History of Andhra Pradesh
about Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh (pronunciation (help·info)), abbreviated A.P., and known as the "Rice Bowl of India", is a state in southern India. It lies between 12°41' and 22°N latitude and 77° and 84°40'E longitude, and is bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Orissa in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the East, Tamil Nadu to the south and Karnataka to the west. Andhra Pradesh is the 4th largest state in India by area 106,195 sq mi (275,608 km²) and population (75 million). It is the largest state in Southern India. Two major rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna run across the state. The small enclave (12 sq mi (30 km²)) of the Yanam district of Pondicherry state lies in the Godavari Delta in north-east of the state. Historically the region comprising the state was known as Andhraapatha, Andhradesa,Andhraavani, Andhra vishaya etc.
History
The history of Andhra Pradesh can be broadly divided into two epochs. The first epoch deals with pre-historic period spanning the Stone Age (10,000 BCE-2000 BCE), Copper Age (2000 BCE-1000 BCE) and Iron Age (1000 BCE-500 BCE).
The recorded history or mention of Andhra can be traced from Aitareya Brahmana (dated between 1500 BCE and 800 BCE). The story of Viswamitra and Sunassepa mentioned that Andhra, Sabara, Pulinda and Pundra tribes were living in Aryavarta. The epic of Mahabharata mentioned that Andhas fought the war on behalf of Kauravas (andhrascha bahavah). The Buddha Jatakakathas (500 BCE-400 BCE) mentned Andhrapatha (Bimasena Jataka) and Andhranagari (Serivanija Jataka).
.This state became an important Buddhist center during Ashoka the Great Mauriyan king ( 3rd century B.C.) reign. The evidences of the Buddhist influence can be seen in Amaravathi and Nagarjunakonda. These are regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in India.
Post-Independence
After India's independence, the Muslim Nizam of Hyderabad wanted to retain his independence from India, he was forced accede his kingdom to India in 1948 as the Hyderabad State and at the same time in an effort to protect the interests of the Telugu people of Madras state, Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu attempted to force the Madras Presidency government to listen to public demands for the separation of Telugu speaking districts (Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra) from Madras Presidency to form the Andhra state. He went on a lengthy fast. On the midnight of 15 December (i.e. early 16 December, 1952), Potti Sriramulu died and laid down his life trying to achieve his objective. At last on 19 December 1952, the Prime Minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru made an announcement about formation of a separate state for Telugu speaking people of Madras Presidency. Then the Telugu-speaking people (although Urdu is spoken in some parts of Hyderabad and in few other districts of Telangana) were distributed in about 22 districts, 9 of them in the Nizam's Dominions(Hyderabad state) and 12 in the Madras Presidency and one in French controlled Yanam. But after an agitation, on October 1, 1953, 11 districts of the Madras State were consolidated to form a new andhra State with Kurnool as capital & Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu became first Chief Minister of thus formed Telugu State. In 1954, Yanam (India) was liberated and it was merged with Pondicherry in 1963.
Later, on November 1, 1956 the State Reorganization Commission recommended the andhra State to merge with the 9 districts which were in the Telangana region (Nizam's Dominion) . The city of Hyderabad, became the capital of the new enlarged Andhra Pradesh, which was also the capital of the Nizam.
The population of Telangana was not enthusiastic about this merger, and since 1969 an active moment has existed for succession as a separate Indian state of Telangana.
Divisions
Andhra Pradesh can be divided into three regions, namely Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.
Andhra Pradesh has 23 districts: Adilabad, Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, East Godavari, Guntur, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Krishna, Kurnool, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Sri Potti Sreeramulu Nellore, Nizamabad, Prakasam, Rangareddy, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Warangal and West Godavari.
Hyderabad is the capital and, along with the adjoining twin city Secunderabad, is the largest city in the state. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh's main seaport, is the second largest city of the state and is home to the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command. Vijayawada due to its location and proximity to major rail and road routes is a major trading center and the third largest city of the state. Other important cities and towns are: Kakinada, Guntur, Warangal, Tirupati, Rajahmundry, Nellore, Kurnool, Anantapur, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Eluru.
Demographics
Andhra Pradesh Population |
|
|
Telugu |
Other languages |
Total % |
Hindu |
81% |
8%1 |
89% |
Muslim |
1% |
8%2 |
9% |
Christian |
0.5% |
0.5%3 |
1% |
Other religions |
0.5% |
0.5% |
1% |
Total |
83% |
17% |
100% |
Telugu is the regional and official language of the state, spoken by 83.75% of the population. Telugu is the third most spoken language in India.[4] The major linguistic minority groups in the state include the speakers of Urdu (8.63%) and Hindi (3.23%).The Indian government designated Telugu as a classical and ancient language on November 1, 2008.
Other languages spoken in Andhra Pradesh by less than 1% each include Tamil (0.97%), Kannada (0.94%), Marathi (0.84%), Oriya (0.42%), Gondi (0.21%) and Malayalam (0.1%). Languages spoken by less than 0.1% are the states residents include Gujarati (0.09%), Savara (0.09%), Koya (0.08%), Jatapu (0.04%), Punjabi (0.04%), Kolami (0.03%), Konda (0.03%), Gadaba (0.02%), Sindhi (0.02%), Gorkhali/Nepali (0.01%) and Khond/Kondh (0.01%).
- The state has also started to focus on the fields of information technology and biotechnology. In 2004–2005, Andhra Pradesh was at the fifth position in the list of top IT exporting states of India.
- Andhra Pradesh is a mineral rich state, ranking second in India in terms of mineral wealth.
- The state ranks first nationwide in hydro electricity generation with national market share of over 11%.
- Andhra Pradesh has a Legislative Assembly of 294 seats. The state has 60 members in the Parliament of India; 18 in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House and 42 in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House.
- Jayapa Senani (Jayapa Nayudu) is the first person who wrote about the dances prevalent in Andhra Pradesh.
- Andhra Pradesh is home to Hindu saints of all castes.
- Tirupati or Tirumala is a very important pilgrimage for Hindus throughout India. It is the richest piligrimage city (of any religious faith) in the world. Its main temple is dedicated to the god Venkateswara.
