A Revised and Enlarged Account of the Bobbili Zemindari/Bobbili Zemindari/The Bobbili Family and Estate
THE BOBBILI FAMILY AND ESTATE.
"The Zemindar is a 'Velama Dora,' of the same branch of the tribe as the Zemindar of Venkatagiri in Nellore. In A. D. 1652, an ancestor named Pedda Rayadu entered the district in the train of the Foudar or Nawab of Chicacole, Shere Mahammad Khan. Another retainer of the Khan's was Pusapati Madhava Varma, the ancestor of the Vizianagaram family; and the rivalry between these two houses dates from this period.
"Pedda Rayadu soon distinguished himself by rescuing the Nawab's son out of the hands of certain rebels whom he defeated with great slaughter at a place called 'Rangavaka' near Palasa in Ganjam. The Nawab rewarded him with the lease of Rajam Hunda in this district and gave him the title of Ranga Row, which has been borne by all his successors. The new Zemindar built himself a fort and petta, to which he gave the name of ' Bebbuli (the royal tiger), in honour of his patron's designation, 'Shere.' From 'Bebbuli' the name of the town and Zemindari has been corrupted into Bobbili."
In speaking about the population of the Circars, and after mention is made of the Brahmins, the following occurs on page 140 of the "Fifth Report":—
"In like manner, the Rachewars, Row-wars, and Velamas,*[1] of which denominations the principal Zemindars in the Circars are actually composed, affect the warlike character and manners of Rajputs to entitle themselves to be ranked with the more genuine offspring of the Chesteree or second class."
The foot-note on the same page runs as follows:—
Madras Manual of the Administration by Dr. Macleane says in para. 1 1, page 60:—
- ↑ * "Rachewars, or Row-wars, Telinga corruptions of Rajah, or of its diminutive Rai, joined with the personal or local appellation, war, to express the people or descendants of chiefs of foreign extracts, or of modern upstart race. The Velamawars among the Telinganians are equivalent to the Nairs of Malabar, or Naigs of Canara, and are the Native gentry or military of the country, claiming descent from, or adopted into, the families sprung from the ancient princes of Worungel."