas were one of the most trusted and loyal lietunents for the Kammas. The Yadavas also were said to be descendants of the lunar clan, but were deprived of high status because of a curse.
 
To be specific, Gandhari's curse.
 
Some other communities like gowda, mudiraj, boya etc., shall be brought into their fold. The Kammas shall also encourage the "madigas", a loyal community and undo the injustice done by Brahma Naidu, on account of whom the madigas lost their social position to the malas. (Brahma Naidu adopted Kannama Dasu, a mala (who were at the bottom of that day's soceity and have no defined profession), named him as Kannama Needu and made him a commander in his army. He even made priests out of the mala community in the Chennakesava temples).
 
Malas are another Dalit caste. Anyway before you were about caste hierarchy now you want to make amends and relations with lower castes? A bit contradictory?
 
# 4. Militarise the community 'Dandam Dasagunam Bhaveth' goes our saying. If we analyse the history or structure of any soceity or group, it was the warriors who always had the say. Though the Kammas ( as well as all native warriors) were demilitarised by the British and not permitted to carry weapons, their martial spirit and warlike nature lived on till the 1980's and people of other communities were afraid of them. The young generation of Kammas moved out of their native places for studies and jobs. This generation was brought up in a protected environment and are not exposed to the harsh realities of the world. Once they have become soft and shied away from fights and quarrels, some ordinary and lowly people who were a little daring formed into small groups and ventured out into the streets ( ready to runaway if met with a serious challenge ). As on most of the occasions there was no one to check them, they became rowdies and later on evolved into politicians and have become the new masters of the soceity.
 
A small correction: Most Kamma politicans began as rowdies themselves. Even the mild mannered Chandra Babu Naidu was known to smash bottles on the heads of political adversaries in college.
 
Of late, since some 30 years the educated Kammas stopped using force like beating people or even servants in the opinion that it is uncivilised.
 
Beating servants IS uncivilized.
 
Fighting or quarelling in the streets, getting arrested, going to jail etc.,have come to be looked down upon strangely in a community having martial background. The universal law 'offence is the best form of defence ' was forgotten. It is the begining of the rise of other communities. Let the custom of carrying weapons be brought alive as it induces fear in the opponents. Our ancestors lived by the sword. Let each household possess weapons like swords ,daggers and spears ( though they are found in the ancestral houses, they are not being seen in newly built houses) and pistols and guns wherever affordable. Seeing the weapons from childhood, the children grow up with knowledge of what their ancestors were and try to emulate them. The youth shall be taught how to use them and encouraged to be merciless towards those who offend them. As Lord Sri Krishna says, it is equally wrong not to fight when it was warranted as it is to fight when not warranted. Those who are not so adventurous and want to play it safe, should atleast give moral support to the fighters instead of rebuking them. The sword-weilders shall be respected more than the money and power-weilders.
 
Yes, if anything wealthy Kuwait should've been aware of this in 1990. Or India in 1000 AD.
 
The customs related to weapons like Veerula Pette (weapons kept in a box represent the ancestors and worshipped on Sankranti day), Sami Puja (Newly wed bride escorted to the 'Jammi ' tree by her brothers carrying swords) , Veerabhadruni Puja , cutting the threads tied to the marriage pandal with a sword etc.,which are being followed occasionally shall be made mandatory to all. In accordance to today's trend, Veera Deeshas can be created in the place of Ayyappa Deesha etc., whereby youngmen are trained atleast for 40 days in warfare.
# 5. The women folk have a greater role to play in redeeming the prestige of the community
The Kamma women who were icons of beauty inherited the great legacy of Sri Lakshmi Tirupatamma, Sri Vengamamba, Vasireddi Atchamma etc.,and innumerable other 'Satimatas' (Perantandru), who have performed Sati Sahagamanam and become goddesses and were highly respected. Known for their beauty and noble Character , they used to practice gosha, ( a custom unique to royals, where the women should not to be seen by men other than her husband and blood relation . Velamas and Rajus also have this custom). They were not supposed to even serve food to male guests. Even during journeys they used to travel in Palanquins or carts surrounded by screens. Even after they lost their kingdoms and took to agriculture, the uniqueness and greatness of the Kammas was acknowledged by other communities as long as their womenfolk followed "gosha". Only after the 'gosha' and other customs that demonstrate their superiority have been abandoned (e.g. to serve food to other castes in leaves and asking them to remove it ), the other castes started to question their superiority and began disobeying them.
 
I personally find Reddy women to be prettier on average but that's my subjective taste and anecdotal evidence. And please stop glorifying Sati.
 
Though in modern times such customs like sati and gosha may not be practicable, the women can enhance the prestige of the family and community by following other customs which speak of their past glory , atleast in new places in this era of migration where people may not know the social standing of the Kammas. As far as possible they should assert their superiority because 'live and let live' is an idealistic view. If you don't assert your superiority, others will try to dominate, which is a strange equation of caste system. They should understand their glorious past and history and the meaning of their customs. (e.g.'Atla Tadiya' is a festival unique to Kamma women and is celebrated only in the "Kamma belt" from Rajahmundry to Ongole. It actually is "Gowri Puja" seeking longevity to their husbands and is performed just before the "saradrutu" , which was the time when the Kamma men used to go on War or hunting expeditions in ancient times).
 
Saradrtu or Sharad Ritu is late autum early winter around October November.
 
A mother is the first teacher of any child and a knowledgeable mother can impart 'true' education to her children and make them brave and strong.
Another matter of concern today is intercaste relationships and marriages. Here, the women have great role to play. They should draw inspiration from all our "satimatas" who were themselves inspired by the great 'sitamata'.
 
Sitamata was not a satimata.
 
The slighting and rejection by a woman can hurt a man(enemy) far greater than the deadliest weapons. The slighting of Ravana by Sita and the way she belittled him by prefering to talk to grass rather than to Ravana, the way she praised her husband and made a cheap picture of Ravana saying he is a thief and coward who fled from her husband like a dog, induced a feeling of inferiority in Ravana's mind and won a moral victory for Sri Rama over Ravana even before the first arrow was shot between them.
 
Good point but it didn't work with the Muslim invaders who were more vile than Ravana. Here I suppose sati is a more desirable option but its not really Sati but Jauhar where the woman kills herself by immolation rather than fall in the hands of the enemy. Sati is voluntary immolation upon the husband's pyre even though there is no danger to honor and person.
 
# 6. Reform the religious practices and beliefs that have paralysed our minds and bodies.
One of the main reasons for the defeat of Indians in various battles with the muslims is their spirutual weakness besides the superior military tactics and equipment of the muslims. They diverted from worshipping the Supreme god who is Nirakara and Nirgunakara ,the Supreme power or "Shivam" whom even Sri Rama and Sri Krishna worshipped. (Ironically, they were themselves converted into gods). Even worse, ordinary humans like 'sadhus' who claimed to have divine powers and can communicate with gods were worshipped, which actually is an act of blasphemy. Any devotee has to communicate his wishes to the gods only through these self-proclaimed 'brokers' (mostly the priests or brahmins) and for this favour they collected huge amounts in cash and kind. The priest community spread many myths and fables to secure their hold over the soceity. And people were made to believe that god will protect them if they do more and more 'pujas' . People started to believe in all kinds of superstitions and forgot that in this creation of god all incidents happen in a rational way. They forgot to use their instincts, intellectual and physical powers given by god to defend themselves. (The incident when people witnessed Mohammed of Ghazni raid the Somnath temple without trying to resist, in the belief that Lord Siva will appear and burn him by opening his third eye is a heartburning example of how far the religion has paralysed and weakened the Indians).
 
Good points but let us not throw out the baby with the bathwater. The rituals and rites had a significance and helped kings acquire "divya astra" or divine weapons. Over time the knowledge and proper practioners of the rites were lost so the Brahmins were left with a lot of info which they didn't know what to do with.
Contrast this to when Muslims attacked a Buddhist monastery in Bihar. A Buddhist monk simply stepped outside and splashed some water on the Muslims which compelled them to flee in terror
The difference, the Buddhist monk had considerable prana Shakti(transferred to the water) and Brahmins despite the grandeur and wealth of the temples were helpless before the Muslims.
 
The religion actually burdened the Indian kings because they had to spend lots of money to satisfy the brahmins (in the way of donating gold and land; A king who doesn't satisfy them is generally portrayed as wicked,cruel, not from a noble race or having 'rakshasamsa') rather than strengthen the army. It acted as a virus eating into the nerves of the Indian kings rather than serve as a tonic. The Indian kings did not have any clear guiding principles which could unite them and fight for a single cause. Only the Kshatriyatic principles of pride,valour and self-esteem saw them put up fierce resistance though in the long run they had to give up.
 
I agree but yet you say you want to continue support and give alms to the temple. Shouldn't there be some quality control first?
 
Realising that unless the Indians became spirutually strong, they can not make a great nation many reformers promulgated new ways of life like the Arya Samaj and the Brahma Samaj in the 19 th century. But, in accordance with the peculiar behavior of the Indian soceity, these efforts brought out a few more fragments in the soceity like all similar efforts to unite the soceity like Buddism, Jainism and later Veerasaivism and so many 'isms' have done.
 
Buddhism was a very positive influence on Indian society , it had revamped and reformed Hinduism and greatly improved the socio political situation.
Arya Samaj and Brahmo samaj had failed because they didn't appreciate the evolution of Vedas and the Puranas and were stuck in one mould of monotheism.
 
Veerashaivism was also a narrow view of religion which actually went against basic Shaivite precepts which is why it never gained a major foot hold outside its home base.
As with contemporary Tamil Shaivism, it was basically Jainism in a Hindu form.
 
 Swami Vivekananda's preachings even today hold as good as they did a hundred years ago.
People should give up superstitions and understand that god has given them body,mind and power to make a rational use of them.
 
 
Another admirable person but he didn't appreciate tantra and its relation to the Vedas. Hence he dismissed the Puranas.
 
# 7.The Kammas should change their perspective regarding the professions
The Kammas still continue to favour some professions and despise some. But, they should take into account the changing social order. For example a SI of police or a MRO have become lot more powerful than the traditional landlords who once were uncrowned kings in their villages. There is no need to tell about a Group-I officer nor a IAS or IPS. The Kammas being fiercely independent by nature, don't like to be commanded. Till two generations back, even highly educated people were discouraged from doing jobs by their elders as they considered a job, however big it may be as working under someone. The Kammas don't like even a powerful post like a SP of Police where they can command thousands, because they don't want to be dictated by politicians nor superior officers. But they have to accept the reality and realise that by occupying such powerful posts, they can prevent lowly and corrupt people from becoming powerful atleast to some extent. On the lower side of it some trades like plumbing, electrician etc., are still being considered lowly though in fact they are fetching lot of money compared to the traditional agriculture.
 
Agriculture anywhere these days is rarely lucrative unless you have sweet heart deals with the government. Punjabi farmers are prosperous not so much due to hard work but because of rich subsidies and favored status as providers to the central pool. Similar situation for U.S farmers where you have the corn lobby to which American politicians must bow. In fact the very first Presidential primary is always in the corn country of Iowa where politicians of all political stripes pose with corn stalks and promise even more subsidies if they wish to make it to the next primary.

# 8. Propagnada is an art which can not be ignored
Even the Koh-i-Noor needs some amount of propaganda , for the world to understand its greatness. In the olden days the Kammas were accepted as leaders by all communities, and it was the other communities who used to sing in praise of the Kammas. Blowing one's own trumpet was considered lowly.
The Kammas have a ocean of fame to their credit and till recently didn't need any propaganda. They were reluctant to put up the statues of their leaders or name roads or streets or colleges after them though they used to contribute generously for their development.Unfortunately ,the other communities (especially reddis ) have excelled in this art of propaganda. The latest trend is to build a big arch on the main gate of existing colleges or temples and put their name on that. Now, people are not even leaving the sanctum Sanitoriums of the temples from being advertisement boards. For little contributions ,people are demanding lot of advertisement and they have a knack for locating the vantage points. They don't feel ashamed to reveal that the prime purpose of their charity is publicity and are even ready to quarrel over it. The ancient rajas and Zamindars were so humble that their names were found in small stone inscriptions almost unnoticable.
 
There were no "zamindars" in ancient times. But I get the point. Compare the monuments of the egotistical Pharoahs and Babylonian kings to those of Indian kings.

 
Actually the Kammas have such a vast and magnanimous history that if they can propagte it in the minimum level,they can find themselves in a position unreachable by others. 
 
No ,Kamma history really begins with the decline of the Chalukyas of Vengi and ends with the Nayakas who have a mixed record.
 
  To realise all these principles and establish "dharma", Dharma Parirakshaka Samiti's shall be formed ,starting from village level and slowly expanding them upwards. These samitis should elect brave and able men as their leaders. (the "money" factor should be the last criteria for leadership. If this were so, the 'banias' would have been ruling this country) and all these samitis shall be co-ordinated by spirutually strong leaders. These samitis shall slowly take control of not only the temples, but even revenue and crimrinal powers, thereby rendering the present immoral and unethical constitution ineffective. Let a parallel constitution be run which is based on the eternal "dharma", not on trivial things like 'votes' and 'majority'. "Dharma" or order shall be established, whereby each person and community is shown their place.  
And finally 'order' shall be established and the prevailing anarchy shall be rooted out and each community seeking and boasting 'higher' social status shall be told their past and shown their place. And next time when someone like YSR challenges a person like Chandra Babu with his arrogant smile, ( an act belittling the opponent), he should proudly be able to retort
'Memu Racha putuka puttina Kamma Prabhuvulam. Neeva nannu saval chesedi', whereby the opponent himself feels belittled and sits down with everything shut.
 
Roughly translated : We are Kamma lords of a proud lineage, who are you to question me?
Though I doubt such as statement would've made much a dent on YSR, himself no stranger to brutal factional wars.
 

Comments

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Some valid points in the article but often it reads like Mein Kampf. The author really needs to overcome his racialist assumptions.

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  3. Kammas traditionally were soldier-nobility who followed Hindu faith and so qualifies as a Kshatriya caste.

    Why was it that carnage of World War 1 and World War 2 made West averse to bloodshed?------even to such an extend that even victors themselves lost appetite for large scale slaughter?

    Most of the Western literati who glorified violence were so shocked that by the carnage that 'love of war' disappeared at an amazing speed.

    That is because they do not have a martial ethos that pervades their daily lives.

    How do you expect to have such a viable martial ethos if you preach sanctity of human life along with disapproval of using violence to settle family vendetta and personal insult?

    Mere military training or right to carry weapons is not sufficient for a viable martial ethos. For that a code of chivalry as well as a cult of personal/family vendetta is essential.

    A martial ethos like this should be imparted to Indian nation along with a good education in religion and political history.

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    Replies
    1. In rural areas and other places where law and order is non existent then vendettas not only make sense but are actually necessary to survive.

      And Rayalaseema fits that description perfectly

      However while India is obviously far from effective in its use of police and judiciary, at some point such vendettas should take a backseat to government adjudication of disputes if we have to progress.

      I don't preach sanctity of human life , I certainly believe in the death penalty.

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    2. @Sagar

      Europe had been fighting one war or another interminably since the end of pax Romana. So they are not exactly sissies when it comes to martial ethos. WW1 and WW2 showed what happens when killing is done efficiently and with modern weaponry. That, along with the newly noticed medical symptom called shell shock, thousands of young men disabled, blinded for life etc made them change their minds. Martial ethos, while important in a society threatened by invasion is not different from propaganda.

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  4. I never said Kammas weren't Kshatriya(note the title of the blog) but insist that they weren't royalty. Whatever royalty they had was fleeting and the lands they ruled were rather small when compared to the kingdoms and empires of that age.

    That guy is exaggerating his past and caste. Otherwise he makes good points

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