Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Dirty politics…by Andhra Politicians about Telangana

Chandrababu says two regions of state Telangana and Seemandhra are his two eyes.

He is very late to give his opinion on the burning issue like state separation. Where did he hide all these days when state is facing a complex issue? Did he lock himself in home?

If he is really worried about two regions, then he would have ordered his party MLAs, MPs and members to keep and maintain silence in both the regions. He did do like that. He allowed his party men in both the regions to go on agitations as they liked. This made the issue still worst and complex. This entire issue became complex because of political parties.

A good leader must be problem solver. When state is burning with issues like Telangana, he would have gathered people, leaders from both the regions to a table and made them discuss their grievances and come to a consensus and solve the problem. But he did not do that, instead he and his party persons behaved like how Congress people did.

Any political person does not want to lose a region, everybody knows it. But this is not the way to do that. He wanted to remain with the both regions of the state at the cost of sufferings of people. He and his party aggravated the situation.

He wants to become a national leader from a big state like AP. If state splits he himself has to adjust for a small region like Seema or Andhra or Seeemandhra. He does not want that. He must become a national leader or atleast king maker so that all his desires become satisfied.

All his desires should be satisfied at the cost of peoples’ sufferings and never mind what people are wanting. He must know that if he neglects a region, whether it is Telangana or Seemandhra, he never would be liked by the people there. So, it becomes difficult or impossible to him to become national leader atleast state leader any more.

A good leader acts as and when a problem arises in the state. But he locked himself in his home for many days and now he came out for announcing both regions are his two eyes….!!!

what a leader we have? We should feel shame of him. When the problem is there, he is going underground and hiding. When situation becomes to normalcy at the hardwork of somebody else, he is coming out and making statements. What a irresponsible way of behaviour he has as a leader. People must realize about the leader like Chandrababu and never make him win in the elections again.

Nation does not want leaders like him….

I expected him to do like this……order his party men to keep silent on the T-issue and ask them in both the region not to resort to any agitations and statements on the issue. Instead ask them to help in gathering people from different regions to discussions near to a table so that he leads the discussion and listens to grievances of all region people and comes to a solution on the issue. But he did not behave so. Very bad….He tried to take advantage out of this burning issue as a saying goes ‘When the Rome is burning Roman King played flute…’

But he may cheat once or twice but not all. But the people are very clever, they will punish him…..

Eventhough it is against Telangana and he betrayed region people, I admire Chiranjeevi’s decision to support Samaikhyandhra. He atleast supported one region, or not for separation. But what Chandrababu and Congress are doing……playing roles in two regions. In one region they are supporting separatists and in the other region they are against the separation… Finally TDP proved that it is nothing short of Congress in dirty politics….and it is nothing separate and similar to Congress.

We should feel ashamed of our leaders in AP, not a single leader is having qualities of a leader any more. Everyone is taking advantage out of people’s sufferings. Only BJP, CPI and CPM are behaving and sticking to their words, whether they support separation or not

Telangana Developement Forum USA

1. What is TDF?
TDF-USA is a not-for-profit organization created to provide a platform for People of Telangana Origin to come together to discuss various problems faced by Telangana people. Telangana is a region in south-central India, forming the northern part of the present-day state of Andhra Pradesh. The region has a rich tradition of culture and language with powerful expressions and sophisticated narratives. History, language, and dialect have molded Telangana sensibilities and identity. In spite of the abundant natural resources such as great rivers, fertile land, rich forest and mineral resources, Telangana today presents a desolate picture of poverty, endemic political violence and environmental devastation. The people of Telangana have been left behind in many areas of socio-economic development for various reasons. Betrayal of Telangana region and its people by successive governments, over many decades, aided and abetted by Telangana leaders, has contributed to this misery.

2. Who are we?
We area people of Telangana origin working towards the development of Telangana. We help any individual or group, political, non-political working for the development of Telangana.

3. What we do?
TDF-USA organizes seminars and community events to bring people together and educate ourselves about problems faced by Telangana people. TDF is also involved in voter education campaign during elections in Telangana. TDF-USA is also involved in organizing cultural and family events to help strengthen community bonds among Telangana people in USA. TDF will assist individuals and organizations that may want to take up charitable developmental activities in Telangana. TDF will take up organization development activities by building local chapters in major cities across USA and may assist with development of international communities similar to that of TDF-USA.

4. TDF Objectives:
Telangana Development Forum (TDF) works towards achieving the following goals:

Providing a platform primarily for Non Resident Telangana people people of Telangana Origin and their children and other people and organizations interested in the causes supported by TDF-USA to come together for broader discussion of various problems facing Telangana.
Help eliminate blocks that are preventing Telangana being developed. TDF believes that having a separate Telangana state will put more control of its resources in the hands of Telangana people and help preserve its unique cultural identity.
To strengthen cultural identity of Telangana among Telangana people living in North America.
To develop and maintain an active web site that serves as a depository of information resources and links about Telangana along with a cyber space meeting place for the members to exchange and discuss views about Telangana issues.
Assist the sponsors of developmental projects in Telangana through their funds channelization and bringing needy people, places, projects and implementation resources together through its foundation activities.

www.telangana.org

QUTUB SHAHIS AND NIZAMS IN TELANGANA

QUTUB SHAHIS

The Qutub Shahi dynasty ruled for two hundred years from the early part of the 16th century to the end of the 17th century. Sultan Quli Qutub Shah, the founder of the dynasty, served the Bahmanis and he was appointed governor of Telangana in AD 1496. He declared independence after the death of his patron king, Mahmud Shah in AD 1518. During his 50 years rule, the Sultan Quli extended his kingdom up to Machilipatnam. His third son Jamsheed murdered him and succeeded him. Jamsheed reigned for seven years till AD 1550 but remained maligned.

His youngest brother, Ibrahim, who was thirteen at the time of his father's assassination, fled to Vijayanagar and took refuge there. He learned the art of administration. Ibrahim returned to Golconda and ascended the throne After Jamsheed's death in AD 1550.

Ibrahim Qutub Shah was the real architect of the Golconda kingdom. He ruled the kingdom for about 30 years from AD 1550 to AD 1580. He organised the central and provincial governments and brought them into close contact. He also introduced an efficient intelligence service. Ibrahim dug lakes and tanks and laid out towns and gardens. He also encouraged local language Telugu and patronized Telugu scholars and poets like, Telaganarya and Gangadhara.

Ibrahim's son, Muhammad Quli was a great writer and a builder. The next period of forty years led by Ibrahim's son and grandson was an era of peace and prosperity. The city of Hyderabad was laid in AD 1591 with magnificent buildings, straight roads and other civic amenities. He invited many Persians to settle down in Hyderabad and Machilipatnam. He was a scholar and a poet, composed a large number of poems in the Deccani language.

His nephew and son-in-law Sultan Muhammad in AD 1612 succeeded Muhammad Quli. Sultan Muhammad was highly religious and a model of virtue and piety. He followed his uncle in promoting learning and architecture. The great mosque known as Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad was designed and its foundation laid by him. Sultan Muhammad's premature death in AD 1626 was a sad prelude to the decline and fall of Golconda.

His minor son, Abdullah Qutub Shah, who was indolent, succeeded him. The fall of Ahmadnagar in AD 1633 to the Moghuls exposed Golconda. Abdullah Qutub Shah acknowledged the suzerainty of the Moghuls and signed a treaty in AD 1636.

He was reduced to vassalage and interfered in day-to-day administration and encouraged fissiparous tendencies. Abdullah Qutub Shah died in AD 1672 and was succeeded by his third son-in-law, Abul Hassan Qutub Shah, popularly known as Tana Shah. He had a broader vision and administrative experience of a high order. He handled the domestic and foreign affairs deftly and put forth all his efforts against the Moghul tide.

The Moghul Empire launched his campaign against both the Marathas and the Deccan Sultanates in AD 1682. His original plan was to attack on the Marathas, but later on, he suspended the plan and directed his forces against Bijapur and Golconda in AD 1685. Bijapur fell in after two months' siege, but Golconda held out for a long time. It came to an end owing to the treachery of an Afghan general, Abdullah Khan, who opened the gate in the dead of night and facilitated the capture of the fort.

The fall of Golconda in AD.1687 had far reaching consequences. So long the king Abul Hassan and his Minister, Madanna, kept their constant vigil on the English merchants.

MOGHULS

The Moghul emperor, Aurangazeb, invaded Golconda in AD 1687. The Golconda became part of the Deccan Subha and a Nazim was appointed as an agent of the Moghul emperor. The Nazims ruled for period of 35 years. The last one was Mubariz Khan.

The period between AD 1687 and A D 1724 saw several changes. Aurangazeb died in AD 1707. The administrative machinery of the Moghul imperial regime began to crumble and the central authority manned by successive feeble rulers gradually lost control over the provinces. The state of affairs in Deccan was worse, since it was situated far away from the capital. This enabled two foreign mercantile companies to consolidate themselves as political powers capable of subsequently playing decisive roles in shaping the destiny of the nation. They were the East India Company of England and the Compagnie de Inde Orientale of France. These trading companies had their headquarters at Madras and Pondicherry respectively and both had trade centers at Machilipatnam.

ASAF JAHIS

Mir Kamaruddin founded ASAF JAHIS dynasty. He was one of the Ministers of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and the latter conferred on him the title of Asaf Jah. He negotiated a peace treaty with Nadirshah, the Iranian invader. Mir Kamaruddin got disgusted with the intrigues that prevailed in Delhi. He assumed the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk, conducted himself as an independent prince of Deccan, where he was a Subedar earlier. The Asaf Jahis rule over Golconda started with Auranganbad as its Capital.

The Nizams of Asafjahi dynasty who ruled the Deccan:

(1) Mir Kamaruddin (Nizam-ul-Mulk - Asaf Jah I) (AD 1724-1748)

(2) Nasir Jung (AD 1748-1751)

(3) Muzaffar Jung (AD 1750-1751)

(4) Salabat Jung (AD 1751-1761)

(5) Nizam Ali Khan - Asaf Jah II (AD 1762-1803)

(6) Nizam III Sikandar Jah (AD 1803-1829)

(7) Nizam IV -- Nasir-ud-Daula (AD 1829-1857)

(8) Nizam V -- Afzal-ud-Daula (AD 1857-1869)

(9) Nizam VI -- Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan (AD.1869-1911)

(10) Nizam VII -- Mir Osman Ali Khan (AD.1911-1948 September).

The Hyderabad was founded in AD 1590 and built by Muhammad Quli, the fifth king of the Qutbshahi dynasty. The rule of the Nizams lasted not only from AD 1724 to 1948 but also concerned a large territory with diverse language groups. The State of Hyderabad extended from Narmada to Trichinapally and from Machilipatnam to Bijapur under Asaf Jah I. During the period of Afzal-ud-Daula (AD 1857-1869), it was estimated to be 95,337 sq.miles, which was more than 450 miles each way. After Nizam I, Asaf Jah, died in AD 1748, there was tussle for power among his son, Nasar Jung, and his grandson Muzaffar Jung. The British supported Nasar Jung whereas Muzaffar Jung got support from the French. These two heirs were subsequently killed by Nawabs of Kurnool and Cuddapah in AD 1750 and AD 1751 respectively. The third son of Nizam I, Salabat Jung became the ruler as Nizam.

Hostilities remained in India between the French and the English in AD 1758 on the outbreak of seven-year war in Europe in AD 1756. As a result, the French lost their power in India and consequently the French also lost their influence at Hyderabad. Nizam Ali Khan (Nizam II) dislodged Salabat Jung and proclaimed himself as Nizam in AD 1762. The Nizam II moved the capital of the Deccan from Aurangabad to Hyderabad in 1763. Nizam's sovereignty had declined considerably in the later part of 18th century and he was compelled to sign six treaties with British.

The British agreed to furnish Nizam Ali Khan with a force when required and pay Rs. 9 lakhs when troops are not required, in return for the Northern Circars in AD 1766. He signed another treaty conferring the Northern Circars to the British and the payment by the British was reduced to Rs.7 lakhs in AD 1768. He also signed another treaty, in which he surrendered the Guntur circar in AD 1788. The Nizam had conspired with Hyder Ali of Mysore and the Peshwa of the Marathas to drive away the British. The British learned about his designs and they marched against the Nizam, who had to sue for peace agreeing to the presence of British army, artillery and cavalry at Hyderabad. The Nizam was compelled to disassociate himself from Hyder Ali through another treaty. He signed another treaty with the British altering the earlier treaties to increase the strength of the English army in Hyderabad in AD 1800. The Nizam had to cede to the company an area comprising the districts of Rayalaseema and Bellary, in lieu of the cost of maintenance of the force. The Nizam lost not only the territory but also reputation and power.

The Telugu land was divided into major divisions: one that came to be popularly called Telangana under the feudal rule of the Nizam, accounting approximately one-third of the entire land and the other, broadly designated as Andhra, in British India. The English cantonment, raised on the other side of Hussain Sagar, was named after Nizam III - Sikandar Jah (AD 1803-1829) as Secunderabad. The Afzal Gunj Bridge or the Nayapul, over the river Musi was constructed and established a General Hospital under the rule (AD 1857-1869) of Nizam V, Afzal-ud-Daula.

The modern era of the development of the twin cities began soon after the last flood on the river Musi in AD 1908. The flood had shattered the lives of many people living in Hyderabad. Mr. M.Vishweshwarayya, the great engineer of Mysore, was specially appointed as adviser to the Nizam's Government to suggest measures for flood control and improvement of the city. Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar were constructed as result of his suggestion in AD 1917. These two dams not only controlled the floods, but also supplied drinking water to the city. Another important step taken for the development of the city was the formation of the City Improvement Board in AD 1912, which paid greater attention to the construction of roads, markets, housing sites and shopping centers in the city. The Nizam VII, Osman Ali Khan, moved to Kingkothi, the northern suburb of the city in AD 1914, which helped in the development of its surroundings. Several public utility services were commissioned in AD 1922, which include electricity (AD 1923), rail connection to Bangalore (AD1928), and bus service (AD 1932). The bus routes radiated from the capital to all the district headquarters in AD 1936. The Madras-Karachi Air Service was linked with Hyderabad with Hakimpet as landing facility in AD 1935. Under the rule of Nizam VII, many building were constructed. They include Legislative Assembly, Hyderabad and Secunderabad railway stations, the High Court, City College, the Asafia Library, the Unani Hospital, and the Osmania University. The Nizam VII, The Osman Ali Khan, can be called as the maker of modern Hyderabad. The buildings constructed during his reign are impressive and represent a rich variety of architecture. Examples are the magnificent Osmania University, the sprawling Osmania General Hospital in the Mughal style, the lofty High Court in Indo-Saracenic style, the stately well-proportioned Legislative Assembly building in Saracenic-Rajasthani style. The Falaknuma, built by Nawab Viquar-ul-Umra, a Paigha Noble in AD.1892 has become a landmark like Charminar.

KAKATIYAS IN TELANGANA

KAKATIYAS

Kakatiyas were emerged in the 12th century and they were the first feudatories of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyana. They ruled over a small territory near Warangal. A ruler of this dynasty, Prola II, ruled from AD 1110 to 1158 extended his rule to the south and declared his independence.

His successor Rudra (AD 1158-1195) pushed the kingdom to the north to the Godavari delta. He built a fort at Warangal to serve as a second capital. He faced the invasions of the Yadavas of Devagiri. The next ruler Mahadeva extended the kingdom to the coastal area. Ganapati succeeded him in AD 1199. He was the greatest of the Kakatiyas and the first one after the Satavahanas to bring the entire Telugu area under one rule. He ended the rule of the Velanati Cholas in AD 1210. He forced the Telugu Cholas of Vikramasimhapura to accept his suzerainty. Ganapati Deva had no sons, so his daughter Rudramba succeeded him in AD 1262. Some generals rebelled, under her rule. She suppressed the internal rebellions and external invasions with the help of loyal subordinates. The Cholas and the Yadavas suffered set backs at her hands and they did not think of troubling her for the rest of her rule.

Prataparudra succeeded his grandmother Rudramamba in A.D.1295 and ruled till AD 1323. He extended the western border up to Raichur. He introduced many administrative reforms and he divided the kingdom into 75 Nayakships. In his time the territory had the first experience of a Muslim invasion. The Delhi Sultan Ala-ud-din Khilji sent an army to plunder the kingdom in AD 1303. The Prataparudra defeated them at Upparapalli in Karimnagar district. When an army under Malik Kafur invaded Warangal, Prataparudra yielded and agreed to pay a large tribute AD 1310.

When Ala-ud-din Khilji died in AD 1318, Prataparudra withheld the tribute. It provoked another invasion from the Muslims. Ghiaz-ud-din Tughlaq sent a large army under Ulugh Khan to conquer the Telugu country then called Tilling in AD 1321.

He laid siege to Warangal, but owing to internal distensions he called off the siege, and then he came back with a much bigger army in a short period. Prataparudra fought bravely. For lack of supplies, he surrendered to the enemy, who sent him to Delhi as a prisoner, and he died on the way. Thus ended the Kakatiya rule, opening the gates of the Telugu land to anarchy and confusion yielding place to an alien ruler.

The Kakatiya period was rightly called the brightest period of the Telugu history. The entire Telugu speaking area was under the kings who spoke Telugu and the kings encouraged Telugu. They established order throughout the strife torn land and they built forts. They played a dominant role in the defense of the realm.

Anumakonda and Gandikota among the giridurgas, Kandur and Narayanavanam among the vanadurgas, Divi and Kolanu among the jaladurgas, and Warangal and Dharanikota among the sthaladurgas were reckoned as the most famous strongholds in the Kakatiya period.Though Saivism continued to be the religion of the masses, intellectuals favored revival of Vedic rituals.

They sought to reconcile the Vaishnavites and the Saivites through the worship of Harihara. Arts and literature found patrons in the Kakatiyas and their feudatories. Tikkana Somayaji, who adorned the court of the Telugu Chola ruler Manumasiddhi II, wrote the last 15 cantos of the Mahabharata. Sanskrit received encouragement at the hands of the Kakatiyas Prataparudra was a writer and he encouraged other literature.

Kakatiya art preserved the balance between architecture and sculpture. The Kakatiya temples, dedicated mostly to Siva, reveal in their construction a happy blending of the styles of North India and South India, which influenced the political life of the Deccan.

The most important of these temples are Palampeta, Hanamkonda The temple at Palampeta, described as the brightest gem in the galaxy of Medieval Deccan temple architecture. It was constructed by Recherla Rudra, a general of Kakatiya Ganapati, in AD 1213. The figures in the temple are of a heterogeneous character comprising gods, goddesses, warriors, acrobats, musicians, and mithuna pairs in abnormal attitudes and dancing girls.

The Thousand-Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda, built by the Kakatiya king Rudra in AD 1162, is similar in style and workmanship to the Ramappa temple. This temple dedicated to Siva, Vishnu and Surya, is star-shaped. The Nandi pavilion, in which a huge granite bull still stands at the beautiful entrances to the shrine. The pierced slabs used for screens and windows, and the elegant open work by which the bracket-shafts are attached to the pillars are the other most interesting features of this temple.

It was believed that the temple in the Warangal fort was built by Ganapati and it was constructed making use of large slabs. The floor of the shrine is beautifully polished and shines like a mirror. An interesting feature of this temple is the four gateways called Kirti Stambhas, which face the four cardinal points of the compass.

After the fall of Kakatiyas, uncertainty prevailed over the region. Several small kingdoms came into existence. Musunuri Nayakas occupied Warangal from Muslims and ruled between AD 1325-1368.

CHALUKYAS IN TELANGANA

CHALUKYAS

Pulakesin II, the renowned ruler of Chalukyas conquered Vengi (near Eluru) in AD 624 and made his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana (AD 624-641) as its ruler. His dynasty known as the Eastern Chalukyas ruled for nearly four centuries. Contemporaries to the Eastern Chalukyas were the Eastern Gangas in the northeast and the Pallavas in the south. A Chalukya family ruled Vemulavada (Karimnagar district). Their rule extended over the present day Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts. As subordinate rulers loyal to the Rashtrakutas, they ruled with semi-independent status for about two centuries (AD 755-968). The Cholas attained the status of a major power in south India under the leadership of Rajaraja I (AD 985-1016).

Two rebel princes of the Eastern Chalukya family sought refuge in Rajaraja I court. The Rajaraja I utilized the claim of one of these princes, Saktivarma, as a pretext for intervening in the affairs of Vengi. He was successful in crowning Saktivarma on the throne of Vengi. From that time, the Eastern Chalukyas played a role subservient to the Cholas. The Telugu country witnessed battles between the Cholas and the Chalukyas of Kalyani who supported a rival claimant to the throne of the Vengi each time. An Eastern Chalukya Prince, Rajendra, occupied the Chola throne in AD 1070. Nevertheless, Vijayaditya VII, a cousin of Rajaraja, continued to rule over Vengi till his death in AD 1076. Then the Eastern Chalukya dynasty came to an end.

Though the Eastern Chalukyas originally of Kannada stock, they patronized Telugu and gave importance to it. The great epic Mahabharata was translated partly by Eastern Chalukya king, Rajaraja court poet, Nannaya in the 11th century. At the time of Chalukya conquest there were three religions: Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism. Buddhism was on the wane and the resurgent Hinduism transformed the Buddhist Aramas into pilgrim centers. Hinduism enjoyed the status of a national religion throughout the kingdom. Temples were built which played an important role in the religious life of the people. In the period of seven centuries (AD 624-AD 1323), Telangana history had seen significant sea-change and it brought in all spheres of the human activity; social, religious, linguistic and literary. Kakatiyas came to power during the later half of this period and extended their rule over the entire Telugu land with the exception of a small land in the northeast.

SATAVAHANAS IN TELANGANA

SATAVAHANAS

The Satavahanas rose to a political power, after the fall of the Mauryan Empire. There were twenty-nine rulers of this dynasty according to Matsya Purana. Sathavahanas ruled over the Telangana for about 400 years from the 2nd century BC. The Sathavahanas were also called Salivahanas and Satakarnis. The founder of the Sathavahana dynasty, Simukha unified the various Andhra principalities into one kingdom and became its ruler from 271 BC to 248 BC. Dharanikota near Amaravati in Guntur district was the first capital of Simukha, but later he shifted his capital to Pratishtana (Paithan in Aurangabad district).

The Satavahanas thus assumed significance as imperial rulers in
succession to the Nandas, Mauryas, Sungas and Kanvas. The kings, who succeeded him, appear to have been driven, by the Sakas, out of Maharastra back to their homeland in Andhra. Gautamiputra Satakarni, the 23rd ruler of this dynasty ascended the throne in AD 62. It was time, their kingdom made a sharp recovery of the lost territories from the western Kshatrapas. Records describe him as the restorer of the glory of the Satavahanas. His kingdom included the territories of Asika, Assaka, Mulaka, Anupa, Kukura, Aparanta, Vidarbha, Akara, Saurashtra and Avanti, and the mountainous regions of Vindhya, Pariyatra, Achavata, Kanhagiri, Siritana, Sahya, Malaya, Mahendra, Sata and Chakora, and extended as far as seas on either side.

The Gautamiputra's kingdom covered not only the peninsular India, but also the southern parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. He died in AD 86, and his successors witnessed the dismemberment of their empire. Pulumavi II succeeded Gautamiputra and ruled for about 28 years. Yajnasri Satakarni succeeded and he came into conflict with the Saka Satrap, Rudradamana, and suffered defeat, and consequently, lost all his western possessions. He continued to rule till AD 157 over a truncated dominion. His ship-marked coins suggest extensive maritime trade during his days. His passed away, marked the end of rule of the Satavahanas by 2nd century AD.

It appeared that Dharmapuri in Karimnagar district was used as capital. The Deccan, during this period was an emporium of inland and maritime trade. The region between the rivers of Godavari and Krishna was full of ports and throbbing with activity. There was plentiful of currency to facilitate trade and the Telugus entered upon a period of great industrial, commercial and maritime activity.

Buddhism flourished throughout the period and the rulers were also devoted to Vedic ritualism. They constructed several Buddhist Stupas, Viharas and Chaityas. Satavahanas were able rulers and loved literacy and architecture. The 17th ruler of this dynasty, Hala was a great poet and his “Gathasaptasati” in Prakrit was well received by all. Gunadhya, the minister of Hala was the author of “Brihatkadha”.

The decline and fall of the Satavahana Empire left the Andhra country in a political chaos. Local rulers as well as invaders tried to carve out small kingdoms for themselves and to establish many dynasties. During the period from AD 180 to AD 624 Ikshvakus, Vishnukundins, Vakatakas, Pallavas, Anandagotras, Kalingas and others ruled over the Andhra area with their small kingdoms. Such instability continued to prevail until the rise of the Eastern Chalukyas.

Bathukamma Celebrations in Toronto Canada

BATHUKAMMA CELEBRATIONS- 2009 IN TORONTO, CANADA

Bathukamma festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and gaiety in Toronto, Canada. It was celebrated on September 19th 2009 at the Meadowvale Conservation Park, Mississauga. Celebrations were organized by the Telangana Development Forum (TDF), Canada chapter, as part of the TDF Bathukamma celebrations in other North American cities. It was an amazing gathering where everyone was pleased to meet and greet more than 400 people.

The event was scheduled from 11 AM - 6PM. By noon good number of people gathered and everyone was overwhelmed to see all the excitement in the faces of ladies and kids coming with beautiful Bathukammas, transporting people into the memory lanes of the Bathukamma celebrations in Telangana villages and towns.

Bathukammas made of a wide variety of brightly hued flowers, some seemingly appearing like gunugu were placed in the middle and women played around the Bathukammas with songs in the rhythm of "Bathukamma Bathukamma Uyyaalo. The warming and easing up took some time, but it's only a few minutes before it picked up speed and the song and plays synchronized. Women and children attired in bright and beautiful traditional costumes, dancing and singing in chorus around the fabulous flower heaps of Bathukammas was a graceful sight to watch. Smt. Sarala Devi, Smt Padma Ganta and Smt Jyothy Maripeda garu played an active role in singing bathukamma songs and showing the traditional ways of playing the bathukamma.

Next, lunch was served and what a great feast it was – with an assortment of traditional and mouth watering dishes including Pulihora, garelu and Purnalu, it was difficult to choose. Everyone literally feasted. Kudos to all the Ladies and the gentlemen who helped them for providing a sumptuous lunch. Special thanks to Vice President Mahesh Madadi for organizing the food arrangements for all the participants.

After lunch TDF President, Surender Peddi and Secretary Chandra Swargam welcoming all the participants, gave a brief note on Telangana Development Forum activities and the context in which Bathukamma is celebrated. Surender Peddi introduced new Executive Committee for 2010. The introductions were interspersed with witty remarks leading to bursts of laughter. He conveyed that "Bathukamma is the traditional festival of Telangana which is the cultural identity of Telangana people and everyone should feel proud to celebrate irrespective of where they are living"

Best Bathukamma prizes were awarded by Dipika Damerla to Rajini Madadi, Vijaya Chittaluri, Prasanna Gujjula, Shireesha Swargam , Anjani Mettu and Deepa Sudireddy. Later the women members ceremoniously left the bathukammas into the nearby creek. Bathukammas floating on the slow moving water in the twilight sun with wafting smoke from agarbatthi's in Bathukamma was a beautiful site to watch. After the Nimajjanam "sathu pindi" was distributed to everyone. Most of the women and men who participated said they'll come with all their friends and acquaintances for the next year celebrations.

Jawahar Akavaram and Kaleemuddin organized the children and ladies events. Sreenath Kunduru, Prabhakar Mettu and Naveen Sudireddy organized Volleyball game to men. Later winning teams were distributed with prizes.

In vote of thanks, Ramesh Munukuntla, Surender Peddi and Jawahar Akavaram thanked all the participants and reiterated that TDF will organize many more events and solicited every ones' active involvement to pass on Telangana culture and traditions to the next generation. They also mentioned that Telangana Night will be held in December 2009 tentatively.

The event was organized by TDF Executive Committee Surender Peddi, Mahesh Madadi, Chandra Swargam, Ramesh Munukuntla and Prabhakar Mettu who have taken time out of their busy schedules to make it grand Success. They would like to extend thanks to Sreenath Kunduru, Jawahar Akavaram, Naveen Sudireddy, Kaleem Mohammed, Atheeque Pasha, Giridhar Ramarthi, Devender Gujjula, Suresh Kairose, Panduranga Raju, Ravinder Munimanda, Shireesha Swargam, Amitha Pinikesi and Mahender Padidam, Koteshwar Chittaluri, Prakash Chityala, Vijay Maryada, Umesh, Vishwanath and other volunteers who have worked hard to organize and make the event a great success. Please visit www.telangana.ca for information on future events.

History of Telangana

History of Telagnana
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)).


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.

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.

Merger of Telangana and Andhra
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. The commission proposed that the Telangana region be consituted as a seperate 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.

However, following the “Gentlemen’s agreement, the central government established a unified Andhra Pradesh on November 1, 1956. 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.

Separate Telangana state movement
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.

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.

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].

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. 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.

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.

Telangana Agitation From 2004

Telangana or Telengana or Telingana (Telugu: తెలంగాణ) is a region of Andhra Pradesh state in India. It has been proposed as a new state 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.

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. 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.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.

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

There was pressure on the Congress party to create a Telangana state in 2008.

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.

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. 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.

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. In July 2008, Mr Goud along with some other leaders like Mr. E Peddi Reddy formed a new party called Nava Telangana Praja Party.

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

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.

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.

Ahead of the 2009 General Elections in India all the major parties in Andhra Pradesh supported Telangana state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) again announced their policy of having smaller states and will create 2 more states Telangana and Gorkhaland if they win the election.

Congress Party still says it is committed to Telangana statehood, but claims Muslim minorities are opposed to creation of separate state along with majority of people. Analysts, however, feel that the “Muslim reluctance card” has been very smartly played by late Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who is opposed tooth and nail to the formation of the new state.

Telugu Desam Party(TDP) 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.

Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), newly founded by film star Chiranjeevi, too supports Telangana statehood. 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.

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.

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

In September 2009, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) died in a chopper crash while flying in bad weather.
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.Student organizations, employee unions and various organizations joined the movement. Scores of people commited suicide in support of Telangana state. Telangana bandh (strike) shuts down Telangana on Dec 6th and 7th. 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. 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.

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. Mr. Chidambaram also informed that process for the formation of a separate Telangana state will be initiated 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. The TRS has stated that they would be willing to wait until 2014 for the formation of a separate state.

On December 10, 2009, Indian government has agreed to start the process of forming a separate Telangana. Central government asked Andhra Pradesh state government to pass of a resolution in the legislative assembly (as per article 3 of Constitution.

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

Several members of Andhra Pradesh’s legislature submitted their resignations to protest the creation of the new state. As of 16 December, at least 147 legislators (including Praja Rajyam Founder Chiranjeevi) 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. All of the Legislators/MPs’ resigned belong to Andhra (Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema) region.

On December 9, 2009, the Government of India announced that it plans to introduce a resolution in the state assembly seeking separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.

Telangana Mathru Gheetham

జయ జయహే తెలంగాణ జననీ జయకేతనంముక్కోటి గొంతుకలు ఒక్కటైన చేతనంతరతరాల
చరితగల తల్లీ నీరాజనంపది జిల్లల నీ పిల్లలు ప్రణమిల్లిన శుభతరుణంజై
తెలంగాణ - జై జై తెలంగాణ


పొతనది పురిటిగడ్డ, రుద్రమది
వీరగడ్డగండరగండడు కొమురం భీముడే నీ బిడ్డకాకతీయ కళాప్రభల కాంతిరేఖ
రామప్పగొలుకొండ నవాబుల గొప్ప వెలుగే చార్ మినార్జై తెలంగాణ - జై జై
తెలంగాణ


జానపద జన జీవన జావలీలు జాలువారేకవి గాయక వైతాళిక కళలా
మంజీరాలుజాతిని జాగృత పరిచే గీతాల జన జాతరఅనునిత్యం నీ గానం అమ్మ నీవే మా
ప్రాణంజై తెలంగాణ - జై జై తెలంగాణ


సిరివెలుగులు విరజిమ్మే
సింగరేణి బంగారంఅణువనువు ఖనిజాలే నీ తనువుకు సింగారంసహజమైన వన సంపద
సక్కనైన పూవుల పొదసిరులు పండే సారమున్న మాగాణి కరములీయ జై తెలంగాణ - జై జై
తెలంగాణ

గొదావరి కృష్ణమ్మలు మన బీళ్ళకు మళ్ళాలిపచ్చని మాగాణాల్లో
పసిడి సిరులు పండాలిసుఖశాంతుల తెలంగాణ సుభిక్షంగా ఉండాలేస్వరాష్ట్ర్రమై
తెలంగాణ స్వర్ణ యుగం కావాలి
జై తెలంగాణ - జై జై తెలంగాణ
This is the OFFICAL songe of telangana..!!

written by the famous telangana poet ANDHE SHRI

Telangana Message From Yuva Telangana

Integrity with a cause is greater than self - Welcome to the stage of concordant voices endeavoring with intensity to win the lost pride, privileges and prosperity of Telangana.


Telangana - the long lasting saga of a potent land which never saw glee in its very own people, is earnestly craving for the dawn of its due privileges. Telangana has suffered constant injustice, discrimination, rejection, exploitation and is on the verge of extinction of its cultural identity. Richly endowed with resources, yet the land has failed to felicitate the dwelling of common man attributing to the dismal dominance of the Andhra led politics. The authority has deprived the people of their fundamental right of expression. Of all these years, the fear, skepticism and anticipation of the true Telangana people in the past that the land would be exploited has taken its evil shape and is only growing more. Optimism driven by despair, political alienation, socio-economic unevenness have merely erupted the intolerance and frustration from the people of Telangana. The beginning of a revolt.


“ You must be the change you wish to see in this world ” - Mahatma Gandhi


Year 1969, students, legislators, employees and intellectuals have confronted the notion of separatism demanding a separate statehood for Telangana which would be the only solution to put a check to the existing unemployment, hunger and dire poverty. The government availed its evil plot. More than 400 martyrs have been brutally murdered for raising their voice seeking justice. This was the first move which was not given its due importance. Years passed, with each ruling governments varied getting ameliorated by roosting on the sentiments of the people making promises, yet the promises remained unkempt.


Yuva Telangana is formed on the roots of hope, integrity, strength and intellectuality. Yuva Telangana is formed with a notion to achieve all the dreams of the people of Telangana, the land which deserves its own privileges. As a non-profit organization aloof from all political groups, Yuva Telangana strives for the betterment of the people of Telangana in various forms with seperate statehood being only one of them. Yuva Telangana is formed to fight for the lost pride, privileges and prosperity of Telangana. . Please join your able hands with us in marching towards the betterment of Telangana. Every help accounts for the cause.

From Yuva Telangana Group

Telugu Media is Against Telangana

Dear Telanganites,

It is a known fact that major group of Telugu media is against Telangana

agitation. Mainly TV9, which projects itself as a social champion, is being
exposed as the big culprit in this part. Anybody who is watching TV9 can
easily make out from the way the Telangana agitation is being projected and aired in its telecast. Though it tries to give an impression now and then that it is impartial, it is in fact playing a destructive role in maligning Telangana agitation. Most of us compromise and continue to accept what this channel telecasts, because we feel we do not have proper support in the media and as we do not want to develop friction with the media. But how long can we continue doing this and it is the need of the hour that we boycott this T V for many reasons. Boycott, in the sense doesn't mean that we should not view this TV , but we should raise our voice against its programmes, its presentation and its comments through anchors like Ravi Prakash and Rajnikanth. We should immediately call the channel and express our displeasure against any news which is being shown on TV9 against Telangana, not to spare live shows at all. Callers should target TV9 anchor first rather than the leader who is sitting in the studio and being interviewed. Custodian should always be impartial, not just pretend to be impartial.

1. Why did TV9 telecast the Ads which are against Telangana struggle, if

not for the sake of just money, doesn't this channel has any ethics and morals,
while they project themselves as the social champions-

2. Don't this channel care about the 60 years struggle of Telangana, except for continuing as a mouth piece of Andhra lobby-
3. Should reveal how much TV9 was funded by Raj Gopal for telecasting his news and projecting him as a big leader, is this a continuous affair or
occasional
4. Pity TV9 for bringing in leaders like Laxmi Parvati, unidentified and
baseless persons like Venkateshwar Rao of so called Hyderabad bachao
organisation and projecting them as leaders for News Watch programmes and
analysis. What is the interest of TV9 in these kind of acts, is it again the
same equation played with Raj Gopal-
5. Hail TRS leader Jagadishwar Rao for his live comments against TV9 and Rajnikanth for bringing in people from unidentified organisations, more should follow this line.
6. Should we not condemn the over smart comments from Rajnikanth through his tactical presentations.
7. Why not we target TV9 for its telecasts in support of Andhra and hatred
towards to Telangana parties and leaders-
8. How long do we need to wait for our own channel, will it become true in the near future or should we wait longer--
9. Who asked TV9 to hire helicopters to fly over the entire Hyderabad,
except for their interest in spying the students movements and passing on the news to Police instantaneously-
10. Every Telenganite should counter the systamatic and tactical approach of these channels backed up by Rajgopal and Co and save our movement