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{{Unreferenced|date=March 2021}}
{{Short description|Hindu caste of South India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
[[File:Portret van een onbekende man van de Uppara kaste uit Mysore Uppar. Hindoo. Mysore (titel op object), RP-F-2001-7-1122H-13.jpg|thumb]]
{{Infobox caste
'''Uppara''' (sagara Kshatriya) or Sagara a Kannada caste. The primary activity of Uppara members is the preparation of salt in 19th century (‘Uppu’ salt in kannada).
|caste_name = Uppara
|classification=[[Other Backward Class|Backward Caste]]
|country= [[India]]
|populated_states=[[Andhra Pradesh]]<br />[[Telangana]]<br />[[Karnataka]]<br />[[Tamil Nadu]]
|religions = [[Hinduism]]
|}}


The members of Sagara (Uppara) community are also Known as "Suryavamshi Sagara Kshatriyas" the descendants of Emperor Sagara of Suryavamsha spread throughout the Country and all over the world. He is one of the six legendary emperors known as ‘Shat Chakravarthis’. The story of King Sagara is narrated in Vishnu Purana
'''Uppara''', also known as '''Sagara''', is a [[Hindus|Hindu]] caste predominately found in the Indian states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]], [[Karnataka]], and [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |date=13 September 1993 |title=Specification of OBCs in respect of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh (No. 12011/68/1993-BCC)" |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1993/E-0450-1993-0186-17135.pdf |format= |journal=The Gazette of India: Extraordinary |language=Hindi, English |publisher=Department of Publication |volume= |page=38 |issn=0254-6779 |oclc=1752771}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |last1=Srinivasulu |first1=K. |author-link1= |title=Caste, Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh: Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories |url=https://odi.org/en/publications/caste-class-and-social-articulation-in-andhra-pradesh-india-mapping-differential-regional-trajectories/ |accessdate=27 December 2009 |publisher=Overseas Development Institute |location=}} </ref><ref name=":2">{{cite book|title=Castes and Tribes of Southern India |first1=Edgar |last1=Thurston |author-link1=Edgar Thurston |first2=K. |last2=Rangachari |author-link2=K. Rangachari |chapter= ‘Uppara’ |volume=7 |pages=228 to 241|oclc=11676577}} Reprint. Originally published: Madras : Supt. Govt. Press, 1909</ref> They are classified as an [[Other Backward Class]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite journal |date=11 August 2016 |title=Inclusion/Amendment in the Central Lists of OBCs in respect of the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. (No. 12011/04/2014-BC-II) |url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2016/171261.pdf |format= |journal=The Gazette of India: Extraordinary |language=Hindi, English |publisher=Department of Publication |volume= |page=13 |issn=0254-6779 |oclc=1752771}}</ref>
 
Traditionally, Upparas are involved as salt makers and salt sellers (Shetty Upparas).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Dr V. Vasanthi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eF8sEAAAQBAJ&dq=Uppara+caste&pg=PA55 |title=A Crusade for Social Justice: P.S.Krishnan : Bending Governence Towards The Deprived |date=2021-05-03 |publisher=South Vision Books |pages=55, 56 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Krishnamurti |first1=Bhadriraju |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VG0EBZP3scUC&dq=Uppara+caste&pg=PA470 |title=Gold Nuggets: Selected Post-independence Telugu Short Stories |last2=Vijayasree |first2=Changanti |date=2004 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-1930-4 |pages=470 |language=en |author-link=Bhadriraju Krishnamurti}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jA4uRbWoGfUC&q=Uppara+caste |title=People of India: Andhra Pradesh |date=1992 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-81-7671-006-0 |pages=1847 |language=en}}</ref> In the past, their occupation also involved the extraction of salt, known in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Kannada]] as uppu and hence, they came to be called Upparas. Jai Bhageeratha <ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nCELAQAAIAAJ&q=Uppara+caste |title=Karnataka State Gazetteer: Bangalore District |date=1993 |publisher=Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press |pages=171 |language=en}}</ref> Occupationally, [[Lonia]] of [[North India]] are considered the equivalents of Upparas.<ref name=":3" />


==History==
==History==


According to [[Francis Buchanan-Hamilton|Buchanan]], the most important occupation of the Telugu Upparas at the beginning of the nineteenth century was the manufacture of salt..
According to [[Francis Buchanan-Hamilton]], the most important occupation of the Telugu Upparas at the beginning of the nineteenth century was building of mud walls, especially those of forts.<ref name=":2" />
 
The one-man Anantha Raman commission constituted by the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] in its report in 1968 made certain observations and recommendations regarding the Uppara community. Some of the points mentioned in the report are as follows:
*Upparas were previously engaged in manufacturing salt.
*When private manufacture of salt was forbidden during the British rule, the people of the community turned to other occupations. Losing their caste-based occupation as salt makers, they tuned to tank-digging, stonecutting, and agriculture.
[[Kumar Suresh Singh]] noted in 1998 that Upparas have abandoned salt-making and are primarily involved in [[masonry]] and stone-work.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jHQMAQAAMAAJ&q=Uppara |title=India's Communities |date=1998 |publisher=[[Anthropological Survey of India]] |isbn=978-0-19-563354-2 |pages=3539–3541 |language=en}}</ref> Upparas are descendants of Sagara Chakravarthy (Sagara Upparas).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m0cxtNhMmr4C&q=Uppara |title=Bulletin of the Anthropological Survey of India |date=1971 |publisher=Director, Anthropological Survey of India, Indian Museum |pages=162 |language=en}}</ref>


== Culture ==
Some members of the caste are [[Vaishnavite]]s and others [[Saivite]]s. They also worship various village deities, which vary according to the place of residence.
Some members of the caste are [[Vaishnavite]]s and others [[Saivite]]s. They also worship various village deities, which vary according to the place of residence.
The one man commission constituted by the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]], chaired by Sri Anantha Raman{{who|date=March 2013}}<!-- How do you chair a one-man commission? --> in its report in 1968 made certain observations and recommendations regarding the Uppara or Sagara community. Some of the points mentioned in the report are as follows:
*Uppara or Sagara is a caste of workers engaged in agriculture.
*They also engaged in manufacturing salt.
*
*When private manufacture of salt was forbidden during the British rule, the people of the community turned to other occupations. The Uppara seem to have made little shifts in an agrarian context. Losing their caste based occupation as salt makers, they mainly did agriculture.
* The members of Sagara (Uppara) community are the descendants of Emperor Sagara of Suryavamsha spread throughout the Country and all over the world. He is one of the six legendary emperors known as ‘Shat Chakravarthis’. The story of King Sagara is narrated in Vishnu Purana.


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
The "Chinnappa Reddy Report (1990)" indicates that the Uppara make up about 1.18 percent of the population of Karnataka.
The Chinnappa Reddy Report (1990) indicates that the Uppara make up about 1.18 percent of the population of Karnataka.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Telugu society]]
[[Category:Telugu society]]
[[Category:Social groups of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Social groups of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Social groups of Tamil Nadu]]

Latest revision as of 20:49, 23 July 2023


Uppara
ClassificationBackward Caste
ReligionsHinduism
CountryIndia
Populated statesAndhra Pradesh
Telangana
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu

Uppara, also known as Sagara, is a Hindu caste predominately found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.[1][2][3] They are classified as an Other Backward Class.[1][4]

Traditionally, Upparas are involved as salt makers and salt sellers (Shetty Upparas).[2][5][6][7] In the past, their occupation also involved the extraction of salt, known in Telugu and Kannada as uppu and hence, they came to be called Upparas. Jai Bhageeratha [5][3][8] Occupationally, Lonia of North India are considered the equivalents of Upparas.[5]

History[edit]

According to Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, the most important occupation of the Telugu Upparas at the beginning of the nineteenth century was building of mud walls, especially those of forts.[3]

The one-man Anantha Raman commission constituted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in its report in 1968 made certain observations and recommendations regarding the Uppara community. Some of the points mentioned in the report are as follows:

  • Upparas were previously engaged in manufacturing salt.
  • When private manufacture of salt was forbidden during the British rule, the people of the community turned to other occupations. Losing their caste-based occupation as salt makers, they tuned to tank-digging, stonecutting, and agriculture.

Kumar Suresh Singh noted in 1998 that Upparas have abandoned salt-making and are primarily involved in masonry and stone-work.[9] Upparas are descendants of Sagara Chakravarthy (Sagara Upparas).[10]

Culture[edit]

Some members of the caste are Vaishnavites and others Saivites. They also worship various village deities, which vary according to the place of residence.

Demographics[edit]

The Chinnappa Reddy Report (1990) indicates that the Uppara make up about 1.18 percent of the population of Karnataka.

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Specification of OBCs in respect of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh (No. 12011/68/1993-BCC)"" (PDF). The Gazette of India: Extraordinary (in Hindi and English). Department of Publication: 38. 13 September 1993. ISSN 0254-6779. OCLC 1752771.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Srinivasulu, K. "Caste, Class and Social Articulation in Andhra Pradesh: Mapping Differential Regional Trajectories". Overseas Development Institute. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thurston, Edgar; Rangachari, K. "'Uppara'". Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7. pp. 228 to 241. OCLC 11676577. Reprint. Originally published: Madras : Supt. Govt. Press, 1909
  4. "Inclusion/Amendment in the Central Lists of OBCs in respect of the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. (No. 12011/04/2014-BC-II)" (PDF). The Gazette of India: Extraordinary (in Hindi and English). Department of Publication: 13. 11 August 2016. ISSN 0254-6779. OCLC 1752771.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Devi, Dr V. Vasanthi (3 May 2021). A Crusade for Social Justice: P.S.Krishnan : Bending Governence Towards The Deprived. South Vision Books. pp. 55, 56.
  6. Krishnamurti, Bhadriraju; Vijayasree, Changanti (2004). Gold Nuggets: Selected Post-independence Telugu Short Stories. Sahitya Akademi. p. 470. ISBN 978-81-260-1930-4.
  7. Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Andhra Pradesh. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1847. ISBN 978-81-7671-006-0.
  8. Karnataka State Gazetteer: Bangalore District. Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press. 1993. p. 171.
  9. Singh, K. S. (1998). India's Communities. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 3539–3541. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
  10. Bulletin of the Anthropological Survey of India. Director, Anthropological Survey of India, Indian Museum. 1971. p. 162.