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Vizianagaram (old district)

The old Vizianagaram district lay in north Andhra, between Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam, in undivided Andhra Pradesh. It was formed in 1979 from parts of both districts. It was home to the Pusapati Rajas of Vizianagaram. Their feud with Bobbili led to the siege of Bobbili in 1757, and their power ended at Padmanabham in 1794. Jute, sugar and ferro-alloys were its main industries. Gurajada Appa Rao was its best-known writer. In 2022 its territory was divided between Vizianagaram and Parvathipuram Manyam districts.

The old Vizianagaram district lay in north Andhra, between Srikakulam district on the east and Visakhapatnam district on the west.1 Its headquarters was the town of Vizianagaram.1 It was formed in 1979.23 In 2022 Andhra Pradesh divided its territory between two districts.23

Early history and kingdoms

According to the 2001 handbook, digs at Jami, Andra and Rompallivalasa showed settlements from the Neolithic to the Iron Age.4 The district shared the history of Kalinga, which Ashoka conquered about 261 BC.4 The handbook places the Satavahanas next in this history, followed by the Gupta emperor Samudragupta.4

The Eastern Gangas and then the Gajapatis ruled the area for a long time.4 A branch of the Gangas ruled at Narayanapuram in Balijipeta mandal for about a century and a half from the twelfth century.5 Another branch ruled Jantarunadu, around Srungavarapukota and Jami, from 1270 to 1461.5

The Silas of Nandapura, whose capitals were Nandapura and Bobbili, ruled for about a hundred years from the middle of the fourteenth century.6 The handbook says the Reddis of Rajahmundry also ruled the district from 1353 to 1424.6 Between 1520 and 1740 it passed to the Qutb Shahis and the Mughals.6

The Rajas of Vizianagaram and Bobbili

The 2001 handbook calls the early history of the Vizianagaram zamindars obscure.6 The family, the Pusapatis, rented villages from the governor of the Chicacole Circar.6 One of them, Viziarama Raju, moved from Potnuru to Vizianagaram and built a stone fort there.6 The Vizianagaram and Bobbili families were bitter rivals.6

In 1757 the French general Bussy came north, and Viziarama Raju joined him with a large army.7 He persuaded Bussy to attack the fort of Bobbili.7 The Bobbili chief defended himself to the utmost, then had the women and children killed and died fighting with his men.7 Three nights later Viziarama Raju was killed in his tent by Bobbili’s followers.7 The 2001 handbook names one of them as Tandra Papa Rayudu.8

His successor Ananda Raju turned against the French.9 He captured Visakhapatnam and invited the English in Bengal to drive out the French.9 Clive sent Colonel Forde.9 Later the Raja and his half-brother Sitarama Raju made the other zamindars of the area pay them tribute.6

A committee condemned Sitarama Raju’s rule in 1784, and he was removed as diwan (chief minister).6 In May 1794 Viziarama Raju was killed fighting the Company’s forces.6 Francis’s 1907 gazetteer places the battle at Padmanabham, in Visakhapatnam district.10 His son Narayana Raju was then made zamindar, and the old estates of Bobbili, Kurupam, Salur and others were returned to their owners.6

Under the British

The 2001 handbook says the estates paid a fixed peshkash (tribute) and could be sold if they failed to pay.6 Unrest followed, and in 1832 George Russell was sent to put it down.6 The estate of Palakonda was then taken over, and the zamindars of the plains gave no more trouble.6

In 1794 the posts of Chief at the coast settlements were abolished, and Collectors took their place.11 Delegates from the area attended the first session of the Indian National Congress in Bombay in 1885.11 In the Quit India movement of 1942, people cut railway and telegraph wires near Bobbili.12

The new district, 1979–2014

Vizianagaram district was formed on 12 April 1979.2 It was made from parts of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts.2 The census of 1981 counted it among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.13

In 1985 the district’s 12 taluks were reorganised into 34 mandals.1 After the division of 2014 it stayed in Andhra Pradesh.14

Division, 2022

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

Administration

The district lies on the north Andhra coastal plain and borders Orissa on the north-west.1 The 2011 handbook ranks it 23rd, the last, among the districts of the State in population.15

Land, farming and water

The 2001 handbook says the district had no major irrigation projects.16 Eleven medium projects watered 39,298 hectares.16 Tanks were the largest source of irrigation, watering 89,277 hectares.16 Canals watered 33,641 hectares.16

Crafts and industries

The 2001 handbook says the district’s economy was mainly agricultural, and its industry was largely based on farm produce.17 Jute mills worked at Nellimarla, Vantitadi Agraharam and Salur, and sugar factories at Bobbili and Seethanagaram.17 A ferro-alloys plant stood at Sreeramnagar in Garividi mandal.17 The handbook says the district was famous for ferro-alloys and sugar.18

The writer Gurajada Appa Rao (1861–1915) belonged to Vizianagaram.19 His play Kanyasulkam is still popular.19

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.15

Census yearPopulation
19019,29,913
195113,06,389
196114,11,055
198118,04,196
200122,49,254
201123,44,474

Where the sources disagree

The sources give three dates for the start of the district:241

  • The 1981 census portrait says it was formed on 12 April 1979.2
  • The 2001 census handbook says in one place that it was inaugurated on 1 July 1979.4
  • Elsewhere the same handbook says it was formed on 1 June 1979.1

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, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 11 (PDF p. 41) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. Purnachandra Rao, Portrait of Population (1981), p. 16 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  3. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 174 (Vizianagaram; Gazette No. 473) and No. 175 (Parvathipuram Manyam; Gazette No. 474), 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: 174 (opens in a new tab), 175 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  4. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 5 (PDF p. 35) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 6 (PDF p. 36) (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, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 7 (PDF p. 37) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14

  7. W. Francis, Madras District Gazetteers: Vizagapatam, Vol. I (1907), p. 32 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  8. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 8 (PDF p. 38) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  9. W. Francis, Madras District Gazetteers: Vizagapatam, Vol. I (1907), p. 33 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. W. Francis, Madras District Gazetteers: Vizagapatam, Vol. I (1907), p. 53 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  11. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 9 (PDF p. 39) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  12. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 10 (PDF p. 40) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  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. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 13 (PDF p. 31) (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, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 19 (PDF p. 49) (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, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. 22 (PDF p. 52) (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, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. xix (PDF p. 11) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  19. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District (2006), PDF p. 4 (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, Vizianagaram District (2006), p. xxvii (PDF p. 19) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

Places in this district (5)

Inscriptions found in this district (3)

References

Sources (6)
  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. W. Francis, Madras District Gazetteers: Vizagapatam, Vol. I (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1907, pp. 32–33, 46, 53. [Public domain]
  4. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Vizianagaram District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xix, xxvii, 5–11, 19, 22; PDF p. 4. 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, Vizianagaram District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 13. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  6. 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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