Population of Munnuru Kapus

Population

The Munnurukapu community is mainly confined to the Telangana area of the erstwhile Hyderabad state and the present Andhra Pradesh.  The estimation of the population of backward classes had been a major problem for the different Backward Classes Commissions appointed so far.  The following table-1 gives a distribution of Munnru kapus in various districts in 1911.

Hyderabad State (MunnuruKapus) Censes 

Districts	Male	Famale	Totel
Hyderabad	6262	6582	12844
Rangareddy(Atrafi-Balda)	4222	4078	12844
Warangal	1026	976	2002
Karimnagar	23242	21656	44898
Adilabad	18540	18405	36945
Medak	8040	7920	15960
Nizamabad	23008	23466	46474
Mahabubnagar	5539	5577	11116
Nalgonda	4273	3793	8066
Totel	94152	92453	186605

Source:  Census Report of 1911 (Hyderabad State)

Government of India, Census reports provides caste wise population figures only up to 1931.  According to the Census Report of 1931, dealing with the former Hyderabad state, the population of MunnuruKapu  is shown as 2,06,184 for the whole state.  There is a strong case to believe that this figure is a gross underestimation of the population belonging to this community.  As the community members enjoyed a low social status, they preferred to declare themselves belonging to some other castes which had a better social status. A book on ‘Castes and Tribes in Nizam’s dominion” published in 1920, referred to some baseless legends as the origin of this community.  This was also responsible in creating an inferiority complex among the people of this community.  Against this background, people felt shy to proclaim openly belonging to this community.  

It is natural that at the time of the 1931 census, some people belonging to this community might have got themselves declared as belonging to other communities.  In the 1931 census ‘Telaga’ community has been shown as a separate category with a population of 5,02,172.  It may be mentioned here that the ‘Telaga’ community in the Telangana area is not different from the Munnurukapus. In Telangana districts in MunnuruKapus prefer to call themselves as ‘Telagas’.  Therefore, the population of ‘Telagas’ should be added to the population of Munnuru kapus.  Taking into all the above facts, it would be reasonable to put the population of Munnuru kapus at 10 lakhs in 1931.  

During 1931 and 1981, the population in Telangana has increased.  The estimated population of Munnuru kapus would be 26.60 lakhs.  But, if one takes into account, higher rates of fertility among backward classes, the growth in the population of these communities will be higher than the general population growth rate.  According to the Andhra Pradesh State Backward Classes Commission, the Munnuru kapu population in Andhra Pradesh in 2000 was 10,86,742 and in September 2009, it was put at 1209750.(appendies)