Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd

Kancha Ilaiah was born on 5th October, 1952, in the village of Papaiahpet, Warangal district, in Telangana State. His family belonged to the sheep-grazing Kuruma Golla caste, which is considered one of the numerically dominant sub-castes among the Telugu-speaking. The name ‘Ilaiah’ came out of their caste deity ‘Inoli Mallanna. 'Inoli Mallanna, Katta Mallanna, Komuravelli Mallanna, and Odela Mallanna are the geographical locations/peaks situated in the Deccan Plateau, through which shepherds usually travel in the quest of fodder for their sheep and goats. Thus, it is believed that Inoli Mallanna was the chieftain of shepherds. Ilaiah was inspired by his own mother, Kancha Kattamma, as she was at the forefront of the shepherd’s struggle against the forest guards’ discriminatory behavior. She was killed during a violent confrontation while protesting against police brutality.