Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Prakasam (old district)

The old Prakasam district lay in the dry Gundlakamma region of undivided Andhra Pradesh, between the Nallamala hills and the sea. It was formed as Ongole district on 2 February 1970 from parts of Guntur, Nellore and Kurnool. In 1972 it was renamed after Tanguturi Prakasam. Addanki, Konidena and Kandukur were old centres of power. The district was known for tobacco, cotton, granite, slate and the Ongole bull. In 2022 its territory was divided between Prakasam, Bapatla and Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore districts.

The old Prakasam district lay on the southern Andhra coast, between the Nallamala hills and the Bay of Bengal.1 Its main river is the Gundlakamma, and its headquarters was Ongole.1 It was formed in 1970.23 In 2022 Andhra Pradesh divided its territory between three districts.23

Early history and kingdoms

The 2001 census handbook gives the early history of the district.4 An inscription of the Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satakarni was found at Chinaganjam in Chirala taluk.4 Roman gold coins found at Dharmavaripalem in Darsi taluk show trade with distant lands.4

From the fourth to the fourteenth century the area, with Guntur, was known as Kammarashtra.4 Two copper-plate grants of the seventh century from Chendalur, near Ongole, name this country.4 The Pallavas and the Chalukyas of Badami fought over it.4

The Telugu Cholas of Konidena ruled the country for nearly two centuries from their capital there.5 The Kakatiya king Ganapati defeated them and brought Podili, Darsi, Addanki, Markapur and Giddalur under Kakatiya rule.5 Meanwhile a line of Yadava chiefs ruled from Addanki for about a century as vassals of the Kakatiyas and the Telugu Cholas.6

The Reddis and after

After the fall of Warangal, Vema Reddi founded the Reddi kingdom around Addanki.6 His Mallavaram inscription of 1325 calls him the ruler of that region.6 Addanki was the first capital of the kingdom.6

The poet Errapragada, who completed the Telugu Mahabharata’s Aranya Parva, lived at Gudluru in Kandukur taluk.6 He became the court poet of the Reddis of Addanki.6 Vema’s brother Malla Reddi took Motupalli and probably governed the southern province of Kandukur.7

In 1579 Ibrahim Qutb Shah of Golconda invaded, and most of the area passed to the Qutb Shahis.7 After 1687 it came under the Mughals.7 Under the Nizams, a Nawab governed Kurnool.7 The Nellore and Guntur parts were under the Nawabs of Arcot and Rajahmundry.7

Under the British

In 1801 the British gained full control of the three districts whose territory later formed Prakasam.7 Large estates were held by zamindars (landholders who collected revenue), among them those of Ongole and Venkatagiri.7 In 1904 the Ongole taluk moved from Nellore to the new Guntur district.89

The 1942 Nellore gazetteer notes that the famous Ongole cattle were usually called the Nellore breed.10 It explains that Ongole taluk had once been part of Nellore district.10 The 2001 handbook says many lawyers of the area gave up their practice in the freedom movement, with Tanguturi Prakasam leading them.11

Forming the district, 1970

Ongole district was formed on 2 February 1970 from parts of Guntur, Nellore and Kurnool.122 In 1971 it had nine taluks: Ongole, Kandukur, Kanigiri, Giddalur, Markapur, Podili, Darsi, Addanki and Chirala.13 Giddalur and Markapur came from Kurnool.4

In 1972 it was renamed Prakasam district after Tanguturi Prakasam, who was born there.12 He had been the first Chief Minister of the Andhra State.24 The census of 1981 counted Prakasam among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.14

1985–2014

In 1985 the district’s 17 taluks were reorganised into 56 mandals.11 They were grouped into three revenue divisions: Ongole, Kandukur and Markapur.11 After the division of 2014 it stayed in Andhra Pradesh.15

Division, 2022

On 4 April 2022 its territory was divided between three districts:3

Administration

In 2001 the district had 56 mandals in three revenue divisions.11 It had four municipal towns, Markapur, Chirala, Ongole and Kandukur, and four census towns.11 It ranked 15th among the State’s 23 districts in both area and population.1

Land, farming and water

Red loam covered about half of the district, and black cotton soil about two-fifths.16 The black soil lay mostly in the coastal and northern mandals around Ongole and Addanki.16 Forests covered about a quarter of the land.16 On the coast, the old forests were turned into casuarina and cashew plantations.16

The chief crops were paddy, jowar, pulses, chillies, cotton, groundnut and tobacco.17 The 2001 handbook calls the district one of the leading cotton areas of the State.18 Tobacco and cashew were its most important cash crops.18 In all 1,84,162 hectares were irrigated.19 Canals, including the Nagarjuna Sagar right canal, watered the largest share.19

The great tank at Cumbum was built about 400 years ago under the Vijayanagara kings, the 2001 handbook says.20

Crafts and industries

The 2001 handbook calls Prakasam an industrially backward district.21 Its larger factories were spinning mills and tobacco and oil plants.21 Black and “galaxy” granite from the district were in demand in India and abroad.17 A few hundred families around Markapur lived by making slates.17

Handloom cloth was a major trade.22 The “Bleeding Madras” cloth was popular, and Chirala was called “Chinna Bombay” for its cloth trade.22 Granite, tobacco, salt, cashew, slate and the Ongole bull were among the main goods traded.22

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.23 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.24

Census yearPopulation
19019,75,037
195114,63,737
197119,19,995
198123,29,571
200130,59,423
201133,97,448

In 2001 about 85 per cent of the people lived in villages.1

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

Footnotes

  1. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 10 (PDF p. 53) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  2. Purnachandra Rao, Portrait of Population (1981), p. 16 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 187 (Bapatla; Gazette No. 486), No. 189 (Prakasam; Gazette No. 488) and No. 190 (Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore; Gazette No. 489), 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: 187 (opens in a new tab), 189 (opens in a new tab), 190 (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, Prakasam District (2006), p. 5 (PDF p. 48) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

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

  6. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 7 (PDF p. 50) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  7. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 8 (PDF p. 51) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  8. Hemingway, Godavari, Vol. I (1907), p. 178 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  9. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 328 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  10. W. E. Johns, Gazetteer of the Nellore District, brought up to 1938, Vol. A (1942), p. 18 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  11. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 9 (PDF p. 52) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  12. T. Vedantam, Census of India 1971, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Ongole (Prakasam) District (1973), PDF p. 2 (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  13. T. Vedantam, Census of India 1971, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Ongole (Prakasam) District (1973), PDF p. 5 (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

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

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

  16. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 11 (PDF p. 54) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  17. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 12 (PDF p. 55) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  18. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 13 (PDF p. 56) (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, Prakasam District (2006), p. 14 (PDF p. 57) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

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

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

  22. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Prakasam District (2006), p. 17 (PDF p. 60) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

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

  24. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Prakasam 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. ↩

Places in this district (11)

Monuments in this district (1)

Inscriptions found in this district (9)

References

Sources (9)
  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; 16. 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. T. Vedantam (Census of India), Census of India 1971, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Ongole (Prakasam) District (Part X- A & B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 1973, PDF pp. 2, 5. 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, Prakasam District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xix, xxxi, 5–10, 12–17. 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, Prakasam 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)]
  6. F. R. Hemingway, Madras District Gazetteers: Godavari, Vol. I (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1907, pp. 178. [Public domain]
  7. Government of India, Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Madras, Vol. I (opens in a new tab), Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1908, pp. 328. [Public domain]
  8. W. E. Johns, Gazetteer of the Nellore District, brought up to 1938, Vol. A (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1942, pp. 18. [Public domain in India]
  9. 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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