Uppara
Uppara / Sagara is a caste categorized as Other Backward Class in India. The caste takeses its name from the preparing of salt (uppu), which was the original community's primary economic activity. Upparas also called as "Sagara" are named after their ancestor King Sagara chakravarthy, ancestor of Lord Rama
In Hindu mythology, King Sagara is a prominent king of the Suryavamsha dynasty in Satya Yuga.He is the ancestor to Bhagiratha, Dasharatha and Lord Rama.
The major Dravidian languages (Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam) all use a variation of "uppu" to mean salt. Therefore, the persons engaged in the manufacture of salt are called Uppiliyan in Tamil: Uppara in Kannada; Uppar or Upparollu in Telugu.
People of this community are found to be spread all over southern and central India.They are known by various names in various states.
Uppiliya Nayakkar in Tamil Nadu ; Uppara or Sagara in Karnataka Andra Pradesh & Telangana.
History
According to Buchanan, the most important occupation of the Telugu Upparas at the beginning of the nineteenth century was the manufacture of salt.
Some members of the caste are Vaishnavites and others Saivites. They also worship various village deities, which vary according to the place of residence.
The one man commission constituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, chaired by Sri Anantha Raman in its report in 1968 made certain observations and recommendations regarding the Uppara or Sagara community. Some of the points mentioned in the report are as follows:
- Uppara or Sagara is a caste of workers engaged in agriculture.
- It traces its descent from "Sagara Chakravarti" who was a Kshatriya.
- It is said that they were originally Kshatriyas
- They also engaged in manufacturing salt.
- When private manufacture of salt was forbidden during the British rule, the people of the community turned to other occupations. The Uppara seem to have made little shifts in an agrarian context. Losing their caste based occupation as salt makers, they mainly did agriculture.
There are many surnames for Uppiliya or Uppara or Sagara Community (Sourced from Sagara Uppara Community website)
Gothras and Surnames
1 Brugu Maharshi Gothram:
Anisetty, Alisetty, Chathiri, Rajamalla, Enjala, Chidurala, Chintha, Perumandla, Mamidi, Musinipalli, Sattenapalli, Soma, Neelamu, Sadaraboyina
2 Bhagiratha Maharshi Gothram:
Vemula, Katipalli, Kayala, Marka, Kalletla, Siva, Kundarapu, Barla, Masku, Yerukonda, Satlapalli, Duddala, Kundarapu, Sanda, Kuppala, Satraboyina
3 Kapila Maharshi Gothram:
Jalasri, Danduri, Gurram, Nalubala, Sita, Veeraganti, Jatti, Jukanti, Nagelli, Vadlakonda, Vemula, Vaggu, Kalvapalli, Kanukurthi, Chitrala
4 Naurva Maharshi Gothram :
Mekkonda, Nekkonda, Donekena, Devunuru, Dhanikonda, Bendarapu, Bayana, Pesetty, Bysa, Dubyala, Nakka, Dronala, Dronadula, Dupati, Diguva, Immadi, Mulkechina,Koyyati
5 Rushyashrunga Maharshi Gothram:
Tatisetty, Tatipatri, Kurma, Kodipaka, Kolluru, Tangella, Kurmindla, Rachakonda, Katla, Mudraboyina, Bathina, Karnati, Balguri, Kakkunuri, Golluri, Ginne, Suthari, Rechavala
6 Upachara Maharshi Gothram:
Gunti, Dumpala, Manganuru, Jampani, Tylamu, Kuturu, Masa, Baluguri, Ambanti, Innandula, Ghanta, Durika
7 Valmiki Maharshi Gothram:
Juturi, Gujjari, Kotipalli, Kaunjula, Kaniganti, Nanganam, Konathala, Yasam, Mogili, Narlakanti Pandeti, Panjagala, Yaduti, Dapa, Thota
8 Vasista Maharshi Gothram:
Katari, Gandikota, Polampalli, Velpuri, Gandla, Kalvakotla, Kovvuru, Malkechina, Ramavaram, Mogili, Ruka, Chilukala, Chaudaboyina, Andugala, Mandala, Maudala, Maduri, Majjuri, Chelukalapalli
9 Vishwamithra Maharshi Gothram:
Gajjela, Dronadri, Jalasuthramu, Reddy, Kalpuri, Potu, Peddi, Bayya, Kaluguri, Vindi, Kanukula, Bhangi, Rachamalla, Rala, Mangapalli, Bandi, Gumpula
Demographics
The "Chinnappa Reddy Report (1990)" indicates that the Uppara make up about 1.18 percent of the population of Karnataka. In fact, although they have a sizeable presence in the district, they have not been able to have a MLA or MP from their community.