Warangal (Orugallu-Sime): The Unabridged Dynastic & Administrative Record
1. Asmaka Mahajanapada (c. 700 – 300 BCE) Central Godavari Core — Potana (Bodhan)
In the early Iron Age, the Warangal-Karimnagar sector was the industrial heart of Asmaka. Governance was decentralized, led by a council of elders who managed the first large-scale irrigation and iron-smelting operations in South India.
The plateau was governed by the Gana-Mukhyas (Clan Leaders), who held ancestral rights to specific territories:
- The Clan Elders: Based in fortified settlements like Kotilingala and early sites in Hanumakonda. They were the primary decision-makers for resource sharing and tribal defense.
- Lords of the Smelters: They controlled the early iron foundries of the Mulugu forests. The surplus iron produced here was traded with the Northern Mahajanapadas (Magadha, Avanti) in exchange for silver and prestige goods.
- The Parishad (Council): A collective assembly of clan heads that met to resolve disputes over water rights along the Manair and Godavari tributaries.
| Modern Region | Ancient Entity | Administrative Node |
|---|---|---|
| Karimnagar / Jagtial | Asmaka Capital Hub | Kotilingala: The first fortified urban trade-port in Telangana. |
| Warangal / Mulugu | Iron Frontier | Anmakonda Plateau: Used as a seasonal transit hub and defense lookout for the Iron Mines. |
The "Pugiya" Roots: These Gana-Mukhyas are the ancestral roots of the Warangal aristocracy. Their council-based rule established the regional pattern of shared power between different local clans, which persisted through the Mauryan, Satavahana, and Ikshvaku periods.
2. Mauryan Empire (c. 300 – 232 BCE) Dakshinapatha — Asmaka-Janapada Frontier
Under the Mauryas, the Warangal region was governed as a "Strategic Resource Zone." The Imperial center in Pataliputra focused on the Hanumakonda-Mulugu iron-ore belt, utilizing local tribal lords to manage extraction and logistics.
While the Imperial **Rajukas** (commissioners) oversaw the law, the actual ground control was held by the indigenous Ratthis:
- The Ratthis: Powerful local warrior-chieftains centered around Kotilingala and the Mulugu forests. They were the first local lineage to transition from tribal leaders to Mauryan administrative officers.
- Iron Masters: They governed the "Black-Metal" (iron) sites of Bayyaram and Mulugu, supplying the Mauryan army with high-quality steel for weaponry.
- Trade Protectors: They secured the "Hanumakonda Gap"—the only viable route for caravans traveling from the Godavari to the Southern kingdoms.
| Modern Sector | Administrative Office | Primary Responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Hanumakonda / Mulugu | Ratthi Chieftain | Mining logistics and providing "Forest Troops" (Atavika-bala) to the Empire. |
| Kotilingala / Karimnagar | Mahamatra | Imperial oversight of the River Port and tax collection for the Viceroy at Suvarnagiri. |
The "Ratthi" Evolution: The Mauryas did not replace the local leaders; they "Imperialized" them. By granting the Ratthis official status, the Mauryas ensured that the sophisticated iron-working traditions of the Warangal plateau were integrated into the imperial economy, setting the stage for the Satavahana rise.
3. Satavahana Dynasty (c. 232 BCE – 208 CE) Kotilingala-Anmakonda Axis — Maharathi Hegemony
The Warangal-Karimnagar sector was the powerhouse of the early Satavahana Empire. Administration was delegated to Maharathis—noble hereditary families who governed the "Aharas" (districts) and acted as the local sovereign authority.
Before the Satavahanas fully centralized power, and during their early reign, local Ratthi kings governed the northern frontier:
- Raja Gobhada: The earliest recorded local ruler of the Karimnagar-Warangal belt. His independent coinage proves a sophisticated local administration existed here prior to imperial consolidation.
- Raja Samagopa: A successor or contemporary who managed the trade guilds and iron production centers of the Asmaka frontier.
- Maharathi Tranakayiro: A high-ranking noble recorded in early inscriptions, representing the class of lords who eventually became the "Pugiyas" of the next era.
| Modern Region | Local Controller | Strategic Node |
|---|---|---|
| Karimnagar / North Warangal | Maharathis | Kotilingala: The primary mint and industrial port on the Godavari. |
| Hanumakonda / Warangal City | Nigama Sabhas (Merchant Guilds) | Anmakonda: A transit hub for textiles and iron moving to the Southern ports. |
The Maharathi-Pugiya Link: The Maharathis of this era provided the template for the Pugiya clan. By holding the right to lead armies and mint local currency, they ensured that the Warangal plateau remained an autonomous power center within the larger Satavahana framework.
4. Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri (c. 208 CE – 320 CE) Mahisha-mandala — Hereditary Clan Confederacy
During this era, the modern Warangal region was split into two distinct administrative "Rashtras" (provinces) governed by hereditary clans. These clans managed the transition from tribal chieftainships to a sophisticated urban economy.
| Clan Sovereign | Modern Warangal Sector | Governance Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pugiyas (e.g., Khandavisakha) |
South & Central: Hanumakonda, Warangal City, Wardhannapet, Janagaon. |
Civil Administration, Trade Route Security (linking Krishna Valley to the North). |
| Hiranyakas (e.g., Chamtapula) |
North & East: Mulugu, Bhupalpally, Parkal, Peddapalli. |
Industrial Extraction (Iron-ore), River Defense (Godavari Crossings). |
The Hanumakonda plateau (Anmakonda) sat exactly at the meeting point of these two territories. This made the location the most critical strategic node in the Confederacy, eventually leading to its selection as the capital for the later Vishnukundinas and Kakatiyas.
Historical Legacy: By dividing the region between the "Administrative South" and the "Industrial North," the Ikshvaku Confederacy created the foundations of the Nadu system. The local sovereignty of these clans meant that even as the Ikshvaku center collapsed, the local governance of the Warangal plateau remained uninterrupted.
5. Early Pallava Dynasty (c. 310 – 340 CE) Andhra-Patha — Saka-Nirupana — Military Frontier
Following the collapse of the Ikshvakus, the Pallavas (ruling from Kanchi) annexed the region as their northernmost frontier, known in their charters as the Andhra-patha. They introduced the first formal Sanskrit Charters to the Hanumakonda plateau, marking a shift from the Prakrit-based administration of the Satavahanas.
The Pallavas governed this remote frontier through a network of itinerant and stationed imperial officers:
- Ayuktas: Imperial delegates and local rulers-in-proxy stationed in the Hanumakonda plains. They were responsible for collecting the 18 types of traditional taxes (*Ashtadasa-parihara*).
- Sancharantakas: "Roaming" military supervisors who acted as the eyes and ears of the Kanchi throne, ensuring the local **Pugiya** and **Hiranyaka** clans remained loyal.
- Viyutas: Specialized officials who oversaw the newly established **Brahmadeya** (land grants) in the forest-fringes, creating a cultural buffer against northern tribes.
| Admin Unit | Local Controller | Functional Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Patha (Province) | Vyaprata | The "Governor of the Road" (Andhra-patha), overseeing the Hanumakonda-Vengi corridor. |
| Rashtra (District) | Ayukta / Vishayapati | Managed local defense and tax-exempt land clearings. |
| Grama (Village) | Gramabhojaka | Local village headman who enjoyed the right to specific local taxes in exchange for leadership. |
Historical Context: During this brief Pallava occupation, the region was governed as a **Saka-Nirupana** (a zone of military occupation). The **Ayuktas** were primarily military-administrative hybrids tasked with holding the frontier before it was eventually lost to the rising Vakatakas.
6. Vakataka Dynasty (c. 340 – 483 CE) Vatsagulma Rajyam — Asmaka-Bhukti
Under the Vatsagulma branch, the region (anciently known as Asmaka) served as a critical frontier province. The Vakatakas did not govern from a city called Warangal, but rather managed the Asmaka-Bhukti through strategic outposts like Anmakonda and Indrapalanagara.
The Vakatakas relied on hereditary Deccani elites to manage the Asmaka frontier:
- Rajyadhikritas: High-ranking imperial ministers who traveled from the capital to audit the Asmaka-Bhukti.
- Uparikas (Provincial Governors): The local lords of the Bhukti. They resided in fortified hill-towns and were responsible for "Sanskritizing" the local administration through Agrahara land grants.
- Gramakutas: Local village chiefs of the Asmaka region who were integrated into the imperial revenue hierarchy to collect the Klripta (fixed tax).
| Admin Tier | Local Controller | Functional Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Bhukti (Province) | Uparika | Supreme provincial authority over the Asmaka territory. |
| Vishaya (District) | Bhogika | Managed local land measurements and the Agrahara scholar-settlements. |
| Grama (Village) | Gramakuta | The hereditary local link between the Vakataka state and the Asmaka peasantry. |
Historical Context: The Asmaka-Bhukti was a "buffer province." The Vakatakas strengthened the local Uparikas to ensure that the southern tribal clans did not threaten the core of the Vatsagulma Rajyam.
7. Vishnukundina Dynasty (c. 483 – 611 CE) Indrapala-Nagara — Narkka-Rashtra
Under Madhavavarman II, Warangal was integrated into the Narkka-Rashtra (the ancient province including Warangal and Nalgonda). This era represents the first "Imperial Telugu" administration, where the local rulers transitioned from Prakrit to Sanskrit-Telugu officialdom.
The Vishnukundinas governed through a sophisticated hierarchy of local military and civil heads:
- Rashtrakas: Local governors of the Narkka-Rashtra province. They held significant power, overseeing local armies and the collection of Bali (tribute).
- Mahatalavaras: High-ranking local officials, often from the local clans of the Warangal plains, who served as supreme judicial and police officers for the district.
- Dandanayakas: Military commanders stationed at key hill-sites around Hanumakonda to repel Vakataka incursions from the north.
| Admin Unit | Local Controller | Administrative Function |
|---|---|---|
| Rashtra (Province) | Rashtrakuta / Rashtraka | Oversaw the larger Warangal-Nalgonda corridor; reported to Indrapalanagara. |
| Vishaya (District) | Vishayapati | Managed the local administrative colleges (Ghatikas) and grain storage. |
| Grama (Village) | Gramasani / Gramika | Village headman managing irrigation canals and communal labor. |
The Ghatika System: The Vishayapatis of the Warangal sector were responsible for maintaining Ghatikas—educational centers that doubled as administrative training grounds. These institutions ensured a steady supply of local "Imperial Civil Servants" who helped consolidate Vishnukundina power across the Godavari belt.
8. Badami Chalukya Dynasty (611 – 753 CE) Vengi-Patha Corridor — Anmakonda-Vishaya
Following the conquest by Pulakeshin II, the Warangal region was integrated into the imperial fold as the Anmakonda-Vishaya. It functioned as a vital buffer zone between the Badami heartland and the Eastern Chalukya kingdom of Vengi.
The Chalukyas governed through a mix of military appointees and local land-holding elites:
- Vishayapatis: Imperial governors (often from the Chalukya cadet branches) stationed at **Hanumakonda**. They held supreme authority over the "Anmakonda-Vishaya," which encompassed the core of modern Warangal.
- The Sabbi-nadu Nucleus: During this era, the foundations of **Sabbi-nadu** as a distinct administrative sub-unit were laid, managed by local Samantas (feudatories) who specialized in maintaining the irrigation tanks that began to dot the landscape.
- Desadhikaris: Revenue officers responsible for the Sunkamu (tolls) collected from the caravans moving along the Godavari trade routes.
| Admin Tier | Designation | Functional Role |
|---|---|---|
| Vishaya (District) | Vishayapati | Civil and military oversight of the Anmakonda region; logistics for the Vengi-Patha. |
| Bhukti (Sub-District) | Bhogapati | Collection of local levies and management of temple endowments. |
| Grama (Village) | Gavuṇḍa / Mahattara | Local village council heads responsible for land disputes and tank maintenance. |
Cultural Note: The Vishayapatis of this era were instrumental in the transition from Buddhist patronage to the revival of Vedic and Shaivite traditions in the Warangal plains, visible in the early rock-cut architecture at Hanumakonda.
9. Rashtrakuta Dynasty (753 – 982 CE) Savalakha-Mandala — Sabbi-nadu & Koravi-mandala
Warangal was governed through a complex network of Nadus (Territorial divisions). The Rashtrakutas utilized the Vemulavada Chalukyas as their primary regional proxies, who in turn delegated the Sabbi-nadu and Koravi sectors to the burgeoning Kakatiya clan.
- Vemulavada Chalukyas: Controlled the Savalakha-Mandala, with their administrative influence radiating from Karimnagar into the Warangal plains.
- The Sabbi-nadu Division: This "Thousand-Village" province acted as the agrarian backbone of the region. It provided the surplus revenue used by the Kakatiya ancestors to build their early military strength.
- The Early Kakatiyas: Ancestors like Gundaya and Eriya secured the Koravi-mandala and eventually influence over Sabbi-nadu, acting as the frontline defenders (*Samantas*) for the Rashtrakutas.
| Admin Unit | Nadu / Mandala | Ruling Clan |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Province | Savalakha-Mandala | Vemulavada Chalukyas |
| District Unit | Sabbi-nadu (Sabbi-1000) | Chalukya Feudatories / Early Kakatiyas |
| Military Fief | Koravi-Mandala | Early Kakatiya Chiefs (Gundaya/Eriya) |
The Sabbi-nadu Legacy: The control over Sabbi-nadu allowed the Kakatiyas to transition from forest-dwelling military commanders to settled agrarian lords, eventually enabling them to move their capital to Anmakonda.
10. Western Chalukya Dynasty (973 – 1158 CE) Sabbi-Mandala — Anmakonda-7000 — The Samantha Era
Under the Sovereignty of the Kalyani Chalukyas (Vikramaditya VI), Warangal was organized into highly structured military-administrative circles. This era saw the transition of the Kakatiyas from tribal chiefs to sophisticated Local Rulers of the Imperial frontier.
The Kakatiya Clan acted as the primary local power-brokers, governing the following divisions:
- Beta I & Prola I: Secured the Anmakonda-7000 (a division theoretically containing 7000 villages) as a permanent Vritti (fief) for aiding the Chalukyas against the Cholas.
- Beta II: Granted the Sabbi-1000 (modern Karimnagar/Warangal border) by Vikramaditya VI, significantly expanding the local tax base.
- The Banajigas: Local merchant guilds who were granted autonomy by the Kakatiya chiefs to manage the Warangal-Nagaram markets, essential for the supply of horses and war-elephants.
| Admin Division | Local Controller | Administrative Function |
|---|---|---|
| Anmakonda-7000 | Kakatiya Beta I / II | Feudal oversight, construction of Trikuṭalayas (temples), and border defense. |
| Kampanas (Sub-districts) | Perggades (Ministers) | Local executive heads appointed by the Kakatiyas to oversee specific clusters of villages. |
| Agrahara | Mahajanas | Council of learned elders who managed tax-exempt lands granted by the Local Rulers. |
The Orugallu Shift: Toward the end of this period (1116–1157 CE), Prola II began exercising greater autonomy. He shifted the focus from the hill-fort of Hanumakonda to the plains of **Orugallu**, building the first mud-fortification that would later become the capital of their independent empire.
11. Kakatiya Dynasty (1151 – 1323 CE) Orugallu-Sime — Ekashila Nagara — Nayankara System
The Golden Age of Warangal. The capital moved from Hanumakonda to Orugallu (One Stone), creating a massive concentric defensive metropolis. Administrative power was decentralized into a martial-meritocracy.
The empire was divided into Nayankaras. 72 Nayakas (Guardians) were each assigned a bastion of the Warangal stone wall and surrounding lands in exchange for military service.
The "Six-Thousand" bureaucratic families managed the imperial revenue and the Dashabandham (tank-irrigation) records, turning the dry plateau into a lush rice-belt.
- Rudrama Devi & Prataparudra: Monarchs who personally led the defense of the Rati-kota (Stone Fort).
- Swayambhu Deva: The state deity; the temple served as the administrative and spiritual center of the universe.
- Stala-Karanam: Village and district-level accountants who ensured the flow of grain to the Koshagara (Treasury).
12. Delhi Sultanate: Tughlaq Era (1323 – 1335 CE) Sultanpur — Iqta System
Following the fall of Prataparudra, Ulugh Khan (Muhammad bin Tughlaq) renamed Orugallu to Sultanpur. This period introduced the Iqta System, replacing the traditional Hindu feudal land-holdings with temporary military assignments.
- Muqti / Wali: The military governor of Sultanpur who was responsible for funneling the Deccan’s wealth back to Delhi.
- Amiran-i-Chahada: "Centurions" or commanders of 100 villages, tasked with enforcing new tax codes on the local peasantry.
- Administrative Shift: The abolition of the Kakatiya 'Nayankara' system in favor of direct military oversight.
13. Musunuri Nayaka Era (1335 – 1368 CE) Orugallu Restoration — Nayaka Confederation
Led by Musunuri Kapaneedu (the Andhra-Suratrana), a confederation of 75 Nayakas liberated Warangal from Tughlaq rule. This was a "Restoration Era" where Kakatiya administrative protocols were briefly revived.
Unlike the centralized monarchy of the Kakatiyas, Kapaneedu ruled as a "First among equals" among the Nayakas. Each Nayaka was autonomous in his territory (Rekapalli, Pillalamarri, etc.) but contributed troops for the defense of Warangal.
14. Bahmani Sultanate Era (1368 – 1512 CE) Golconda-Warangal Tarafs — Border Marches
The Bahmanis annexed Warangal after a series of conflicts with the Musunuri and Recherla Nayakas. They integrated the region into their Taraf (Province) system, marking the start of 150 years of Perso-Deccani military rule.
| Bahmani Office | Role in Warangal |
|---|---|
| Tarafdar | The Governor of the Eastern Province (initially based at Golconda, overseeing Warangal). |
| Qiladar | The specialized Fort-Commander who managed the stone defenses of Orugallu. |
| Kotwal | Introduction of the urban magistrate for the twin settlements of Warangal-Hanumakonda. |
Historical Note: This era saw the rise of the Recherla Padmanayakas as powerful local subordinates who frequently shifted loyalty between the Bahmanis and Vijayanagara, acting as the local "Buffer Rulers" of the Telangana plateau.
15. Qutb Shahi Dynasty (1518 – 1687 CE) Golconda Sultanate— Warangal Sarkar
Warangal was governed as a major Sarkar (District) of the Golconda kingdom. The Qutb Shahis maintained the Kakatiya tank systems while introducing a hybrid Indo-Persian administration that relied heavily on local Telugu intermediaries.
The Sultanate utilized the Deshmukhi System, where local Telugu clans were the actual "Rulers on the Ground":
- Deshmukhs (Warrior Clans): Predominantly Reddy and Velama chieftains who served as executive heads. They maintained local forts, collected the Mal (land tax), and acted as the Sultan’s police in the countryside.
- Deshpandias (Scholar Clans): Usually Niyogi Brahmin families who served as the local accountants. They kept the Sarishta (records) in both Telugu and Persian, ensuring the Sultanate could not be cheated by the military elite.
- Nayakas: Local lords who held Amaram lands in the Warangal belt, providing "thousand-man" infantries to the Golconda armies during campaigns.
| Imperial Official | Local Intermediary | Administrative Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Tarafdar (Provincial Governor) | Deshmukh | The Tarafdar set the tax quota; the Deshmukh fulfilled it using local influence. |
| Faujdar (Fort Commander) | Nayaka | The Faujdar controlled the Warangal Qila; the Nayakas protected the Parganas (villages). |
| Majumdar (State Auditor) | Deshpandia/Karanam | Ensured the vernacular records matched the Persian treasury books. |
Economic Integration: Under this local rule, Warangal became a vital export hub. The local weavers (Salis) were given state protection, and the carpets produced in the Warangal Sarkar were exported to the Safavid and Ottoman Empires through the port of Machilipatnam.
16. Mughal Empire (1687 – 1724 CE) Hyderabad Subah — Warangal Sarkar — Mansabdari Grid
Following Aurangzeb’s conquest of Golconda in 1687, Warangal was integrated into the Hyderabad Subah as a primary Sarkar (District). The administrative focus shifted from local Deccan autonomy to the rigid, centralized Mansabdari System of the North.
Zabit: The introduction of the Mughal system of land measurement. The Warangal Sarkar was subdivided into multiple Parganas (Mahals), each with a dedicated Amil (Collector) to ensure the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi demands of the era were met.
Faujdar: A military governor was stationed at the Warangal Fort to suppress local Deshmukh rebellions and protect the imperial highway (the old Dakshinapatha) from Maratha raids.
- Qila-dar: The Mughal commandant of the Warangal Fort, responsible for the garrison and the Topkhana (Artillery).
- Deshpandias & Deshmukhs: While the top-tier officials were Mughal appointees, the local revenue intermediaries (mostly Telugu warrior-castes) were retained to manage the complex village-level data.
- Kotwal: Managed the urban policing of the Orugallu-Hanumakonda twin cities.
This was a period of high friction. The Mughal Jagirdars often clashed with local Nayaka families who had held land since the Kakatiya and Qutb Shahi times, leading to a breakdown in the Dashabandham (tank) maintenance until the Salar Jung reforms of the next century.
17. Asaf Jahi Dynasty (1724 – 1948 CE) Warangal Subah — Zila-Bandi System — Sarkar-e-Warangal
Under the Nizams, Warangal functioned as the administrative heartbeat of Eastern Telangana. Following the Zila-Bandi reforms of 1867 (Salar Jung I), the region was organized into a dual-tier system: the Warangal Zilla (District) and the Warangal Subah (Provincial Headquarters).
Warangal Zilla was divided into Taluqas (Sub-districts) to ensure direct revenue collection and localized justice.
- Warangal Taluqa: The urban and suburban core including the Fort and Hanumakonda.
- Mahabubabad & Parkal: Key agrarian and forest-resource Taluqas within the Zilla.
- Mulug: Managed the tribal frontier and the timber wealth of the Laknavaram belt.
| Administrative Tier | Designation | Functional Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Subah (Province) | Subedar | High Commissioner overseeing multiple Zillas (Warangal, Karimnagar, Khammam). |
| Zilla (District) | First Taluqdar | The District Head (Collector/Magistrate) responsible for the Zila-Bandi revenue settlements. |
| Taluqa (Tehsil) | Tehsildar | Managed sub-district revenue, local treasury, and civil disputes. |
| Village (Grama) | Patel & Patwari | Hereditary custodians of the Mali (revenue) and Kotwali (policing) records. |
The Zilla administration revived the ancient Dashabandham tanks through the Public Works Department (PWD), while the Nizam’s Guaranteed State Railway (NGSR) connected Warangal Zilla to Hyderabad and Bezwada, making it a pivotal commercial Zilla for cotton and grain exports.
17. Hyderabad State: Transitional Era (1948 – 1956 CE) Operation Polo — Military to Civil Rule — 1953 Bifurcation
This period marks the volatile transition from Asaf Jahi Autocracy to Indian Democracy. Warangal was a primary theater for the dismantling of the old feudal order and the implementation of modern land reforms.
Under Major General J.N. Chaudhuri, the Warangal Zilla was placed under military governors to stabilize the region following the collapse of the Razakar militias. The focus was on "pacification" and the restoration of the Tehsildar network.
In 1952, Hyderabad State held its first democratic elections. Warangal became a key political hub in the Burgula Ramakrishna Rao ministry, leading the charge for the Jagir Abolition Act.
Within this 8-year window, the most significant administrative event for Warangal was the **bifurcation of its eastern territories**:
- October 1, 1953: The "Greater Warangal" district was split. Khammam, previously a Taluqa under Warangal, was elevated to a full Zilla status.
- Revenue Loss: Warangal transferred the Taluqas of Khammam, Madhira, Yellandu, Burgampadu, and Paloncha to the new district.
| Administrative Milestone | Year | Impact on Warangal Zilla |
|---|---|---|
| Jagir Abolition Regulation | 1949 | Conversion of all feudal estates in Warangal to Diwani (State) lands. | 1950 | Phasing out of the Osmania Sikka in the Warangal grain markets. |
| First General Elections | 1952 | Shift from nominated Taluqdars to an elected legislative framework. |
| Formation of Khammam Zilla | 1953 | Formal reduction of Warangal's territorial jurisdiction. |
18. Modern Transformation (1956 – Present) Linguistic States — Collectorate System — 2016 Reorganization
On November 1, 1956, following the States Reorganisation Act, Warangal Zilla became a cornerstone district of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh. This era marked the final transition from the Persian-influenced Nizam bureaucracy to the standardized Indian Administrative Service (IAS) model.
The "First Taluqdar" was officially replaced by the District Collector. The Warangal Collectorate became the nerve center for the Green Revolution and major irrigation projects like the Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP) canals.
Introduction of the three-tier system (Village, Block/Mandal, District). Warangal's governance shifted from autocratic revenue collection to democratic decentralization.
After the formation of Telangana in 2014, the government prioritized "Administrative Convenience" over the massive, unwieldy Zilla boundaries of the past. In October 2016, the historic Warangal Zilla was reorganized into:
- Warangal & Hanamkonda Districts: Partitioned to manage the rapid urbanization of the tri-cities.
- Jayashankar Bhupalpally & Mulugu: Created to provide focused administration for tribal areas and the Godavari basin.
- Jangaon & Mahabubabad: Established as agrarian-focused districts to bring the Collector’s office closer to the rural populace.
| Modern Unit | Executive Head | Functional Role |
|---|---|---|
| District (Zilla) | District Collector (IAS) | Chief administrator for revenue, law & order, and welfare. |
| Revenue Division | RDO / Sub-Collector | Supervises the Mandals and handles land tribunal cases. |
| Mandal (replaces Taluqa) | Tehsildar / MRO | Primary point for citizen certificates and land records. |
| Gram Panchayat | Sarpanch / Sec. | Executes village-level civil works and sanitation. |
Historical Context: This structure marks the end of the 2,000-year evolution that began with the Gopa of the Satavahanas and the Nayakas of the Kakatiyas, now finalized into a constitutional democratic framework.
- Asmaka Potali: The ancient Vedic-era foundation.
- Orugallu: The native Telugu name "One-Stone" used in early Kakatiya years.
- Ekashila Nagara: The Sanskritized imperial name for Orugallu.
- Sultanpur: Brief Islamic designation during the Tughlaq occupation (1323–1336).
- Warangal: The modern anglicized derivation of Orugallu.
Comments
Post a Comment