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History of Patra Caste:

References in ethnographic accounts and other literature

Thurston and Rangachari in “Castes and Tribes of Southern India” give an account of Patra community as follows:-

“Patra- The Patras are an Oriya caste, which is divided into two sects , one of which is engaged in the manufacture of silk(pata),waist-threads ,tassels , etc., and the other in weaving silk clothes. The members of the two sections do not interdine…..

…..The Telugu Patras are summed up, in the Madras Census report,1901,as ‘a Telugu caste of hunters and cultivators, found chiefly in the districts of Cuddapah and Kurnool. It has two divisions , the Doras(chiefs),and Gurikalas(marksmen),the former of which is supposed to be descended from the old Poligars (feudal chiefs), and the latter from their followers and servants…..Widows may not remarry , nor is divorce recognized….They usually employ Brahmans at marriages , and Satanic at funerals…Their title is Naidu.”

The Anthropological Survey of India’s ‘People of India’ national series volume titled “India’s communities” writes about “Patra” of Andhra Pradesh, as follows:

“In Andhra Pradesh, the Patra is composed of two main divisions-Patsaliawho are involved only in silk-weaving, and Patratani who make silk-waist threads, tassels, towels, lungis and saress. Intercommunity marriages and interdining do not take place between these two divisions. The Patsalia claim a status higher than the Patrataintis..

The main occupation of the Patra community is silk-weaving. They are dependent on cotton and silk yarn for making saris….The women are employed in making thread and rolling the chakra(wheel).Some of them depend on subsidiary occupations like petty trade, agricultural labour, and some are employed in government or private service. A few are employed as annual agricultural labourers. They claim that some of their community members participated in political movements during India’s struggle for freedom. Formal education is favoured for boys but only partially for girls. They use both modern and traditional medicare and adopt modern methods of family planning.

Patra Caste Findings in Andhra Pradesh

From the facts and evidence available,it is seen that originally the “Patra” is an Oriya caste/community of weavers.The claim of the request-makers that after their migration to Andhra Pradesh, most of  the their members appear have taken up other manual occupatiuons such as agricultural labour, collection and selling of forest produce,etc .,has support from Thurston and Ragachari’s account when they write that the Telugu Patras are hunters and cultivators, found chiefly in the districts of Cuddapah and Kurnool.

Generally, Castes/communities who are traditionally associated with the ocuupation of weaving are included in the list of backward classes.Patra caste/community has also been included in the State and Central list of backwatd classes in Orissa and karnataka.On the basis of evidence availabele, the bench finds the Patra caste/community of Andhra Pradesh to be a socially and educationally background community. It is the considered view of the bench that ‘Patra”should be inclded in the Central list of backward classes for the Andhra Pradesh at new entry No.105