Ethnography of Konda Kapu Tribe in Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The Konda Kapu are a listed Scheduled tribe in Andhra Pradesh. They are inhabiting in five villages near Arakuvalley, ITDA Paderu in Visakhapatnam district and fortyone villages in ITDA Rampachodavaram region, East Godavari district. Majority of Konda Kapu families are relatively poor with very small land holding or without any lands inhabiting in scheduled area villages for the last seventy plus years. The dwellings of Konda Kapus are in small villages scattered at foot hills near running streams around Arakuvalley at an attitude of 3000 feet. The Konda Kapu houses in Rampachodavaram area are relatively on level land villages, nearer to streams. The Konda Kapu fall next to Bagatha who are at the top of the ladder in their social hierarchy and claim higher status than neighbouring Kotia, Nuka Dora / Muka Dora, Goudu, Konda Dora, Porja, Gadaba and Valmiki in Arakuvalley region. However, in Rampachodavaram area Konda Kapu are next to Konda Reddy in the tribal hierarchy from top and claim superior status than Koya, Konda Kammara and Valmiki tribes. Of late, commensal relations are liberalised in all areas and hence cooked food is accepted by many educated and employed persons belonging to tribes from any other tribe or caste although women folk still observe commensal restrictions. Kapus are Hindus and their pantheon consists of Hindu gods and goddesses. The staple food Konda of Konda Kapu is millets and rice along with leafy vegetables. They are non vegetarians and eat meat of most of the wild animals and birds but avoid beef and pork. The Konda Kapu men and youth from Rampachodavaram are addicted to palm sap extracted from palmyra (Toddy), phoenix (Eatha) and caryota/ palm (Jeelugu) also branded alcoholic drinks although smoking is relatively rare. About 48.26% of Konda Kapu at Rampachodavaram and 38.38% at Arakuvalley are illiterate. Relatively higher proportion of Konda Kapu at Arakuvalley region compared to Rampachodavaram region have secondary level of education and about 4.25% are in Government employment at Arakuvalley region compared to 0.69% at Rampachodavaram. The social control is by village headman or by Konda Kapu welfare association in Rampachodavaram region. Democratically elected political representatives have role in the development activities of this area. The headman and village council settles intra-tribal disputes in the village such as minor conflicts, quarrels, thefts, elopement etc while Konda Kapu welfare association settles inter-tribal and intra-tribal disputes amicably. Severe offenses / crimes such as arson, murder etc.are dealt by police and courts. Konda Kapus being a numerically minority population in both Arakuvalley and Rampachodavaram do not have any political power. In Arakuvalley the Konda Kapus are not eligible to contest for positions reserved for tribes. The Konda Kapus in Arakuvalley area cultivate commercial crops such as coffee, black pepper, turmeric, ginger, cabbage, cauliflower in addition to traditional crops like millets, pulses, niger, ground nut, corn and rice. However, in Rampachodavaram area KondaKapu cultivate ground nut and cashew as commercial crops while all the traditional millets, pulses and rice are grown in dry and podu lands. The income levels are relatively higher among Konda Kapus from Araku valley region. The intervention of ITDA and tribal welfare has changed the infrastructure in the villages. Most of the remote villages are well connected by black top road or at least motarable katcha roads with public transport facility. The mobile network and protected drinking water facility is provided to many major villages nearer to main roads. Electrical supply is available even at remote villages. Due to opening of market facilities in the agency area, tribes have come into contact with plains caste traders, teachers, health workers etc. The culture contact has brought tremendous change among customs and traditions of several tribes specially in dress pattern, hairstyle, food habits entertainment, and usage of modern electric and electronic gadgets etc.