Telangana as a distinctive cultural unit

Telangana as a distinctive cultural unit within Hyderabad Princely State (1724-1948)

Hyderabad princely state was a meeting place of diverse cultures. It consisted of 3 distinct cultural units- Marathi speaking Marathwada region, the Kannada-speaking Kalyana-Karnataka region, and the Telugu-dominated Telangana region.

 

Telangana as a distinct cultural entity traces its origins to the pre-Satavahana period. The numismatic evidence from Kotilingala proves the existence of a flourishing society with Telangana as a separate geographical entity as well as Telugu as a linguistic entity.  However, the formation of the Hyderabad state under Asaf Jahis changed the cultural outlook of Telangana, making it more syncretic, popularly known as Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb.

 

Distinctive cultural features of Telangana during the period include:

 

Art & Art Forms

 

Painting

 

Golconda & Hyderabad painting styles, a branch of Deccani Painting known for vivid use of gold to represent the skies.  It is distinct from Ahmadnagar and Bijapur, with plants silhouetted against a mass of dark foilage, making it distinctly unique to Telangana's topography.

 

Nirmal Paintings of Karimnagar- with origins tracing back to the Kakatiya Period and popularized in the princely state by Lady Hyderi, it is painted on lacquered wood by use of locally available minerals, herbs, and other plants.

 

Music

 

Oggu Katha - traditional folklore singing, praising, and narrating stories of Hindu Gods Mallanna, Beerappa, and Yellamma by Kuruma and Yadava communities and associated with diety Komrelly Mallanna from Siddipet region of Telangana.

 

Crafts

 

Banjara Needle Craft - hand made fabrics with embroidery and mirror work by tribal gypsies (banjara) of Telangana

 

Dokra Metal Craft - bell metal craft widely popular in Adilabad district rich in tribal motifs like figurines, tribal gods.

Major religious events

 

Bonalu- originated in the 19th century in Hyderabad state, it is a festival of offering to Goddess Mahakali for warding off the plague that affected the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad in 1813. It is now recognized as state festival.

 

Bathukamma- associated with the navratri festival, it is a flower festival unique to the Telangana region.

Architecture

 

European styled palaces and buildings featured in Chowmahalla Palace, Baroque Harem, Falaknuma Palace, Purani Haveli, King Kothi Palace

 

The indo-Saracenic style is reflected in constructions like the Kacheguda Railway station, High court, City College, and Osmania General Hospital

 

Hyderabad was the first princely state to accept the subsidiary alliance with the British that led to a significant British presence and influence which is reflected in the creation of Secunderabad, Regizemntal bazaar, Koti Residency, and Railway network within the Telangana region.

 

 

Cuisine

 

Being a semi-arid region, the food comprised more of millets like jonna rotte, uppudi pindi, and sakinalu in comparison to rice being a staple diet for Coastal Andhra region.

 

The rule of Qutub Shahis and Asaf Jahis made the Telangana cuisine unique with influences from Persian, Mughlai, Telugu and Turkish comprising rice, wheat, meat, spices, and herbs.  The world-famous Hyderabadi biryani, haleem and Irani chai that have Persian influence are some examples of Telangana's cultural identity

Language

 

Before 1948, Urdu was the language of the educated elite in Telangana, unlike English in other regions.  Also, local languages like Telugu, Marathi are heavily influenced by the Dakhani, a vernacular form of Urdu, and gave rise to a dialect different from Telugu speaking Coastal Andhra or Rayalaseema regions.

Administration

 

Wilfred Cantwell Smith states that the political and social structure of the region is defined by feudalism under Nizams where major positions were held by outsiders (non-Mulkis).  The issue of gainful employment for locals became a major issue that eventually merged with identity politics that defined the region since the 1930s.

Literature

 

Under Nizam's patronage, many Urdu scholars migrated to Hyderabad State including Fayi Badayuni, Josh Mahilabadi, and Dagh Dehlavi. Other scholars of repute from the Telangana region include Makhdoom Mohiuddin and Sayyid Shamsullah Qadri.

 

Sedya Chandrika, which was published from Hyderabad in 1886, was considered by many as the first journal published in the Telugu language.

 

Hitabodhini was the first Telugu monthly published in the then Hyderabad state. The periodical was published in Mahbubnagar district by Srinivasa Sarma. It published articles on patriotism, health, social reforms, and some other subjects.

 

Poola Thota was another magazine published by Kambhampati Appanna Sastry between 1930 and 1935 from Hanamkonda. The periodical was considered to be the first children’s magazine in the then Hyderabad state

 

Matru Bharati was run by Hyderabad city’s first mayor Madapati Hanumantha Rao (1951-1954), a poet who was affectionately called Andhra Pitamaha.

 

Golconda Patrika, run by historian Suravaram Pratapa Reddy, was the first magazine to publish news on its own by establishing a ‘reporters network.

 

 

Conclusion

Telangana's unique cultural standing from pre-satavahana times and well preserved and assimilated through to modern times has given a distinctive outlook to the Telangana region within the Hyderabad Princely State.  These symbols and customs have certainly added to the inspiration for a separate Telangana State, making it a unique symbol of Unity in Diversity.