1Q: Why Telangana became a backward state (based on situations before independence)?
Note: I will discuss the question twice in this. Once based on the situations just before independence. And second time is based on the situations now!
1 Ans :
- If we see the history of the region, one can observe that the region was abundant in resources. Hence the Mughals had an eye on it. Mughals appointed an administrator (Nizam in Urdu) to take care of the region. When Aurangazeb, the last powerful emperor of Mughals died, the dynasty crumbled to ground. At that time, the Nizam declared himself as the ruler of the region. Things would have been better if it stopped there but.. in the next two centuries of Nizams’ rule, the region was looted left, right and center.
- The main occupation of India, from the beginning, was agriculture. Telangana was no exception. By saying so, I want to emphasize that the region is not rocks and stones as many people think. Telangana as a region, had many large ponds and lakes, and was well equipped with good water storage systems. Why it turned out to be so, is what needs to be discussed. But later. Coming back to the point of peasants, they were not wealthy by themselves and they had to borrow money from landlords (jagirdars and deshmukhs). There was a Telangana Peasants and Labour Rebellion that had happened during 1946-51, under the leadership of CPI. Most of you might not have known it because Telangana’s history was never taught.
- Reasons for the Telangana Rebellion : Feudal landlords (loyal to Nizam) manipulated the debts taken by the peasants and labours.
- Now, one can imagine, during the entire regime of Nizam (1719) till the rebellion (1946), how the people were looted.
- Secondly, Nizams encouraged the conversion of Hindus into Muslims. Those who didn’t obey will be levied high taxes, stringent rules were to be followed. This brutal rule by Nizams also ruined the economic state of the then resident Telangana people.
After reading this, you might have many questions. I am trying to capture few of them here.
(i) Why didn’t the people revolt against Nizams in the earlier days itself?
Ans : Well, there might be many small revolts here and there, but unity was always a problem. History gives us plenty of examples. For instance, for India to be liberated, Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi had to get everyone on one page – Freedom without violence. There were many minor to major revolts before as well, but the prominent ones are the only ones we talk about. Leaders had to evolve from the common people itself. It took time and CPI came forward and the result is the rebellion!!
