Brief History
The Erraballi clan originated in Kalleda
Village, Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was originally a
Hindu joint family owning farm land in five villages neighboring Kalleda. Besides
agriculture the family ran an octroi liquor business and a bus service connecting Kalleda to the the district
headquarters - Warangal. The family went on a buying binge acquiring world
war surplus heavy earth moving equipment (Caterpillar tractors) to help in large
scale farming, an Electric generator to supply power to the village and fancy
American cars and Jeeps. Education was given a high priority
starting with the great grandfathers (the "brothers") who got education in
Hyderabad, Coastal Andhra, Banaras Hindu University and England. The family had a reputation of being ahead of its times in
pursuing education, wealth creation and secular living.
After India's Independence from the British on
August 15, 1947 the region around Kalleda was still ruled by the local Muslim
princely ruler referred
to as the Nizam. Muslims comprised less than seven (7%) of the Hyderabad
state. The Nizam and a few Muslims in the Hyderabad state aspired for a third
independent dominion outside the Indian state. Around the same time the region was experiencing uprisings
by the communist and also the Razakars (the
volunteer army of the Majlis Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen commanded by Kasim Razvi
and sponsored by the Nizam).
During this time of unrest, the family temporarily moved to Mahilavaram in
Coastal Andhra and then to Bangalore a former British military cantonment city.
The democratic independent Indian Government finally overthrow the Nizam of Hyderabad
on September 17, 1948 ("Police Action").
Once peace returned to the region, the family
moved back and in the late fifties the five surviving brothers decided to split
up the estate. In the 1970's the Indian Government implemented the land
ceiling program to distribute land to the landless. As a result farm sizes
became smaller and the family sold off its lands and lost interest in farming.
The next generation focused on higher education and professional careers.
Most of them migrated to Hyderabad and some to the United States.
The ancestral home
was almost abandoned and in disrepair, when some members of the family came up with the idea
of starting a non-profit charitable rural school in its premises. Initially many
family members were skeptical, but today they are all behind the project which
provides co-education to over five hundred kids and direct and indirect
employment to around fifty adults. It is important to note that the school
was funded primarily by family members, however it did get a substantial amount
of charitable public money (Overseas Indian's and businessmen from Hyderabad).
In late 2002 a village women's group started a bakery funded by NABARD in the house premises
to cater to the needs of the village.
The rather large house was constructed in 1930's in
Kalleda. It is now a local tourist attraction with visitors from neighboring villages
often tour the house un-invited. The house was a symbol of wealth at one
point and is
now a symbol of charity.
