peace, order and tranquility over the Krishna and the Indian Ocean.
Even in the heydays of their power, the Vijayanagara rulers had
devised the institution of the palegars with the special duty of
maintaining peace and order throughout the extensive empire. The
Kavalgar system prevailing in the empire was another wing in charge
of law and order.
The
163
communities
looked
after
social
welfare
and
local
164
armed gangs who had carved out for themselves a place in the area.
Again, meritorious public service rendered by a leader has been
recognized and certain chiefs held power in this way.
Above all,
there was the need to protect public interests through some effective
means.
In all these circumstances the granting of recognition by the
king or by the deliberate act of the sovereign in permitting the
existence of the Palegars can be understood. Once they were left free
in their armed camps or polloms (Palayams), the palegars exercised
sole jurisdiction over their people.
occasions. The liaison between the palegars and the sovereigns were
called the Stanapathis' or 1 Vakeels'.
The main duties of the palegars were manifold.
They had
palayams, commanders of the forces and renters of the Nawab (in the
Kamatak) and ryots among the people.
In the middle of the eighteenth century the palegari influence
increased. They extended their privilege through encroachment upon
the jurisdiction of the sovereign, the consent of the villages and also
through the approval of the Nawab in the Karnataka. The palegars
transgrossed upon the circar territories and superseded the local
authority.
undermined.16
166
7 'P A ! Kfc w ud
swelled.17
The growing influence of the palegars had a deep impact on
their character. The chiefs had by now become a kind of domestic
militia paid by the inhabitants and compensated for their services by
their over lord. Their military establishments were strengthened and
their isolated villages became military posts.
To
In the early
21
168
entrusted with the charge of the police or took upon themselves that
responsibility.
confined not only to their own villages but also extended to the
protection of property of the inhabitants and travelers in the adjoining
villages and on roads.
The
As the circumstances
The numerical
170
In case of any
The
As the peons in
Infact, the
On every important
He
collected taxes and duties, maintained peace and order, and kept his
own troops, though the palegar had no right to construct fort and to
put any one to death or to inflict a punishment amounting to
mutilation without the approval of his King.34 He observed these
restrictions more by violation than by compliance.
He performed certain economic functions too, undertook
charitable activities, cleaned forests, arranged facilities for irrigation
works such as digging of wells, canals, tanks etc., and looked after the
cleanliness of the village.35
173
called the Sherogars, and they used to render military services to the
palegar. The followers of sherogar cultivated the lands in times of
peace and took to arms in times of conflicts. Because of this
arrangement the palegar was in a position to assemble a considerable
number of troops at a short notice.
conditions, and this was applied only to the wet lands. The share of
the palegar was regulated by mamool or Custom.
It was a common practice that a ryot managed to possess
greater extent of land than what was found in the records either by
keeping the actual extent unnoticed by the officials or by bribing the
surveyors.
varied from 50% to 100% of the extent of the land for which he
actually paid.37 Thus, finally there was a tremendous struggle between
the fraudulent evasions and oppressive exactions. However, during
the 18th Century the exactions in a palegar territory did not appear as
oppressive as they were in the circar territory. At times the oppressed
ryots fled from circar country to the pollams in order to escape from
exactions.
Besides the military establishment, there was a police
establishment, called the Kaval. The word KavaP means watch
and a person who performed the duty was called Kavalgars or
Talayari. The Kaval system was essentially the south Indian counter
part of the hue and cry in Anglo-Saxon England.
Until the Mughal invasions the palegar and the KavaP system
existed as two parallel organisations. From times immemorial, every
village had its kavalgars who were appointed either by village
communities or by rulers from guarding the villages. The kavalgars
were of four different groups: 1. The Arasu Kavalgars, 2. The Nadu
Kavalgars, 3. The Desai Kavalgars, and 4. The Stalam Kavalgars.
Arasu means Government Nadu district desi or desam direction
or region and Stalam place or village. The duty of the Kavalgars is
to protect the cattle, grain and domestic property of the inhabitants
175
and guard the public places like the roads and markets.
If any
the theft.
The
maintenance of peace and order in the country. The palegars were for
the palegar territories while the kavalgars were for the circar-lands
doing complementary duties.
The
palegars constructed forts of mud or of stone either on deep cottonplain or on the hills for the convenience of defense. Their forces
176
consisted of two major divisions. The match-lock men and the pike
men.
In order to assemble their troops they fired sarabogies, a kind
of pork-guns.40 The weapons in common use included the cannon,
muskets, wallpieces, shields, swords, pikes and match-lock.41
The
pike was nothing but the bamboo spear 18 to 20 feet long, target,
spear, dagger, sling, bow and arrow.42
Clay-pellets, prepared by
mixing the white portion of the egg with clay served the purpose of
bullets. Rockets were fired into the camps of the enemies. A peculiar
weapon used by the palegars was the Valaithadi, or boomerang. It
was a crescent shaped weapon, one end left heavy while the outer
edge sharp. Made of some hard grained wood or iron, the valaithadi
measured about 24 inches along the outer-curve and 18 along the
chord are.
was rarely done by them, while the contributions they levied, though
much more than adequate to that purpose, were principally applied to
the maintenance of a larger force than they could otherwise have kept
up from the resources of their own lands. So imperfectly in fact, did
they perform the duties of police, that in those districts, which were
immediately under their authority, they and their peons were not only
themselves chiefly concerned but also the properties and persons of
its inhabitants were more secure from plunder and violence.47
Besides the above mentioned police duties, military duties and
agricultural duties, the palegars perform certain economic functions
too.
They provided
descended for high officers under the old Vijayanagara King. Others
were merely village officers who had profited by former periods of
confusion to seize a fort or two and collect a body of bandits. Some
of them had an income of only Rs. 60/- to Rs. 70/- per month.49
This chapter has summarized the circumstances leading to the
genesis of the Palegari system in South India. The turbulent political
conditions following the decline of leading powers in the Deccan like
the Mysore State, the Nawabs of Karnataka and the Vijayanagara
Empire unleashed a breakdown of law and order. Local chieftains
and Jagirdars who had received land gifts from the sovereign could
protect the life and property of people, They had their own forts and
armed levies who were used to restore law and order. The palegars
also checked highway robbery and banditry.
A good
Table No.I.
STATEMENT OF PALEGARS IN THE CEDED DISTRICTS
(According to Munros Report)
s.
Name of the
Name of the Palegar
Region/District
No.
Annagondy Timmapah Raj
1.
Kumplie
2.
Harpanahalli Buswapah Nair
Harpanahalli
3.
Jeremullah Mallekarjun Nair
Kudligi
4.
Bellary Veeramah
Bellary
5.
Kontacondah Chinamah and Timmanah
Adoni
6.
Kapitral Seetamah and Chenamah
Adoni
7.
Adoni
Doodecondah Permall Nair
8.
Pundecondah
Lall Munnee
Adoni
9.
Darumcondah Raman Naig
Adoni
10.
Buswapoor Nundekesloo Naig
Cumbam & Dupad
11.
Poolalcherroo Jelle Devakar
Cumbam & Dupad
12.
Bolapillee Jelle Buswapah
Cumbam & Dupad
13.
Domal Sheshachepatte Nair
Cumbam & Dupad
14.
Rawoor Soobah Nair
Cumbam & Dupad
15.
Kusswerum Bode Mullanah
Cumbam & Dupad
16.
Vencatedripollem Bode Veeramah
Cumbam & Dupad
17.
Whoolgoodah Antapah Nair
Cumbam & Dupad
18.
Nellagoolah Venkatnursoo
Cumbam & Dupad
19.
Hundi Anantapur Siddapah Nair
Hundi Anantapur
20.
Nuddemedoddy Vencanah Nair
Hundi Anantapur
21.
Rayadurg Venkatapathy Nair
Rayadurg
22. Nosum
Nosum Narasimma Reddy
23.
Chitivel Comar Venkat Raghava Raj
Chitivel
24.
Cankee Ramki stum Raj
Koilcoonta
25.
Hunmuntgood and Namepoor Ackamah
Koilcoonta
26.
Singaputtan & Kalwaddah Mijil Expelled
Koilcoonta
Mulla Reddy
27.
Bodyemanoor Boochanah
Koilcoonta
28.
Tipareddepully and Adiredipilly
Duvur
29.
Mootyal Poor
Duvur
30.
Wherapaur Kugputt Reddy
Duvur
31.
Kamalapur
Bapatoor
32.
Yadiki
Talmurlah Konam Raj
33.
Chennumpully
Pyapillee Kondul Nair
34.
Chennumpully
Muddekarah Mallekarjin Nair
35.
Wejurkaroor
Kammalapaaud Gurapah Nair
36.
Gurramkonda
Ghuttum Ragonaut Nair
37.
Gurramkonda
Buttlapoor Cuddriputtee Nair
38.
Gurramkonda
Sompilly Mullapah Nair
39.
Gurramkonda
Timalagoondu Chinna Cuddriputtee Nair
183
existing in
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Name of the
Palem
Region/
Taluk.
District
Dasaripalli
Yakarlapalem
Mydukur
Mudireddipalle
Janulavaram
Kotakota
Peranipadu
Obulam
Juvualapalli
Mandampalli
Konarajupalem
Chintarayapalem
Juppakalapalli
Gujjulavaripalem
Kondreddipalem
Tonduru
Kottakota
Gangadevipalli
Donepalli
Nallacheruvupalli
Auduru
Proddutur
Proddutur
Proddutur
Proddutur
Proddutur
Proddutur
Proddutur
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Siddavatam
Siddavatam
Siddavatam
Siddavatam
Siddavatam
Siddavatam
Siddavatam
Pulivendula
Pulivendula
Pulivendula
Pulivendula
Pulivendula
Pulivendula
Pulivendula
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Badvel
Cuddapah
Buchireddi
Badvel
Cuddapah
Kamaboina Kamanayudu
Challaverama nayudu
Korivi Thimma nayudu
Badvel
Badvel
Jammalama
dugu
Jammalama
dugu
Jammalama
dugu
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Thimmala mayudu
Peddagopala nayudu
Chinagopal nayudu
Obulnayudu
Kasinayudu
Choppadevuni Thirupanna
Sambeta Rangaiahdeva
Maharaju
Somadeva Maharaju
24
25
26
Mallemkonda
Durgam
Sarvapuram &
Kalasapdu
Munulapadu
Rekulakunta
Katralatippa
27
Bestvemula
28
22
23
29
Vengalaraju Chavdaraju
185
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
SI.
No.
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
Name of the
Palem
Maddigundala
Palakonda
Papanayani palli
Peddapalle palem
Mandapampalem
Charlakunta
Singasanipalle
Araviti
Samstanam
Pandikona
Kunkanuru
Kotakonda
Kaptralla
Pattikonda
Maddikera
Gundala
Venkatapuram
Peravali
Teranakallu
Racerla
Paupulli
Chanugondla
Nallapalli
Uyalavada
Rangapuram
Region/
Taluk.
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
-Araviti Harusurappa
Rayachoti
Rayachoti
Rayachoti
Badvel
Badvel
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Cuddapah
Lalmuni nayudu
Lachappanayudu
Gopalanayudu
Gadda Mappa nayudu
Pedda Boj jappa nayudu
Mallikarjuna nayudu
Chinna Madappa nayudu
Appanna nayudu
Rangappa nayudu
Gopal nayudu
Narasimha Reddi
Kondal nayudu
Venkatappa nayudu
Rangappa nayudu
Bujja Malla Reddi
Rama nayudu
Pattikonda
Pattikonda
Pattikonda
Pattikonda
Pattikonda
Pattikonda
Dhone
Dhone
Pattikonda
Pattikonda
Dhone
Dhone
Dhone
Dhone
Dhone
Dhone
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
Kumool
District
186
Post
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Talari
Talari
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Renter
Sl.No.
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
Motaguntla
Gillellamada
Madiyampadu
Narsapur
Tettu
Malacheruvu
Maddicheruvu
Thummalgondi
Pandikona
Kunkanuru
Kotakonda
Racerla
Kapatralla
Pattikonda
Gundala
Peravali
Chanugondla
Terenakalu
Peapully
Uyalavada
Post
Renter
Renter
Patel
Dalavai
Dalavai
Dalavai
Dalavai
Dalavai
Kavaligar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Kavaligar
Kavaligar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
Palegar
188
Table No. IV
LIST OF MUNNI KAVALS
SI.
No.
Name of
the
District
Name of the
Taluk
Pattikonda
Kumool
Nandyal
Prakasam
Koilkuntla
Adoni
Markapur
Rayachoti
Cuddapah
Jammalamadugu
Pulivendula
Badvel
Rajampeta
Proddutur
Pandikona
Maddikera
Kapatralla
Dudekonda
Kotakonda
Pullalacheruvu
Baswapur
Bollupalle
Panyam
Mootlapoor
Adoni
Domal
Naganagunta
Nallamanenipalem
Peddapalli palem
Kullipndah
Gandikota
Lopatnullah
Porumamilla
Narsapur
Rollamadugu
Janulavaram
Dasaripalle
Yakarlapalem
Sidhavatam
Kamalapuram
Cuddapah
Vayalpadu
4
Chittoor
Madanapalle
Gooty
Mandappam-palem
Obuluru
Kamalapur
Yerraguntapalem
Putturupalem
Uppuluru
Rompicherla
Malyala
Chattivaripalem
Komati
Sompalli
Batlapur
Gooty
Teliki
Anantapur
Tadpatri
Yadiki
Tadpatri
189
V enkatappanay udu
Mallikarjuna Nayudu
Chota Madappanair
Mallappanair
Venkatappanaidu
Papanaik
Nandikeshunaik
Jalli Baswappanaik
Pedda Ammi Naik
Ranganair
Paramappanaidu
Seshachalapatinaik
Nagayya Nair
Venkatapathi
Kudepudinaidu
Guddipathinair
Junting Rayudu
Seshachalapatinaik
Krishnareddy
Yakarla Yarram Naidu
Basivinayudu
Veeraneyini
Siddappa
Naidu
Veeraneyini Vithalapathi
Naidu
Bukke Yellamanaidu
Venkata Naik
Gurappa Nair
Guddiputti
Dhuli Basi Naidu
Narasimha Reddy
VeerappaNair
Venkatapati Nair
Baswappanair
Mallappa Nair
Mallappa Nair
Vasantappa Naidu
Ramappanaidu
Bebbuli Venkatappa
Naidu
Yerram Naidu
Venkatappa Naidu
Table No. V
LIST OF NAYAL KAVALS
SI.
No.
Name of
the
District
Cuddapah
Chittoor
Name of the
Taluk
Name of the
Village
Name of the
Kavaligar
Rayachoti
Gopanagudipalli
Dasi Nair
Siddhavatam
Mandapam palli
Medicheruvu
Baswanthnair
Mallacheruvu
Chinna Nair
Madaneyanpallem
Madhav Nair
Yellamandali
Mallappa Naik
Gangaichentla
Moosel Nair
Medicheruvu
Baswappa Nair
Malacheruvu
Chinna Nair
Diguva
Marappagunta
Timappa Naidu
Vayalapadu
190
Table No. VI
CASTE COMPOSITION OF PALEGARS
Name of the Palem
Caste/Tribe
Kothakota
Kappatrala
Dudikonda
Pandikona
Pandikona
Maddikera
Aspari
Yakarlapalem
Mandappampalem
Janulavaram
Palakondapanayanipalli
Putturpallem
Konarajupallem
Tonduru
Cehnumumpalle
Kondareddypalle
Kotha Kota
Dasaripalle
Yakarlapalem
Perumappa Nair
Chota Maddappa Nair
Mullappa Nair
Rama Nair
Venkatappa Nair
Mallikarjuna Naidu
Gurijiji Yallava Rayadu
Parusha Rama Naidu
Bakke Yallam Naidu
Basivi Naidu
Machineni Kondappa Naidu
Dulibsinaidu
Yarrabasivi Naidu
Pedda Gopala Naidu
Papanaidu
Timmala Naidu
Chinna Gopal Naidu
Veeranegini Siddappa Naidu
Veeranegini Vithalapathi
Naidu
Pedda Nagappa Naidu
Papanaik
Nundikesulu Naik
Jelli Baswappa Naik
Jelli Dewakar Naik
Rama Naik
Venkata Naik
Golla-Yadava
Golla-Yadava
Golla-Yadava
Golla-Yadava
Boya
Golla-Yadava
Golla-Yadava
Golla-Yadava
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Patra Golla
Yakari Golla
Yakari Golla
Mude Reddypalem
Pullalacheruvu
Baswapur
Bollupalle
Dormala
Bodeyacheruvu
Obalum
Charlakunta
Sangasanikunta
Chanugondla
Porumamilla
Kapatralla
Vulindakonda
Adoni
Gonegondla
Kotakonda
Gandikota
Chenampalle
Chenampalle
--
Venkanna Naidu
Seshachalapathi Naik
Peddnaidu
Pedda Meddi Naidu
Paramappa Naidu
Nalla Venkatappa Naidu
Venkatappa Naidu
Jutingi Naidu
Papanaidu
191
Yakari Golla
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Venkatappa Naidu
Ramappa Naidu
Yarrama Naidu
Venkatappa Naidu
Bobuli Venkatappa Naidu
Papa Naidu
Guj jula Paramppa Naidu
Venkatappa Naidu
Pedda Ammi Naidu
Handappa Naidu
Borimalla Nair
Venkatappa Naidu
Timmappa Naidu
Veerappa Nair
Venkatapati Nair
Baswanth Nair
Baswappa Nair
Chinna Nair
Mallappa Naidu
Vasanthappa Naidu
Lanki Reddy
Krishna Reddy
Narasimha Reddy
Putaru Krishna Reddy
Kaluri Budda Reddy
Venkatapati Naidu
Modi Naidu
Krishnappa Naidu
Caste/Tribe
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Boya
Eakari
Eakari
Eakari
Eakari
Eakari
Eakari
Eakari
Eakari
Mutracha
Mutracha
Mutracha
Mutracha
Mutracha
Mutracha
Mutracha
Kapu
Kapu
Kapu
Kapu
Kapu
Kamma
Kamma
Sale
of palegars. The palegars did not appear on the political scene either
suddenly or spontaneously.
The battle of
Tallikota in 1565 was a serious blow and set back to the fortunes of
the Vijayanagara Empire. It enabled some of the ambitious vassals to
arrest themselves. However, the Empire held together and allegiance
continued to be paid to few representatives of the state, now at
Penugonda and to the viceroy at Srirangapatnam.
zone within which the pressure of the invasions from the north came
up. At the same time these incursions felt the impact of effective
opposition from the South.
pillage and forced exaction, disorder and chaos followed. There were
194
57
195
Despite the
The Maratas
those
of Adoni,
Harapanahalli
and
196
Rayadurgam
drought.61
Agriculture in the harsh environment was a risky operation.
Grinding poverty, punctuated by famine was the lot of its people. In
1805 Munro reported that the ryots of the ceded districts were
divisible with those classes a better sort of about 20% of land
holding. A midlingsort of 45% of patta class and a poorer sort,
holding the balance of 35% land.
Several palegar
198
PALEGARS OF HARAPANAHALLI
The Harapanahalli family was the most powerful of all the
palegar families in the district with a long history. The founder of
this line was a Beda named Dadayya.
East India Company refused to recognize the rights of his widows and
resumed to estate, after pensioning off the widows.
PALEGARS OF JARAMALI
The founder of this house of palegars was one Pennappa
Nayaka, who received Jarmali as a reward from the Vijayanagara
King, Achyutaraya for his services in seizing rebellious chiefs. After
the fall of Vijayanagara, he consolidated his position.
Later on
Jarmali palegar suffered at the hands of Adil Shah of Bijapur and the
chiefs of Chitradurga and Harapanahalli.
successor Murari Rao was the most famous chief of Sandur. He ruled
from Gooty.
Sandur. After the peace treaty between the East India Company and
Tippu in 1792 the Ghorpades were allowed to retain Sandur.
Shivarao was the ruler of Sandur when Bellary was ceded to
the East India Company in 1800. But Sir Thomas Munro marched to
Sadur and took over the state. However, Shivarao was restored to
Sandur in 1818. Shivaraos son Venkata Rao also was given a sandal
200
Sandur continued to be a
of his sons Papa Nair was rated by the camel at canteroy pagodas
1,127. After the East India Company took over the estate the palegar
was granted a pension for his maintenance.
4. Palegars of Pandikona
The palegar of the estate was Lall Muni who had descended
from Ramat Nair who was powerful during the Vijayanagara days.
The service was remitted by Asaf Jah and the Peshcush was raised to
800 pagodas. Under the company rule the palegar received a small
pension.
5. Palegar of Devana Konda
The family served under the Vijayanagara Kings. The palegar
was Raman Naik. His son was forcibly converted to Islam by Nazir
Jang for causing some disturbance. A part of his territory was taken
over. He rebelled again in 1768, but he died in 1795 after having beer
restored his villages by Mahabat Jang. The company had granted
them palegar, Hussain Naik, a pension.69
6. Palegar of the Bashwapur
Papa Nair, the ancestor of the palegar of Beshwapur served
under the Vijayanagara Kings.
202
pagodas. Haider Ali expelled the then palegar in 1779. But his son
recovered the districts. When the country was ceded to the company
new villages were resumed.
cutcherry he was expelled.
70
9. Palegar of Syayapanyni
The ancesters of the present palegar Seshachalapanthi Naik
served under the Vijayanagara Kings with 500 peons. The position of
the family was not disturbed by the conquest of the country by the
kings of Hyderabad. The Nawabs of Cuddapah gave the family 38
additional villages making the total 56 villages with a rent of
camteroy pagoda 13,992. Haider Ali had taken over the palayam in
1779.71
10.Palegar of Rawar
Under Aurangzeb the ancestor of Suba Naik obtained 13
villages in rent worth camteroy pagodas 3,127. The rent under the
203
raised the rent. Under Tipu Sultan the palegar continued to enjoy the
same privileges. When their company took over the district a pension
was granted to the palegar.
11. Palegar of Chapalandugu
The family rented seven villages under the Hyderabad Kings.
Under Aurungazeb they paid only camteroy pagodas 65, but
maintained 50 peons. The Cuddapah Nawabs and Haidar Ali raised
the rent. The palegar held his palayam privately under the sultans
government. In 1792 the Nizams officers gave him an additional
village. When the British took over he was granted a pension of Rs.
26 a month.
12. Palegar of Venkatadri
Palegar Boliveeranna descended from the same ancestors and
rented 25 villages in all under the Hyderabad Kings. From the total
of 300 peons they maintained, the amount was reduced to just 100 by
the Cuddapah Nawab in 1712.
204
206
They
suffered set backs during the invasions of Haider Ali and Tipu sultan.
Perhaps the company found them to be a restless and dangerous lot.
Their power was ended and all their services were dispensed with.
The company considered it wise to take over the palayuams and keep
the powerful palegars at arms length by giving them a pension. Of
all the districts of Rayalaseema, Kumool seems to top the list in the
number of palegars, nearly one fourth of the total amount.
207
76
208
The
palegars
of
Chitual,
Pormamila,
Bonamala,
Narasapath,
Yerraguntla,
210
Ramappa (1740-1752 A.D) one of the later Hande chiefs, the Maratas
brought the Hande chiefs under control.79
Ramappa was a warrior who successfully conducted expedition
against Siddappa of Anantapur and the palegar of Rayadurg. But he
was assassinated by the palegar of Bellary.
Ramappas son Siddappa was the last great Hande palegar. In
1775 Haider Ali enhanced the peshcush to be paid by the Hande
chiefs. Unfortunately his estate fell with arrears of peshcush. He was
arrested by Haider Ali and his property was attached. His sons were
taken to Srirangapattnam. Tipu Sultan hanged all the male members
of the Hande family.
211
Timmappa
82
213
This was
84
214
The palegars kept the best part of their land for their own
cultivation and distributed the rest of their personal estate among the
chief inhabitants on condition of military service. The recipients and
their followers cultivated the land in times of peace and rendered
military service during war.
In
215
The Amaram peons were given the liberty to choose the arms
they liked to use. In case of sickness or minority they were permitted
to send a substitute for service. They attended to the summons of the
palegar and prevented thefts in the village and other irregularities. In
the event of failing to trace a thief they were required to make good
the loss. Their estates could be forfeited if they failed to discharge
their duties.
The Cuttabudi peons also received land grants on hereditary
basis. Ryots doing military service, received land grants of waste
fields in lieu of pecuniary wages. They served the palegars with their
own weapons and restored any property stolen in the villages
entrusted to their dare. The mercenary peons were recruited only in
times of emergency. During active service all the three groups of
armed men received subsistence in money and grain, exclusive of
their usual privileges. The palegar trained a body of men in the use of
arms. The peons considered the rights of the chief as paramount and
his orders as their only law.
administration.
88
The
216
Since ancient days villages had their own Koval Karars who
were appointed either by the local bodies or by the rulers. There were
different categories of the watchmen like the government, district,
regional and village Kavalgars. The watchmen protected the grain,
cattle and other domestic property of the inhabitants and looked after
the roads and markets.
Who were
The people
The natural
resource for the people was to their palegars. The chiefs welcomed
the opportunity.
peons sold the orders at a discount of fifty or sixty per cent. In case
the peons did not dispose of the order they received a batta from the
person concerned. If he refused, his personal effects were plundered.
Sometimes the peons relatives and friends brought about a
compromise by selling his ploughs and cattle and with their own
contributions.93
When the peons or other servants received their payments
partly in cash and partly in grain, they got a particular quantity of
grain in advance at a price one or two hundred per cent above the
market rate.
219
They received
In case of
refusal to pay they were dispossed. To avoid any such calamity the
additional rents were paid grudgingly. In addition to these, extraoridinary presents should be given by the peons on the occasion of the
palegars marriage and the consecration of the temple.
Both the above categories of land were based on the principle
of inheritance in the male line. On default of heirs the estate was
escheated to the palegar.
220
Clay pellets prepared by mixing the white of the egg with clay
served as bullets.
The Valathadi or
heavy cannonade.
Different groups of the palegars troops were trained in the use
of particular weapons.
helpless. The match lock even took their position on the elevated
locations of the fort, fired at the enemy. The pike men used sharp
pikes from the sheltered enclaves in the walls. Though the palegars
221
to the enemy.
99
But they
were only vassals of the Nawab or any other local ruler. The ruler
claimed it as his right to force the chiefs to pay tribute and to render
military service and to remove them from their offices if they failed to
comply with their obligations. He also exacted a present from the
chiefs on the occasion of investment of titles or on confirming them
as palegars. Actually the realization of these rights depended on the
capacity of the ruler to coerce them. It is interesting to note that the
chiefs resisted the rulers with their strength.100
Historical and political causes generated a spirit of hostility
between the palegars and the local rulers.
disappeared from the scene, they felt that they were truly
independent.
Moreover, rapidly changing political fortunes, particularly in
the early 18th century, enabled the poligars to take a firm stand against
the emerging powers. This was the reason why many of the palegars
could not take kindly to their local rulers. Moreover the exorbitant
222
sums of tribute demanded of the palegars from the new rulers was
another constant irritant between the new rulers.101
Another important cause of friction between the two was the
spirit of independence and turbulence of the palegars.
The vague
In the
good citizens during peace time and useful second line of defence
during war.103
223
Corrupt
Amultars exploited fully the situation to promote their selfish end and
incite fends between the palegars.
224
they
the Nizams
During Munros
collectorship the ceded districts and for long after, grinding poverty,
punctuated by famine was the lot of the people.
century the risk of survival for the people of the Rayalaseema was
grater than anywhere in Madras. By the middle of the 19th century
the ceded districts had about 38 per cent all the holders of lands, or
225
inam lands or inamdars of the presidency, here was also found 35 per
cent of all inam land whose inamdars paid about 12 per cent of the
total quitrents levied upon inam lands in the presidency.107
When the ceded districts were merged with the company in
1800, the British found three classes of ryots there. First came the
better sort of cultivators who comprised about 20 per cent of land
holding, revenue paying pattadars. These people paid about 35 per
cent of the land revenues. Next came a middle sort of about 45 per
cent of pattadars who paid an equal proportion of the land revenue.
The third category was the poorer sort who constituted the remaining
35 per cent who paid 20 per cent of the total revenue. The share of
the net production to the first class was 83 per cent, to the second sort
47 per cent and to the last 38 per cent.
108
It was also discovered by the British that the richer and higher
castes, consisted of about 4,00,000 people, about 20 per cent of the
ceded districts population. They consumed about two thirds greater at
the per capita level than the middle group made up of cultivators and
artisans and over twice as much as the lowest of the three groups,
who were mostly labourers who formed about 20 per cent of the
ceded districts population. Almost all of the food and about one-half
of the cloth requirements of agricultural castes were satisfied by self
production of through barter.109
POLITICS OF THE PALEGAR
The ceded districts had been granted to the Nizam by Tipu
Sultan in 1792. The Nizam had ceded them to the company in lieu of
the payment to subsidy for the British troops. As a result, British
226
troops had been sent to the region to establish order even before
Munro introduced his civil administration.
When the company was about to occupy the ceded districts,
enough attention was paid to the political military expenditure to be
incurred there.
namely, Munro, and Col. Arther Wellesley who was incharge of the
British troops in the ceded districts should enter the region
simultaneously. The cost to be involved in the pacification and
occupation of the districts was considered legitimate and necessary.
Tipu Sultans defeat had removed a dangerous enemy from the scene.
But the unsubdued and armed inhabitants of the ceded districts
needed a man like Munro to be at the helm of affairs in the disturbed
region.110
Munros first task was to introduce regular government with a
province still unsubdued and to remove the evils arising from the
weakness of the Nizams government. In fact Munro had to deal with
nearly 30,000 armed retainers of the palegars who walked free in the
country side.111
These local chiefs or palegars had constituted their own
government at the local level.
military capacities of these chiefs. Yet he could not singly ignore the
esteem and local political influence enjoyed by the palegars. Munro
looked on them as dangers in the making to his rule in the ceded
districts. His strategy to deal with the palegars was full of dangers to
his own career as a civilian.
Munro proceeded against the palegars very cautiously.
For
Another
menace was the trouble caused by the Nizams soldiers who were
seeking to collect arrears of their wages. The most serious source of
anxiety was the palegars with whom Munro had to deal sternly
despite incurring the displeasure of the higher authorities.112
The first step proposed in dealing with the palegar was to
divest them of their political and military capabilities. However, they
would be considered candidates for landed enfranchisement, but
Inams were to be resumed by the company if found invalid. Munro
eliminated the palegars recklessly. Inams were subjected to judicial
review under him or even dismissed. On the other hand, they used by
Munro to with the allegiance of powerful local interests.113
The term palegar meant one who holds a village or group of
villages on condition of rendering military service to same superior.
The history of this is not clear. According to one source the authority
of the palegar was derived from Padikaval which was a right to
income in return for the provision of protection over a village, or in
some cases over a locality during the Vijayanagara period.114
Income was realised in various ways as a privileged rate of
land tax, as a low cess in kind upon every plough or upon the seeds
sown as a low money payment levied upon ploughs, shops or looms,
228
there were some eighty families of these local authorities who had
controlled a century earlier about the thousand villages which
constituted nearly over sixth of the villages of the ceded districts.118
These chiefs claimed to have ruled over their palegars since the
seventeenth century. Some even supported their claim by evidence in
the form of temple inscriptions.
There was another view about the status of the palegars that
they had an approximate position within the emerging civil society in
Madras.
enjoyed lot of respect and esteem in their territories from the natives.
But the Madras Presidency Board of Revenue was in two minds about
vesting the palegars with permanent rights in their lands without
strong reasons. Munro decided to take a tough line with regard to the
palegars.
Munro desired to occupy quietly these palayams from where
the palegars had been driven away and had been permitted to return.
As the palayams where the palegars were still present, Munro
intended to pursue the revenue of the districts of all the palegars
without dispossessing them but warning them of forfeiture in case of
opposition which would be taken as open rebellion.119
Munro did not favour the opinion of British Military Officers in
the ceded districts to put down the palegars by force. Munro was
satisfied that most palegars had been expelled from the ceded districts
by Haider Alis brother-in-law, Mir Ali Rizosahib, He was not sure of
the adequacy of the companys forces to deal with the forces of the
palegars. Munro wanted to proceed slowly for the moment.120
230
palegars and at the same time being prepared with an adequate force
to meet the challenge of a joint resistance from the palegars. The
proposed contingent was to consist of nine regiments of cavalry and
thirty-two of infantry, one third of which was to be European.
Munros strategy did not find favour with the Home
Government. It was considered aggressive. He was criticised for his
treatment of the palegar of Vimlah in Cuddapah. In this case he had
deprived the palegar of his territory and had ordered his troops to
forcibly take his fort in 1801.
No one can deny the fact that Munro had succeeded in his task
of creating order and a reliable revenue from the turbulent and large
territory of the palegars in the ceded districts. He could justly be
called a first class political manager. Munro hoped for a free hand to
conduct things in South India even though his appeals for a grand
army to liberate the Peninsula from the palegari oppression was sure
to be rejected.
It was suggested from The Calcutta Government that Munro
should be the principal collector of the ceded districts with four
subordinate European collectors to assist him in administration. But
when his opinion was sought in this matter Munro said he would be
happy with only three subordinate for the three well defined
constituent ports of the ceded districts, namely Bellary, Cuddapah and
Kumool. This proposal also had the plan to train up a number of
Young European Collectors. i "yx
Munro suggested the best plan for the administration of the
ceded districts would be to give them the sole responsibility of
administration during the first year. He argued that there were not
enough Indian assistants to help the Young European Collectors.
Munro was suspicious that untrained Indian subordinates might
intrigue with the palegars.
He wanted the number of subordinate collectors to be increased
gradually. In the process Munro was able to train a number of young
personnel who were of great help to him in the Madras
administration.124
Munro turned the condemnation of his palegar policy soon. In
view of the dearth of collectors with adequate linguistic skills and
232
ADMINISTRATION
IN
THE
CEDED
Between 1800 and 1807 Munro was pre occupied with the
establishment of the ryotwari system of revenue administration in the
ceded districts.
233
estimates of the ordinary and head assessors and the opinions of the
most intelligent natives.
The next step was to fix the share of the sum to be imposed on
each village. The village total thus fixed was then distributed among
the ryots in accordance with the classification of the fields they held.
The rents of lands, rated according to their quality, were then
registered and were either conformed or modified at the end of the
year. The poorest lands were assessed very lightly and the rates on
the best soils were kept very high in order to make up the total due
from the village.129
On completion of this survey it was found that the extent of
land actually in cultivation in the ceded districts was over 32 lakhs of
acres, while that of land fit for cultivation was estimated to be about
120 lakhs. The assessments fixed upon the cultivated and the arable
areas in 1807 were pagodas 18,52,955 and 39,54,417 respectively.
According to Munros scheme the total demand was first fixed
for the taluk and then distributed among the village. The adjustment
of individual to total demand on the village involved exaction from
some and relief to others. The inter-village adjustments ordered by
Munro through the agency of the neighbouring villages resulted in
mutual bitterness and acrimony. Other factors like the ryots caste has
means and health weighed high during the time of settlement. The
hurriedly conducted survey was naturally defective. The assessments
were very high and were not generally based on estimates of
production.130
The revenue settlement continued to be conducted on the
ryotwari principles thus introduced by Munro from 1802 to 1809.
235
In 1807 Munro
This controversy
continued for about four years. At the exit of Munro and William
Bentink, who were the ardent advocates of the Ryotwari system, the
whole settlement was replaced by the three year lease, each village
being assigned to a solely responsible renter.132
236
237
238
discouraged.136
All selling of grains outside the ceded districts had to be
curtailed during the scarcity period to meet the requirements of the
British troops.
MUNROS CONCERN FOR THE NEEDS OF WAR
Munro was preoccupied with provisioning Arthur Wellesleys
army during his collectorship of the ceded districts.
Munro had
perceived a large role for the ceded districts and for himself in the war
against the Marathas.
Cavalry,
This
241
In 1799, there is record with the Madras Council that when the
palegars exercised their jurisdiction, they protected the villages
against governmental oppression and did justice to the peasants.142
Sometimes the palegars levied no tax other than what he was
required to pay as annual tribute.
Demands were
constantly made for tributes. When the demands were refused, force
was used to exact what was demanded. It was easy for the British to
squeeze palegars who intum harass the others.
The palegars were expected to adjust with changed times,
because of the changing ruling powers. They were embarrassed as a
consequence of this.
242
In the face of
internal disorders they had no clear plan of action and their unity was
the big casuality. Thus they fought against each other and weakend
themselves.
The relations between the palegars and the English played a
vital role in fall of the chieftains. The English had taken the place of
the Nawabs as the sovereign. These new developments undermined
the importance of the palegar system as a usual auxiliary power. It
also eliminated the possibility of any reconciliation between the
Nawab and the palegars. The English needed money to pursue their
aggressive plans and they used the Nawabs as an instrument of
exaction.
Nawab made it easier for the later to reduce the palegars mercilessly.
As the Nawab has lost his power, the palegars only were in a position
243
to moblise any resistance and raise arms. The English were aware of
this and hence strove all the more to destroy the palegars.144
The palegars were fighting the British imperialism but let down
their own local sovereign. Sometimes they had to resort to the help of
the other European powers like the French and the Dutch or the local
Mysore. But when the British supremacy was firmly established and
other powers were driven out, the palegars had no other go but to
accept defeat. Left helpless and being irregular in their methods of
war, the palegars were vanquished by the military might of the
company and its allies. In Rayalaseema during the interval between
the battle of Talikota and the advent of the Qutubshahies of
Golkonda, the local palegars ruled the roost. They even claimed the
right to collect land revenue. They defrauded the state and harass the
right.145
Under the Mysore power also the palegars were hunted down.
Hyder Ali took away land or imposed fines. Some of the palegars
were imprisoned. Tipu Sultan also exercised the right of resumption
and expelled many palegars.
under the control of Nizam Ali Khan by treaty, the palegars raised
their head again due to his weak rule.
There were
menace to the peace of the region. The palegars were turbulant and
lawless.146
These palegars maintained an army of peons who were aided
by a militia of relatives of these peons. These troops were not paid
properly and a greater part of their earnings came from the
deprivations in times of war. During peace times these peons lived by
plundering palegari border villages. Consequently the ceded districts
had become a nest of robbers and the ryots and the country people
were fomented. The palegars carried on the feuds with the most
savage ferocity, plundering and destroying alike.147
The British official reports also describe the atrocities of the
palegars.
Rayas. They strengthened their power under the Muslim rule. Even
when Tipu Sultan had ordered the resumption of same palegari
estates, the chieftains escaped and commissioned their agents to
plunder the area. They attacked many villages and extorted money
from the inhabitants of the villages. As a result of all these plunders,
the villagers were depopultated, agriculture was ruined and trade was
paralysed.
The British government could not tolerate the continuance of
the state of affairs any more. They resolved to stamp out palegars and
eradicate the evil once for all. This task was not easy as each palegar
had an armed retinue under his command.
more than one reason to send Munro to the ceded districts, because
they believed that only a military man could more effectively
implement their purpose than a civilian.
Munros chief objective was to suppress the palegars who
infested the tract and establish a well-organised government. He also
wanted to create a system of revenue to secure the maximum financial
resources for the government. Military contingent were posted in all
strategic places under the command of major general Dugald
Cambell.149
Munros firm resolve was to suppress the palegars who were a
kind of vagabonds, a privileged highwaymen.
He planned his
246
elements also. Munro declared that his first duty was to remove many
turbulent and powerful palegars and petty ones of recent origin who
had exploited the prevailing political confusion. These chiefs used to
evade payment of rent for some years and then ultimately declare
themselves independent.
Munro moved so quickly and effectively that by March, 1801
he could claim to have settled the refractory chiefs. The company
issued a proclamation that any chieftain with a garrisoned fort, armed
force or who levied contribution would be treated as a rebel. Major
Cambell also proceeded against some Cuddapah palegars and
destroyed their forts and subdued them to obedience.151
247
Munro
emphatically
defended
his
position.
He
Munros reply
that the hosting chief would squeeze so much money from the refuge
that he would be reduced to bankruptcy and finally surrender to the
company.
refractory or abscond.
249
References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ibid., p. 60.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Ibid., p. 2369.
11.
12.
Ibid., p. 250.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
Ibid., p.56.
29.
30.
31.
251
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
252
45.
46.
Sivasankaranarayana,
Cuddapah, p. 111.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
Ibid., p. 76.
B.H.
253
A.P.
District
Gazetteers,
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
Ibid., p. 79.
67.
Ibid., p. 80.
68.
Ibid, p. 82.
69.
70.
Ibid., p. 50.
71.
72.
Ibid., p. 89.
73.
74.
75.
76.
V. Rangacharya,
Cuddapah, p. 832.
77.
7foW.,No.701.
78.
Topographical
254
list
of inscriptions-1,
79.
80.
Ibid., p. 76.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
Ibid.,p. 113.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
Ibid., p. 11095.
255
District
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
256
258
*****
259
Andhra
Pradesh
Gazetteer,