Uppara
ClassificationBackward Caste
ReligionsHinduism
CountryIndia
Populated statesAndhra Pradesh
Telangana
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu

Uppara, also known as Sagara, is a Hindu caste predominantly found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.[1][2][3] They are classified as an Other Backward Class.[1][4]

Etymology

Traditionally, Upparas are involved in salt making and salt selling activities (Shetty Uppara Kula).[2][5][6][7] In the past, their occupation also involved the extraction of salt, known in Telugu and Kannada as uppu and hence, they came to be called Upparas.[5][3][8]

Occupationally, Lonia of North India are considered the equivalents of Upparas.[5]

History

According to Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, the most important occupation of the Telugu Upparas was making of salt.[3]

Mysore Census Reports of early 20th century noted about Upparas as follows: "This caste is divided into the Telugu and Karnataka sub-divisions. The well-to-do section of the caste further undertake public works on contract, and some of them are good architects of ordinary Hindu houses. There are also agriculturists and traders among them."[3]

The one-man Anantha Raman commission constituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in its report in 1968 made certain observations and recommendations regarding the Uppara community. Some of the points mentioned in the report are as follows:

  • Upparas were previously engaged in manufacturing salt.
  • When private manufacture of salt was forbidden during the British rule, the people of the community turned to other occupations. Losing their caste-based occupation as salt makers, they tuned to agriculture and allied activities.

Kumar Suresh Singh noted in 1998 that Upparas have considerably lost tradition of salt-making and are primarily involved in agriculture.[9] Upparas are the descendants of Suryavamshi Sagara Chakravarthy (Sagara Uppara Kula).[10]

Culture

Some members of the caste are Vaishnavites and others Saivites. They also worship various village deities, which vary according to the place of residence. Upparas celebrate a Rajarshi Bhagiratha Jayanti on Ganga Saptami every year as even declared by the Government of Karnataka.

This Hindu community is represented by Shrimad Jagadguru Chinmuladri Shilapuri Suryasimhasana Bhagiratha Peeta Mahasamstana Math, Brahmavidyanagar Sukshetra, Hosadurga, Chitradurga, Karnataka.

[11]

Demograph

The Chinnappa Reddy Report (1990) indicates that the Uppara make up about 1.18 percent of the population of Karnataka.

References

  1. 1 2 "Specification of OBCs in respect of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh (No. 12011/68/1993-BCC)"" (PDF). The Gazette of India: Extraordinary (in Hindi and English). Department of Publication: 38. 13 September 1993. ISSN 0254-6779. OCLC 1752771.
  2. 1 2 Srinivasulu, K. "Caste, Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh: Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories". Overseas Development Institute. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Thurston, Edgar; Rangachari, K. "'Uppara'". Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7. pp. 228 to 241. OCLC 11676577. Reprint. Originally published: Madras : Supt. Govt. Press, 1909
  4. ↑ "Inclusion/Amendment in the Central Lists of OBCs in respect of the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. (No. 12011/04/2014-BC-II)" (PDF). The Gazette of India: Extraordinary (in Hindi and English). Department of Publication: 13. 11 August 2016. ISSN 0254-6779. OCLC 1752771.
  5. 1 2 3 Devi, Dr V. Vasanthi (3 May 2021). A Crusade for Social Justice: P.S.Krishnan : Bending Governence Towards The Deprived. South Vision Books. pp. 55, 56.
  6. ↑ Krishnamurti, Bhadriraju; Vijayasree, Changanti (2004). Gold Nuggets: Selected Post-independence Telugu Short Stories. Sahitya Akademi. p. 470. ISBN 978-81-260-1930-4.
  7. ↑ Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1847. ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0.
  8. ↑ Karnataka State Gazetteer: Bangalore District. Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. 1993. p. 171.
  9. ↑ Singh, K. S. (1998). India's Communities. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 3539–3541. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
  10. ↑ Bulletin of the Anthropological Survey of India. Director, Anthropological Survey of India, Indian Museum. 1971. p. 162.
  11. ↑ https://nhrc.nic.in/sites/default/files/Report%20on%20Prevention.pdf
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