Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Rangareddi (old district)

The old Rangareddi district in undivided Andhra Pradesh covered the countryside and outer towns around Hyderabad. It was formed in 1978 or 1979 from rural Hyderabad district, first under the name Hyderabad (rural), and later named after K. V. Ranga Reddy. Its farms supplied the city, while its industrial estates helped it become the State's most populous district by 2011. In 2016 Telangana divided it into Rangareddy, Vikarabad and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts.

The old Rangareddi district surrounded Hyderabad city, in the middle of the Deccan plateau.1 It was formed in 1978 or 1979 from the rural parts of Hyderabad district.234 Telangana divided it into three districts on 11 October 2016.234 The 2001 census handbook describes it as the countryside around Hyderabad that supplied the city with farm produce and other goods.1

Early history and kingdoms

The 1909 gazetteer says the area around Hyderabad formed part of the territory of the Kakatiyas of Warangal.5 It came under Muslim rule in the fourteenth century.5 In 1512 the Qutb Shahis set up their kingdom at Golconda, and Aurangzeb later added it to the Mughal empire.5 Early in the eighteenth century it became part of the Hyderabad State of the Asaf Jahis.5 See Hyderabad (old district) for the city and the crown district.

Before 1978

Under the Nizams the villages around the capital formed the Atraf-i-Balda district, the Nizam’s crown land.6 Its taluks in 1909 included Medchal, Ambarpet, Shahabad and Asafnagar.7 Vikarabad was then a separate paigah estate (a grant to a noble family) north-west of Shahabad.7

About 1948 Atraf-i-Balda and Baghat districts were abolished, and Hyderabad district was formed.8 In 1956 Pargi taluk was transferred to it from Mahbubnagar, Vikarabad from Medak and Tandur from Gulbarga.8 In 1961 the city stood “like an imposing ivory tower”, the census handbook says, while the countryside looked poor and neglected.9

Formation, 1978–79

The District Census Handbook of Rangareddi says the new district was formed on 15 August 1978.3 It was made by taking out part of Hyderabad urban taluk and joining the rest of Hyderabad district’s taluks.3 It was first named Hyderabad (rural) district, then K. V. Rangareddi district, and finally Rangareddi district.10

It was named after K. V. Ranga Reddy, a leading freedom fighter and later Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.10 He came from Pedamangalaram in Chevella taluk.10 In 1981 the district covered 7,493 square kilometres.10

1978–2014

In 1979 a new Maheswaram taluk was formed from 63 villages of Ibrahimpatnam taluk.1112 By 1981 the district had eleven taluks.10 The census of 1981 counted it among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.13

In 1985 the 11 taluks were reorganised into 37 mandals.1 A mandal parishad (local council) was formed for each mandal.1 The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 placed the district in the new State of Telangana.14

Division, 2016

On 11 October 2016 Telangana divided the district into three districts:4

Some of its mandals also went to Mahabubnagar.15 The notifications of 2016 spell the name Rangareddy.4

Administration

In 1981 the eleven taluks were Medchal, Marpally, Hayathnagar, Ibrahimpatnam, Maheswaram, Rajendranagar, Chevella, Vikarabad, Tandur, Pargi and Vallabhnagar.10 By 2001 the district had 37 mandals in three revenue divisions:116

  • Hyderabad East, with 13 mandals
  • Chevella, with 9 mandals
  • Vikarabad, with 15 mandals16

For the town of Hayathnagar, see its page.

Land, farming and water

In 1981 about 42.5 per cent of the land was cultivated, and forests covered only 9.7 per cent.10 Jowar was the largest crop in 1999–2000, followed by rice.17 That year only 29.5 per cent of the cropped area was irrigated.17

The 2001 handbook says the district had no major irrigation projects, though two rivers crossed it.17 The Musi fed the Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar mainly for drinking water.17 Wells were the main source of irrigation, and tube wells alone watered 51,902 hectares.17 The district also led the State in commercial poultry.18

Crafts and industries

The 2001 handbook says the district’s nearness to Hyderabad made it one of the best places in the State for industry.19 It had public sector works such as BHEL, ECIL, IDPL, HCL, HAL, HMT Bearings and NFC.19 In March 1999 about 230 large and medium industries employed 55,672 people.19 The Cement Corporation of India opened a factory near Tandur in 1982.19

Tandur’s limestone was quarried widely.17 In 1999–2000 the district produced over 29 lakh tonnes of limestone.18

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.20 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.21

Census yearPopulation
19013,39,477
19517,37,092
19618,70,208
198115,91,755
200135,75,064
201152,96,741

The population grew by 60.3 per cent between 1971 and 1981.20 In 2011 Rangareddi ranked first in the State in population.21

Where the sources disagree

  • When the district was formed. The census Portrait of Population gives 25 August 1979.2 The District Census Handbook of Rangareddi gives 15 August 1978, twice.310

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, Ranga Reddy District (2006), p. 8 (PDF p. 42) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

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

  3. S. S. Jaya Rao, Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (1987), PDF p. 20 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 248 (Vikarabad), No. 249 (Medchal-Malkajgiri) and No. 250 (Rangareddy), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 248 (opens in a new tab), 249 (opens in a new tab), 250 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  5. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 107 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  6. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 106 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  7. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 112 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  8. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Hyderabad District (1968), p. A1 (PDF p. 19) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  9. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Hyderabad District (1968), p. A2 (PDF p. 20) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  10. Jaya Rao, District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (1987), PDF p. 24 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  11. Jaya Rao, District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (1987), PDF p. 25 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  12. Jaya Rao, District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (1987), PDF p. 26 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

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

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

  15. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 241 (Mahabubnagar), No. 242 (Wanaparthy), No. 243 (Nagarkurnool) and No. 244 (Jogulamba), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 241 (opens in a new tab), 242 (opens in a new tab), 243 (opens in a new tab), 244 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  16. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Ranga Reddy District (2006), p. 9 (PDF p. 43) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  17. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Ranga Reddy District (2006), p. 13 (PDF p. 47) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  18. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Ranga Reddy District (2006), p. 14 (PDF p. 48) (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, Ranga Reddy District (2006), p. 15 (PDF p. 49) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  20. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Ranga Reddy District (2006), p. xxvii (PDF p. 19) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  21. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Rangareddy District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 7 (PDF p. 25) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

Places in this district (1)

Monuments in this district (1)

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; 16. 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. 106–107, 112. [Public domain]
  3. A. Chandra Sekhar (Census of India), Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Hyderabad District (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 1968, A1–A2. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  4. S. S. Jaya Rao (Census of India 1981), Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (opens in a new tab), Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, 1987, PDF pp. 20, 24–25. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  5. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Rangareddy District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xxvii, 8–9, 13–15. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  6. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Rangareddy District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 7. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  7. 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)]
  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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