History

“THE HISTORY OF BELLIPADY FAMILY

By: Major.; Bellipad Mahabala Rai (Retd.,)

During the year 1760 AD (Approx.) our ancestral founder member of the Bellipady family Ajja Narasimha Rai accompanied by his sister Ajji Dyake, left Sirva house (Udupi Taluk) in search of greener pasture. When they reached Devasa of Bellipady Village, the Gowda Land-Lord of Devasa of Bellipady Village agreed to hire Ajja as the Supervisor of his agricultural properties.

Ajja Narasingha Rai in a matter of two decades by his industriousness and leadership qualities became the Land Lord of the Devasa property and ultimately the Gowda Land Lord had to leave the place.

After a few years the Ajja and his sister built a moderate sized thatched house at the present site of Bellipady house.

During his lifetime, the Ajja managed to purchase from the other Land lords of the Village a substantial acreage: of agricultural land. In doing so, he ran into arrears of land revenue. The rival land lords of the Village managed to send a message to the Raja of Madikeri that Ajja Narasingha Rai was nearly bankrupt.

The Raja of Madikeri sent his emissaries to escort Ajja Narasimha Rai from Bellipady Village to Madikeri since the Raja was keen to personally interrogate the Ajja. When the emissaries reached Bellipady, they convinced the Ajja that it was wise to accompany them to Madikeri. The Ajja along with the emissaries left for Madikeri. When they reached Bedrala Village which is about five miles from the Town Puttur on the way to Madikeri, the Ajja had to answer the call of nature. Having taken permission from the emissaries, Ajja went a little distance from the track and squatted to answer the call of nature. Since Ajja was worried regarding his fate at Madikeri, while squatting, he idly started pulling out brush-wood and when he pulled a little plant, he heard a brass note coming from underneath the bushes and out of curiosity, the Ajja started probing in his bare hands under the bush. He discovered a brass pot below the bush. He pried opened the mouth of the brass pot and to his joy the pot was full of gold coins. He immediately reburied the pot and covered the spot with small stones for easy identification later on.

Having completed the task, Ajja returned to join the emissaries holding his hand tightly on the stomach, complaining bitterly that he was suffering from severe stomach pain. He pleaded with the Emissaries that they may spend the night at the nearby branch house Uramale which is about three miles from Bedrala in order to have rest and take medicine.

At Uramale he saw to .that the emissaries were fed sumptuously and rested for the night. The Ajja along with two of his relatives, sneaked out of the house and went back to Bedrala and brought the treasure to Uramale house for safe keeping. At Uramale he took two handfuls of coins from the brasspot and slept.

In the morning having rested well the emissaries and he resumed their journey to Madikeri.

At Madikeri when Ajja was escorted to the Raja's presence, Ajja to the astonishment of the emissaries, pulled out from the inside of the Dhoti gold coins and placed them at the feet of the Raja. The Raja chastened the emissaries and directed the Ajja to take a few days rest at the Court. Before returning to his village, the Raja showed his appreciation by appointing Ajja as the head of the Village Bellipady

The Ajja wisely invested the gold coins in extending his agricultural properties to 36 villages at four taluks of South Kanara District viz., Puttur, Kasaragod, Karkala and Mangalore. He also established branch houses at (Nelthottu, Surya, Perne and Beliyur in addition to Urarnale house established earlier.

Ajji Dyake had three paughters viz., Ajji Duggamma of Perne, Ajji Kunhakkee of Uramale-Nelthotte and Ajji Pergadthi of Surya Adikal Kavarus (branches).

After the demise of the founder Yejman Ajja Narasimha Rai, more than fifteen to sixteen succeeded him. I have been able to get the name of ten Yejmans only.

The Kula Devathe of the family is Lord Venkataramana. The idol of the God was originally installed at Belliyur House and the exact year of the installation is not known.

At the Uramale house t had witnessed Darshan as of Lord Venkateshwar three or four times. The Patri (Priest) of the Lord was a Dasayya, a tenant of the Bellipady, Kuntiyana, located equidistance of four miles from Bellipady House and Uramale house.

He used to perform the Puja and when he gets possessed of the God, he used to beat himself with a bunch of their canes bound by a thick and broad silver ring at the bottom.

When possessed he used to prophecy of the future events of the family. Also he used to say that his family (Bellepady ) during years late nineteen twenties consisted of "Nooruaru" members (i.e a hundred and six or above). Now we have lost count of the family members. It may be at the minimum a thousand in numbers.

It was the custom and the Yejmans considered it as privilege also that once during their tenure, the Yejman should take family members on "Kutumba Yatra" (family pilgrimage) to Tirumala-Tirupathi temples for Lord's Darshan. Quite a few Yejmans have undertaken the "Kutumba Yatra".

I also remember that our Ajji is to tell us that before the advent of Railways to Mangalore it was normal for the families to go on pilgrimage to Tirupathi by foot. The to and fro journey is to take a minimum of 3 months to go and 3 months to return. In the absence of roads or prismatic compasses, they used to travel in the mornings only depending on the Sun’s travel from East to West. My Ajji had performed such a journey.

The Yejmans used to conduct marriages of the family members periodically at Uramale house. My grand mother used to describe one such marriage where eight (8) couples were married on 'the same night and time. A huge "chappara" (Shamiyana) was erected and tastefully decorated as was the custom then, with mango leaves, plantain trunks, small tender coconut –bundles and are canut bunches hung from the roof of the Chappara. Naked Torch lights (Deevatiges) were kept at various vantage places of the chappara. The floor of the chappara was spread with dry coconut-mats and over them thick cotton carpets (Jamkhanas) were spread.

A dancing girl’s party had been hired to perform dances. The marriage bombs and ‘Kadinas’ (cast iron cylinder with thick bottom) were fired. The Kadinas were repeatedly fired by recharging them with gunpowder and tamping the gunpowder.

I had seen such ‘Kadinas' in our house which used to be fired at the Annual Baider Nema which used to last throughout the night. Kadinas used be fixed during death ceremonies of elder persons.

My two maternal uncles, their sister (elder to my mother) and Uncle Dasa Rai were amongst the marriage couples. The marriage might have taken place during nineteenth century or early twentieth century. No marriage ceremonies were held at our place since then. The ceremony had lasted for two days and it was a gala show as told by my grand mother.

The family surname ‘RAI’ was used by all the male members of the family as against the widows of the family were not permitted to remarry as against the custom in the community where widow marriages were allowed.

The senior most member of the family if happens to be. a female, she is barred from becoming Yejman of the family. It is understood that about a century back when the senior most member being female, the next senior male member contested the issue in the court of law and a final verdict was given .that since the Bellipady family had extensive properties and a female Yejman will not be able to manage the properties effectively. Hence, only Senior most male members become Yejmans.

It was also the tradition that the Yejman of the family wore a thick round gold ‘Okkanulu’ (waist belt) at the waist and over the dhoty. I had seen the Yejman uncle Perne Ramanna Rai wearing the 'Okhanulu' but after his death his family members did not pass on to the next Yejman.

The Bellipady family property was not divided till late nineteen fifties that the decision was made as per the Court verdict.

Prior to the final division of the properties, many branch families already had in their possession properties. The division of the family had to be done as per the decision of the Court, branches with more members suffered. The maximum beneficiaries were the branches having the small number of members.

In addition to the main branch house at Uramale, Nelthottu, Perne, Beliyur and Surya houses were built and later on as the members increased, Sidyala, Padumale, Attrabail, Ballamanja, Sujeer and Kodante houses were built. Our grand mother’s mother Ajji Domakke had a sister Ajji Duggamma. My grand mother Monakka, had two sisters, Ajji Neelamma and Ajji Ramakke. Ajji Ramakke passed away at an early age and her daughters, aunt Chennamma, Kunhi" Kampu and Honamma were staying at Urmale house till their marriage. Ajji Neelamma moved to Siddyala about a kilometer

From Uramale and her children stayed at Bellipady property. She had three sons and two daughters. Her eldest son Uncle Dasa Rai was the first Vakil(Advocate) in our family. He later on became the Yejaman of the family.

At Kodanti (Mangalore Taluk) during his tenure of Yejman Ajja Tukral Rai, had built a house as the Ajja quite often use~ to stay there as he was fond of good food.

At Perne, great grand father of late B. Gopalakrishna Rai and family were staying.

At Athrabail, a new house was built and Ajji Pammunji and her children and family were staying. Her eldest son Uncle Pakeera Rai was a brave man with good character.

At Nelthotte House, grand mother of uncle Yejman Nelthotte Ramanna Rai and their children were staying.

During the hey-day of power of Bellipady, the family had control on the management of Temples of Puttur, Uppinangadi, Ballamanja and Subramanya. The management of Mahalingeshwar temple at Puttur used to honour the Yejmans of Bellipady and fathers during annual utsavas.

The managing trustee of Upppinangadi was a member detailed by the Bellipady Yejman.

The Subramanya Temple Muktheswar was also from our family and the Kulkunda field was donated by our family.

The management of Ballamanja Temple used to honour the Senior Bellipady member present during festivals and annual 'Utsavas'.

In the Civil Court of Puttur, the Yejman of the Bellipady used to be offered a chair whenever he visited the court.

Yejman uncle Perne Ramanna Rai was Yejman for more than fifteen years and although he was a good man and when he fell ill and bedridden, his son became the defacto Yejman till the death of Yejman Uncle Perne Ramanna Rai. He had done a good deed by rebuilding a new house in 1923 since the previous house had been burnt due to an accidental fire.

Maila Rai having tasted power did not allow the Yejman Adekal Ramanna Rai to function effectively. As Maila Rai was the son of the Yejman and also for years he had been the defacto Yejman, he had control over all the tenants. He did not allow Yejman uncle Ramanna Rai to collect rents from the tenants.

Kullamogru Uncle Sankappa Rai, who had married Yejman uncle's niece, was also a not keeping good health; Kullamogru uncle Santappa Rai got a power of attorney in his favour from the Yejman to manage the property.

The feud between Mai la Rai and uncle San kappa Rai, continued with skirmishes between the men of both the sides. Anna Krishna Rai, nephew of the Yejman and his three men who had been to collect rent from the tenants were way-laid during failing lights of the evening and Anna Krishna Rai was criminally assaulted by Maila Rai’s men. A criminal case was filed by the police and during the investigation, Anna Krishna Rai was won over by Maila Rai and he deserted the Yejman Uncle's camp.

In Aliyasanthana system of inheritance the major draw back is that when the senior most member assumes the mantle of Yejman, he is normally above seventy years of age. Since Bellipady fmaliy in those days had not less than 200 members, majority of the Yejmans were senile and either their sons/nephews were the power brokers behind the Yejman.

Besides Ajja Narasimha Rai, the following Yejman have gifted large acrage of properties to the family.

The Nelthotte House Villas built when he was the Yejman. Besides for the Sub branch Nellthotte he gifted a large acrage of property.

The Ajja was known for his thrift and love for his kith and kin. He gifted large acreage of properties and houses at Puttur town to his branch family. The big housing complex was occupied by Uncle Yejman Dasa Rai who was practising law., as a person he was a good man, who loved his family members. I have seen that the family members whenever they visited Puttur town in connection with business, stayed with him. Ajja Yejman Dasa Rai also built the existing house at Uramale but it remains incomplete since he passed away before the house was plastered and white washed.

Ajja Kanthanna Rai of Uramale, the brother of my grand mother gifted large acrage of properties to her grand mother and her two sisters and their children. He built 'mukhasale' a beautiful outer wing.

It will be incomplete if I fail to write about the present state of our branch house.

The house fortunately in one of a few houses even now kept in good condition after nearly a hundred years since the house was built.

The main house had fallen down and the present occupant has a small nice house in which he and his family members are living.

I did not get an opportunity to see the house and I had heard that in the olden days also the house had grass thatched roofs.

The house was built about sixty years back and the present state of the house is not good. It badly needs at least a coat of white-wash. This is not amongst the original branch house. The Yejman Ajja Perne Maila Rai had four sons and three daughters. The last son Uncle Ramanna Rai who had married aunty Honnamma, my mother's first cousin, was staying at Bellipady and helping his father in managing the property. One day he decamped with Rupees fourteen thousand which the Ajja had kept in the locker for paying revenue. The loss was discovered when the Shenava of the estate approached Ajja for- the money. The Ajja could not tolerate the insult and ground his diamond finger ring and drank the mixture. He died immediately. In due course Uncle Ramanna Rai became a big land lord and had amassed properties yielding annual rent of two thousand muras of rice.

My maternal uncle Koragappa Rai and his brother Ramanna Rai went to Bellipady house and removed the melted gold and silver buried under the staircase. The place was shown by the wife of uncle Ramanna Rai since she as the daughter of the previous Yejman knew the spot where the treasure was buried. The Yejman uncle Ramanna Rai was away at Perne. This incidence happened during the transitory period after the death of Ajja Yejman Dasa Rai and before the Yejman Uncle Perne Ramanna Rai fully have control over the mantle of Yejman. The old thatched house of Bellipady had accidentally caught fire and reduced to ashes. The gold and silver of the dieties melt and the same had been buried at the stair case.

The treasure was brought to Uramale and hidden in jungles when the police came as result of the complaint by the Yejman uncle Ramanna Rai, they could not trace the treasure. The one good deed done of the treasure was that ornaments for 'Baider Koti-Chennaya' and other dieties were made. The balance gold and silver was misused and uncle Ramanna Rai purchased property at Bandady/Bellipady village and a large housing complex at Puttur town gifted to his family. Uncle Koragappa Rai did not touch a pie out of the treasure.

In 1993, a trust was formed under the chairmanship of Anna Surya Narasimha Rai with five executive members to collect funds from the family members to build a new house. I was a member of the executive committee. About Rupees eleven lakhs was collected from the members and a new house was built and gruha pravesh ceremony was performed on 18th May 1998.

I shall be failing in my duties if I do not thank the Chairman and the Executive Committee members for taking pains and going to all the houses of the members to collect such a huge amount. I also equally thank all the members for donating liberally funds.

Lastly, I thank my nephew Shri B.A.Prabhakar Rai who with a lot of patience went through the manuscript and got this typed.