Tandra Paparayudu

Tandra Paparayudu
Title	Army General of Bobbili

Tandra Paparayudu was an Indian Army General who assassinated Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju I, and committed his Royal suicide during the Battle of Bobbili in 1757, a significant historical event in the Princely state of Vizianagaram, the present day Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.

The town of Bobbili was founded during the 17th century by Pedda Rayudu, the 15th descendant of the Rajas of Venkatagiri. The town was originally named "Pedda-Puli" ("The Big Tiger") after Sher Muhammad Khan, the Nawab of Srikakulam who granted it as a gift to the Maharaja of Venkatgiri for his services in his southern campaigns. However, with time, the town became known as "Pebbuli", then "Bebbuli" and finally "Bobbili". Pusapati Madhava Varma was the ancestor of the royal Vizianagaram family. The rivalry between the two families dates back to 1652. Pedda Rayudu's son Lingappa Rayudu, who succeeded him, built a fort, and selected Bobbili as his Headquarters. The son of Sher Muhammad Khan was abducted by rebels and Lingappa saved him. He was granted 12 villages and the hereditary title Ranga Rao in recognition of his service.

Lingappa was succeeded by his adopted son Vengal Ranga Rayudu and the latter by Rangapati Rayudu. His son Rayadappa Rayudu succeeded him and later his adopted son Gopalakrishna Rayudu took over. During Gopalakrishna Rayudu rule in 1753, the Northern Circars were assigned to French by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The French East India Governor Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau, agreed to lease Srikakulam and Rajahmundry Circars to Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju I, the Raja of Vizianagaram. A rupture between Bussy and the Nizam led to the weakening of the former's authority. Vijarama Raju placed his troops at the disposal of Bussy and helped him in re-establishing his suzerainty. Viziarama Raju persuaded Bussy to help him in defeating his arch rival, the Raja of Bobbili. On January 24, 1757, Bussy with his army and the army of Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju I in tow marched towards the Bobbili fort. The army of Gopalakrishna Ranga Rao was no match for the combined armies of Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau and Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju I. Gopalakrishna Rayudu was led by his Army General Tandra Paparayudu and his army, who put up a brave fight till the end.

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