Goud

Goud
Classification	Other Backward Caste (OBC)
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Telugu
Country	India
Populated states	Telangana Andhra Pradesh

The Goud/Gouda community in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, they've evolved into a prominent and rapidly developing group, holding significant sway in socio-economic and political realms in Telangana and Karnataka. Goud caste is a group of Gamalla , Settibalija , Ediga , Srisayana , Yatha .

Goud community is a Toddy tapping community, and this caste group people mainly involve in Climbing the Palm trees and tapping toddy and bringing down the coconuts. They are similar to Nadar caste in Tamil Nadu, Ezhava of Kerala, the Channar/Shanar and have the same social status according to Hindu culture and the Government of India recognized these caste groups under Toddy Tappers community of India.

Goud community is a major caste group in Telugu speaking regions of Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. Goud caste group population as the highest among all the caste groups of Andhra and Telangana. According to 2011 census, 17% population of erst.while Andhra Pradesh belongs to Goud community.

In 19th century, the forward castes in Telugu states found that this Goud caste will become a threat for their supremacy after seeing the Channar revolt in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. So the forward castes of the telugu states, the Kshatriyas, Bramhins, Vyshyas, Kamma, Kapu, Reddy, Velama caste groups joined hands with the Britishers and started dividing the Goud caste group into Gamalla, Ediga, Srisayana/Segidi. The forward caste groups explained about how Sardar Papanna/Papadu of this Goud community revolted against Nizam of Hyderabad and captured their forts and how all the forward caste groups helped the Nizam to kill Papadu and how they portrayed him as a social bandit. Britishers believed in the rebel nature of the community after listening to this and facing the Channar revolt and started dividing the major caste group into small groups like Gamalla, Ediga, Srisayana, etc., From then the forward caste people started humiliating the caste groups because they involved in Palm cultivation and Toddy tapping.

In 1920, Dommeti Venkata Reddy of Ediga caste group in konaseema region of Godavari districts changed the caste name to Settibalija which means Toddy merchants. He did this name change to increase the confidence and self-respect of Ediga/Idiga caste group people and to say everyone that the caste is not less than any other caste.

However, other than Ediga caste group of Godavari districts, remaining people from Ediga caste group of other regions remained with the same name, and are now officially called as Goud caste along with Gamalla caste group. Gamalla caste group is now officially recognised as Goud caste and they can be seen all over the Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.