Telugu Diaspora
Telugu Diaspora consists of overseas Telugus, who generally identify with the language they speak, Telugu. The present Telugu Diaspora communities have their origins mainly from the state of Andhra Pradesh (India) and other parts of India.
Over two million in its strength, the Telugu Diaspora is continuing to emerge its presence across the continents. This site offers a universal platform for the Telugu Diaspora and its motherland to document information on:
Patterns of Telugu Emigration
An Introduction on Emigration of Telugus: A Working Paper (Jan 2007)
Excerpts from the paper:
Telugus have been part of the migratory streams of various ethnic Indians within and beyond land and maritime boundaries of India. According to Sudarsen (1994: 177):
Far from being limited to a marginal crossing of linguistic boundaries, Telugu speakers, extended from warrior chieftains and cultivators to the chief mercantile castes (notably komatis, balijas, and beri chettis) spread themselves along the length of the spine of the peninsula all the way to the Tirunelveli region at the southern extremity of Tamilnadu
Some of the leading ports on the coast of Andhradesa were (Mangamma opp. cit 107-109) Machilipatnam,. Nizampatnam1, Motupalli, Uppada (fabrics), Kakinada, Korangi, Yanam, Bendamurlanka, Marsapuram, Perupalyam, Tallarevu (ship building), Viravasaram, Mahavayapalem, Bhimunipatnam (Dutch Port), Kalingaptnam, Armogoan, Krishnapatnam.
Some of the above conditions along with certain pull factors from the colonies have led to the beginning of indenture and Kangani labour forms from Andhra. The following sections present details on Telugu emigration to countries where they are presently found in large numbers like Burma, Fiji, Mauritius, Malaysia, South Africa (in alphabetical order).
Two centuries of life overseas have not let them down and forget their origins.
The Telugu temple, the Telugus festivals and the Telugu language have played an invaluable role in the lives of the Telugus in Mauritius. Temples like the St. Pierre Vishnu Mandiram, the Simhadri Appanah temple at Beau Vallon, and the Lau Lora Prasanna Venkateshwara temple (considered as the chinna tirupathi)...
A kangani and an agent usually carry out the recruitment process. Most of the recruited migrants are from castes such as Gavara, Kapu (sometimes called as Telaga also in coastal Andhra) and Velama (the richer section among them are called Velama dora). The remaining are from chakali (washer man), mangali (barber) and others. The word kangani usually denotes head of a group. Another word/ term used to denote the head is Dandelu or Tandelu...
Email us for a full version of the paper. You can collect copies of the paper if you are in Hyderabad.
Telugu Diaspora consists of overseas Telugus, who generally identify with the language they speak, Telugu. The present Telugu Diaspora communities have their origins mainly from the state of Andhra Pradesh (India) and other parts of India.
Over two million in its strength, the Telugu Diaspora is continuing to emerge its presence across the continents. This site offers a universal platform for the Telugu Diaspora and its motherland to document information on:
- History of Telugu Diaspora (origins, destinations, population figures etc)
- Telugu associations, Foundations, Literary organizations and people associated
- Telugu culture and Identity in countries with considerable number of Telugus
- Networks and Linkages between the Telugus overseas and Andhra Pradesh (political, business and socio-cultural)
- Helping the old Telugu Diaspora members to trace their roots
- Making the site a resourceful platform for information on Telugu Diaspora
Patterns of Telugu Emigration
| Time- period | Category of emigrant | Destination |
| Pre-colonial | Religious/Trade | West Asia, South East Asia and African |
| Colonial | Indenture | Mauritius, South Africa and Fiji |
| Kangani | Malaya and Ceylon | |
| Maistry | Burma | |
| Post-Independence | Professional, Labour & Family Reunion | USA, UK, Europe, Australia & West Asia/Gulf |
An Introduction on Emigration of Telugus: A Working Paper (Jan 2007)
Excerpts from the paper:
Telugus have been part of the migratory streams of various ethnic Indians within and beyond land and maritime boundaries of India. According to Sudarsen (1994: 177):
Far from being limited to a marginal crossing of linguistic boundaries, Telugu speakers, extended from warrior chieftains and cultivators to the chief mercantile castes (notably komatis, balijas, and beri chettis) spread themselves along the length of the spine of the peninsula all the way to the Tirunelveli region at the southern extremity of Tamilnadu
Some of the leading ports on the coast of Andhradesa were (Mangamma opp. cit 107-109) Machilipatnam,. Nizampatnam1, Motupalli, Uppada (fabrics), Kakinada, Korangi, Yanam, Bendamurlanka, Marsapuram, Perupalyam, Tallarevu (ship building), Viravasaram, Mahavayapalem, Bhimunipatnam (Dutch Port), Kalingaptnam, Armogoan, Krishnapatnam.
Some of the above conditions along with certain pull factors from the colonies have led to the beginning of indenture and Kangani labour forms from Andhra. The following sections present details on Telugu emigration to countries where they are presently found in large numbers like Burma, Fiji, Mauritius, Malaysia, South Africa (in alphabetical order).
Two centuries of life overseas have not let them down and forget their origins.
The Telugu temple, the Telugus festivals and the Telugu language have played an invaluable role in the lives of the Telugus in Mauritius. Temples like the St. Pierre Vishnu Mandiram, the Simhadri Appanah temple at Beau Vallon, and the Lau Lora Prasanna Venkateshwara temple (considered as the chinna tirupathi)...
A kangani and an agent usually carry out the recruitment process. Most of the recruited migrants are from castes such as Gavara, Kapu (sometimes called as Telaga also in coastal Andhra) and Velama (the richer section among them are called Velama dora). The remaining are from chakali (washer man), mangali (barber) and others. The word kangani usually denotes head of a group. Another word/ term used to denote the head is Dandelu or Tandelu...
Email us for a full version of the paper. You can collect copies of the paper if you are in Hyderabad.