TO ADD ARE SURYAVAMSHI AS A SYNONYM TO

ARE – KATIKA / KATIKA

S. Gopal Rao, President of A.P. Are-Katika (Suryavamshi Sangh) filed

representation before the Backward Classes Commission requesting for a change of
name of the community from Are-Katika to Are-Suryavamshi. It was represented that
the community is called as “Katika” which means harsh and cruel. Some of the caste
members feel that the word would impute harsh and cruel and therefore they
wanted to change the name to Suryavamshi. The community people pray the Sun
God and therefore they want to call themselves as Suryavamshi. The present day
generation is not prepared to face the media, schools, colleges and the society to call
their caste as Katika. The members of the community are not cruel. Historically they
justify calling their caste as Are – Suryavamshi.

On receipt of the representation a notification was issued as to why Are –

Katika should not be called as Are–Suryavamshi. Sri Premlal Nethikar, A.P. Are-Katika
(Katik) Sangh Hyderabad objected for the change of name. It was represented that
in Andhra Pradesh they are called as Are–Katika / Katik and in Rayalaseema they are
called as Are-Maratha and Katik. Their community is socially and educationally
backward and 90% of the people are engaged in mutton business. They have been
called as Are-Katika and Katik. Recently some people started calling themselves as
Suryavamshi and calling them as Katik will not impute any degradation and they will
not be looked down by others by calling as Katik. In fact the national organization is
called as Katik Samaj. There is no justification to change the name and it will create
confusion and they will not be recognized if the name is changed as Are –
Suryavamshi and hence he opposed.

Public hearing was conducted on 16/11/2007. S.Gopal Rao, President of A.P.

Are-Katika (Suryavamshi Sangh) Sri H. Arjun Rao and others pleaded for change of
name. Sri Premlal Nethikar and others opposed and argued that there are no
justifiable grounds for change of caste name from Are-Katika to Are-Suryavamshi.
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Hindustani dictionary defines Katika (Katik) as a low caste, which is a tanner

of eastern Punjab. Mr. Crooke’s book “Tribes and Caste”, referred Khatik (Katik) as a
functional caste of Hindu mutton butchers and vegetable sellers migrated from
districts of Amroti, Jabalpur, Nagpur and Sangur and settled in Telangana. In
Sanskrit Katika means a butcher or hunter and they worship Sun as their caste God.
The book “Castes and Tribes of the Nizam’s Dominions” written by Syed Siraj Ul
Hassan referred Are-Katika, Katika, Kasab, Kasai, Suryache Lad, Are-Varu caste of
butchers found in almost all the districts of Telangana. Katika in Telugu means cruel
and refers probably to the profession of the caste as butchers. Are-Katika are also
called Lad Kasabs or Lad Butchers, the term ‘Lad’ being a variant of “Lad” the ancient
name of a portion of modern Gujarat, from which these people are supposed to have
come originally. The members of the caste dignify themselves with the Title
‘Suryache Lad’ (Lads descended from the sun) claiming Surya or the Sun as their
progenitor.

The Commission considered the oral and written representations of the

persons who pleaded for change of name and the persons who opposed for the said
proposal. The caste people are called as Are-Katika / Katik at present. The word
Katik would mean cruel referring to their profession. It was represented by calling
them as Katik they are treated with disgrace, disrespect causing considerable
humiliation to the members of their caste, more so to the school / college going
children of their caste and the new name Suryavamshi has nexus to the traditional
occupations of the caste as observed by Syed Siraj Ul Hassan. The contention of the
objectors is that their original caste will not be recognized and others may not know
their people. In order to get over this difficulty Are-Suryavamshi can be used as a
synonym to Are-Katika / Katika. If any one feels that he is humiliated they can call
themselves as Are-Suryavamshi instead of Are-Katika and no prejudice will be caused
by calling both the names. Suryavamshi can be used as a synonym retaining the
name of the original caste i.e., Are-Katika / Katika.
 -3-

We have carefully examined the written and oral representations of both the
parties and the grounds on which it was opposed. On a careful consideration, the
commission in its meeting held on 29-01-2008 come to the conclusion that
Are-Suryamshi has to be added as a synonym to the main caste Are-Katika / Katika.

The Commission after due deliberations unanimously resolved to make the

following recommendation and tender the following advice to the Government.

1. To add Are-Suryavamshi as synonym to Are-Katika / Katika at serial number

2, Group D in the list of backward classes.

2. The principles of exclusion of socially advanced persons / sections (creamy

layer) already laid down by the state Government will automatically and
naturally apply to the above classes now recommended for inclusion.

1. Justice Dalava Subrahmanyam, Chairman

2. Sri N.Laxminarayana Mudiraj, Member

3. Sri V. Krishna Mohan Rao, Member

4. Sri R.M Gonela, Member Secretary