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Vokkaliga

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The Vokkaligas are an Indian caste or social group found mainly in the Old Mysore Region of southern Karnataka state.

Origins

Their main profession is agriculture and is similar to Kurmi caste of North India or Vellalar of Tamil nadu.

Vokkalathana in Kannada language means tilling land and Vokkaliga means one who tills land. Vokkaligas are belived to be originally from Tamil Nadu and their kin group in Kongu Nadu are the Kongu Vellalar. They are believed to have settled in southern Karnataka many centuries ago.

Social divisions

The Yelahankanadu (14 km from Bangalore) Prabhus were tillers of the land. They belonged to Morasu Vokkalu sect, the ancestors of which were migrants from Morasunadu near Kanchipuram. They used to speak Telugu.

Jaya Gowda accepted the sovereignty of the Vijayanagar emperor. There were the Gangadicara vokkaligas of other parts of Karnataka. The name Gangadicara, which is derived from the word Gangawadi-kara, meaning the inhabitant of Gangawadi is a relic of Ganga dynasty rule and has since survived in this part of Karnataka. However the Morasu Vokkalu sect got assimilated with the other tillers of Karnataka who are now called Vokkaligas.

Today the Vokkaliga community embraces within its fold the Morasu Vokkaligas, the Gangadicara Vokkaligas, Reddy Vokkaligas, Kunchitiga Vokkaligas, Hallikaru Vokkaligas and so on. Some divisions show Telugu origins as well. Some surnames used are Gowda, Patil or Reddy. In Tamil nadu they are known as Okkaligar and use Gounder as a title.

Community today

Mr. K.C. Reddy and Mr. K. Hanumanthaiah prominent among them were the Presidents of Mysore Pradesh Congress and after freedom became the Chief Ministers of Mysore State. Sowcar Channaiah and Mr.Nagaiah Reddy also became Presidents of Mysore Pradesh Congress, Mr. Kadidal Manjappa another freedom fighter also became the Chief Minister of Mysore State for a period of two months until the reorganization of States till Mysore State became of part of Karnataka. The renowned Kannada poet Kuvempu, who advocated the Universal Humanism (Viswamaanava) concept, is a Vokkaliga. Some famous Vokkaligas are

Prominant members

External links

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