The Fifth Telangana History Congress held at Nadigudem, Suryapet, Telangana on January 19th and 20th 2020! [1]
The Ayyappa groups have been developed manifold in Andhra-Telangana and lakhs of devotees going and coming back through Tamilnadu
From Chennai to Nadigudem: After attending IHC at Kannur and APHC at Kurnool, then, I had to go to Nadigudem to attend THC session, as I had planned, papers prepared and tickets booked. The Fourth / Fifth Telangana History Congress [తెలంగాణ చరిత్ర కాంగ్రెస్] was held at Nadigudem, Suryapeta Mandal, Telangana. As I always book tickets, make confirmation about accommodation, after sending my paper, I used to proceed to attend any conference / seminar. This time also I did the same, as usual, to attend the Telangana conference held at Nadigudem, Suryapet. However, I did not receive any response from them. I sent a letter requesting for a room and the paper by e-mail and by post. Earlier, I rang up for the Local secretary, “9490663333” dozen times, there was no response. When I reminded again by e-mail on 13-01-2020, I received a mail from Veerender Mallam, “Thank you for showing interest in THC and also presenting s paper. As mentioned by you, when you reach Munagala or before reaching please contact us so that we can arrange somebody to receive you. My phone number is 9440747957. Best, Veerender Mallam.” Actually, I have been a life member of THC and attending the previous sessions held at Warangal and Hyderabad presenting papers. As I planned, I started from Chennai to Khammam by train. Here, I had to record the experience I had in the train with the Ayyappa baktas. When the Korba express came to central, the reserved compartments were full of Ayyappa baktas in hundreds. They were virtually blocking incoming passengers entering inside. They were occupying all seats without any order. After reaching the reserved berth also, they again swarmed us in dozens sitting and laying down o the floor without leaving any space. If at all, we had to go to the bathroom, we had to rummage and lurch through them, touching their bodies. Of course, they did not mind! I could not have proper sleep. At Vijayawada only, they had disappeared! Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa!
Location of the venue, where the THC session was held
From Khammam to Godada to Munagala to Nadigudem: The train reached Khammam on 17-01-2020 by 8.00 am. Instead of Munagala, I was asked to go to Godada, as there was no bus from Khammam there to Muagala and also suggested by the organizers. So I caught a bus to reach Godada. After reaching Godada, I had to catch another bus to Munagala. Then, I had to get down at the police station stage, as there were four stages, as suggested by the organizers. When I got down there at “Police station” stage, I saw Dr Jai Kishan, whom I met earlier several times in different conferences. Last time, I met him at the “Iron in India” seminar held at the Dravidian University, Kuppam. He took me in his car going through paddy fields. At last, we reached the venue – Kalaprapurna Nayani Venkata Rangarao Bhawanam.” I recollected about the building, the deserted building complex known as “Munagala gadi, fort, palace,” and so on, as I saw two videos on the internet. It was almost a deserted building complex, known as “Munagala gadi,” as described in the video[1].
Nadigudem gada, fort, or palace as looked before renovation
Wood has been used extensively for long life and aesthetic value with carved designs for supporting pillars, hand-rails, steps, rafter etc
The Nadigudem gadi: From the court cases[2], we can get a lot of information about the owners of the building / gadi / fort complex. Munagala Province was in longer existence than the other Samasthanams of Nizam State. It came into being as a part of the army officers who had displayed valour in the battlefield were given Estates as gifts. Munagala was one of them. The Munagala Zamindar existed as a subordinate to the Kakatiya rulers between 1262 and 1323; in 1300 it was under the rule of Cheruku Jagadadu Marayya Ganapathi. Reddy. From 1306 onwards Cheruku Jagadadu Annayya Reddy inherited the rule, according to Tadavai inscription. As per the historical evidence available, the region enjoyed provincial status during the reign of Rachakonda, Devara konda Velama Rayalu and Golkonda kings. At the time of Aurangazeb, it passed into the hands of Moghuls. The District of Kistna in which Munagala is situated forms part of the Northern Circars, which was at first under the Hindu Rajas, and then formed part of the Kingdom of Golconda which was conquered by Aurungazebe at the close of the seventeenth century.
The view from the top – the main building of the palace, horse stables can be seen. In other way, it was built in that way for observation.
From the French to the British to independence[3]: Subsequently, the Circars were included in the Subbah of the Deccan and were governed by the Nizam until the middle of the eighteenth century, when they passed for a time into the hands of the French. Then after Col. Forde’s successful operations, Lord Clive obtained a Sannad from the Imperial Court at Delhi assigning them to the East India Company. There is no reason to doubt that at the time the District or Pergunah of Munagala was in the possession of the last survivor of a very ancient Reddi family who held it as deshmuk or Chauduri under the ruling power. In 1759 AD Munagala was given to the East India Company. In 1802, East India Company adopted the method of “Permanent Settlement “ permanent “Sanad” was issued in the name of Keesara Vekata Narasimha Rao. From 1766 the proprietary right of the Zamindar of Munagala does not seem to have been questioned. From 1900 onwards, Raja Nayani venkata Ranga Rao was the ruler of the zamindari. there used to be 22 major villages including three Mukhasa Villages.There were a total of 17 hamlets for some major villages. Nayani lachamma‟s adopted son Ranga Rao was minor and the Estate passed into the Court of Wards. Venkata Ranga Rao ascended to the power in 1900 and continued ruling the Estate. The Zamindari System was abolished in 1948, thus bringing an end to Ranga Rao‟s regime. He died in 1958 and in 1959 the Province of Munagala was added to the Nalgonda District from Krishna District. Thus the History of Munagala Samsthanam crossed so many landmarks in the hands of Jamindar‟s and finally merged in Nalgonda Dist. of Andhra Pradesh. Now, it is in the Telangana State.
First floor where wooden chair can be seen.
From pre-independence date to independence and thereafter – reaching 2020: During 1925-1935, the Jamindar was reportedly occupied many fertile areas and exploited labour. He even prevented water flowing to other fields, but diverted to his lands. The issue had even gone to court. Now, it has been sprawling over 5.5 acres area with the two-storied buildings. Earlier a school was functioning in the buildings for about 10 years. Then, there was a proposal to establish a polytechnic, but, for some reasons, the idea was shelved and forgotten. Anyway, now, the heirs have leased the complex to the Deccan Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute (DACRI) and they have renovated to hold the THC in 2020.
The horse stables or prion, incidentally, one of these rooms was allotted to me without any current connection!
View of the Darbar hall / Diwan’s main building.
I went to nearby streets to observe the condition of the Nadigudem village. This is LHS of the view of the street, where the palace stands.
Going still further in the street….one depilated old house and another house, its entrance has been whitewashed recently, can be seen.
View of the same from other side
Closer view of the house recently whitewashed
the other side of the road
An old house can be seen..
The room allotted to me at Nadigudem without electricity connection: He dropped me at the venue and also showed a room, where I could stay. A cot, bed, pillow etc., were provided. He told that by evening, they would provide current connection and fan. There had been hundreds of workers working at different places within the Fort complex. Actually, it was one of the horse stables, also used to keep the prisoners inside. It had only one door and window at the top about 20 feet from the ground. I was sitting and going here and there to spend time watching them. I had gone through the nearby streets taking photographs. Still, there have been many old houses in the dilapidated conditions. With urgent and haste, they were rushing through the processing of whitewashing, painting, levelling, cleaning, pandal constructing and so on. The work continued even in the evening and there was no sign of giving electrical connection to the room allotted to me. Slowly, delegates started coming. They were so busy with other work. The organizers had also definitely avoiding the delegates. Actually, they could have informed through mail about the prevailing condition, but, they did not do.
The outer compound wall leading to the entrance of Raja gadi / Munagala gadi, the fort or palace of Nayani Rangarao.
The entrance of Raja gadi / Munagala gadi, the fort or palace of Nayani Rangarao, just going inside
The reception building leading to the main building. It has very big doors of 20 x 10 feet dimension!
The reception building leading to the main building. It has very big doors of 20 x 10 feet dimension! The doors can be seen partially.
The Raja / Jamindar darbar hall, house getting facelift after renovation, here, not much difference noted, except whitewashing and painting.
Work going on, part of the entrance – reception building can be seen.
The stage / podium in between the reception and main buildings has been getting final touch-ups, painting etc.
Clearing and construction of toilets on LHS
The backyard of the gadi
The backyard of the gadi – corner
The horse stables / prison, as viewed from the backside
The horse stables / prison
Srinivasulu, Raakrishna, Veerender and others could be seen, 17-01-2020 evening before moving out to Suryapeta.
Moving to Suyapet: Therefore, I was thinking to decide to move out. When I saw S/Sri Ramakrishna and Srinivasulu, I requested them that I would also join them, if they wanted to move out. After some time, they came to me to inform that we would go to Suryapet and take a room. So somehow, we reached the main road / national high way to catch a bus to reach Suryapet. There was demand in getting a room, as local elections were held the next day i.e, 19-01-2020. Somehow, we got a room at the Tirumala Grant and settled down. Then, only, I could sleep to some extent, because of the last night disturbances on the train.
The first-day proceedings at Nadigudem on 19th Jan.2020: Got up by morning, got ready and started going to Barkargudem by bus. Actually, as I was not familiar with the names etc., I just had gone with Srinivasulu. We got down there at Barkatgudem junction. Fortunately, a car was returning from the main road and we could get dropped at the venue. Took breakfast and sat at the pandal. We got registered ourselves paying the delegate fees of s 500/- per head. Inside the bag, one souvenir, booklet of papers of the sectional presidents, pen and badge were there. The list of papers was missing. First, there was the inaugural function of the Deccan Archaeological and Cultural Research Institute (DACRI).
Registration done here…
The function was to start by 10 am, but, it started at 11.15 am. There was a lengthy list of VIPs,
SSS Jagadguru Vidyaranya Bharathi Swamili, Virupaksha Vidranya Mahasamasthanam, Hampi,
Sri Mandali Buddha Prasad, Former Dy speaker, Govt of AP,
Sri Chennuri Anjaneya Reddy[4] IPS, former Chairman, APTDC, Govt.of AP,
- Rajendra Prasad, General President
- P. Rao, sectional president – Ancient section
- Rekha Pande, Medieval section
- Deepak kumar, Modern section
- Jitendra Babu, Local history
Swamiji lit the lamp by striking a match to matchbox – after many years. I saw this, as usual, a candle is used to lit lamp. In fact, when Swamiji asked for a matchbox, they could not provide and then, a person came running towards him with a matchbox. Sivanagi Freddy was compeering with his highly wordy Telugu flow of words. Others followed to complete the wicks of the lamp as usual.
© K. V. Ramakrishna Rao
20-01-2020
[1] V6 News Telugu, “Munagala Gadi”, http://youtube.com/watch?v=QlAnW5MUqgY
[2] Madras High Court, Raja Keesara Venkatappayya Alias … vs Raja Nayani Venkataranga Rao And … on 1 May, 1919, Equivalent citations: (1920) 38 MLJ 149, Author: Wallis, JUDGMENT Wallis, C.J. http://indiankanoon.org/doc/1199541/
[3] P. Lingaiah, The History of Munagala Samasthanam, International Journal of multidisciplinary Empirical Research, Vol.VI, Issue 1 (1), January, 2013, pp.134-141.
[4] He resigned, as he was not given the DGP posting before retirement.
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