Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Kadapa (old district)

The old Kadapa (Cuddapah) district lay in the Penner valley of Rayalaseema, in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Telugu Chola, Chola, Kakatiya and Vijayanagara rulers held it before the Nawabs of Cuddapah and Haidar Ali. It came under British rule in 1800 and became a district in 1808. Its later history includes famine, the Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal, stone slabs, barytes and cement. In 2022 its territory was divided between YSR district (now YSR Kadapa) and Annamayya district.

The old Kadapa district lay in the valley of the Penner (Penna) river, in the heart of Rayalaseema.12 It became a district in 1808.34 In 2022 Andhra Pradesh divided its territory between two districts.34 Its name means “gate” in Telugu, because the town was seen as the gate to the holy places at Tirupati.1

Early history and kingdoms

According to Brackenbury’s 1915 district gazetteer, groups of stone tombs called Pandavagullu show that people lived in the river valleys long before any written record.5 The same gazetteer says the Pallavas pushed into the north of the district along the Penner.6 The earliest historical remains, stone monuments, come from near the river in the Jammalamadugu and Proddatur taluks.6

A line of Telugu Cholas then ruled the black-soil country on the banks of the Penner for a century or two.7 Copper plates found at Malepadu prove that at least four generations of these kings ruled here.7 Brackenbury thought this was the “Choolya” kingdom described by the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsiang about 640 AD.7

A Bana chief made a grant at Pottipadu in 884 AD.8 By the middle of the tenth century the Rashtrakutas held most of the district, with the Vaidumbas as their vassals.9

By about 1000 AD a Telugu Choda chief ruled at Pottapi as a vassal of the Cholas.1011 In the thirteenth century two later Telugu Choda rulers, Tikka and his son Manumasiddhi, governed the area from Nellore.12 Manumasiddhi was the patron of the poet Tikkana, who translated part of the Mahabharata into Telugu.12 See Nellore Telugu Chodas.

The Kakatiya king Ganapati helped Manumasiddhi win back his throne.13 Brackenbury says Ambadeva briefly seized the Kakatiya crown and then ruled the area from Valluru, ten miles west of Kadapa.13 By the start of the fourteenth century almost the whole district was part of the Kakatiya kingdom.13

Vijayanagara, Golconda and the poligars

After the fall of Warangal, the district became part of the Vijayanagara empire for two centuries.14 It lay in the province of Udayagiri, which a son of the emperor often governed.14 In 1369 Bhaskara, a son of Bukka I, built the great tank at Porumamilla.14

After the defeat at Talikota in 1565, the emperors moved first to Penukonda and later to Chandragiri.15 The Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda surveyed the district for revenue early in the seventeenth century.16 Brackenbury says they never really conquered it, and their Nawabs at Gandikota and Kadapa had little power.16

Local chiefs grew strong instead.16 The most important were the Matla family, who ruled the eastern taluks and called themselves Rajas.1617 Their best-known ruler, Anantaraju, is said to have built the Badvel tank.17 In 1604 he began the fort at Siddhavatam.17 In 1678 the troops of Shivaji raided the district, and ten years later Aurangzeb overran it.18

The Nawabs of Cuddapah and Haidar Ali

The Nawabs of Cuddapah were Pathans.18 Abdul Nabi Khan, who became governor in 1714, was the first to control the whole district.19 He kept garrisons at Gandikota in the north and Gurramkonda in the south.19 In May 1740 the Marathas defeated a later Nawab and made him pay a lakh and a half of rupees.19

In January 1751 the Nawab of Cuddapah and other Pathan chiefs attacked the new Nizam, Muzaffar Jung, at the pass of Lakkireddipalle, and he was killed.2021 In 1757 the Marathas defeated the Nawab’s army near Kadapa.21

In 1780 Haidar Ali defeated the Nawab’s army near Duvvur, ten miles north-east of Proddatur.21 The Nawab fled to the fort of Siddhavatam, but Haidar took it easily.21 He sent Abdul-alam Khan, the last Nawab, and his family to Srirangapatna as prisoners.21 Haidar’s governor Mir Sahib and his son were the first rulers who really tried to control the poligars.22

The Ceded Districts and Munro

In 1792 Tipu Sultan had to give his Cuddapah lands to the Nizam.23 Under the Nizam, the poligars returned and regained their former power.2322 In 1800 the Nizam gave these lands to the East India Company for ever, to pay for more British troops in his state.24

Thomas Munro took charge as Principal Collector on 1 November 1800.25 He counted 80 poligars in the Ceded Districts, many of them in Kadapa.26 In May 1801 a British force pulled down the poligar’s fort at Vemula and removed the Matla Raja from Chitvel.27 In 1801–02 Munro brought in the ryotwari settlement (a direct revenue settlement with each farmer), and a new survey followed.28

In 1808 the Ceded Districts were divided between two Collectors.25 W. W. Chaplin took charge of Cuddapah district and made Siddhavatam his headquarters.25 The Collector moved to Kadapa town in 1817.29

Changes to the district, 1858–1911

Three of the district’s taluks went to the new Kurnool district in 1858.30 In 1901 the district had eleven taluks in four subdivisions.31 Kadiri taluk went to Anantapur district in 1910.32 Madanapalle and Vayalpad taluks went to the new Chittoor district, formed on 1 April 1911.3334

1953–2014

The district joined Andhra State on 1 October 1953 and Andhra Pradesh on 1 November 1956.35 It was one of the eleven districts of the new Andhra State.36 The 2001 handbook says people of the district joined the freedom movement from the 1930s, led by men such as Kadapa Koti Reddy.37

In 1985 the twelve taluks of the district were reorganised into 50 mandals.38 A new mandal, Sri Avadhuta Kasinayana, was formed later, bringing the total to 51 by 2001.38 The census of 1981 counted Cuddapah among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.39 After the division of 2014 it stayed in Andhra Pradesh.40

Division, 2022

On 4 April 2022 its territory was divided between two districts:4

The notification of 2022 calls the old district YSR district.4

Administration

In 1901 the district had four subdivisions: Madanapalle, Jammalamadugu, Sidhout and Cuddapah.31 Kadapa town was the headquarters of the district.41

In 1961 the district had eight taluks and the Kamalapuram sub-taluk, in three revenue divisions.2 These were Cuddapah, Rajampet and Jammalamadugu.2 In 2001 the 51 mandals were still grouped into three revenue divisions.38

Land, farming and water

In 1903–04 forests covered 27 per cent of the district, and only 37 per cent was cultivated.42 Cholam, cambu and ragi were the main food grains.42 Only 15 per cent of the cultivated land was irrigated, mostly from wells and tanks.43

The Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal was one of three works Sir Arthur Cotton suggested for Rayalaseema.44 A private company, the Madras Irrigation Canal Company, began building it in 1863.44 The Government took it over on 1 July 1882.44 In 1903–04 it watered 20,000 acres in the district.43 The Sagileru project, finished in 1898–99, fed a chain of tanks in Badvel taluk.41

By 1999–2000 tube wells watered the most land, 88,800 hectares.45 Canals watered 20,867 hectares and tanks 23,776 hectares.45 Groundnut covered the largest area, 1,59,800 hectares in 1999–2000.46

Crafts and industries

The 1908 gazetteer found no industries of importance.47 Weavers made coarse cotton cloth, and Jammalamadugu sent turbans and carpets to the Central Provinces.47 Pullampet was known for its lace cloths.48 The district also had nearly 2,000 indigo vats and two cotton presses at Proddatur.48

Limestone slabs from the Narji quarries were sold widely as “Cuddapah slabs”.49 Between 1860 and 1870 men washed river gravels near Kadapa for diamonds, with poor results.47

By 2001 the district had two cement factories of the Cement Corporation of India and a Coromandel Fertilizers plant.50 It mined asbestos, barytes and cement-grade limestone in large amounts.51

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.52 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.53

Census yearPopulation
19018,79,330
195111,60,827
196113,39,949
198119,30,468
200126,01,797
201128,82,469

In September 1877, at the height of the great famine, 22 per cent of the people were on relief.31 The 1881 census found 230,156 fewer people than in 1871.31

Where the sources disagree

The sources give different years for Haidar Ali’s capture of the last Nawab:2154

  • Brackenbury’s 1915 gazetteer says Haidar sent a small force in 1779 that failed, and took the field himself in 1780.21
  • Gribble’s 1875 manual says Haidar took and sacked Kadapa town in 1779.54
  • The same manual, in its list of dates for Siddhavatam, says Haidar took the fort and the Nawab in 1778.55

For an overview of district changes, see How the map changed.

Footnotes

  1. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 370 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  2. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Cuddapah District (1964), p. i (PDF p. 21) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  3. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 433 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  4. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 195 (YSR; Gazette No. 494) and No. 196 (Annamayya; Gazette No. 495), 2 April 2022, final notifications printed in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part I Extraordinary, 3 April 2022: notification PDF p. 1, Schedule-I PDF p. 2 (archive.org copies: 195 (opens in a new tab), 196 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 25 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  6. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 26 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  7. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 27 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 28 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  9. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 29 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  10. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 30 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  11. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 31 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  12. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 32 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  13. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 34 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 35 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  15. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 37 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  16. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 38 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  17. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 39 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  18. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 373 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  19. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 41 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  20. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 43 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  21. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 44 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  22. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 45 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  23. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 40 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  24. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 46 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  25. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Cuddapah District (1964), p. xvi (PDF p. 36) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  26. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 47 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  27. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (1915), p. 48 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  28. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 383 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  29. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Cuddapah District (1964), p. lxix (PDF p. 89) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  30. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 407, s.v. Kurnool District (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  31. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 382 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  32. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Anantapur District (1964), p. i (PDF p. 19) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  33. Madras District Gazetteers: Statistical Appendix for Chittoor District (1915), p. 25, Table XV, note (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  34. Census of India, 1911, Vol. XII: Madras, Part I, Report (1912), p. 80 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  35. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Cuddapah District (1964), p. ii (PDF p. 22) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  36. “Prime Minister’s Statement on Andhra”, 25 March 1953, printed in Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, 2 April 1953, appendix, pp. 823–825 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)); The History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1861–1961) (1961), pp. 249–250 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  37. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (2007), p. 10 (PDF p. 50) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  38. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (2007), p. 12 (PDF p. 52) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  39. Ch. Purnachandra Rao, Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: Portrait of Population (1981), p. 13 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  40. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Act No. 6 of 2014), ss. 2–4, pp. 1–2 (Gazette copy (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  41. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 389 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  42. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 378 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  43. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 379 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  44. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Cuddapah District (1964), p. xliii (PDF p. 63) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  45. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (2007), p. 21 (PDF p. 61) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  46. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (2007), p. 20 (PDF p. 60) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  47. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 380 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  48. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 381 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  49. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 372 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  50. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (2007), p. 23 (PDF p. 63) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  51. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (2007), p. 17 (PDF p. 57) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  52. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (2007), p. xxx (PDF p. 22) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  53. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 9 (PDF p. 27) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  54. J. D. B. Gribble, A Manual of the District of Cuddapah (1875), p. 61 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  55. J. D. B. Gribble, A Manual of the District of Cuddapah (1875), p. 51 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

Places in this district (11)

Monuments in this district (1)

Inscriptions found in this district (7)

References

Sources (14)
  1. Ch. Purnachandra Rao (Census of India 1981), Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: Portrait of Population (opens in a new tab), Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, 1981, pp. 13. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  2. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, Restructuring / formation of districts: final notifications, G.O.Ms. Nos. 173 to 198 (2 April 2022) (opens in a new tab), Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part I Extraordinary, Nos. 472 to 497 (3 April 2022), 2022, PDF pp. 1–2 of each notification. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  3. Government of India, Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Madras, Vol. I (opens in a new tab), Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1908, pp. 370–393; 433; 407. [Public domain]
  4. C. F. Brackenbury, Madras District Gazetteers: Cuddapah, Vol. I (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1915, pp. 25–48. [Public domain]
  5. J. D. B. Gribble, A Manual of the District of Cuddapah in the Presidency of Madras (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1875, pp. 51, 61. [Public domain]
  6. A. Chandra Sekhar (Census of India), Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Cuddapah District (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 1964, i–ii, vii, xvi, xliii, lxix. [Public domain in India]
  7. A. Chandra Sekhar (Census of India), Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Anantapur District (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 1964, i. [Public domain in India]
  8. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2007, xix, xxx, 10, 12, 17, 20, 21, 23. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  9. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Y.S.R. (Cuddapah) District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 9. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  10. Madras District Gazetteers: Statistical Appendix for Chittoor District (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1915, pp. 25. [Public domain]
  11. J. Chartres Molony, Census of India, 1911, Vol. XII: Madras, Part I, Report (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1912, pp. 80. [Public domain]
  12. Madras Legislative Assembly, Prime Minister's Statement on the Establishment of Andhra State (Assembly debates, 2 April 1953) (opens in a new tab), Madras Legislative Assembly, 1953, pp. 823–825. [Public domain in India]
  13. Inspector-General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, The History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1861-1961) (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1961, pp. 249–250. [Public domain in India]
  14. Parliament of India, The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Act No. 6 of 2014) (opens in a new tab), Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1 (1 March 2014), 2014, pp. 1–2 (ss. 2–4). [Public domain (Indian enactment; Copyright Act 1957, s. 52(1)(q))]

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