Adilabad District History

Adilabad derives its name from the erstwhile ruler of Bijapur, Muhammad Yusuf Adil Shah
First named some time before the 10th century as Edulabad or Edlawada 'Land of Oxen' in Telugu.

Bommalagutta  Inscription: Adilabad was referred to as Bellalam, Sircilla as Sidhasila, Vangapalle was referred to as Vangaparru and Nedikonda as Nidumgonna.

Before that, this place was under the rule of Asaf Jahis, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, and the Gond kings of Sirpur and Chanda. This further points to the larger population of Gonds in the area. 

It lies on the border of both central and southern India which made the region vulnerable to attacks and invasions from both sides. As a result, the modern history of Adilabad is an interesting amalgamation of the Marathi and Telugu cultures. The local population of Adilabad follows traditions that are a mix of the two cultures, but these traditions have now become an integral part of the daily lives of the people. Also, the Bengali, Rajasthani and Gujarati cultures have found prevalence in the area.

Originally this was not full fledged district but a sub-district named Sirpur-Tandur which was created in A.D. 1872 with Edlabad (Adilabad), Rajura and Sirpur as its consistuents talukas. In 1905 the status of this sub-district was raised to that of an independent district with head quarters at Adilabad. Further in 2016, The Adilabad district is re organized in to 4 districts namely Adilabad,Nirmal,Mancherial and KumramBheem Asifabad Districts.

Adilabad has a colorful history considering that it was the place ofconvergence for many cultures and religions. The region also enjoys the distinction of having been ruled by many north Indian dynasties that include the Mauryas, Bhonsle Rajas of Nagpur and the Mughals.

Adilabad was also part of the south Indian rulers belonging to dynasties of Satavahanas, Vakatakas, Rashrakutas, Kakatiyas, Chalukyas and Imad Shahis of Berar. The reason behind this is the geographical location of the town. 

Adilabad gained maximum prominence during the time of the Mughals. Aurangzeb appointed an officer from his administration known as the Viceroy of Deccan, to take care of his kingdom down south. Under the reign of Aurangzeb, the region developed into a major financial and business hub. The town conducted import and export of spices, cloth and other products with neighbouring towns and cities and even with places as far as Delhi. Aurangzeb ensured that the economy of this region of Deccan was taken care of. He did so because he knew that in order to be recognised as the Emperor of India, he had to keep the Adilabad region of south India under his control.

The economic condition of Adilabad was in a good position, but all this was to be changed when the East India Company came to Deccan. The Nizam traded Adilabad and the surrounding areas for money. During the 1860 revolt the people of Adilabad, under the leadership of Ramji Gond, revolted against this barter. Again in the 1940s the region of Adilabad played an important role in India’s struggle for complete independence.

c.700 BC - c. 300 BC Asmaka (One of the 16 Mahajanapadas) 
Founder : Unknown (Believed to be Asmaka) 
Capitals : Potana or Potali or Paudanya of Mahabharata or today's Bodhan. 
Languages : Prakrit 
Religion : Budhism, Jainism, Hinduism 

c.300 BC - 232 BC : Mauryan Empire (322 BC –185 BC)
Founder : Chandragupta Maurya (320 BC - 298 BC)
Capital : Pataliputra
Languages : Prakrit
Religion : Budhism, Jainism, Brahmanism

c. 232 BC - c. 208 AD : Pre-Satavahana and Satavahana Dynasty
Satavahana Dynasty
Founder : Simuka
Languages : Prakrit, Sanskrit, Telugu
Religion : Budhism, Jainism, Hinduism

c. 340 - 477 A.D : Vakataka Dynasty (250 AD - 500 AD)
Founder : Vindhyashakti (250 AD - 270 AD)
Capitals : Vatsagulma, the present day Washim in Maharashtra.
Languages : Maharashtri Prakrit, Sanskrit
Religion : Budhism, Hinduism

c.550 AD - 753 AD : Badami Chalukyas (543 AD - 753 AD)
Founder : Pulakeshin I
Capitals : Badami
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism

753 AD - 973 AD : Rashtrakuta Dynasty
Founder : Dantidurga Capitals : Manyakheta
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism

973 AD - 1158 AD : Western Chalukyas / Kalyani Chalukyas (973 AD - 1189 AD)
Founder : Tailapa II Capitals : Manyakheta, Kalyani (Basavakalyan in Bidar , Karnataka)
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism

1158 AD - 1323 AD : Kakatiya Dynasty
Founder : Venna
Capitals : Anumakonda(Hanumakonda), Orugallu / Ekasilanagara (Warangal)
Languages : Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism (Saivism)

c. 1323 AD - 1750 A.D: Sirpur-Chanda Gond Dynasty of Gondwana KingdomFounder : Kol Bhill or Kol Bheel or Kolkhil
Capitals : Sirpur (modern Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana), Ballarsha, Chanda (Chandrapur district, Maharashtra)
Languages : Gondi language is known as ‘Koyator’ among Gonds. Southern Gondi, Adilabad Gondi, Northern Gondi, Aheri Gondi are variants of the language.
Religion : Brahmanical Hinduism or Cult of the Persa Pen (clan deities); ancestor spirit worship
Royal Emblem : Lion and Elephant
Family Name: Singh, Shah
Sirpur-Chanda Gond Kingdom flourished along with Kakatiyas, Mususnuru, Recharla Padmanayakas, Bahmani, Golkonda, Moghul and Asaf-Jahi dynasties.

1350 AD - 1518 AD : Bahmani Sultanate (1347 AD - 1527 AD)
Founder : Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah
Capital : Daulatabad, Gulbarga

1518 AD - 1686 AD : Adil Shahi dynasty or Bijapur Sultanate (1490 AD - 1686 AD)
Founder : Yusuf Adil Shah
Capital : Bijapur
Languages : Persian (Official), Deccani Urdu, Persian, Marathi, Telugu

1558 AD - 1579 AD : Ali Adil Shah I
Adilabad is named after Ali Adil Shah I

1687 AD - 1724 AD : Mughal Empire

1724 AD - 1948 AD : Asaf Jahis
1798 : Hyderabad became the first Indian royal state to accede to British protection under the policy of Subsidiary Alliance instituted by Arthur Wellesley.

1872 AD : Originally this was not full fledged district but a sub-district named Sirpur-Tandur which was created in A.D. 1872 with Edlabad (Adilabad), Rajura and Sirpur as its consistuents talukas. 

1905 AD : In 1905 the status of this sub-district was raised to that of an independent district with head quarters at Adilabad. 

2016 AD : Further in 2016, The Adilabad district is re organized in to 4 districts namely Adilabad,Nirmal,Mancherial and KumramBheem Asifabad Districts.

The chain of tank system is a wonderful innovation of Nirmal kings.Its catchment area is from the Mahaboobghat on the sahyadri hills and about 13km away from the main town.The cyphons were used to control the flow of water to different tanks.The scientific advancement in connecting water tanks and diverting water is highly applaudable and a book can be written on this single subject.The connected tanks are Bangalpet tank, Ramraobagh tank, kurannapet tank, manjulapur tank, alur tank, etc.Finally the excess water disposses into the swarna river .The advantages of this system is that catchment area is extended, water storage capacity increased there by ground water table increased,Agricultural , flora and fauna development took place,floods can be controlled and wastage of water is controlled.

The nizam period has witnessed the development of infrastucure to certain extent.soan bridge was constructed over the river Godavari. It was the one the earliest bridges in India. He also constructed a barrage at sadarmat on river Godavari. It has icreased the food production in the area, leading to food security.

The great KomaramBheem fought against the oppression of rights of the tribals.This has brought geeat change in the attittude in the rulers.They have appointed Hymendwarf, a great sociologist to study the lives of tribals.The extensive studies has brought many facts in to the light.These recommendations have become torchbearers in dealing with the tribal communities in other parts of British India.

On the otherhand, komaramBheem has become a god to all the tribals. He is seen as the pioneer to the telangana activists.His birth anniversary attracts many people from different parts of country.



http://yellapucharitha.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_17.html

http://www.nativeplanet.com/adilabad/

http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Adilabad_district

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