List of zamindari estates in Godavari district

Godavari District was a district of the Madras Presidency. It has a glorious past. Which once saw the glory of many zamindari estates and also huge estates like Peddapuram, Pithapuram, Kota Ramchandrapuram, Polvaram etc. each comprising 372, 128, 66, 128 respectively. It later got bifurcated into East and West Godavari in 1925.[1] But before that these districts compressed few Zamindaries and their histories.

Zamindari System in Godavari District

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Godavari District was renamed. Originally it was Rajahmundry District having the capital of the same name but renamed in 1859.[2] This Rajahmundry District was once ruled by

  • Eastern Chalukyas
  • Kakatiyas
  • Gajapathi Rulers
  • Vijayanagar Rulers
  • Nizam Rule
  • French
  • Again under the Nawab who is the Subedar of Nizam
  • British

During the British (1765-1947) reign in Godavarai District (originally northern circars were acquired by the British in the Anglo-French wars in 1759 but again appointed the Nawab by Nizam which finally came to British hand in the year 1765)[3] they acquired all the local poligars and in the Battle of Padmanabham they reduced the erstwhile Princely State of Vizianagaram to a Zamindari and made permanent settlement with them in 1802.[4] From then the powers of old Zamindars were limited and acted as revenue collector between the government and ryots.

Zamindari Estates after the Permanent Settlement to 1843

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During the Permanenent settlement in 1802–03, few estates like Mogalutur and Korukonda were annexed into the government due to arrears and they were split into 26 Proprietary estates .[5] By that time there are 15 ancient Zamindaries Like Peddapuram, Pithapuram , Polavaram, Kota Ramchandrapuram, Vegayammapeta, Velampalem, Venakayapalem, Vella, Telikacherla, Jalimudi, Panangipalli, Undeswarapuram, Mukkamala, Vilasa and Janupalli, Bantumilli. Besides these are there three other Mansabdari Estates, like Rampah, Totapalli, Jaddangi.[6]

Zamindari Estates after 1843

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Many Zamindari estates were later annexed in the government due to the arrears and lost most of their villages.[7] Then they divided the estates further and sold to other proprietors. The details were collected by Henry Morris and wrote in the Book, A descriptive and historical account of the Godavery District in the presidency of Madras Page No:371-375.[8]

List of Zamindaris in Godavari District in the year 1874-75
Zamindari Holder Peskash
Godavary district
Pittapore 3,41,627[9]
Polavaram 43,210[10]
Osuri Navarasapuram Estate align
Kolanka 14350
Tuni 26429
Annavarapupeta 3895
Kapileswarapuram 8765
Undeswarapuram 630
Kotipally Peskash in the Vizianagaram Zamindari
Uppada and Aminbada 673
Nidadavolu and Barhajhally 1,19,346
Ambarapet 16,097
Vegayammapeta Estate 8362
Tangellmudi 5143
Bhimolu 3031
Anumullanka 611
Singanagudem 46
Vilasa 1440
Janupalle 218
Jalimudi 277
Telikicherla 962
Gundepalli| 962
Panangipalli 737
Sirasavilli Savaram 300
Bantumilli| 200
Mukkamala 107
Jaggampet 33,072
Dontamuru 3248
Rayavaram 1998
Viravaram 26876
Palivela 19,240
Kirlampudi 23,382
Gopalapuram 18,540
Elamanchili 8,823
Chinchinada 1647
China Mamidipalli 255
Neredumilli 445
Vardhanani 532
Dhumantigudem 142
Gollaprolu 11,567
Kesanakuru 11,574
Vasantavada 7,349
Narayanapuram 2,948
Malakacherla 1,495
Daddipudi 378
Gutala 6,749
Mungondapalem 545
Chidipi 1,671
Peddeham 2,628
Tirugudumetta 1,856
Injeram 3,217
Pattesam 2,282
Prakkilanka| 1,822
Vangalapudi 3,817
Viravillipalem 3,534
Nadavapalli 3,129
Tyajampudi 2,791
Kurukuru 1,482
Billumilli 1,619
Lakkavaram 2,643
Jangareddigudem 499
Dharmavaram 2402
Krapa 2,385
Malakapalli 2,282
Katavaram 2,135
Yadavolu 2,161
Konitivada 2,004
Borrampalem 1,038
Vegavaram 787
Gavuripatnam 1,853
Murumanda 1,850
Anatavaram 1,763
Magam 1,746
Yernagudem 1,725
Vunkaramilli alias Ravimetta 1,630
Kalavalapalli 1346
Pativala Gurajanapalli 1,296
Mallavaram 947
Johurullabada alias Hukumpeta 1,401
Buchampeta 738
Gangolu 1,264
Vella 1,240
Bayyanagudem 1,006
Potukurru 210
Bommuru 853
Guttinadeevi 776
Kondagudem 753
Petta 583
Viravaram 554
Dandangi 551
Surasaniyanam 529
Nilapalli 479
Nandigudem 390
Nallamillipadu 203
Gavaravaram 145
jagannadhapuram 117
Pydimetta 110
Vadlapattanam 86
Tirumanagudem 64
Mansubdari of Godavari district
Thotapalle Estate 6,310
Bhadrachalam and Rekapalle 21,090
Rampah .....
Source:Morris, Henry (1878). A descriptive and historical account of the Godavery District in the presidency of Madras. Government of Madras. pp. 371–375.

The same has been mentioned in the book Standing Information regarding the Official Administration of Madras Presidency.[11]

Zamindari Estates after 1920

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Later, these estates were further divided (impartiable estates weren't divided though). The list of it has been given in The Asylum Press Almanack And Directory Of Madras And Southern India 1924, Page No: 274–276.[12]

References

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