Study and Collection of Hakku Patras and Other Documents Among Folk Communities in Andhra Pradesh
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EAP201: Study and collection of Hakku Patras and other documents among folk communities in Andhra Pradesh Dr Thirmal Rao Repally, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University 2008 award - Pilot project £10,261 for 12 months This survey gives an in-depth look at the function of Hakku Patras amongst the folk communities of Andhra Pradesh. It gives a brief account of the methodology of the survey and finally lists the artefacts that were discovered. Further Information You can contact the EAP team at [email protected] EAP-201 SURVEY REPORT On Hakku Patras among the Performing Communities of Andhra Pradesh The period of the Project 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2009 Submitted by Principal Investigator R. Thirmal Rao, Ph.D. Director, Andhra Pradesh Government Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Institute, Behind O.U. Police Station, O.U. Campus, Hyderabad – 500 007. Andhra Pradesh. INDIA. Mobile : +91-9848794939 E-mail : [email protected] 1 C O N T E N T S Page No. 1. Introduction - 3 2. Location of Andhra Pradesh in India (Map) - 5 3. Andhra Pradesh (Map) - 6 4. Notes on Performing Communities - 7 1) General Folk Performances - 7 2) Particular Folk Performances - 8 3) Social Hierarchy of dependent or sub-caste - 9 5. What is Hakku Patras - 13 6. About the Project - 14 7. Details of Survey Methodology - 15 1) Field Work Plan - 17 2) Problems in Field Work - 17 3) Gathering information from other sources - 19 8. Condition of the Hakku Patras - 20 9. Photographing the Hakku Patras - 21 10. Copyright - 22 11. Number of families contacted - 24 12. How many Hakku Patras located in each village - 24 13. Number of Villages visited - 31 EAP-201 2 SURVEY REPORT Hakku Patras among the performing communities of Andhra Pradesh 1. Introduction Andhra Pradesh is one of the 21 States of India. It is situated in central India between the rivers Godavari and Krishna. Modern Andhra Pradesh was once belonged to various dynasties in the central India such as Shatavahanas, Ikshvaku, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara, Bhamanis and Qutub Shahis. Culturally it is considered one of the richest regions, where different arts and crafts were practised by the various artisan communities in rural, tribal and urban areas communities in the cities have richly contributed to its is multi faceted culture. The state is situated on the south eastern coast of central India. It is India’s fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Hyderabad is the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh is called the rice bowl of India. Two major rivers Godavari in north and Krishna in the south are the main water source for cultivation. Andhra Pradesh is called in Purana as Andhra Pathas or Andhra Desha, The main language of the state is Telugu, spoken by 90% of the population. The inscriptional evidence shows that an early kingdom was established in this region, in 500 BCE at Bhatiprolu, which was the capital city of this kingdom. With the fall of Mauryas, the Shatavahanas established their rule at Dharanikota, it was their capital. Buddhism and Jainism were the popular religions of Andhra around 3rd 5th Century CE. After the decline of the Shatavahanas in 220 CE Ikshavaku dynasty dominated this region, Pallavas, Vishnukundins, Eastern Chalukyas and Cholas were also ruled in this region. Kakatiya dynasty established their 3 domain in 12th, 13th centuries. They united the Telugus into one region and Warangal was their capital city. In 1323 Delhi Sultan conquered this region and extended their political hold in south India. Later the Bhamanis of Bidar and Qutub Shahi of Golconda ruled from 14th to 17th centuries. At the end of the 18th it was the Asif Jahis of Hyderabad who established new political and cultural patterns. Later Nizam of Hyderabad ceded five of their large territories to the British, which was later on called coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. In 1948 Nizam’s Government became part of the Indian union. 4 2. Location of Andhra Pradesh in India (Map) 5 3. Andhra Pradesh Map Land : The State of Andhra Pradesh, was formed as a result of the States Reorganization Act of 1956, the state is situated between 120 – 14’ and 190 – 54’ Lat N and 760 – 50’ and 840 – 50’ E Long, with Telugu as the main spoken language. It comprises a total area of 294,700 sq.kms., with 23 districts, divided into three cultural regions, coastal Andhra, Telangana and Rayalasima. It is irrigated by five main rivers namely Godavari, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Penna and Nagavali, besides a large number of tributaries, rivulets, and lakes like Pulicat and Kolleru. It is endowed with a rich haul of natural resources – high mountain ridges like the Eastern Ghats and a dense forest area. The Eastern Ghats, also known as “Turpu Kanumalu” occupy the whole length and breadth of Andhra Pradesh, about 2000 meters in elevation. To the West of the Eastern Ghats lies the upland plain, a section of which is known as the 6 Deccan plateau. Telangana forms part of the South Deccan plateau. Telugu is the main language of the state. The other languages are Urdu and Hindi; at one time Persian and Sanskrit languages were also in used. Some old documents are found in Persian and Sanskrit scripts. ‘Modi’ script was also found in manuscript documents. Some Hakku Patras were also found in the neighbouring languages of Tamil, Kannada and Mharati languages. Andhra Pradesh is an amalgam of many cultures. The art and architecture of this region is a synthesis of many styles. It also developed a vital tradition of painting, sculpture and various crafts as well as many kinds of folk arts, some still survive, among them Yakshagana, Burrakatha, Jangama Kathalu, Hari Kathalu, Chekka Bhajan, Ghanta Natyam, Urumula Natyam. 4. Notes on performing Communities 1) General Folk Performances This kind of folk performances belong to a low caste category. They are not specific to any particular caste but they are general in nature. These performances are open to any person who wants to share the joy. All communities in the village would participate in this type of performance. There are no caste restrictions for participation. During these performances genealogical myths are narrated. These narratives are bases on heroic legends. These folk performances cater to common interests of the people. The folk performers receive the katnam (gratis) not from the caste people but from the audience, because these performances belong to no particular community but to all the people of a village. So no Hakku Patras are given to them. Some of the most popular narratives which are enacted during the performance are Burrakatha, Sharadakatha, leather puppetry which do not have any caste themes or any glorification of a particular caste but are based on deeds of popular heroic personalities. 2) Particular folk performances 7 These kind of folk performances are linked to some particular religious groups and associated with some castes. During my research I have discovered that in the caste hierarchy every caste has its own sub-caste. Edgar Thruston called these castes as “Mendicant community”, Dr. M.V.T. Raju called them “satellite caste” and some other scholar called them “sustained caste”, Prof. P. Subbachary called them “dependant caste”. I named them “sub-caste”. The main caste is known as patron caste and sub-caste, is called a dependent caste. The patron and sub-caste are associated in an independent relationship, as patron and client. Dependent caste or sub-caste is socially and economically dependant and subservient to its patron caste. One patron caste may have 1 to 7 sub-castes as its dependant castes. The castes which are known as dependent caste are primarily folk performers. They narrate myths related to the origin of the patron caste. These performances include various legends and caste genealogies (Gotras). These performers essentially are folk bards or folk singers. They hold “mirasi right” (right to perform in a particular region). They have right to go every year to their patrons. The elders of the patron caste or the patron community have to treat them with respect, as their caste “Guru” or “Pujaris”. Patrons provide them with food and share other facilities. These folk performers also visit their patrons at the time of birth and death ceremonies, on these occasions they also narrate various ballads and legends. Some of the elders of sub-caste communities are Vaidyas (Medical Practices) treat their patrons with herbal medicines, and take care of their health requirements. They also act as caste priest and perform various religious rituals. The sub-caste communities have their own manuscripts. These manuscripts are records of caste related legends and records of their medicinal practices. Some of these sub-castes such as Gowdajetti, Dakkali, Patamvaru perform their narrations by showing the pat painting (Patams). These Patams are scrolls measuring 4/6 metres in length and they are painted on cloth. These 8 Patams are prepared by the Nakashi community from Cherial Village, in Warangal. The sub-caste communities use Patams as visual aids for their verbal narrations. The other communities who do not have Patams such a Manda Hechu use Toys (Bommalu). These Bommalu are symbolic sculptural representation of various characters in the popular legends, such as Kattam Raju, who is a very popular hero. 3) Social Hierarchy of dependent or sub-caste The caste is an essential part of the Indian social system; it is deeply embedded in all Hindu hereditary communities, both in urban and rural areas. It is also found at the lowest social level among the Adivasis (tribals) and Panchamas (untouchables), who are considered as outside the Hindu Varnashrama. C.F. Haimondrof in his book “The Gonds of Andhra Pradesh” (1979) wrote that the caste and sub-caste is very much prevalent among the Gonds.