Rayalaseema

Rayalaseema
రాయలసీమ
Hiranyaka Rastram
Region of Andhra Pradesh

Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh
Country India
State Andhra Pradesh
Area[1]
 • Total 67,526 km2 (26,072 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 15,184,908
 • Density 226/km2 (590/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Telugu
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)
Largest city Kurnool (by population))
Kadapa (by area)

Rayalaseema (Rāyalasīma) is a geographic region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It includes the four southern districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa and Kurnool.[2] As of 2011 census of India, the region with four districts has a total population of 15,184,908 and covers an area of 67,526 km2 (26,072 sq mi).[3]

The region borders the state of Tamil Nadu to the south, Karnataka to the west and Telangana to the north.[4]

History

During the British era, the Nizam of Hyderabad ceded this area to the British, and hence was called Ceded Districts'. Independence, it was renamed as Rayalaseema as 'seema' was an administrative unit of the Vijayanagara Empire similar to today's districts.

Post independence

The four districts of the region were part of the Madras Presidency until 1953.[5] From 1953–1956, the region was a part of Andhra State and in 1956, the Telangana region was merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh State.[6] On 2 February 1970, three taluks from Kurnool i.e, Markapur, Cumbum and Giddalur were merged along with some other taluks of Nellore district and Guntur district to form Prakasam district.

In February 2014, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 bill was passed by the Parliament of India for the formation of Telangana state comprising ten districts. Hyderabad will remain as a joint capital for 10 years for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.[7] The new state of Telangana came into existence on 2 June 2014 after approval from the President of India.[8] The formation of a new state named Telangana from Andhra Pradesh is not considered an amendment to the Constitution of India per article 3 and 4 of that document.[9] Major cities and towns are Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, Tirupathi and Chittoor are the major cities of the region.

Geography

Rayalaseema region is located in the southern region of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Etymology

Nizam of Hyderabad ceded the districts of this region to Britishers and hence, they were referred as Ceded districts. In 1928, a strong dislike was expressed from the leaders in the Andhra Mahasabha, held at Nandyal. The region got its name as Rayalaseema with a proposal from Chilukuri Narayana Rao and was accepted.

Economy

Rayalaseema is rich in minerals - Asbestos, Barytes, China clay, Calcite, Dolomite, Diamonds, Green Quartz, Iron ore, Lime stone and Silica sand. It also has rich forest wealth like the rare Red sandalwood which is highly economical, and main revenue source for the state, and other forest sources include non timber resources, medicinal plants etc. The region has the TTD board, the richest religious board in the country.

The Rayalaseema area is prone to drought. In 2015, locals complained about a neglect of several projects to alleviate this, particularly in the areas of irrigation.[10]

Culture

Jain Heritage sites in Rayalaseema
Buddhist sites in Rayalaseema

Literature

Telugu culture reached its zenith during the Vijayanagara rule under Sri Krishnadevaraya. Amongst Ashta Diggajas, Allasani Peddana, Dhoorjati, Nandi Timmana, Maadayyagari Mallana and Ayyalaraju RamaBhadrudu are from this region. Poets like Vemana, Sri Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami from Kadapa district played a great role in educating the common people through their literary works. It is also written by most experts (per Kandukuri Viresalingam etc) until 1930s that Pothana, who penned Andhra Mahabhagavatham, actually belonged to Ontimitta village of Kadapa District. Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti and Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy - an essayist, poet and educationist are from this region. Yogi Vemana is also a notable poet.

Music and actors

There are many notable actors in film industry such as, Chitturu Nagayya, Kadiri Venkata Reddy, Pasupuleti Kannamba, Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao, Chadalavada Kutumba Rao etc. Musicians and poets include, Annamayya, Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma, Vellaala Subbamma etc.

Annamayya is a spiritual guru, who wrote songs on Lord Venkateswara, Sri Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami, Ganapathi Sachchidananda, Satya Sai baba is a spiritual and religious savant, Jiddu Krishnamurtie.

Landmarks

The Penna near Gandikota
Sri Venkateswara National Park near Talakona

Gandikota is one of the oldest fort dating back to 1123. Belum Caves are the second largest cave in Indian sub-continent and the longest caves in plains of Indian Subcontinent. It is located at Belum Village of Kurnool District. Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary is the only Sanctuary in the world which provides home for a bird called Jerdon's courser. Gurramkonda, Chandragiri, Horsley Hills, Kuppam and Talakona of Chittoor district.

Thimmama Marrimanu, world's largest banyan tree, covering 5.2 acres (21,000 m2) and 550 years old. It holds a Guinness record. It is situated Near Kadiri, 120 kilometres from Anantapur.

Religious destinations

Rayalaseema has many important places of pilgrimage. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, abode of Lord Venkateswara is the richest and the most visited place of worship in the world. The other being Srisailam, Ahobilam, Srikalahasti, Mahanandi, Mantralayam, Puttaparthi, Yaganti, Lepakshi, Ontimitta, Bramhamgarimatham etc. Shahi jamia masjid in Adoni is one of the oldest construction in South India, built around 1662 AD by Siddi Masood Khan,[11] Ameen Peer Dargah, a famous Sufi Shrine in India.

Education

JNTU is the top university in Rayalaseema region, some of the best engineering colleges in Rayalseema include SVNE located 15 km away from Tirupati, RGMCET located at Nandyal, G Pulla reddy located at Kurnool. SV University is located in Tirupati which is considered to be a hub for education in Rayalaseema. Rayalaseema universities include, Sri Venkateswara University, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam, IIT Tirupati, IISER, Sri Sathya Sai University, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, JNTU Anantapur, Yogi Vemana University, Rayalaseema University, Kurnool Medical College, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Dravidian University, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University

Politics

Rayalaseema along with other aspirational states in the country

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Damodaram Sanjivayya, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and N.Kiran Kumar Reddy are the people who served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, hail from the Rayalaseema region of the state, with N. Chandrababu Naidu being the incumbent. The region saw as many as 6 chief ministers for the state.[12]

Sri Baghpact

Based on Sri Bagh Pact signed on 15 November 1937, Kurnool was made as the capital of the new state after the division of Andhra state from the Madras state.[13][14] As per the second State Resolution Commission, capital was shifted to Hyderabad upon the formation of Andhra Pradesh.[15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh Fact Sheet". mapsofindia.com.
  2. ↑ Rajeev, M (11 October 2015). "Rayalaseema in a state of discontent". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Population of AP districts(2011)" (pdf). ap.gov.in. p. 14. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh - end of an era". Business Standard (Hyderabad). 30 July 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "The Indian Express - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  6. ↑ "The Indian Express - Google News Archive Search". google.com.
  7. ↑ "The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014" (PDF). India Code Legislative Department. Ministry of Law and Justice. 1 March 2014. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Telangana state formation gazette". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  9. ↑ "Constitution of India Sub-section". March 4, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  10. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/state-view-rayalaseema-in-a-state-of-discontent/article7747573.ece
  11. ↑ http://www.indiahotelreview.com/travel-guide/mantralayam/getaways-around-mantralyam-adoni-91-598.htm
  12. ↑ "Telangana.com - Committed For Development Telangana......". telangana.com.
  13. ↑ Raju, P. Yenadi (2003). Rayalaseema during colonial times : a study un indian nationalism. New Dehli: Northern Book Centre. p. 214. ISBN 978-81-7211-139-7. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  14. ↑ "APonline - History and Culture - History-Post-Independence Era". aponline.gov.in.
  15. ↑ "Revive Sri Bagh pact, demands vedika". Hyderabad. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2015.

External links

Media related to Rayalaseema at Wikimedia Commons

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