Telangana has been an open society since ancient times, considering the fact that it accommodated different religions and philosophies, asserted former Indian Council of Historical Research chairman Sudarshan Rao.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day national seminar on “Agrarian and Artisan Communities in Telangana (late medieval and modern period)”, organised by the department of history and tourism management at Kakatiya University here on Tuesday.
“It was only during the Asaf Jahi rule that jagirdari and jamindari system evolved,” Prof. Rao pointed out, adding that a look into the rule of Satavahanas and Kakatiyas reveals that Telangana had a special place geographically, economically and intellectually. Telangana had a rich heritage even before the Nizams’ reign.
Delivering the keynote address, retired professor of Osmania University Adapa Satyanarayana said the basic feature of the socio-economic life of Telangana people was unbridled feudal exploitation under the Asaf Jahi rule.
The Doras and Deshmukhs grabbed thousands of acres of fertile land and reduced peasants to tenants at will, he said.
The land legislation later introduced by Salar Jung granted some rights to peasants, but failed to protect the tillers of the soil.
SNDT Women’s University professor Varsha Shirgaonkar pointed out similarities between Maharashtra and Telangana with regard to the agrarian and artisan communities.
CEO of Warangal Zilla Parishad S. Vijaya Gopal said that post-independence, Kerala has made remarkable progress because of proper implementation of Panchayat Raj system. The Telangana government has taken up the unique programme of Land Records Updation to avoid hurdles for farmers to avail loans and subsidies.
University vice-chancellor R. Sayanna presided over the inaugural ceremony.
