Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Nalgonda (old district)

The old Nalgonda district lay between the Musi and Krishna rivers in southern Telangana, within undivided Andhra Pradesh. Under the Nizams it was a region of forts, castor fields and tanks. The Nagarjuna Sagar dam on the Krishna, still under construction in 1961, later changed the district through its canals and power houses, making rice farming prominent. In 2016 Telangana divided it into Nalgonda, Suryapet and Yadadri districts.

The old Nalgonda district lay in southern Telangana, with the Krishna river on its southern border.1 It became part of Andhra Pradesh in 1956.23 Telangana divided it into three districts on 11 October 2016.23 The 2001 census handbook says it was famous for the Nagarjuna Sagar dam, Bhongir fort and the temple at Yadagirigutta.4

Early history and kingdoms

The 1909 gazetteer says the district “was part of the dominions of the Warangal Rajas”, the Kakatiyas, as the 1961 census handbook calls them.52 One of their governors built Pangal, 2 miles north-east of Nalgonda, and later moved his seat to Nalgonda.5 See Panugallu, Kolanupaka, Pillalamarri and Nagulapadu for older temples and inscriptions.

The Bahmani king Ahmad Shah Wali conquered Nalgonda.5 After the Bahmani kingdom broke up, the district became part of the Qutb Shahi kingdom of Golconda.5 The Raja of Warangal won it back for a time, but Sultan Quli Qutb Shah retook it.5 For the hill capitals of the Recherla chiefs, see Rachakonda and Devarakonda.

After Golconda fell, Aurangzeb added the district to the Mughal empire.5 Early in the eighteenth century it became part of the Hyderabad State of the Asaf Jahis.5 The gazetteer names the forts of Nalgonda, Devarkonda, Orlakonda and Bhongir as its chief old sites.5

The Nizam’s district

In 1909 the district covered 4,143 square miles.6 In 1905 Cherial and Kodar came to it from Warangal, and Kodar was made a taluk named Pochamcherla.7 The district then had seven taluks.7 Its headquarters was Nalgonda town.52

The Madras Sappers and Miners built the road from Hyderabad to Masulipatam through the district in 1832, for military use.8 A branch of it ran to Wazirabad on the Krishna.89 The Nizam’s railway crossed only Bhongir taluk.8

1956–2014

In 1953, when Khammam district was formed, Jangaon taluk went to Warangal district.2 On 1 November 1956 Nalgonda became part of Andhra Pradesh, with the eight other districts of Telangana.2 It gained the Munagala paragana of 23 villages from Krishna district.2 It also gained a small forest area from Guntur district, on which the township of Vijayapuri South was built.2

In 1961 the district covered 5,492 square miles, with seven taluks in three revenue divisions.2 The census of 1981 counted it among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.10 By 2001 it had 59 mandals, and a fourth revenue division was formed at Suryapet.11 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 three districts:3

Some of its mandals also went to Jangaon.13

Administration

After 1905 the seven taluks were Nalgonda, Cherial, Suriapet, Pochamcherla, Mirialguda (Devalpalli), Devarkonda and Bhongir.7 A First Talukdar (district officer) ran the district.9 Second and Third Talukdars were in charge of its three sub-divisions.9

In 1961 there were three revenue divisions and seven taluks.2 By 2001 the 59 mandals were grouped into four revenue divisions: Bhongir, Nalgonda, Miryalaguda and Suryapet.11

Land, farming and water

In 1901 jowar and bajra were the staple food crops, and rice came next.14 Castor covered 386 square miles, more than any food crop.14 Tanks, wells and channels from the Musi, Aler and Peddavagu watered 229 square miles.14 The district had 352 large tanks, 1,110 smaller ones and 12,456 wells.14 Devarkonda taluk bred sturdy black or red cattle, which buyers took across the border into British territory.14

In 1961 the main irrigation came from medium projects on the Musi and the Dindi, and from many tanks.15 Out of 9,11,934 workers, 6,41,019 worked in farming.15

By 1999–2000 the Nagarjuna Sagar project watered 1,23,987 hectares in the district, and the Musi project 16,923.16 That year canals watered 79,189 hectares, ordinary wells 71,374 and tube wells 34,553.16 Paddy took most of the irrigated land.16

Crafts and industries

In 1909 Charlapalli and Pangal made durable silk scarves and saris.8 Bhongir made fine light earthen goblets and cups, which went to Hyderabad.8 Gold was mined at Chitrial for a time, but the mine was later abandoned.8

In 1961 the Nagarjuna Sagar works had brought a new township, Vijayapuri, and heavy traffic through the district.17 By 1997–98 the district had 86 large and medium industries, in sugar, cotton, cement, chemicals, paper and other goods.18 A sugar factory worked at Miryalaguda.16 In 2000 the three power houses at Nagarjuna Sagar had a capacity of 960 megawatts.18

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.19 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.20

Census yearPopulation
19017,76,087
195112,87,169
196115,57,742
198122,79,685
200132,47,982
201134,88,809

In 1901 about 91 per cent of the people of the district spoke Telugu.57

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

Footnotes

  1. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 151 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  2. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (1967), p. A1 (PDF p. 18) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  3. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 245 (Nalgonda), No. 246 (Suryapet) and No. 247 (Yadadri), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 245 (opens in a new tab), 246 (opens in a new tab), 247 (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, Nalgonda District (2006), p. xix (PDF p. 11) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  5. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 152 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  6. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 150 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  7. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 153 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  8. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 155 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  9. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 156 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

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

  11. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (2006), p. 8 (PDF p. 53) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  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. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 154 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  15. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (1967), p. A3 (PDF p. 20) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  16. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (2006), p. 14 (PDF p. 59) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  17. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (1967), p. A4 (PDF p. 21) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  18. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (2006), p. 17 (PDF p. 62) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

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

  20. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District, Part XII-B (Village and Town wise Primary Census Abstract) (2014), p. 16 (PDF p. 25) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

Places in this district (12)

Monuments in this district (3)

Inscriptions found in this district (14)

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. 150–156. [Public domain]
  3. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, 1967, A1, A3–A4. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  4. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Nalgonda District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xix, xxxi, 8, 11–12, 14, 17. 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, Nalgonda District, Part XII-B (Village and Town wise Primary Census Abstract) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 16. 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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