The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Indian history were marked by many developments such as the decline of the Mughal Empire, the rise of powerful regional states like Bengal and Hyderabad and gradual and yet firm spread of colonial rule.
The recently-released book, Early Modern Andhra, Hyderabad and Company Rule AD 1724-1857 , is the sixth in an eight volume series of Comprehensive History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh being brought out by Andhra Pradesh History Congress. It is a scholarly work that comes in handy for those who wish to understand the transition of Andhra and Hyderabad from medieval period to the modern era. It has been brought out in English and Telugu with eminent historians Vakulabharanam Ramakrisha and Adapa Satyanarayana as General Editor and Editor respectively.
Organised into four thematic sections of politics, administration and economy, resistance and revolts, education and society and art architecture and culture, there are 25 research papers brought together an independent chapters in the book under review.
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The fact that these chapters are authored by scholars such as Vakulabharanam Ramakrishna, Adapa Satyanarayna, V Ramakrishna Reddy, Peter L. Schmitthenner and Salma Ahmed Farooqui lends more credence to the work.
The introductory essay by Satayanarayana juxtaposes Andhra and Hyderabad with the national scenario and integrates with all-India debates on nature of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. A patron-client relationship in Hyderabad polity, as originally suggested by Karen Leonard, has aptly been brought out the author here.
The implications of the Anglo-French contest in Andhra, nature of economic policies, taxation tariff and customs, intricacies of irrigation polices and very vital aspects of trade and commerce are discussed in an insightful manner.
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The social reform spirit in Andhra at that time is probably next only to the Bengal in the colonial period. The insights provided on Pre-Veeresalingam reform trends are very apt and shed light on many less-known details.
Though some of the topics covered in the book are familiar, they give a fresh perspective and bring in new evidence and information as is the case with the Palegar and peasant rebellions in Rayalaseema and the 1857 revolt in the regions.
The chapters on nomadic groups in Andhra Desa and scroll paintings of Telangana as tools to understand caste narratives bring out new leads in history which can be further researched.
To sum up, the book makes an interesting reading for both academic and general purposes and will surely stimulate further research.
Early Modern Andhra, Hyderabad and Company Rule AD 1724-1857 :
A Comprehensive History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh, Vol VI
Editors V. Ramakrishna & Adapa Satyanarayana, Pages: 366; Price: Rs 400
Publishers: Potti Sriramulu Telugu University & Andhra Pradesh History Congress
For Copies: EMESCO Books, Hyderabad.