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The Vokkaligas (Kannada: ವಕ್ಕಲಿಗರು) are an Indian caste or social group found in the Old Mysore Region of southern Karnataka , Tamilnadu, In Tamil nadu they are known as Okkaligar and use Gounder as a title. They are also found in Andhra Pradesh ,Maharastra and Kerala. It is also known under different names viz, Kammakula Okkaliga, Kappu and Ku.Kappu in some settlements in South India. Okkaliga or Vokkalathana means tilling land and Vokkaliga means one who tills land.

History of Vokkaliga in Karnataka

The Yelahankanadu (14 km (8.7 mi) from Bangalore) Prabhus were Gowdas or tillers of the Land. They belonged to Morasu Vokkalu sect, the ancestors of which were migrants from Morasunadu near Kanchipuram (on the Bangalore–Madras Highway). Fourth in succession from Rana Bhairave Gowda, founder of the dynasty of Avati Nadu Prabhus and great grandson of Jaya Gowda, who established separate dynasty, is the famous Yelahanka Nadu Prabhus, Kempe Gowda I who ruled for 46 years commencing his reign from 1513. Jaya Gowda accepted the sovergnity of the Vijayanagar emperor.

The Gangadikar Gowdas were the Vokklaigas in 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.

Kempe Gowdas of the Morasu Vokkaliga sect, were great rulers who were concerned in the welfare of their subjects and spent lavishly in the construction of tanks, agraharas (suburbs of Brahmins), temples and forts. The Vokkaligas rendered great service in the fields of agriculture, animal husbandry and soldiery. Kempegowda I conquered Sivaganga principality, 30 mi (48.3 km) from Bangalore on Bangalore–Poona Hwy. Next, he annexed Domlur which is on the road from Bangalore to Old Bangalore Airport. Within this vast forest area, in 1537, he erected a mud fort and built the Township of Bangalore.

Kempe Gowda I (1510 - 1570), whose ancestor had immigrated from Kancheepuram to the neighborhood of Bangalore due to a personal feud with the chief of Kancheepuram established the city of Bangalore under the Vijayanagar empire. The document describing the city as he conceptualised it, written in Telugu the commonly spoken language of this region, is still preserved. This language is still spoken in the villages of Bangalore, Yelahanka, Devanahalli, Doddaballapur, Hoskote, Anekal and Hosur districts.

Kempe Gowda I next annexed Ulsoor and Hesaraghatta. Bangalore's four main streets of the Old Bengaluru Pete, the Chickpete and Doddapete leading to Ulsoor gate, the Sondekoppa gate, the Yelahanka gate and the Anekal gate were laid. Kempe Gowda shifted his capital from Yelahanka to Bangalore. Vijayanagar Emperor Achuta Raya granted Kempe Gowda I the neighboring villages of Begur, Jigani, Varthur, Kengeri, Banavara and Kumbalgode, besides many other hamlets yielding a revenue of 30,000 varahas. Kempe Gowda I built the cave temple of Gavi Gangadhareswara at Gavipur, the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, the Kempambudhi Tank and the Dharambudhi Tank. His successor, Kempe Gowda II, built the Ulsoor Lake, the Karanjee Tank, the Sampangi Tank, the Someswara Temple of Ulsoor, the famous four Kempe Gowda Towers and the Ranganatha Temple in Balepete, Bangalore.

KempeGowda is a renowned name and is duly honoured by naming the prime locations of Karnataka in his name. A statue of Kempegowda I is erected in the city centre, in front of the Bangalore City Corporation office.

It is a fact that being the Ruler he promoted the upliftment of the backward classes and built colonies such as Thigalar Pet, Kumbar Pet for specific backward classes to ensure their welfare.

There is an inscription in old Kannada,dated 1628, in the Ranganatha Temple, the English translation of which is "Be it well, When Rajadhi-Raja-Parameshwara Vira Pratapa Vira-Maha-Deva Maharaya seated in the Jewel throne was ruling the empire of the world: When of the Asannavakula, the Yelahanka Nadu Prabhu Kempanacharya-Gauni's grandson Kempe Gowdas son, Immadi Kempegaunayya was ruling a peaceful kingdom in righteousness". With the decline of the Vijayanagar Empire, the eclipse of the rule of Yelahanka Nadu Prabhus took place at the dawn of the Seventeenth century.

Vokkaliga Organisations

There are several Vokkaliga organisations serving the community .

Vokkaligara Sangha : The Vokkaligara Sangha was founded in the year 1906 to promote social, cultural and educational aspirations of the agricultural community of the erstwhile Mysore State.Vokkaligara Sangha has it head quarters in Bangalore and has many affiliated regional sanghas. Today, Vokkaligara Sangha is one of the premium Community Organisation in Karnataka State and serving the Vokkaliga community in different areas. Sangha owns reputed educational institutions like Bangalore Institute of Technology, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) etc.

Vokkaligara sanga has well structured election system . Elected members handle key roles in Sangha's activities and Sanga owned institutions .Elected members serve as community representative of their region.

Vokkaligara Parishat of America (VPA):VPA was established in 1991 and located in Illianos, USA . VPA is dedicated to assist and promote literacy, cultural, educational, social, economic, health of rural farming community. VPA is serving the North American Vokkaliga Community. VPA is also involved in various Charity works.

Community today

Vokkaligas once known for their successful agricultural activities now have diversified in to different fields with mild to moderate success.

Since the early days Vokkaligas have played a very vital and dominant role in Karnataka Politics and also Union Politics.

Mr. K.C. Reddy and Mr. Kengal 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 former Prime minister of India, H.D. Deve Gowda belongs to this community.

The renowned Kannada poet Kuvempu, who advocated the Universal Humanism (Viswamaanava) concept, is a Vokkaliga. The members of the Vokkaliga community have made a mark in all fields.

They are active members in Politics,Bureacracy,Art,Literature,Technology,Business and sports.

Even to date Karnataka Politics is controlled by the Vokkaliga Leaders.

Some famous Vokkaligas are

Prominent personalities

Politicians and leaders

Literature

Civil service and judiciary

Academicians and founders of educational institutions

Artists and cinema

Business

Others

References

  • Genetic Structure of ..... by R. Rajkumar and V.K. Kashyap, Central forensic laboratory, India

Notes

  1. Vokkaligas since the Time of Kempe Gowda
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Vokka was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. Kempegowda Day celebrations in Bangalore
  4. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=R84n-Wv1S-8C&pg=RA2-PA237&lpg=RA2-PA237#v=onepage&q=&f=false
  5. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?issueid=&id=44196&option=com_content&task=view&sectionid=21

External links

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