The State of Rayalaseema

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Rayalaseema was carved out of the erstwhile Madras Presidency in 1953. Kurnool became the capital of Andhra State. The capital was lat- ter shifted to Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh emerged by amalgamating Telangana region on Nov. 1. 1956. Rayalaseema produced many Chief Ministers. But this region suffered a lot both economically and socially. Geographically this rain shadow region receives an average of 550 mm of rainfall. Only 24 per cent of the Rayalaseema area is ir- rigated in planned period, whereas in the State of Andhra Pradesh this figure is 41 per cent. Productivity and production of crops have not risen consistently in the Rayalaseema region. Foodgrains area and production have signifi- cantly fallen and farmers have shifted to commercial crops.

Lawlessness was abundantly pre- vailing in many parts of the faction- ridden villages of the Rayalaseema region. This menace made the vil- lagers lose their confidence and sense of security of life and prop- erty. Owing to this ugly hydra- headed menace both agriculture and industrialization expansion were increasingly retarded in the Rayalaseema region.

Apart from the agrarian and eco- nomic issues, the book contains comprehensive sections on educa- tion, urbanisation and women de- velopment as well as profiles of some of the great sons of the soil like Jiddu Krishnamurti, Madabushi Ananthasayanam lyengar and Pappuru Ramacharyulu.

DR. A. RANGA REDDY is Professor, Department of Economics, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati and currently completed the projects on "An Assessment of Environmental Impact of Tungabhadra Project" funded by UGC and "Revisting Puchalapalle Sundarayya's Research Study on Agrarian Changes" in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh' funded by ICSSR, New Delhi. He organised many lecture Programmes, Seminars on Sustainable Development, Wastage of Irrigation Water, Healthcare Services Management, Banking Credit.So far he has published more than 50 papers and two books. He is a life member of several national professional bodies and Secretary of Madabushi Ananthasayanam Institute of Public Affairs, Tirupati. He was selected for Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme, 1997 and visited Paris. In the same year, he presented a research paper on Rayalaseema in the International Conference held at University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi. He received Meritorious Teacher award from S.V. University on March 31, 2000. He elected Executive Committee Member of Indian Economic Association held at Vellore on Dec. 30, 2001.

9 the early 14th century, the golden rule of Vijayanagar Empire made a positive impact on socio-economic-political and cultural life of the people in the Rayalaseema region. The prosperity of agriculture supported by the tank and minor irrigation. aniculs was steady and sustainable. The availability of food, clothing, shelter was in abundance ensuring enough sense of security to life and property. The entry of Muslim rule into this region in sixteenth century led to confusion and chaos among all sections of society. During this period, military chieftains (Palegars) emerged in the scenario as self-styled leaders to rob both the rich and the poor but brought more sleepless nights to the rich segments. Very often, the kings also used the serivces of palegars to conquer the enemies and subdue them. Under the Muslim rule the peasant and artisans of this region underwent trauma and travail due to heavy taxes, inspite of recurring famines and droughts. As the districts were found less remunerative to the exchequer and presented the problems of law and order, Nizam Ali Khan of Hyderabad decided to handover; the area to the East India Company, in return for a subsidiary force to be maintained in his Dominions. Because of this reason these are called as ceded districts. Of course, among the colonial rulers, Major Thomas Munro - the benevolent official, learned Telugu and understood the typical problems of peasants, traders, tenants and labourers. He identified palegars as a menace and suppressed them ruthlessly and introduced Rythuvari system in 1820 A.D. C.P. Brown-the scholarly District collector, Cuddapah, spend his whole life for improving the 'Italian of the East', In the mid ninetheenth century, when Rayalaseema districts were passing through the worst period of famines, disease, hunger, starvation, Arthur Cotton - an eminent engineer, took the initiative to plan, design and construct Kurnool- Cuddapah Canal to supply drinking water to the men and cattle.

**Contents and Sample Pages**