• DR L RAMAKRISHNA
• DR K SOMASUNDARAN
• N M DHANYA
• L RANJU MEENAKSHI
• DR K C CHANDRASHEKHARAIAH

In India, Culture and Religious practices makes the identity of a community stronger and recognised under a particular group or category. As per the book published by Syed Siraj Ul Hassan titled ‘The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam’s Dominions’, 1920, defined a group of Genealogical Nomadic people belonging to Pichguntalas, the variants of Pichikuntla, Pichakuntala, Pichagunta, Pichiguntala, Gotrakumarulu, Mallabatlu, Bhaktollu, Helavavaru, Helava, Helawar, Helvi, Pichatti, Pinchgundar, etc., with the recent version of Vamsharaj, as a Telugu Caste who are of wandering beggars, local genealogists and mat-makers based in the southern parts of India. The Caste name is supposed to be derived from ‘Bhiksha Kunti (Bhiksha = Begging, Kunti = Lame), probably an opprobrious epithet denoting a Holy Lame Beggar (referred to their ancestor legendary Kuntimalla Reddy among Telugu populations, Basava Bringi among Kannada & Marathi populations and as Mukthinatha among Hyderabad Kannadigas and Jains, Dr.L.Ramakrishna & Dr.K.Somasundaran, 2021). These people are classified under the nomadic, semi nomadic and de-notified tribes in India. Pitchiguntalas are a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious and blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, having a typically recognised leader and ancestor referred as Kuntimalla Reddy @ Basava Bringi @ Mukthinatha. Similarly, the heirs of Pichamma and Kuntimalla Reddy also referred as Pichimma + mallanna + inttivallu = Pichikuntintivallu = Pichikuntala @ Pitchiguntala (Dr.L.Ramakrishna & N.M.Dhanya, 2005). The Pichigutnalas @ Helavas were deviant brothers of Reddy Community from the undivided Andrapradesh, originated as the heirs of lendary Kuntimalla Reddy of Srisailam, AP, referred to as “Bikshakunti”, a begging community from Reddy Ancestry (Dr.Ramireddy Chandrashekhar Reddy, These people the legal heirs of legendary Kunti Mallareddy were immigrated to non-tegulu speaking areas during the periods of Religious Revelutions in Southern India from 12th to 14th Centuries (1200 to 1400 AD) on behest of Shaivism Leaders of that periods in lending their genealogical services to the communities such as Reddys, Kaapu, Golla, Kurbubha, Lingayutha, etc., in addition to preaching of Shaivism (as the disciples of lord Shiva). Based, on their civilisation in the modern periods after 20th Century, these Pichiguntalas has started sub-dividing themselves as Genealogical and Non-Genealogical, Nomadic – Semi Nomadic and Non-Nomadic, Cultivating and Non-Cultivating (landless), Bull Riders and Walkers with Holy Bell, etc., among themselves in both Telugu and Non-Telugu speaking areas. It is observed that in the present day Kannada speaking areas in Karnataka, these people are themselves formed in two major groups such as (1) the Pichiguntalas of northern parts of Karnataka as Vamshavalli Alemari Helavaru (practicing the Genealogical Works) and (2) Pichiguntalas of southern parts of Karnataka as Agricultural Alemari Helavaru (not engaged in any Genealogical Works). There exists no proper documentation on the Agricultural based Helavas or Walkers with Holy Bell or the Pichiguntalas scattered in the southern parts of Karnataka. It is observed that there exists some concentric groups of these Pichigutnalas @ Helavaru living in some of the villages under Kolar District in Karnataka, struggling for their recognition by the government as Helavas. These people are still being considered as the Pichiguntalas of Telugu speaking areas by the government authorities while issuing their caste certificates and are devoid of the government schemes and concessional provisions. Here, the Researcher Dr.L.Ramakrishna, also belong to Pichigutnala Community of Kolar District in Karnataka is engaged in the studies on socio-economic status of people belonging to Pichingutala @ Helava in Kolar District in Karnataka. For the said study, the Researcher made travelling amoung most of 1679 villages in Kolar District, and selected 54 villages from 5 taluks for the study where the presence of these Pichigutnala @ Helava are recorded. An attempt is being made to make a door-to-door study the socio-economic status and the problems / challenges faced by the community.

PICHIGUNTALA PICHKUNTLA HELAVA HELAVARU KUNTI MALLAREDDY REDDY HELVI HELWI KOLAR GENEALOGY NOMADIC TRIBES SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDY DR.L.RAMAKRISHNA

"RESEARCH PROPOSAL STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC-CUM EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF PICHIGUNTALA @ HELAVA GENEALOGICAL NOMADIC COMMUNITY IN KOLAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 2, page no.b374-b388, February-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2202141.pdf

"RESEARCH PROPOSAL STUDY ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC-CUM EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF PICHIGUNTALA @ HELAVA GENEALOGICAL NOMADIC COMMUNITY IN KOLAR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 2, page no. ppb374-b388, February-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2202141.pdf