Madiga

Madiga or Maadiga or Maadigar or Maadar is a social group or caste group of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharastra etc.They are also referred to by other names such as Maatangi makkalu,madigowd,Madigaru etc and are found in almost all Indian states with different names. The people belonging to this community are currently most oppressed and underdeveloped in the society, as a result of caste discrimination and are categorised as scheduled caste aimed towards accelerating their development through affirmative action by the state. . They form the largest segment of what is considered to be the Scheduled castes of Andhra Pradesh. Traditionally, their professions were leather tanning(vital for Indian Agriculture and Animal Husbandry) and Drumming, although this has since then ,diversified in the modern times with many occupying high positions in the Government of India and other sectors as a result of state intervention. They are also one of the prominent amongst the Dalit(Depressed) castes of Andhra pradesh, the other being Malas, who are also categorized as Scheduled castes. Arundhathi(sanskrit) also referred to as Arunzodi(Telugu), the famous star ,named after the legendary wife of the saptarishi sage Vashishta known for her “chaste ,beauty and revered” and with a character that is “unblemished, inspiring and worthy of imitation” that is shown even today after a Hindu wedding is from Madiga caste.

Read more about Madiga:  History, Traditional Profession, Culture, Bedagu or Lineage or Gotra or Clan or Vansh or Purvik, Subdivisions, Supernatural World, Madiga Protest, Popular Culture, Civil Servants