Telugu people

Telugu people
Group	Telugu people
Native name	తెలుగు ప్రజలు
Regions	Andhra Pradesh; Telangana; Puducherry; Karnataka; Tamil Nadu; Maharashtra; Odisha; Chhattisgarh; Kerala; Jharkhand; Bihar; Kerala; Goa; Assam; Uttar Pradesh; United Kingdom; United States; Canada; Australia; United Arab Emirates; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Malaysia
Population	80–90 million (approx.)
Languages	Telugu language
Religions	Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism
Related	Kannada people, Tamil people, Marathi people, Oriya people, Malayalee people

Telugu people Telugu people are an ethnolinguistic group primarily associated with the Telugu language in southern India, with significant diasporas in the United States, United Kingdom, Gulf Cooperation Council, Australia, and Canada. They have established historic polities, patronized major literary traditions, and contributed to regional and global arts, cinema, science, and politics through figures active in institutions like the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Rajya Sabha, and diaspora organizations.

Etymology and Identity

The ethnonym derives from medieval references in inscriptions and chronicles associated with polities such as the Chalukya dynasty, Chola dynasty, and Kakatiya dynasty, and is attested in sources like the Aihole inscription and records of the Vijayanagara Empire. Identity formation entwined with regional centers including Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, and Amaravati and with religious institutions such as the Tirupati Temple, Srikalahasti Temple, and monastic centers linked to figures like Eknath and Tukaram through shared ritual and literary networks. Caste and community groups—e.g., Niyogi Brahmin, Kapu, Reddy, Komati, Velama, Kamma—have shaped social identity alongside urban elites in cities like Secunderabad and ports such as Machilipatnam.

History

Ancient and medieval history features interaction with empires including the Satavahana dynasty, Vakataka dynasty, Eastern Chalukyas, and the Chola dynasty; later regional powers include the Kakatiya dynasty, Vijayanagara Empire, and the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Colonial encounters involved the British East India Company, the French East India Company, and administrations like the Madras Presidency; princely states such as Nizam of Hyderabad influenced modern boundary formation leading to events like the Gentlemen's Agreement (1956) and the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. Reform movements and political leaders from the region engaged with national movements—figures connected to the Indian independence movement, the Non-Cooperation Movement, and the Salt Satyagraha—while post-independence politics produced state bifurcation culminating in the creation of Telangana (2014).

Language and Literature

The Telugu language belongs to the Dravidian languages and has a classical corpus recognized alongside works from the Sangam literature context and complementary traditions in Sanskrit literature. Canonical poets include Nannaya, Tikkana, Yerrapragada (collectively known as the Kavitrayam), while later luminaries include Annamacharya, Potana, Kandukuri Veeresalingam, Gurajada Apparao, Viswanatha Satyanarayana, Sri Sri (Srirangam Srinivasa Rao), and C. Narayana Reddy. Modern prose and drama developed through publishers and institutions such as the Andhra University and the Sahitya Akademi, and contemporary writers engage with journals and presses in hubs like Hyderabad and Vijayawada.

Culture and Traditions

Cultural life features classical arts such as Carnatic music and Kuchipudi dance, with exponents and schools associated with patrons from the Vijayanagara Empire and later gurus connected to institutions like the Kalakshetra Foundation and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. Festivals include observances at Tirupati, Makar Sankranti (Pedda Panduga), Ugadi, Deepavali, and regional fairs at sites like Yadagirigutta and Bhadrachalam Temple. Cuisine includes signature items linked to regional markets in Rajahmundry and culinary traditions from coastal ports such as Visakhapatnam; textile arts involve centers like Pochampally and Mangalagiri known for weaving. Folk traditions encompass storytelling and performance forms related to courts of the Nizam of Hyderabad and village cult practices.

Demographics and Distribution

Major concentrations occur in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with urban populations in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, and Kurnool. Migration patterns include labor movements to the Gulf Cooperation Council states, skilled migration to Silicon Valley, and settlement in cities like Toronto, Chicago, Sydney, and London. Census and linguistic surveys reference data collected by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India and studies by universities such as Osmania University and Andhra University. Diaspora organizations maintain ties through cultural associations and institutions like the Telugu Association of North America.

Economy and Occupations

Economic activities historically included agriculture in riverine zones of the Godavari and Krishna basins, trade through ports such as Machilipatnam and Cuddalore, and crafts in guild systems linked to medieval urban centers like Warangal and Amaravati. Modern occupational distribution shows significant representation in the information technology sectors centered in Hyderabad and in industries around Visakhapatnam Port, Krishnapatnam Port, and the Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant. Entrepreneurs and industrialists from the region have been associated with corporations listed on exchanges like the Bombay Stock Exchange and institutions including the Export-Import Bank of India; agricultural innovation involves research stations affiliated with Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University.

Religion and Practices

Religious life is diverse with major traditions centered at pilgrimage sites such as the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, Bhadrachalam Temple, Yadagirigutta, and Sufi shrines tied to the legacy of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and figures buried in Hyderabad’s historical precincts. Bhakti movements produced composers like Annamacharya and Tyagaraja (connected to regional musical traditions), while Protestant and Catholic missions established institutions including those linked to Andhra Christian Theological College and hospitals founded by missionaries in cities like Guntur. Islamic traditions include communities associated with historical rulers such as the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

Politics and Society

Political life has been shaped by parties and movements operating in forums like the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Telangana Legislative Assembly, and national bodies including the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Key political figures and reformers have participated in coalitions and movements connected to entities such as the Swatantra Party, Telugu Desam Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Indian National Congress. Social reformers and activists have engaged with issues through nongovernmental organizations and institutions such as National Human Rights Commission (India) and universities like University of Hyderabad, influencing debates on land reform, language policy, reservation frameworks, and federal relations exemplified by accords and commissions including the States Reorganisation Commission.

Category:Ethnic groups in India