Relli (caste)

Relli[1][2] (also Reli, Relly or Raily) is a social group of South Indians who reside in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, west bengal and Chhattisgarh.[3][4] They are classified as a Scheduled Caste.[5]

Reli people
Regions with significant populations
Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, west bengal
Languages
Reli language
Religion
Hinduism

Demographics

The Relli people are mainly distributed in coastal districts, such as Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, and Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh, Jagdalpur of Chhattisgarh and the Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada of odisha and Kolkata (mominpur ) , titagarh, budge budge, khardaha, bandel of west-bengal.


According to the 2001 Census, Relli and Mehtar population is 2,06,053 in Andhra Pradesh, 37 in Chhattisgarh and 8,357 in Odisha respectively. Rellis constitutes 1.67% of the total Scheduled Caste population of United Andhra Pradesh in 2001.[5]

Occupation

The primary occupation of the Relli people in Andhra Pradesh is the collection and sale of fruits, seeds and grass. Some are labourers and manual scavengers.[6] A few are in government service while the Reli of Odisha and Chhattisgarh trade in salt, rice, vegetables, goats, hens on a small scale. Agriculture is also pursued. They are listed as Scheduled Castes.[5]

Language

Reli people speak Reli language as their mother tongue and some words of it are close to Odia. The Relli people speak Telugu language in Andhra Pradesh, when conversing with outsiders. The Relli people speak Hindi language in Chhattisgarh.

The 2001 Census stated that there were 21,238 speakers of the Reli language in Andhra Pradesh, 37 in Chhattisgarh and 4014 in Odisha. Further breakdown to the district level is as follows (2001 Census): Vizianagaram (AP) 7,893; Visakhapatnam (AP) 4,301; East Godavari (AP) 3,079; Krishna (AP) 3,085; Srikakulam (AP) 1,796; Guntur (AP) 597, Koraput (OD) 1607; Rayagada (OD) 907 and Nabarangpur (OD) 1500, in Odisha, Jagdalpur (CG) 37, in Chhattisgarh.

See also

References
  1. Murti, Kamakshi Pappu. Bandilanka's Forgotten Lives. Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd. ISBN 978-93-5458-595-1. The Relli thought they were so superior! They gathered fruit and sold them. And that gave them the right to steal all the Government benefits. Not that this Government does much for the likes of us. He spat as he thought of the government. It was always the same, always the same unending misery and hunger.
  2. Singh, K. S. (1992). People of India: Odisha (2 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1302. ISBN 978-81-7046-294-1. THE RELLI The Relli do not have any other name or synonym . They use their caste name as their surname . They do not have any sub - caste . It is said that when Rama was in exile , the forefathers of the community met Rama , Laxman and ...
  3. Malik, Suratha Kumar (15 June 2020). Land Alienation and Politics of Tribal Exploitation in India: Special Focus on Tribal Movement in Koraput District of Odisha. Springer Nature. p. 133. ISBN 978-981-15-5382-0.
  4. "Reli". Ethnologue. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  5. Jammanna, Akepogu; Sudhakar, Pasala (14 December 2016). Dalits' Struggle for Social Justice in Andhra Pradesh (1956-2008): From Relays to Vacuum Tubes. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 222. ISBN 978-1-4438-4496-3.
  6. "'They Want us to Clean their Shit, But Won't Respect Us': Manual Scavenging is Rooted in Casteism". News18. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2023.

Further reading
  • 2001 Census of India. Scheduled Caste http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/SCCRC_28.pdf (01- Feb-09)
  • Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version:
  • People of India http://fttkorea.net/docu/ftt57aap.pdf (01-Feb-09)
  • Singh, K.S. 2003. People of India: Andhra Pradesh Vol13 Part 3. Delhi: Anthropological Survey of India and Affiliated east-west press pvt. ltd.
  • Singh, K.S. 1993. People of India National Series. Volume 2. The Scheduled Caste. Delhi: Anthropological Survey of India and Oxford University Survey of India.
  • Chenna Sanyasi Rao, Relli Charita, "రెల్లి చెరిత" (History of Rellis), Published by Dharma Trust, Visakhapatnam, 1999. Distributors: Visalandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad.
  • Chenna Sanyasi Rao, Vuravatala Suriedu, "ఊరవతల సూరీడు" ( "Sun on the other side of the village), Anthology of Poems. Published by, Progressive Writers Association, Visakhapatnam, 2000. Distributors: Visalandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad.
  • Mangalagiri Prasada Rao, "Dalitullo Dalitulu", "దళితుల్లో దళితులు" (the wretched among the wretched), Published by Sri Mangalagiri Siriyallu Mater Seva Trust, Visakhapatnam, 2012.
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