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Madiga

Madiga is a Telugu caste from southern India.[1] They mainly live in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, with a small minority in Tamil Nadu.[2][3] Madigas are historically associated with the work of tannery, leatherwork and small handicrafts.[4] Today, most are agricultural labourers.[5] They are categorized as a Scheduled Caste by the Government of India.[6] Within the Madiga community, there are various sub-castes[7][8] include Bindla, Chindu, Dakkali, Mashti, Sangaris[9][10] and the priestly class is known as Madiga Dasu.[11]

Madiga
Madiga community members at a Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti meeting
ClassificationScheduled caste
ReligionsHinduism, Christianity
LanguagesTelugu • Kannada • Tamil
Country India
Populated statesAndhra Pradesh • Telangana • Karnataka • Tamilnadu • Maharastra
RegionSouth India
Population7.66 million

Origin and Mythology

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Edgar Thurston and Siraj-ul-Hasan speculated Madiga derived from Mahadige or maha dige ra (transl. great man come down).[12] This is related to the common origin story that the Madigas originated from Jambavanta, who helped the gods out of a difficulty. [13]

Distribution and occupation

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Distribution

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Madigas live mainly in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, with small minorities in neighboring states. As per the 2011 census, in United Andhra Pradesh Madigas constituted 48.27% of the total Scheduled Caste population with a population of 6,702,609.[14] While Malas constituted 40.11%.[15] Around 3.4 million Madigas live in Andhra Pradesh and another 3.3 million lives throughout Telangana.[16]

In Karnataka, the Madigas make up 9.1% of the total Scheduled Caste population, totaling 953,913 individuals. In Old Mysore, the Madigas were one of the main Dalit communities, along with the Holeyas. [17]

In Tamil Nadu, their population is recorded at 5,929,[18] and in Maharashtra, it stands at 15,318.[19]

In 2009, the term "Arunthathiyar" in Tamil Nadu was officially designated as an umbrella term encompassing various communities, including Arunthathiyar, Chakkiliyan, Madari, Madiga, Pagadai, Thoti and Adi Andhra with a combined population of 2,150,285.[20]

Madiga Population Distribution (2011 census)
State Population Percentage in State Population Notes
Andhra Pradesh 3,468,967 7.3%
Telangana 3,222,642 9.21%
Karnataka 953,913 1.56%
Tamil Nadu 5,929 0.008% 2.97% (2,150,285 including sub-castes)
Maharashtra 15,318 0.013

Occupation

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The occupation of the Madiga community is primarily associated with tanning leather, making footwear, belts, pouches, toddy-containers and bags which were provided to different castes as needed. Additionally, the Madiga community is known for their expertise in crafting the traditional drum called the Dappu.[21] A significant portion of the Madiga population traditionally worked as cobblers. They specialized in crafting and repairing footwear.[22] They are also village drummers who use Dandora or Dappu in festivals, death and marriage ceremony and announcements.[23]

Some Madigas were traditionally engaged in various village services, including activities like horn-blowing, drum-beating, removal of animal carcasses, cleaning of public spaces and menial tasks. In exchange for their services, they received inam land. Those specifically involved in menial work were referred to as etti-Madiga. Their responsibilities included street cleaning, carrying government officials luggage, helping with revenue collection, maintaining peace as watchmen, household and farm chores for their landlord family.[24] In the past, Madigas were obligated to provide free labor under the vetti system to landlords for a certain number of days during peak periods of agricultural labour.[25] When payment was made, it was less than what was paid to the rest of the farmers.[16] In some areas, landlords allocated land to Dalits, mainly Madigas, and provided initial resources. In return, tenants worked on the landlord's fields for nominal wages and received only 1/3 of the crop after harvest, maintaining their economic dependence.[16]

The first social reform movements, driven by paternalistic upper-caste leaders, aimed to uplift the Madigas by encouraging them to adopt upper-caste customs and traditions. This involved forsaking practices such as alcohol consumption and rituals like the buffalo sacrifice. Despite the initial enthusiasm of the Madigas, they eventually abandoned these movements upon realizing that the upper castes continued to treat them with the same contempt as before. Subsequently, they turned to secular paths for upliftment, such as pursuing education and changing occupations, opportunities that were further opened up to them through the reservation system.[26]

After the 1960s, significant changes occurred in Madiga livelihoods. The introduction of the Green Revolution led to more capital-intensive farming and mechanization, increasing the need for laborers.[27] Additionally, industrially-produced goods began dominating rural markets, undermining the traditional occupations of Madiga leather artisans. This pushed many Madigas as agriculture laborers, increasing their dependence on landlords. The Green Revolution benefited the upper castes but left landless Madiga and Mala laborers facing continued exploitation.[25]

Politics

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Early politics related to Dalits, including Madigas, in Andhra Pradesh was centered around welfare schemes for them, a form of politics most typical of Indian Congress. With the rise of the TDP (Telugu Desam Party), social polarization took on a political hue: with Dalits being considered "rebellious" if they did not support the TDP. In Telangana, Dalits and other backward communities formed the main base of the Left parties, who helped bring an end to the vetti system and other injustices committed by the landlords. However, in areas where the Left was not strong, the Dalits followed patronage systems and supported the Congress party, which was led by their Reddy landlords.[16]

Initially, during the 1991 Indian general election, the DMS (Dalit Maha Sabha) was unable to turn the Dalit anger after Tsundur massacre into setting the political discourse. However, after the Bahujan Samaj Party - Samajwadi Party alliance came to power in the 1993 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, the DMS thought they could create a similar victory in Andhra Pradesh. With the political aspirations of the Dalits and some other backward classes (like the Gollas) awakened, Kanshi Ram's 1994 tour of Andhra Pradesh garnered significant popularity and spurred the awakening of leaders not only within the Malas, Madigas, and other Dalit castes but also among marginalized leaders from the Backward Classes (BC). But when the media focused on the BSP in Andhra Pradesh, the Dalits felt that the local media was biased and only talked about problems within the BSP. This sudden rise of Dalit voices made the Congress and TDP change their election strategies. The Congress tried to get the votes of BSP supporters, and the TDP introduced popular programs. The TDP's efforts paid off, and they won big in the 1994 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election,[28] while the BSP didn't do well. People believed that the Mahasabha, which had originally aimed for social change, moving into politics, was bad for the fight against caste discrimination in Andhra Pradesh. This led to the breakup of grassroots activists and their leaders.[16]

Madiga Dandora movement

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In 1994, Manda Krishna Madiga and Dandu Veeraiah Madiga formed the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti (MRPS) to demand the categorization of the SC reservation quota to ensure equitable distribution of state allocations for all the constituent castes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with implications extending beyond these states.[29] This movement, more popularly known as the Madiga Dandora movement, held dharnas, mass rallies, rail rokos, and other activities to publicize for the demand of sub-classification within the Scheduled Caste category, with a focus on securing internal reservations for the Madiga community and other marginalized Dalit subgroups. This demand arose due to the growing disparities within the SC category, with some communities having more access to educational and employment opportunities than others. The MRPS has united not only the Madiga community but also other smaller marginalized groups, often referred to as "satellite castes," who face similar socio-economic challenges. The movement's bipartisan approach, engaging with various political parties to push for its demands, has drawn both support and criticism, with some accusing it of dividing the larger Dalit movement.

Their agitations led to a commission headed by justice Ramachandra Raju to examine the issue. In 1997, the commission published its report which found that reservation benefits had mainly gone to the Mala and Adi Andhra communities, and neither the Madiga or Relli had proportional representation in the quota. The commission recommended a four-fold classification of SCs for reservation benefit: 1% for group D (Rellis and related), 7% for group B (Madigas and related), 6% for group C (Malas and related) and 1% for Adi Andhra.[30]

Earlier, TDP and Congress in the state made efforts to categorize SCs based on their level of backwardness, but these initiatives were met with legal challenges. In 2013, the movement gained significant momentum when Krishna Madiga, met Narendra Modi. During this meeting, Modi promised to amend the Constitution to implement internal reservations within the SC category.[31] In a related development, the A.J. Sadashiva Commission, in its report submitted in 2012, has recommended internal reservation within the 15 per cent Dalit quota in Karnataka.[32][33]

On November 11, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Madigala Vishwaroopa Sabha,[34] where Krishna Madiga appealed to him for a resolution to the 30-year-old peaceful struggle for social justice for the Madiga community within the Scheduled Castes (SCs).[35][36] Following Krishna Madiga's address, Modi expressed that he didn't attend the meeting to make requests but to seek forgiveness on behalf of those who deceived the Madiga Community. Modi acknowledged Manda Krishna as his younger brother and announced that the Union government would establish a committee to evaluate the community's demands.[37]

On August 1st 2024, Supreme Court of India, in a landmark decision, ruled that states are empowered to sub-classify Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) to provide quotas within the reserved category, aiming to uplift the more underprivileged castes.[38] A seven-judge constitution bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, delivered this judgment with a 6:1 majority, stating that SCs and STs are not homogenous groups, and further sub-classification can ensure quotas for the most backward castes.[39] Justice B R Gavai emphasized that states should identify and exclude the creamy layer from reservations. However, the court clarified that no caste in the SC category could be entirely deprived of quota benefits under this process. This ruling overrules the 2004 EV Chinnaiah vs. State of Andhra Pradesh case,[40] which had previously barred such sub-classification.[41][42]

Religious Conversion and Caste Identity

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While the majority of Madigas adhere to traditional practices within their villages in Rayalaseema and Telangana, most of those residing in Coastal Andhra have embraced Protestant Christianity. Notably, the act of converting to Christianity was prevalent among Dalits in Coastal Andhra. Among them, the Madigas and Malas chose to affiliate with the Baptist and Lutheran denominations respectively, while still maintaining their caste identities.[43] It's worth noting that most of the individuals who adopted Christianity continue to identify as Hindu to secure their eligibility for Scheduled Caste reservations. This is due to the fact that Christians who disavow any caste affiliation are not eligible for these reservations.[44] Consequently, Dalits who opt for Christianity risk losing their eligibility for the government's affirmative action program. This program, established in accordance with a 1950 presidential order, extends its benefits exclusively to those who identify as Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikh.[45]

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  • The activists Lelle Suresh and Sabrina Francis made a documentary on the condition and culture of the community, titled Mahadiga, which was released in 2004.[3]
  • 1940 Lo Oka Gramam film directed by Narasimha Nandi in 2010 portrays caste-based societal dynamics during the 1940s, offering a perceptive examination of the prevailing prejudices. The film's perspective serves as a representation of the era's social intricacies.[46]
  • Palasa 1978 film released in 2020 tells primarily about the caste discrimination in India and untouchability in the 1970s period.[47]

Notable people

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Arts

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Film

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Literature

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Politics

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Social Activists

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ilaiah, Kancha (2009). Post-Hindu India: A Discourse in Dalit-Bahujan, Socio-Spiritual and Scientific Revolution. SAGE Publishing India. p. 51. ISBN 978-93-5280-197-8.
  2. ^ "Social ostracising of Scheduled Castes still rampant in society". The Hindu. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b Madhav, K. V. S. (9 September 2004). "Starring Madiga and dappu..." The Hindu. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  4. ^ Gundimeda, Sambaiah (14 October 2015). Dalit Politics in Contemporary India. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-38104-4.
  5. ^ Still, Clarinda (1 April 2009). "From Militant Rejection to Pragmatic Consensus: Caste among Madigas in Andhra Pradesh". Journal of South Asian Development. 4 (1): 7–23. doi:10.1177/097317410900400102. ISSN 0973-1741. S2CID 154301741.
  6. ^ Jammanna, Akepogu; Sudhakar, Pasala (14 December 2016). Dalits' Struggle for Social Justice in Andhra Pradesh (1956-2008): From Relays to Vacuum Tubes. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-4438-4496-3.
  7. ^ "ఎస్సీ రిజర్వేషన్ వర్గీకరణ పోరాటానికి విరసం మద్దతు". avaninews.com. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  8. ^ "ఎమ్మార్పీఎస్ కు విరసం మద్దతు : వర్గీకరణ న్యాయబద్దమంటూ లేఖ".
  9. ^ "అట్టడుగు ఆక్రందనలు వినాలి!". Sakshi (in Telugu). 5 September 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  10. ^ Teltumbde, Anand; Yengde, Suraj (8 May 2024). The Radical in Ambedkar: Critical Reflections. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 127. ISBN 978-93-5305-313-0.
  11. ^ Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1053. ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0.
  12. ^ Rajpramukh, K. E. (13 August 2013). Satellite Castes and Dependent Relations: Dalits in South India. Partridge Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-4828-1057-8.
  13. ^ Thallapally, Manohar (2016). Cultural History of Madigas - A Brief Study. Vidyanagar, Hyd: Pragma Publications. p. 8. ISBN 978-93-984845-16-2. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  14. ^ "India - A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Andhra Pradesh - 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  15. ^ Jammanna, Akepogu; Sudhakar, Pasala (14 December 2016). Dalits' Struggle for Social Justice in Andhra Pradesh (1956-2008): From Relays to Vacuum Tubes. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-4438-4496-3.
  16. ^ a b c d e K, Srinivasulu (September 2002). "Caste, Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh:Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories; Page 40" (PDF). Overseas Development Institute, London.
  17. ^ "India - A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Karnataka - 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  18. ^ "India - A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Tamil Nadu - 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  19. ^ "India - A-10 Appendix: District wise scheduled caste population (Appendix), Maharashtra - 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Tamil Nadu Government Gazette" (PDF). Government of Tamil Nadu. 12 March 2009. p. 3. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  21. ^ "The undying beat of the Dappu: How a traditional drum signifies dignity, revolution for the Madiga community". Firstpost. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  22. ^ Manohar, Thallapally (1 January 2018). "Traditional Economy and Religious Life of Leather Working Madigas". INSTITUTE OF STUDIES ON LEATHER WORKERS (ISLW), Warangal.
  23. ^ "The undying beat of the Dappu: How a traditional drum signifies dignity, revolution for the Madiga community". Firstpost. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  24. ^ Khare, R. S. (March 1974). "The Madiga: A Study in Social Structure and Change . T. R. Singh, K. S. Mathur". American Anthropologist. 76 (1): 144–145. doi:10.1525/aa.1974.76.1.02a00720. ISSN 0002-7294.
  25. ^ a b "Caste, Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh: Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories; Page 13, Page 19" (PDF).
  26. ^ Chandrasekaran, Lalita (1992). "Social Mobility Among the Madiga of Karnataka". Sociological Bulletin. 41 (1/2): 119–144. doi:10.1177/0038022919920107. ISSN 0038-0229. JSTOR 23620176. S2CID 148185178.
  27. ^ "Land and Income Inequalities in Rural Andhra Pradesh" (PDF).
  28. ^ Ratnam, K. Y. (December 2008). "The Dalit movement and democratization in Andhra Pradesh". hdl:10125/6136. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  29. ^ Still, Clarinda (6 July 2017). Dalit Women: Honour and Patriarchy in South India. Taylor & Francis. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-351-58819-5.
  30. ^ Satyanarayana, K. (October 2014). "Dalit reconfiguration of caste: representation, identity and politics". Critical Quarterly. 56 (3): 46–61. doi:10.1111/criq.12137. ISSN 0011-1562.
  31. ^ Teja, Charan (24 August 2022). "Madiga Dandora: A force no political party can ignore or control". The News Minute. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Politics in Dalit quota". Frontline. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  33. ^ India, The Hans (8 July 2019). "Education key for development of Dalit: Dr Praveen Kumar". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  34. ^ "Behind that picture of PM Modi consoling Madiga leader, BJP's Dalit outreach in Telangana". The Indian Express. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  35. ^ "Watch: PM Comforts Madiga Leader Who Got Emotional At His Telangana Rally". NDTV.com. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  36. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (11 November 2023). "MRPS chief wants 'big brother' Modi to help Madigas with SC categorisation". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 20 December 2023. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  37. ^ Staff, T. N. M. (12 November 2023). "Will set up committee to consider demands of Madiga reservation: PM Modi in Hyderabad". The News Minute. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  38. ^ "Explained: Supreme Court's verdict on sub-classification of SCs and STs". The Indian Express. 2 August 2024.
  39. ^ Bakshi, Gursimran Kaur (1 August 2024). "Scheduled Castes Not A Homogeneous Class, Sub-classification One Of The Means To Achieve Substantive Equality: Supreme Court". www.livelaw.in.
  40. ^ "Who was E V Chinnaiah, lead petitioner in Supreme Court's SC sub-classification case?". The Indian Express. 1 August 2024.
  41. ^ "Supreme Court allows sub-classification in SC, ST for quota". The Economic Times. 1 August 2024.
  42. ^ "Supreme Court dismisses review petitions against judgment allowing sub-classification of Scheduled Castes". The Hindu. 4 October 2024.
  43. ^ Senftleben, Martin. (1992). Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. OCLC 634626847.
  44. ^ "Centre Appoints Commission To Examine Possibility Of SC Status To Dalit Converts: A Change Of Heart?". 7 October 2022.
  45. ^ M., Ashok Kumar; Robinson, Rowena (2010), "Legally Hindu: Dalit Lutheran Christians of Coastal Andhra Pradesh", Margins of Faith: Dalit and Tribal Christianity in India, New Delhi: SAGE Publications India, pp. 149–168, doi:10.4135/9788132106043.n7, ISBN 978-81-321-0467-4
  46. ^ "1940 Lo Oka Gramam | filmibeat.com".
  47. ^ Manda Krishna Madiga Great words About Palasa 1978 Movie | TV5, 9 March 2020, retrieved 15 September 2023
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Further reading

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