Telangana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009)

Telangana or Telengana or Telingana (Telugu: తెలంగాణ) is a region of Andhra Pradesh state in India. The central govt announced that the assembly of AP to initiate and send over the resolution to the central govt in December 2009. The name means "land of Telugus". It comprises of the Telugu speaking parts of the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad. The region lies on the Deccan plateau to the west of the Eastern Ghats range, and includes the northwestern interior districts of Warangal, Adilabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Rangareddy, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Medak, and the state capital, Hyderabad. The Krishna and Godavari rivers flow through the region from west to east.

On December 9, 2009, the Government of India announced that the process for the formation of Telangana will begun after the state assembly of AP passes the resolution.^[1]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Post-independence history 1.1.1 Merger of Telangana and Andhra 2 Separate Telangana state movement 2.1 1969 Movement 2.2 Movement in 1990-2004 2.3 2004 and later 2.4 Symbolic declaration of statehood 2.5 2009 and later 2.6 Telangana state formation process 3 Geography 4 Irrigation 5 Culture and Identity 6 Places of interest 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

The Telangana region is beleived to have been mentioned in the Mahabharata as the Telinga Kingdom^{[citation needed]} which said to be inhabited by the tribe known as Telavana and said to have fought on the Pandava side in the great war of Mahabharata. It is also evident from the fact that there is Pandavula Guhalu in Warangal district (where the Pandavas spent their life in exile (Lakkha Gruham)).^{[citation needed]}

And, in Treta yuga, it is believed that Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, spent their life in exile at Parnashala on the banks of Godavari river which is about 25 km from Bhadrachalam in Khammam District which falls in the Telangana region.

Telangana region has been heartland for many great dynasties like Sathavahanas, Kakatiyas. Kotilingala in Karimnagar was the first capital of the Sathavahanas before Dharanikota. Excavations at Kotilingala revealed coinage of Simukha, a Satavahana emperor. Telangana came under Muslim rule in 14th century for the first time by Delhi Sultanate followed by Bahmanis, Qutb Shahis and Mughals. As the Mughal Empire began to disintegrate in the early 18th century, the Muslim Asafjahi dynasty established a separate state known as Hyderabad. Later Hyderabad entered into a treaty of subsidiary alliance with the British Empire, and was the largest and most populous princely state in India. Telangana was never under direct British rule, unlike Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, which were part of British India's Madras Presidency.

[edit] Post-independence history

When India became independent from the British Empire, the Nizam of Hyderabad wanted to retain his independence, but the Government of India amalgamated his state by force on September 17, 1948; after executing Operation Polo by the Indian Army. When India became independent, the Telugu-speaking people were distributed in about 22 districts; 9 of them in the Telangana region of Nizam's Dominions (Hyderabad State), 12 in the Madras Presidency and one in French-controlled Yanam. A Communist led peasant revolt started in 1946, lasted until 1951. Meanwhile, Telugu speaking areas were carved out of an erstwhile Madras state by popular agitation by the leaders like Potti Sri Ramulu to create Andhra state in 1952.[1]^[2][3]

[edit] Merger of Telangana and Andhra

This article may be inaccurate in or unbalanced towards certain viewpoints. Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page.

In December 1953, the States Reorganization Commission was appointed to prepare for the creation of states on linguistic lines. The States Reorganization Commission (SRC) was not in favour of an immediate merger of Telangana region with Andhra state, despite the common language between the two.

Para 382 of States Reorganization Commission Report (SRC) said "opinion in Andhra is overwhelmingly in favour of the larger unit, public opinion in Telangana has still to crystallize itself. Important leaders of public opinion in Andhra themselves seem to appreciate that the unification of Telangana with Andhra, though desirable, should be based on a voluntary and willing association of the people and that it is primarily for the people of Telangana to take a decision about their future". The concerns of Telanganas were numerous. The region had a less developed economy than Andhra, but with a larger revenue base (mostly because it taxed rather than prohibited alcoholic beverages), which Telanganas feared might be diverted for use in Andhra. They also feared that planned dam projects on the Krishna and Godavari rivers would not benefit Telangana proportionately even though Telanganas controlled the headwaters of the rivers. Telanganas feared too that the people of Andhra would have the advantage in jobs, particularly in government and education.

The commission proposed that the Telangana region be constituted as a separate state with a provision for unification with Andhra state, after the 1961 general elections, if a resolution could be passed in the Telangana state assembly with two-third majority.

Chief Minister of Hyderabad State, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao strongly believed majority of Telanga people are against the merger.^[4]

Prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru ridiculed the idea of merging Telangana with the Andhra State, fearing a “tint of expansionist imperialism” in it. Later, he compared the merger to a matrimonial alliance having “provisions for divorce” if the partners in the alliance cannot get on well.^[5]

However, following the "Gentlemen's agreement, the central government, ignoring States Reorganization Commission Report , established a unified Andhra Pradesh on November 1, 1956 [2]^[6][7]. The agreement provided reassurances to the Telangana people as well to Andhra people in terms of power sharing as well as administrative domicile rules and distribution of expenses of various regions.

[edit] Separate Telangana state movement

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article titled Telangana Movement. (Discuss)

[edit] 1969 Movement

In the following years after the formation of Andhra Pradesh state, however, the Telangana people had a number of complaints about how the agreements and guarantees were implemented. Discontent with the 1956 Gentleman's agreement intensified in January 1969 when the guarantees that had been agreed on were supposed to lapse. Student agitation for the continuation of the agreement began at Osmania University in Hyderabad and spread to other parts of the region. Government employees and opposition members of the state legislative assembly swiftly threatened "direct action" in support of the students. This movement, also known as Telangana movement, led to widespread violence and deaths of hundreds of people and students of this Telangana region. Approximately 360 students gave their lives in this movement.^[8]

Although the Congress faced dissension within its ranks, its leadership stood against additional linguistic states, which were regarded as "anti-national." As a result, defectors from the Congress, led by M. Chenna Reddy, founded the Telangana People's Association (Telangana Praja Samithi). Despite electoral successes, however, some of the new party leaders gave up their agitation in September 1971 and, much to the disgust of many separatists, rejoined the safer political haven of the Congress ranks.^[9]

In 1969, when the Hindi blockbuster Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke was released, Telangana people could be seen carrying posters with the slogan "Aya Telangana Jhoom Ke" [Telangana would come up with great fanfare].

[edit] Movement in 1990-2004

The emotions and forces generated by the movement were not strong enough, however, for a continuing drive for a separate state until 1990s when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), promised a separate Telangana state if they came to power. BJP created Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarkhand states in year 2000 as promised. But the BJP could not create a separate Telangana state because of the opposition from its coalition partner, Telugu Desam Party. These developments brought new life into the separatist Telangana movement by year 2000. Congress party MLAs from the Telangana region, supported a separate Telangana state and formed the Telangana Congress Legislators Forum.^{[10][11][12][13][14]} In another development, a new party called Telangana Rashtra Samithi (or TRS) was formed with the single point agenda of creating a separate Telangana state, with Hyderabad as its capital lead by Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao popularily known as KCR.^[15][16][17]

Proponents of a separate Telangana state feel all the agreements, accords, formulas, plans and assurances on the floor of legislature and Lok Sabha, in last 50+ years, could not be honoured and Telangana was forced to remain neglected, exploited and backward. The experiment to remain as one state proved to be a futile exercise and therefore, separation is found to be the best solution.^[18][19][20]

[edit] 2004 and later

In 2004, for Assembly and Parliament elections, the Congress party and the TRS had an electoral alliance in the Telangana region with the promise of a separate Telangana State.^[21] Congress came to power in the state and formed a coalition government at the centre. TRS joined the coalition government in 2004 and was successful in making a separate Telangana state a part of the common minimum program (CMP) of the coalition government.^[22] In September 2006 TRS withdrew support for the Congress led coalition government at the centre on the grounds of indecision by the government over the delivery of its electoral promise to create Telangana.^[23][24][25]

In December 2006, the TRS won the by-election to the Karimnagar parliamentary constituency with a record margin.^[26]

There was pressure on the Congress party to create a Telangana state in 2008.^[27][28][29]

All TRS legislators in Parliament and in State (4MPs, 16MLAs, 3MLCs) resigned in the 1st week of March 2008 and forced by-elections to increase the pressure on Congress party, and to intensify the movement.^[30][31]

By-elections for the 16 MLA seats, 4 MP seats were held May 29, 2008. During the election campaign the TRS party said it is a referendum on a Telangana state but both Congress and TDP parties said it is not a referendum on Telangana and also said that they are not opposed to the formation of Telangana state.^{[32] [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]} To the disappointment of Telangana proponents TRS retained only 7 out of 16 MLA seats and 2 out of 4 MP seats after the by-elections.^[42]

In June 2008, Devender Goud, who is considered number two in the TDP, a politbureau member and Deputy Leader of the Telugu Desam Legislature Party, resigned from the party saying he would devote his time and energy to the formation of a separate Telangana state.^[43] In July 2008, Mr Goud along with some other leaders like Mr. E Peddi Reddy formed a new party called Nava Telangana Praja Party.^[44]

On 9 October 2008, in a historical turnaround from its 26-year history TDP announced its support for the creation of Telengana.^[45]

[edit] Symbolic declaration of statehood

The Nava Telangana Party, led by the former home minister of Andhra Pradesh, T Devender Goud, declared Telangana as a separate province within India on November 2, 2008. Konda Laxman Bapuji announced that "We solemnly declare statehood for Telangana on November 2, 2008." Goud released ten pigeons in the air symbolising the ten districts of the region, while he also unfurled the national flag on the occasion. Along with his party activists he was later arrested when they tried to barge into the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat to change the name plate from Andhra Pradesh to Telangana. A scuffle then followed between the police and the NTP workers before the party workers were taken to the Chikkadapalli police station. Other NTP workers soon descended on the scene and staged a dharna to protest against the arrest.^[46]

[edit] 2009 and later

In February 2009, state government declared that it had no objection, in principle, to the formation of separate Telangana and that the time had come to move forward decisively on this issue. To resolve issues related to it the government constituted joint house committee.^[47]

Ahead of the 2009 General Elections in India all the major parties in Andhra Pradesh supported the formation of Telangana.^[48] The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) again announced their policy of having smaller states and would create two states, Telangana and Gorkhaland, if they won the election.^[49]. The Congress Party still says it is committed to Telangana statehood,^[50] but claims Muslim minorities are opposed to creation of separate state along with majority of people. Some analysts, however, feel that the "Muslim reluctance card" has been very smartly played by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who is staunchly opposed to the formation of the new state.^[51][52]

The Telugu Desam Party(TDP) has promised to work for Telangana statehood. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) joined a Mahakutami (or grand alliance) with TDP and left parties to defeat the Congress party for denying statehood for Telangana.^[53][54][55]

The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), newly founded by film star Chiranjeevi, supported Telangana statehood prior to elections, but later changed its stance.^[56] Nava Telangana Party merged with PRP after it realized that there is not enough political space for two sub-regional Telangana parties with Telananga statehood as main agenda.^[57][58]

Several political parties, including some Telangana congress leaders, criticized Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), when he changed his stand from pro-Telangana and gave anti-Telangana statements after the polls.^[59][60][61]

Congress returned to power both at center and state. TRS and the grand alliance lost the elections in overwhelming fashion.^[62]

In September 2009, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) died in a chopper crash while flying in bad weather.^[63]

In the first week of Dec 2009, the TRS president, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) started a fast-unto-death demanding that the Congress party introduce a Telangana bill in the Parliament.^{[64][65][66][67][68]} Student organizations, employee unions and various organizations joined the movement. Scores of people commited suicide in support of Telangana state.^{[69][70] [71]} Telangana bandh (strike) shuts down Telangana on Dec 6th and 7th.^[72] Student organizations planned a massive rally at state legislature(Assembly) on Dec 10th. Government warned that the rally does not have permission and deployed police troops though out Telangana. ^[73] The decline of KCR's health has contributed to a sense of urgency for the central government to take a decision on the issue of Telangana statehood. ^{[74] [75]}

[edit] Telangana state formation process

On Dec 9th 2009, 11:30 PM, Mr. P. Chidambaram, Union Minister of Home Affairs announced that a resolution in the Andhra Pradesh assembly for the creation of a separate Telangana state would be introduced soon. Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah however stated that the resolution will not be introduced in the current assembly session. KCR ending his 11 day fast said from his hospital bed that this a true victory of the people of Telangana. ^[76]

On December 10, 2009, Indian government has agreed to start the process of forming a separate Telangana.^[77] Central government asked Andhra Pradesh state government to pass of a resolution in the legislative assembly (as per article 3 of Constitution, Parliament does not require Assembly resolution to create new state.)^[78]

Telangana celebrated the central government decision while non-Telangana regions of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions (Andhra region) protested.^[79][80]

Several members of Andhra Pradesh's legislature submitted their resignations to protest the creation of the new state.^[81] As of 16 December, at least 147 legislators (including Praja Rajyam Founder Chiranjeevi^[82]) and many Members of Parliament had resigned in protest of the Government's decision to carve out a new state of Telangana. 22 Ministers form the State Cabinet have submitted their resignation.^[83] All of the Legislators/MPs' resigned belong to Andhra (Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema) region.^{[84] [85]}

On Dec 16, media reports confirmed that there is split in Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) over Telangana issue, with its leader Chiranjeevi as well as 16/18 party MLAs opposing the division of Andhra Pradesh, while Telangana leaders in the party are unhappy with the shift in the party's views.^[86][87][88]

[edit] Geography

Of the three regions of the state, Telangana has the largest area, with 1,14,800  km², yet much of the land is arid and not nearly as fertile as the agriculturally rich coastal region. The Telangana plateau is drained by two major rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna. The entire region is divided into two main regions namely ghats and peneplains. The surface is dotted with low depressions.

[edit] Irrigation

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

Telangana region Andhra Pradesh is situated in the central stretch of the eastern seaboard of the Indian Peninsula. Deccan plateau is situated at a high altitude in an up-land area. The river Godavari is flowing on the North and the river Krishna is flowing on the South. Apart from the major rivers, there are other small rivers such as Bhima, Dindi, Kinnerasani, Manjeera, Manair, Penganga, Praanahita, and Peddavagu and Taliperu.

Agriculture is a key industry in Andhra Pradesh and due to high altitude of the terrain Lift irrigation scheme(LIS) projects have been proposed in Telangana to develop this key industry. Projects have typically had a capital cost^[89] and maintenance costs. Whilst LIS projects typically have a high failure rate due to unviable ongoing costs, various projects by APSIDC^[90] have been implemented in the most viable corners of Telangana.

[edit] Culture and Identity

Centuries of independent existence has given Telangana its own distinctive culture and identity. The Telugu language spoken here has evolved into a new dialect with a liberal mixture of words from Urdu and Marathi. Festivals: Diwali, Dassera, Eid-ul-Fitr and Ugadi are prominent festivals in Telangana. The region celebrates distinctive festivals like Bathukamma, and Bonalu. The other festivals, such as, Deepawali, Holi, Moharram and Vinayaka chaturthi are also celebrated with equal enthusiasm as in northern India. The national festival Sankranti is also celebrated in the beginning of harvest season on 14 January every year.

[edit] Places of interest

1. Hyderabad
   1. Charminar - the iconic 400 year-old landmark of Hyderabad, featuring four graceful minarets.
   2. Falaknuma Palace - Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra', a beautiful and stunning piece of architecture.
   3. Golconda Fort - located on the outskirts of the city, Golconda Fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India.
   4. Salar Jung Museum - houses the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world.
   5. Makkah Masjid - a stone-built mosque, one of the largest in India, located next to the Charminar.
   6. Birla Mandir - An elaborate white marble temple with majestic views of the city and the Husain Sagar (lake).
   7. Birla Planetarium - located in the heart of the city on the panoramic hillock of Nawbat Pahad.
   8. Husain Sagar - man-made lake that separates the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
   9. Durgam Cheruvu - A beautiful lake near HI-TEC city.
   10. Chilkur Balaji Temple, also known as Visa Balaji Temple
   11. Osman Sagar, also known as Gandipet, is a lake near the city.
   12. Purani Haveli - The former official residence of the Nizam.
   13. Sanghi Temple - A temple dedicated to Venkateshwara which graces a promontory overlooking Sanghi Nagar.
   14. Mahankali Temple - A temple located near Secunderabad Railway station, Famous for Bonalu Fest in Hyderabad.
   15. Snow World - An amusement park which enables citizens of this tropical city to experience very low temperatures and snow
   16. Madhapur - Home to the IT world of Hyderabad.
2. Nagarjuna sagar on krishna river in Nalgonda district
3. Sreeramsagar project on Godavari river in Nizamabad district
4. Beechupally (Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple)
5. Alampoor (one of the eighteen shaktipeetams)
6. Warangal, capital city of Kakatiyas
7. Warangal Fort, Built by Kakatiyas between 11-12th centuries
8. Warangal - Bhadrakali Temple, and Thousand Pillared Temples, These two temples built by Kakatiyas are visited by People from all over AP
9. Warangal - Ramappa Temple, Famous for its brilliant Kakatiya art
10. Warangal - Pakhal Lake, A man-made lake built in 1213 by the Kakatiya king, Ganapathideva, by harnessing a small tributary of the Krishna River. It is located 50 km from Warangal and spreads over an area of 30 km.
11. Basara Saraswathi Temple, a temple of Saraswati, one of the two temples in India Temple Web site
12. National forests and Wildlife Sanctuaries: Pakhala, Eturunagaram, Pranahitha, Kinnerasani, kawal, Pocharam
13. Anathagiri Forest - Famous for Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy located on Ananthagiri Hills Temple website (Vikarabad - 70 km from Hyderabad)
14. Medak: Famous for out standing church & Medak khila
15. Pillala Marri: A big tree which is spread across 5 acres in Mahaboob Nagar district
16. Bhadrachalam: Famous for Lord Rama Temple
17. Yadagirigutta: Famous Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, 50 km from Hyderabad (Wgl-Hyd highway)
18. Kaleshwaram : 130 km from Karimnagar
19. Dharmapuri : On the banks of River Godavari, 78 km from Karimnagar, is the 15th century temple town of Dharmapuri.
20. Nagunur Fort : The village of Nagunur is just about 8 km from Karimnagar Town.
21. Dhulikatta : 20 km from Karimnagar is Dhulikatta an important Buddhist spot visited by monks from all over the world.
22. Kondagattu :About 35 km from Karimnagar is this breathtaking temple of Lord Anjaneya Swamy. Apart from the temple, the fort of Kondalaraya & Bojjapotana caves are worth seeing at Kondagattu.
23. Molangoor Quilla : 30 km from Karimnagar, strategically located on summit of a big isolated granite hill, this fort was built by the Kakathiyas.
24. Manthani : is an extremely ancient center for Vedic teachings. It is located on the banks of River Godavari, and at a distance of 70 kilometers from Karimnagar.
25. Vemulawada - Rajarajeshawara Temple: Located 38 km from Karimnagar
26. Uma Maheshwaram - About 120 km from Hyderabad on Srisailam highway. It is the North Entrance for Sri Sailam Mallikarjuna swamy temple. It is famous for its shiva temple.
27. Gadwal Fort, Gadwal is built around a fort built by the Gadwal ruler somanadri
28. Priyadarshini Jurala Project,near to Gadwal built on river Krishna.

[edit] See also

• States Reorganisation Act
• Telengana Rebellion
• Kosta/Coastal Andhra
• Rayalaseema
• Uttarandhra

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Telanaga movement article in US Library of Congress
• Official history of AP on AP government website
• Video(30 minutes): Still Seeking Justice - A documentary on Telangana(need of separate Telangana)
• Some research papers by Telangana proponents
• State reorganization committee reports at wiki
• Telangana rebellion and lessons from it by Puchhalapally Sundara Raamaiah.

v • d • e Aspirant states of India Bodoland (Assam)  · Bundelkhand (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh)  · Delhi  · Gondwana (northern Deccan Plateau)  · Gorkhaland (West Bengal)  · Harit Pradesh (Uttar Pradesh)  · Kamtapur / Greater Cooch Behar (West Bengal)  · Karbi Anglong (Assam)  · Kodagu (Karnataka)  · Kosal/Koshal (Orissa)  · Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir)  · Mahakoshal (Madhya Pradesh)  · Mithila (Bihar)  · Panun Kashmir (Jammu and Kashmir)  · Purvanchal (Uttar Pradesh)  · Rayalaseema (Andhra Pradesh)  · Telangana (Andhra Pradesh) · Tulu Nadu (Karnataka Kerala)  · Vidarbha (Maharashtra)  · Vindhya Pradesh (Madhya Pradesh)