Poosapati / Pusapati was the ruling clan of the Northern Andhra region, Vizianagaram.

History

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West Entrance of the Vizianagaram fort in Andhra Pradesh
 
Main Entrance of Vizianagaram Fort

The Pusapati clan claims descent from Madhavavarma, who led a Rajput colony into the Krishna Valley in the late 6th century.[1] The members of the colony subsequently held important positions at the court of Golcanda.[1]

The Pusapati chieftain Sitaram Chandra Raju received the villages of Kumili and Gundredu from Raghunath Krishna Dev of the Jeypore Estate.[2] Viziaram Raju was appointed as an administrative minister of the Jeypore Estate by Ram Chandra Dev I[3] and succeeded his father as the head of the clan in 1710.[1] Viziaram Raju occupied a portion of the coastal territories of the Jeypore Estate under Vishwambhar Dev II[4] and moved the capital of the estate from Potnuru to Vizianagaram in 1712; he named the capital town after himself.[1] Viziaram Raju prompted the neighboring landowners (zamindars) to secede and gain independence from the Jeypore Estate.[3] In 1757, Viziaram Raju formed an alliance with Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau, which allowed him to seize the capital of the rival landowner of Bobbili.[1]

Following Viziaram Raju, the Pusapati clan was led first by Ananda Raju and next by Viziaram Raju II, who was largely controlled by his half-brother Sitarama Raju.[5] In 1761, Sitarama Raju attacked Parlakhemundi defeating its force and their Maratha allies further adding territory to the Vizianagaram Estate.[5] In 1768, Viziaram Raju II claimed the right to hold and cultivate (patta) Kasipuram, Nandapur, Madgol, etc. with the support of and marking the increasing involvement of the British East India Company; this resulted in the dissatisfied landowners rising against Vizianagaram.[6] As Viziaram Raju II was unable to make the requisite revenue collection payments, he was ordered to leave the district.[7] He defied the orders, which resulted in the Battle of Padmanabham against the East India Company Madras Presidency forces led by Colonel Prendergast wherein Viziaram Raju II was defeated and slain.[8]

Following the Battle of Padmanabham, Narayana Babu Raju was unable to quell the increasing revolts from the hill landowners, which ultimately led to further reductions of the Vizianagaram Estate.[8] The successive chieftains Viziaram Gajapati Raju and Ananda Raju proved to be capable leaders and brought in a period of flourishing for the Vizianagaram Estate.[8]

The Pusapatis obtained the title of Gajapati after the battle of Nandapur.[9]

Pusapati rulers

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Coat of Arms of Vijayanagaram
 
Branches of the Sisodia Clan

Notable members

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  • P.S. Kumaraswamy Raja - Former chief minister of Madras State (1949–1952)[17] and governor of Odisha (1954–1956).[18]
  • Pusapati Vijaya Ananda Gajapathi Raju (also known as Maharajah of Vizianagram or Vizzy) - Former Indian cricketer,[19] politician,[20] and winner of the Padma Bhushan Award in Sports in 1958.[21]
  • Pusapati Lakshmi Narasimha Raju, Politician and Founder of Cooperative Central Bank and many Cooperative Sugar Factories in North Andhra Pradesh. A freedom fighter, A member of the combined Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly, and a Signatory to the Indian Constitution.
  • Pusapati Lakshmi Narasimha Raju (S/o Pusapati Lakshmi Narasimha Raju) Politician - two term member of legislative council in Andhra Pradesh, President of District Cooperative Bank, President of many Cooperative Sugar Factories, Secretary of MANSAS Educational Trust.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Frowde 1908, p. 339.
  2. ^ Senapati & Sahu 1966, p. 63.
  3. ^ a b Senapati & Sahu 1966, p. 66.
  4. ^ Senapati & Sahu 1966, p. 67.
  5. ^ a b c d Frowde 1908, p. 340.
  6. ^ Senapati & Sahu 1966, p. 69.
  7. ^ Senapati & Sahu 1966, p. 70.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Frowde 1908, p. 341.
  9. ^ Satyanarayana 1997, p. 48.
  10. ^ Richards 1978, p. 55.
  11. ^ a b Frenz & Berkemer 2006, p. 1264.
  12. ^ a b "A socialist among princes". The Hindu. 5 August 2002. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Ananda Gajapathi Raju passes away". The Hans India. 27 March 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Anand Gajapathi Raju passes away". The Hindu. 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Ashok Gajapathi Raju". Business Standard. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati". OneIndia. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  17. ^ "List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu". OneIndia. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Odisha Governor List". OneIndia. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Maharajah of Vizianagram Profile - Cricket Player India". ESPN CricInfo. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  20. ^ "1962 India General (3rd Lok Sabha) Election Results". Elections.in, 5 Dots Partners. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Padma Bhushan Award Winners". OneIndia. Retrieved 15 July 2023.

References

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