Bhatraju

History

Bhatraju were originally attached to the courts of the Hindu princes as bards or professional troubadours, reciting ballads in poetry in glorification of the wondrous deeds of local princes and heroes. Rama Raja Bhushanadu, a 16th century poet in the court of Rama Raya of Vijayanagara Empire, is believed to be a Bhatraju.

Bhatrajus were described as "having a wonderful faculty in speaking improvisatore, on any subject proposed to them. But their profession is that of chanting the exploits of former days in front of the troops while marshalling them for battle, and inciting them to emulate the glory of their ancestors." Castes and Tribes of Southern India (1909) notes that Bhatrazus were the only non-Brahmin caste, except Jangams and Pandārams, which performs the duties of guru or religious instructor.

Michael James Spurr researched on the community and analysed old census reports and other anthropological data. In Madras Census Report, 1871, they were described as, "a wandering class, gaining a living by attaching themselves to the establishments of great men, or in chanting the folklore of the people." Madras Census Report, 1891, describes them as, "being a class of professional bards, spread all over the Telugu districts. They are well versed in folklore, and in the family histories and legends of the ancient Rājahs. Under the old Hindu Rājahs the Bhatrāzus were employed as bards, eulogists, and reciters of family genealogy and tradition. Most of them are now cultivators, and only a few are ballad-reciters."

In the present-day, Bhatrajus are also found in smaller numbers in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In December 2022, Government of Andhra Pradesh banned the phrase Bhatraju Pogadtalu () in all spheres including media, film, TV, and political meetings. People using the phrase would be liable to legal action.

Notable people

• Rama Raja Bhushanadu (), Telugu poet in the Vijayanagara court
• Sathya Sai Baba (1926–2011), spiritual guru
• Raj Nidimoru, Director

References

References

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5. [http://www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in/obc/faq/andhrapradesh.pdf Central List of OBCs for the state of Andhra Pradesh] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-11-30, p. 4 (64 - Bhataraju))
6. "Guidance Bureau".
7. [http://www.bcmbcmw.tn.gov.in/obc/faq/tamilnadu.pdf Central List of OBCs for the state of Tamil Nadu] {{Webarchive. link. (1 May 2015, p. 1 (12 - Bhatraju))
8. Kandukuri Veeresalingam. (1949). "ఆంధ్ర కవుల చరిత్రము - రెండవ భాగము". హితకారిణీ సమాజము.
9. Spurr, Michael James. (2007). "Sathya Sai Baba as Avatar: "His Story" and the History of an Idea".
10. (1909). "Bhatrāzu". [[Castes and Tribes of Southern India]].
11. (1975). "Report of the Backward Classes Commission, Tamil Nadu, 1970". Government of Tamil Nadu.
12. Rao, Chandrasekhar. (21 December 2022). "ఏపీలో ఆ పదం పలకడం నేరం- నిషేధించిన ప్రభుత్వం: సినిమాలు, సీరియళ్లల్లో కూడా..!!".
13. G. Nagayya. (1983). "Telugu Sahitya Samiksha". Navyapariśōdhaka Prachuraṇalu.
14. Vellanki Umakantha Sastri. (1994). "Sri Visvakalyana Bhagavatamu: Drusya Kavyamu". Visalandhra Publishing House.
15. Srinivas, Tulasi. (2010-06-10). "Winged Faith: Rethinking Globalization and Religious Pluralism through the Sathya Sai Movement". Columbia University Press.