The Mulki Legacy: From Hyderabad State to Telangana
A Journey of Identity, Rights, and Regional Consciousness in the Deccan
Mulki (from Persian mulk, meaning “country” or “nation”) is a term that once described all natives of the princely state of Hyderabad, regardless of ethnicity. Over time, it became a powerful marker of belonging, a legal shield for local rights, and eventually the ideological bedrock of the Telangana movement. This article traces the journey of “Mulki” from a pre-modern label to a modern political force that shaped the destiny of millions.
The term Mulki (meaning “countryman”) was first used in the Deccan during the Bahamani Sultanate (1347–1527 CE). Migrating Persianised Muslims called themselves Mulkis to distinguish themselves from later waves of North Indian adventurers (Gair-Mulkis or Afāqīs) who arrived during the Qutb Shahi period[reference:0]. In 1324 CE, Muhammad bin Tughlaq referred to the region as Mulk-i-Tilang, giving an early numismatic reference to the land we now call Telangana[reference:1]. The Gond language, spoken by the region’s autochthonous forest communities, already used the word Telangadh (meaning “south”) 2000 years ago, showing the deep pre‑Sanskritic roots of “Mulk”[reference:2].
After the Asaf Jahi dynasty (the Nizams) consolidated power in 1724, Hyderabad grew into the largest princely state in British India. The Imperial Gazetteer of India (1909) notes that “the native inhabitants of Hyderabad State, regardless of ethnic origin, are called ‘Mulki’ (countryman), a term still used today”[reference:3]. By the mid‑19th century, however, the categories of Mulki and non‑Mulki hardened. The influx of Urdu‑speaking North Indians into the state administration created a new fault line[reference:4].
✔️ A person born within the territory of Hyderabad State, OR
✔️ A person who had permanently resided in the state for 15 years, OR
✔️ A person who had continuously served the state government for at least 12 years.
The status extended to lineal male descendants for two generations[reference:5]. These rules were designed to protect locals from an influx of outsiders (non‑Mulkis) who were increasingly dominating high‑salaried positions[reference:6][reference:7].
Salar Jung Reforms & Backlash: The legendary Diwan Sir Salar Jung I (1853–1883) had to recruit educated non‑Mulkis from the Madras and Bombay Presidencies to salvage Hyderabad’s bankrupt administration. This created resentment. By 1894, while 65% of new recruits were Hyderabadis, they received only 37% of the total salaries; the 35% non‑Mulki appointees pocketed 63% of the wages[reference:8]. In response, Salar Jung II (1884) replaced Persian with Lucknowi Urdu as the official language, further alienating local Mulkis[reference:9]. The stage was set for a century‑long battle for “sons of the soil”.
After the annexation of Hyderabad in 1948 (Operation Polo), the Indian administration was staffed by bureaucrats from the Madras Presidency. Educated Telanganites found themselves marginalised in their own homeland. In July 1952, student leader Bhuchaiah formed an action committee in Warangal to protest against the transfer of teachers and the influx of non‑Mulkis[reference:10].
By September 1952, the protests spread to Hyderabad. Students shouted iconic slogans: “Ghair Mulki go back!” and “Idli Sambar go back!” – a reference to the cuisine of coastal Andhra[reference:11][reference:12]. The agitation climaxed with the City College incident (3–4 September 1952), where student rallies were lathi‑charged; several students were killed in the crackdown across the state[reference:13][reference:14]. This uprising is recognised as the first event of the Telangana movement[reference:15].
📍 Key sites: Hanamkonda High School, Bolarum, Saifabad College, Warangal.
The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) of 1953 hesitated to merge Telangana with Andhra. Paragraph 382 of the SRC report noted that while Andhra overwhelmingly favoured a unified state, opinion in Telangana was cautious due to fears of economic and cultural domination[reference:16]. Nevertheless, the Gentleman’s Agreement (1956) was signed, which sought to protect Mulki interests by ensuring local recruitment for government jobs, a separate Regional Committee, and equitable spending. However, the agreement was violated repeatedly, leading to the 1969 Telangana Agitation where students again demanded “implementation of Mulki rules”[reference:17].
In 1972, the Supreme Court unexpectedly upheld the Mulki Rules, sparking the Jai Andhra movement in coastal Andhra, which demanded a separate state for non‑Telangana regions. The irony was bitter: the same Mulki rules that protected one region were now seen as oppressive by another[reference:18]. The violent protests of the 1970s and 1980s ultimately led to the demand for a separate Telangana state, which was finally granted in 2014.
Even after the formation of Telangana on 2 June 2014, the spirit of the Mulki rules survived. The state government continues to issue Mulki certificates (now known as Local Status Certificates) to residents of Telangana for 15 years. The terms “Mulki” and “non‑Mulki” still feature in political discourse, especially regarding recruitment in public sector undertakings, state universities, and local bodies. While some of the original regulations have been repealed or replaced by the Telangana State Public Employment (Local Candidates) Act, the core idea—prioritising the “sons of the soil”—remains a potent force in Telangana’s politics[reference:19][reference:20].
The “Mulki” is not merely a legal definition; it is a living memory of the Deccan’s layered history—of Bahamani migrants, Nizami courtiers, British‑era administrators, and post‑independence job seekers. It has been a shield for the marginalised, a sword for regional pride, and a torch that lit the path to Telangana statehood. As Telangana continues to develop, the Mulki story reminds us that belonging cannot be reduced to a certificate; it is shaped by generations of language, land, and struggle. The echo of “Ghair Mulki go back!” is still heard in every debate on local rights, making the Mulki legacy as contemporary as today’s headlines.
— आपका अपना, मुल्की
📚 References & Further Reading
- Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State, 1909[reference:22].
- Kavita Saraswathi Datla, The Language of Secular Islam: Urdu Nationalism and Colonial India (for Osmania University’s role).
- Telangana Today series: “Origin of the Mulki Issue” (2022), “Know the Mulki issue” (2022).
- Shodhganga Chapter VI: “Role of the Political Parties in the Telangana Movement”.
- Telangana PSC Notes: “Mulki Rules and Protests” (for legal evolution).
- Karen Isaksen Leonard, Locating Home: India’s Hyderabadis Abroad (Stanford University Press, 2007).
- Wikipedia: 1952 Mulkhi Agitation (Telangana) & Hyderabad State.
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