Medak Papannapet Samsthanam

The Papannapet Samsthanam

Legacy of the Andhol Kingdom in Medak (c. 1400 CE - 1948 CE)

24 Paraganas | Major Towns: Andole, Sadasivapet, Sangareddi, Ramayampet, Papannapet

The Papannapet Samsthanam was a prominent feudal vassal of the Nizam of Hyderabad, wielding significant influence over large portions of the historic Medak region in Telangana. Known in local histories as the Andhol Rajula Charitra or Medak Rajula Charitra, its legacy is defined by influential rulers, sophisticated town planning, and a flourishing artisan economy. The Samsthanam is particularly celebrated for its succession of capable female administrators and its role in the complex 18th-century politics of the Deccan.

I. Bahmani Foundations & Early Consolidation (c. 1400 – 1632 CE)

The dynasty's roots are traced to a land grant from the Bahmani Sultanate, establishing a territorial base that would evolve into one of the most significant Samsthanams of the Medak region.

Following the decline of the Kakatiya and Padmanayaka rulers in the Medak area, the ancestors of the Papannapet dynasty emerged. According to local tradition and genealogical records, around 1400–1450 CE, Sultan Ferozah of the Bahmani Sultanate granted the Kalpagooru pargana to Raminedu (Ramayudu). This grant rewarded local service and established the family's initial jagir, laying the foundation for future expansion.

Raminedu / Ramayudu (c. 1400–1450 CE)

The foundational figure of the lineage. His receipt of the Kalpagooru pargana from the Bahmani Sultanate transformed the family from local chieftains into landed aristocracy with formal rights, setting the stage for centuries of rule.

Allamreddy Chowdari (1547 CE)

An early ruler recorded in the family lineage, signifying the continuity and growing documentation of the dynasty's authority through the 16th century.

II. The Andole Capital & Urban Pioneers (1632 – 1760 CE)

A period marked by the establishment of Andole as a political capital and the visionary urban planning of Rani Lingayamma, whose town of Sadasivapet remains a unique archaeological treasure.

Sadashiva Reddy (1632–1650 CE)

The fifth ruler in the line from Raminedu, he is significant for establishing Andole as the capital of the Samsthanam. His reign consolidated the family's control over what local histories describe as 24 paraganas, formalizing the "Andhol Rajula" identity.

Rani Lingayamma (1680–1692 CE)

Daughter of Sadashiva Reddy and a pioneering urban planner. She founded and designed the town of Sadasivapet based on the ancient Sarvatobhadra town-planning system described in the Vaastu Shastra text Manasara. The town's unique chessboard-grid pattern, with a central temple and specific wards for different communities and crafts, predates the similarly planned Jaipur by several decades and stands as a testament to advanced indigenous urban design.

Ramadurga Venkata Narasimha Reddy (1720–1760 CE)

His long reign provided stability in the early 18th century, navigating the Samsthanam through the early years of Nizam-ul-Mulk's consolidation of power in Hyderabad.

Rani Lingayamma II (1760–1764 CE)

Continued the tradition of female leadership in the Samsthanam, maintaining administrative continuity in the turbulent mid-18th century.

III. The "Royal Tigress" & The Colonial Crossroads (1764 – 1948 CE)

The zenith of the Samsthanam's fame under the legendary Rai Bagan Maharani Shankaramma, followed by navigation of the fraught politics involving the Nizam, the British, and European officers like Raymond.

Rai Bagan Maharani Shankaramma (1764–1774 CE)

The most celebrated ruler of Papannapet, honoured with the title "Rai Bagan" (Royal Tigress). A formidable military leader, she resisted Maratha (Peshwa) incursions into the region. Her legacy is equally defined by civic administration: she founded multiple towns including Sangareddi, Rajampet, Shankarampet, and Papannapet, and built numerous irrigation ponds to boost agriculture. A notable social reformer, she elevated Neerudi Papanna (described in tradition as from a Dalit community) to a military position, an act remembered in local folklore.

Raja Sadashiva Reddy (1774–1795 CE)

Adopted son and successor of Rani Shankaramma. His reign was embroiled in the late-18th-century power struggles within the Hyderabad State. He was involved in the Ali Jah revolt and his territory was temporarily taken over by the French military commander Michel Raymond in 1795, highlighting the Samsthanam's strategic importance in the contest between the Nizam, the British, and European mercenaries.

Later Rulers & Merger (1795–1948 CE)

The Samsthanam continued under rulers such as Raja Durga Reddy and Narayana Reddy. The final titular head, Raja Ramachandra Reddy Bahadur, oversaw the peaceful merger of the Papannapet Samsthanam into the Hyderabad State in 1948, following India's independence and the subsequent Police Action.

Administration, Economy & Cultural Legacy

Feudal Administration: Operated as a semi-autonomous jagirdar/samsthanam under Nizami suzerainty. The rulers collected land revenue, maintained armed retainers, and administered civil justice. The realm was organized around 24 paraganas (revenue districts) with major towns like Andole, Sadasivapet, and Ramayampet serving as administrative centers.

Artisan Economy & Trade: The Samsthanam nurtured a prosperous craft economy. Ramayampet became renowned for its brassware, silverware, wooden furniture, and intricate carvings. These goods were traded in regional markets, connecting to Hyderabad. Agricultural productivity was enhanced by ruler-built irrigation ponds.

Social Structure & Alliances: Society followed feudal Deccan patterns. The dynasty's marital alliance with the Gadwal Samsthanam was a key political strategy. The notable social act of Rani Shankaramma appointing Neerudi Papanna is preserved in local tradition as an example of social mobility.

Architectural & Cultural Heritage

Urban Planning Marvel: Sadasivapet, founded by Rani Lingayamma, is a living monument to ancient Indian town planning. Its perfect grid-iron "Sarvatobhadra" plan, with a central Brahmasthana, fortified walls, and gates, is a unique archaeological site that demonstrates sophisticated pre-colonial urban design.

Patronage of Crafts: The Samsthanam's sustained patronage turned towns like Ramayampet into centers of artistic excellence, with metalwork and woodcarving traditions that defined the local economy and cultural identity for generations.

Enduring Folklore: The legacy lives powerfully in local oral tradition. Rani Shankaramma, in particular, is celebrated in ballads and stories that compare her valor and governance to legendary figures like Rani Rudrama Devi and Rani Ahilya Bai, ensuring her place in the cultural memory of Telangana.

Chronology of the Papannapet Samsthanam

• c. 1400–1450 CE: Bahmani Sultan Ferozah grants Kalpagooru pargana to Raminedu (Ramayudu), establishing the dynasty's founding jagir.
• 1547 CE: Reign of Allamreddy Chowdari recorded in lineage.
• 1632–1650 CE: Sadashiva Reddy rules with Andole as capital, formalizing the "Andhol Rajula" polity.
• 1680–1692 CE: Rani Lingayamma founds and designs the town of Sadasivapet on the Sarvatobhadra grid plan.
• 1720–1760 CE: Reign of Ramadurga Venkata Narasimha Reddy.
• 1760–1764 CE: Reign of Rani Lingayamma II.
• 1764–1774 CE: Rule of Rai Bagan Maharani Shankaramma. Military campaigns against Marathas; foundation of Sangareddi, Papannapet, and other towns; construction of irrigation works.
• 1774–1795 CE: Reign of Raja Sadashiva Reddy. Involved in the Ali Jah revolt; territory temporarily controlled by French commander Michel Raymond (1795).
• 1948 CE: Samsthanam merged into Hyderabad State under Raja Ramachandra Reddy Bahadur.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

The Papannapet Samsthanam's legacy is multifaceted. Geographically, the towns it founded—Sadasivapet, Sangareddi, Papannapet, Ramayampet—remain important population and commercial centers in modern Telangana. Culturally, it preserved and advanced indigenous arts and sciences, from metallurgy to the Vaastu Shastra principles evident in Sadasivapet's town plan. Historically, it provides a crucial case study of a resilient regional polity that skillfully navigated the suzerainty of the Bahmanis, Qutb Shahis, and Asaf Jahis, while producing some of the Deccan's most notable female rulers. Its story, preserved in Andhol Rajula Charitra and local folklore, continues to inform the historical identity of the Medak region.

Sources & Further Reading

• Primary Local Histories: Andhol Rajula Charitra, Medak Rajula Charitra, Rangampeta Charitra.
• Archaeological & Town Planning Study: "Sadasivpet: A unique ancient town" by Avala Buchi Reddy, The Hans India, March 18, 2017. (Details the Sarvatobhadra plan of Sadasivapet).
• Archival Records: Hyderabad State revenue and administrative records; 1946 town plan of Sadasivapet by M. Fayazuddin.
• District Gazetteers: Medak District Gazetteer, providing historical and economic context.
• Folklore Collections: Local ballads and oral histories celebrating Rani Shankaramma and other rulers.