Telangana

Hyderabad was the largest princely state, with its coinage, currency, stamps, and 21-gun salutes (Zubrzycki, 2022). The Nizam held the special title of "His Exalted Highness" (Faruiqui, 2002). The state was multilingual, with Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and Urdu speakers – the southern and southeastern region, in particular, was Telugu-dominant. Its sheer size and cultural diversity made it a complex territory.

When the partition plan was announced on 3 June 1947, the Nizam of Hyderabad declared his intention to remain an independent sovereign dominion. Despite multiple attempts to integrate Hyderabad into the Indian Union, the Nizam continued his engagement with Pakistan. He demanded to sign the Standstill Agreement without the Instrument of Accession, but his government repeatedly violated the agreement's terms (Datla, 2018).

These violations included clandestine arms purchases and financial support to the Razakars, a private militia that violently suppressed dissent and minority communities. The deteriorating situation led to growing unrest, especially among the region’s Hindu majority  (Rao, 1991).

On 9 September 1948, India launched Operation Polo, leading to Hyderabad's surrender on 17 September. When India adopted its Constitution on 26 January 1950, Hyderabad State was classified as a Part B state, with a multilingual population, dominated by Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi speakers. The operation marked the end of princely rule, and the region was placed under military administration before being integrated into the Indian Union. The former princely state now faced new administrative and political challenges in adapting to the Indian federal system (Zubrzycki, 2022).

Sri Potti Sriramulu

During the early 1950s, political consciousness rose across linguistic regions in India, with communities demanding states that reflected their language and cultural identity. Sri Potti Sriramulu's fast unto death for a Telugu state led to Nehru's announcement of Andhra State on October 1, 1953. Soon after, the State Reorganisation Commission was formed to redraw boundaries, considering linguistic and cultural factors. The merger of Andhra and Telangana into Vishalandhra was proposed.

However, concerns were raised about Telangana’s backwardness compared to the more developed coastal Andhra. The people of Telangana feared marginalization in jobs, education, and political representation if merged prematurely.

1952 Mulki Rules Conflict

The Telangana region had long-standing domicile rules, the Mulki Rules, reserving government job positions for locals (Mulki's). In 1952, the first Mulki agitation erupted over the recruitment of non-locals into local-designated positions, marking significant resistance in Hyderabad. In 1956, the SRC received a proposal to integrate Hyderabad State with Telugu-speaking Andhra. However, the SRC feared that merging the two regions would be problematic due to them being unequal in terms of development. Therefore, the SRC suggested spinning Telangana off as a separate state (Hyderabad State) for five years until 1961, when unification would be revisited (Rao, 1977). The commission emphasised that Telangana had distinct historical, economic, and administrative contexts, and forced merger could lead to political alienation. Public sentiment in Telangana was divided—some favoured unification, while others wanted autonomy.

The Gentlemen’s Agreement between Telangana and Andhra leaders promised equitable development and representation in Telangana, including a regional council (Rao, 1977). Despite the SRC’s recommendation, the States Reorganisation Act merged Andhra and Telangana into Andhra Pradesh, effective 1st November 1956. This decision was politically motivated, prioritising linguistic unity over developmental parity (Vaageeshan & Chitrapu, 2021). Hyderabad became the capital of the new state, a symbolic and logistical centre for both regions.

The Mulki Rules agitation of 1952 contributed to the rise of the Telangana Praja Samithi, which led a campaign demanding Telangana statehood (Jha, 1979). Legal challenges to the rules led the Supreme Court to uphold them, spurring the Jai Andhra movement advocating for Andhra and Telangana's separation. This unrest culminated in ministerial resignations and the imposition of President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh in 1973 (Khan, 2024).

The Telangana Praja Samithi briefly gained political traction, even winning seats in Parliament in 1971, before merging with the Congress. However, regional grievances continued to simmer, manifesting periodically in protests and political demands (Jha, 1979).

The Andhra-Telangana bifurcation

In September 1973, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi introduced a six-point formula dividing Andhra Pradesh into six zones, allocating 85% of jobs and academic seats within each zone to locals. The Mulki Rules became redundant, leading to their repeal in December 1973 (Ghanta, 2011).

This arrangement attempted to balance opportunities and appease both Andhra and Telangana populations, but it failed to fully resolve feelings of exploitation among those from the latter. Over time, dissatisfaction grew over the perceived lack of implementation of the promised safeguards.

In April 2001, KCR left the TDP and founded the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with the single goal of creating Telangana with Hyderabad as its capital. In 2009, KCR began a fast-unto-death demanding Telangana statehood. Popular support grew, and on 9 December 2009, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced that Telangana would become a reality (Tillin, 2011).

This sparked counter-protests in Andhra and Rayalaseema, leading to a temporary pause in the bifurcation process. Yet the Telangana movement had gained irreversible momentum, with strong support from students, employees, and civil society in the region.

On 2 June 2014, Telangana was formed as a separate state through the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act. June 2nd is celebrated as Telangana Day, and KCR became the first Chief Minister. Hyderabad became Telangana's permanent capital (Khan, 2024). 

Post-bifurcation

When Telangana was created, ten districts from Andhra Pradesh were transferred to the state. The names of these districts are provided below. Interestingly, these districts comprised parts of Hyderabad state that were transferred to the state of Andhra Pradesh at the time of its creation.

The ten districts were: Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal, Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy, and Hyderabad. These regions held historical significance and were integral to the Telangana identity. Hyderabad, in particular, became the focal point of governance and economic activity in the new state (Khan, 2024).

Between 2014–2021, Telangana districts increased more than threefold from 10 to 31. Excluding Hyderabad and Khammam districts, all districts were split to create new districts for administrative convenience. Here is a snapshot of all the splits. This reorganisation aimed to bring administration closer to the people, improve service delivery, and promote regional equity. Districts like Jagtial, Siddipet, and Suryapet emerged from the splits, reflecting the government's commitment to decentralization. The redrawing also responded to longstanding demands from smaller towns and mandals for district status (Nagaraju, 2014).

Today, Telangana stands as a politically stable and economically growing state. Its tumultuous journey is representative of the way a democracy unfolds.

References

• Datla, K. S. (2018). Sovereignty and the End of Empire: The transition to independence in colonial Hyderabad. Ab Imperio, 2018(3), 63–88. 

  
  

• Faruqui, M. D. (2008). At empire’s end: the Nizam, Hyderabad and Eighteenth-Century India. Modern Asian Studies, 43(1), 5–43. 

  
  

• Ghanta, C. (2011). Committees On Telangana: A Historical Analysis. Vol. 1, Issue 1. Research Dimensions.  

  
  

• Jha, S. (1979). Regionalism In India: A Study of Telangana. The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 170-173 

  
  

• Khan, M. (2024). Telangana. In The Territories and States of India 2024 (pp. 300-312). Routledge. 

  
  

• Nagaraju, J. (2014, May 17). Telangana state may have 14 new districts. The Times of India. 

  
  

• Rao, K. V. N. (1977). Internal migration policies in an Indian state: a case study of the mulki rules in Hyderabad and Andhra. Cambridge: Migration and Development Study Group, Centre for International Studies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1977. 

  
  

• Rao, G. M. (1991, January). Last Phase Of Freedom Struggle In The Hyderabad State: A Case Study Of The Telangana Region. In Proceedings of the Indian History Congress (Vol. 52, pp. 620-625). Indian History Congress. 

  
  

• Tillin, L. (2011). Statehood and the Politics of Intent. Economic and Political Weekly, 34-38. 

  
  

• Vaageeshan, H., & Chitrapu, R. (2021). Springing a surprise: Electoral politics in the state of Telangana. In Electoral Dynamics in the States of India (pp. 322-334). Routledge India. 

  
  

• Zubrzycki, J. (2022). The Last Nizam: The Rise and Fall of India's Greatest Princely State. Pan Macmillan.