About Us
THE
KSHATRIYA RAJUS
Raju is a Telugu
variation of the Sanskrit word Raj and Raja meaning King. Prince or Lord, Raju
is used to refer to the Telugu Kshatria Caste in Andhra Pradesh. Kshatriya
Rajus are said to be descendents of ancient Royal dynasties like Eastern
Chalukyas, Chalukya-Cholas, Vishnukundina, Gajapati, Chagi, Paricheda and kota
Vamsa. Over the centuries they have been called by various alternative names
that signified their military status.
During the British Raj they were known as Ratsas and
Rajavars, which means of or belonging to the caste of Ratsawars (Raja Caste),
using the title of Raju. Raju’s concentrated mainly in the coastal Andhra
region with pockets in the Rayalaseema, North Arcot and Rajapalayam of
Tamilnadu, Bellary of Karnataka and Ganjam of Orissa.
In the last few decades, significant population of Rajus
have migrated and settled in US and UK. Rajus use Raju or Varma in the Andhra
regions and Deo in the Orissa regions as an agnomen for their last name. Varma
in Sanskrit means Armor, Protection and Deo in Sanskrit means God or Lord. In
Telugu tradition, the family name is written first followed by the given name
and then the caste title. For example Alluri Sita Rama Raju, a prominent
freedom fighter in the mid 19th century, is interpreted as Sita Rama
of the Alluri family and Raju for Kshatriya caste. Similarly name of Penmatsa
Ram Gopal Varma, a prominent Bollywood and Tollywood movie director-producer,
is interpreted as Ram Gopal of the Penmatsa family and Varma for Kshatriya
caste.
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Mr. H.Devan, Rajukkal Sangam - Chennai