Bagatha

Bagatha

Bagatha is spoken in the Paderu, Sujanakota, Karakapalli,
Tajangi, Devarapalli and Peddavalasa hills in India by the Bagatha, also
called Bhakta, Bhagada, Bogatha and Bhagatha, a Scheduled Tribe
numbering 87,994, according to the 1981 Census..

Being expert archers, the Bagatha served the 17th Century
Golconda and Gangaraju Madugole chieftains of the Visakhapatnam
Agency as their army personnel. They showed so much devotion that
they were recognized as their devotees or Bhaktas. The name ‘Bhaktas’
later became Bagathas. In appreciation of their military services
the chieftains appointed them as local chiefs. Due to this shift
in status, the Bagatha claimed themselves as a warrior tribe,
expanded geographically, developed politically and acquired social
supremacy in the tribal area over a time span of about 50 years
from the late 17th Century to the early 18th Century.

The Bagathas speak Bagatha and Telugu with their characteristic
hill accent. Those who live border areas of Orissa State
also speak a form of Oriya.

Bagatha script

This is a script for Bagatha devised by Professor Prasanna Sree.

Bagatha script

Information provided by Professor Prasanna Sree
of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Link

Information about the Bagatha people and language
http://www.indianetzone.com/8/bagata_tribe.htm

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