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Karimnagar (old district)

The old Karimnagar district lay south of the Godavari in northern Telangana, in undivided Andhra Pradesh. It was the Nizam's Elgandal district until 1905. That year its headquarters moved to Karimnagar, and the district took the town's name. Tanks watered its paddy fields, followed later by the Manair and Sriramsagar canals. Ramagundam grew into a centre of coal, power and cement. In 2016 Telangana divided it into Karimnagar, Jagitial, Peddapalli and Rajanna districts.

The old Karimnagar district lay in northern Telangana, with the Godavari river along its northern and eastern borders.1 Its headquarters was the town of Karimnagar, on the Maner river.2 It took that name in 1905, and Telangana divided it into four districts on 11 October 2016.13

Early history and kingdoms

According to the 2001 census handbook, Vemulavada became the capital of the Chalukyas of Vemulavada at an early stage.4 These Chalukyas ruled a large area as subordinate chiefs of the Rashtrakutas.4 The handbook names Arikesari III as the last of the line.4 For the early towns of the region, see Kotilingala, Dhulikatta and Peddabankur.

Most of the district was ruled by the Kakatiyas of Warangal in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.4 The 2001 handbook says Elgandal was a Kakatiya outpost.4 The 1909 gazetteer adds that the area “certainly formed part of the Warangal territory”.5 It mentions a temple at Gurshal built in the time of Prataparudra of Warangal, and a fort at Pratapgiri said to be his.5

When Warangal fell, the area passed to the Bahmani kingdom and then to the Qutb Shahis of Golconda.5 The 2001 handbook says Qutb-ul-Mulk, founder of the Qutb Shahi line, took the forts of Elgandal and Mulagnoor in 1523.6 After the fall of Golconda in 1687, Aurangzeb added the area to the Mughal empire.56 The 1909 gazetteer says he built mosques at Kalesar, Sonipet and Rajgopalpet.5

The Nizam’s district

Early in the eighteenth century the area became part of the Hyderabad State of the Asaf Jahis.5 In 1747 the Nizam’s officer Zafar-ud-daula had a fort built at Jagtial by French engineers.5 About 1754 he built a mosque in Elgandal fort, whose minaret sways when shaken, the 1909 gazetteer says.5

The 2001 handbook says a later fort commander, Syed Karimuddin, founded a village about 5 km from Elgandal fort.7 He named it Karimnagar after himself.7 Up to 1866, contractors leased the right to collect revenue in villages and taluks.8 The state took its share in grain.8 After the district was formed, the government dealt directly with each farmer.89 It roughly measured the land and set revenue rates using the average of the previous ten years.89

Elgandal district had nine taluks.1 In 1905 its headquarters moved from Elgandal to Karimnagar, and the district was renamed Karimnagar.1 In the same year Lakshettipet and Chinnur taluks went to Adilabad and Siddipet to Medak.1 Parkal taluk came in from Warangal, so the district had seven taluks.1

In 1950 the jagirs (land grants to nobles) were joined to the state’s own land, and a new Metpalli sub-taluk was formed.1 In October 1953, when Khammam district was formed, Parkal taluk went back to Warangal.1 In 1956 Karimnagar was one of the Telangana districts that were joined to the Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh.10

1956–2014

In 1961 the district covered 4,582 square miles.1 It had three revenue divisions and seven taluks, including one sub-taluk.1 The census of 1981 counted it among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.11

In 1985 the 14 taluks of the district were reorganised into 56 mandals.7 A mandal parishad (local council) was formed for each mandal.7 In 1996 a new Sircilla revenue division was formed from nine mandals of Jagtial division.7 The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 placed the district in the new State of Telangana.12

Division, 2016

On 11 October 2016 Telangana divided the district into four districts:3

Some of its mandals also went to Warangal Urban, Jayashankar and Siddipet.1314

Administration

After 1905 the district had seven taluks.15 They were Karimnagar, Jamikunta, Sultanabad, Jagtial, Sirsilla, Mahadeopur and Parkal.15 A First Talukdar (district officer) ran the district, with Second and Third Talukdars over its four sub-divisions.8 A tahsildar (taluk officer) was in charge of each taluk.8

By 2001 the district had 56 mandals in five revenue divisions:716

  • Karimnagar, with 18 mandals
  • Jagtial, with 14 mandals
  • Sircilla, with 9 mandals
  • Peddapalle, with 8 mandals
  • Manthani, with 7 mandals16

Karimnagar was the headquarters from 1905.1

Land, farming and water

In 1901 jowar was the main food crop, grown on 45 per cent of the cropped land.17 Rice came next.17 Tanks and wells watered 183 square miles.17 The district had 5,694 tanks, but over 1,750 of them were in disrepair.17 Tanks, wells and forests helped protect the district from famine.8 But after the poor rains of 1897, crops failed and cholera struck.8

In 1961 the district had 6,990 sources of irrigation, watering 2,83,137 acres.18 The largest was the Manair project, built across the Manair and Kudlair rivers.18 The Shanigaram tank, built in Kakatiya times, was restored in 1891.18 The 1961 handbook says sugarcane was not grown for lack of big irrigation works, and chillies took its place.19

By 1999–2000 the Sriramsagar project, a major project in Nizamabad district, also served Karimnagar.20 That year 2,56,184 hectares were irrigated, about two-thirds of the sown land.20 Wells other than tube wells watered 1,51,923 hectares, canals 64,477 and tanks 31,900.20 Paddy covered 2,32,535 hectares, and maize was the next cereal.21

Crafts and industries

In 1909 ironstone was found almost everywhere, and it was smelted in a simple way to make ploughshares.17 The steel of Konasamudram and Ibrahimpatan had once been famous for fine sword blades.17 Weavers of the Sala caste, over 80,000 of them, made silk and cotton cloth.17 Silk saris from Siddipet and Jagtial went to Hyderabad.17 Koratla made coarse paper for village accountants, and the goldsmiths of Karimnagar and Manakondur made fine silver filigree.17

In 1961 the Ramagundam thermal power station was one of the biggest in the State.22 It began work on 24 February 1952 with 37.5 megawatts, and grew to 100 megawatts by 1961.22 A coal mine run by the Singareni Collieries was the only large industry.22 Beedi rolling employed 7,523 people, most of them women.22

By 2001 the large industries included Kesoram Cements at Basantnagar and the NTPC power station at Ramagundam, of 2,100 megawatts.23 The Singareni Collieries at Godavarikhani employed 33,006 people.23 There was also a sugar factory at Muthyampet.23

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.24 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.25

Census yearPopulation
19017,61,431
195114,28,168
196116,21,515
198124,36,323
200134,91,822
201137,76,269

In 1901 about 90 per cent of the people of Elgandal district spoke Telugu.5 Only 1.8 per cent could read and write.9

Where the sources disagree

  • The 1909 gazetteer says Zafar-ud-daula built the mosque in Elgandal fort about 1754.5 The 2001 census handbook says he built the present fort in 1754, and that the mosque is said to be the work of the Qutb Shahis.67

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

Footnotes

  1. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (1965), p. i (PDF p. 19) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  2. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 183 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  3. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 225 (Karimnagar), No. 226 (Jagitial), No. 227 (Peddapalli) and No. 228 (Rajanna), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 225 (opens in a new tab), 226 (opens in a new tab), 227 (opens in a new tab), 228 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  4. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. 5 (PDF p. 47) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  5. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 177 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  6. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. 6 (PDF p. 48) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. 7 (PDF p. 49) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  8. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 180 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  9. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 181 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1961), p. 260 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

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

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

  13. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 231 (Warangal Urban), No. 232 (Warangal Rural), No. 233 (Jayashankar), No. 234 (Jangaon) and No. 235 (Mahabubabad), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 231 (opens in a new tab), 232 (opens in a new tab), 233 (opens in a new tab), 234 (opens in a new tab), 235 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  14. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 238 (Medak), No. 239 (Sangareddy) and No. 240 (Siddipet), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 238 (opens in a new tab), 239 (opens in a new tab), 240 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  15. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 175 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  16. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. 8 (PDF p. 50) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  17. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 179 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  18. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (1965), p. xxvii (PDF p. 45) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  19. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (1965), p. ii (PDF p. 20) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  20. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. 12 (PDF p. 54) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  21. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. 11 (PDF p. 53) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  22. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (1965), p. xxiii (PDF p. 41) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  23. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. 16 (PDF p. 58) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  24. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (2006), p. xxxi (PDF p. 23) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  25. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District, Part XII-B (Village and Town wise Primary Census Abstract) (2014), p. 15 (PDF p. 22) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

Places in this district (8)

Monuments in this district (3)

Inscriptions found in this district (3)

References

Sources (8)
  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 India, Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (opens in a new tab), Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1909, pp. 174–183. [Public domain]
  3. A. Chandra Sekhar (Census of India), Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, 1965, i–ii, xxiii, xxvii. [Public domain in India]
  4. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xxxi, 5–7, 11–12, 16. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  5. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Karimnagar District, Part XII-B (Village and Town wise Primary Census Abstract) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 15. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  6. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, Formation / reorganisation of districts, revenue divisions and mandals: final notifications, G.O.Ms. Nos. 221 to 250 (11 October 2016) (opens in a new tab), Government of Telangana (goir.telangana.gov.in), for the Telangana Gazette Extraordinary of 11 October 2016, 2016, PDF pp. 2–3 of each order. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  7. 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. 260. [Public domain in India]
  8. 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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