Telangana, as a geographical and political entity was born on June 2, 2014 as the 29th and the youngest state in Union of India. However, as an economic, social, cultural and historical entity it has a glorious history of at least two thousand five hundred years or more. Megalithic stone structures like cairns, cists, dolmens and menhirs found in several districts of Telangana show that there were human habitations in this part of the country thousands of years ago. Remnants of iron ore smelting found at many places demonstrate the hoary roots of artisanship and tool making in Telangana for at least two thousand years. The reference to Asmaka Janapada, part of present Telangana, as one of the 16 Janapadas in ancient India proves that there existed an advanced stage of society.
One of the first five disciples of the Buddha, Kondanna is a typical name from Telangana and though there is no exact information about his native place, the earliest known Buddhist township of Kondapur in Medak district is believed to be after him. The Buddha himself famously acknowledged that it was Kondanna who understood him properly. The Buddhist sources say that Bavari, a Brahmin from Badanakurti in Karimnagar sent his disciples to all the way to north India to learn Buddhism and spread the message in this region. Megasthenes, who visited India in the 4th century BCE, wrote that there were 30 fortified towns of Andhras and a majority of them were in Telangana. In the historical age, Telangana had given rise to mighty empires and kingdoms like the Satavahanas, Vakatakas, Ikshvakus, Vishnukundins, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Qutb Shahis and Asif Jahis.
The emergence and flourishing of these powerful political formations is in itself a proof of existence of a sturdy economic, social and cultural structure. Thus Telangana has been a vibrant social entity by the time of the Buddha and continued to be so for the next two and a half millennia. Endowed with such rich cultural heritage, despite the attempts by historians and scholars from Andhra region to obfuscate and erase its history, Telangana always retained and fought for its self respect and self rule. Due to the official efforts to ignore, erase, belittle and look down Telangana history and turn it into an appendage or a footnote, particularly during 1956-2014, much of Telangana history is either not properly researched or not recorded even if it was studied. Telangana rose again and secured its political identity now and is in the process of resurrecting its own glorious past. Here is an attempt to reconstruct the history of Telangana, the wonderful musical instrument with a thousand strings.

Pre-history (Up to 1000 BCE)

Even though extensive exploration has not been done, particularly subjected to neglect after 1956, the archaeological department under the Nizams’ government had done tremendous work in discovering the traces of pre-historical human habitations in Telangana. These studies found that human habitations in parts of Telangana can be seen from the Paleolithic age consistently. Either the same locations or extended locations showed people continued to live and develop through the later stages of Mesolithic, Neolithic and Metal ages. Excavations discovered stone tools, microliths, cists, dolmens, cairns and menhirs. All the ten districts of Telangana showed these traces even when a proper, scientific and official research and excavations have not been done and thanks to the efforts of either the first generation researchers before 1950s or individual amateur explorations.

Pre-Satavahanas (1000 BCE – 300 BCE)

In the historical age beginning from 1000 BCE there are some references of Telangana as a geographical entity as well as Telugu as a linguistic entity, in the contemporary Buddhist and mythological texts. However, it needs a detailed research to discover finer aspects and establish the stage of development of pre-Satavahana society. Thought the official research into this aspect was stalled for about six decades, some enthusiasts like Thakur Rajaram Singh, B N Sastry and Dr D Raja Reddy did their own painstaking explorations and showed that there was a flourishing society before the emergence of the Satavahanas. Particularly Dr Raja Reddy proved with numismatic evidence that there were rulers before the Satavahanas with Kotalingala as capital and issued their own coins. In these excavations the coins of Gobada, Naarana, Kamvaaya and Samagopa were discovered and at least two other rulers’ names came to light. Thus Telangana happens to be the first region in the subcontinent to have issued punch-marked coins with even insignia. The Buddhist texts as well as accounts of foreigners like Magesthenes and Arrian talked about this region as having thirty forts, many of which have to be explored.

Satavahanas (250 BCE – 200 CE)

After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, around the third century BC there arose the first significant kingdom under the Satavahanas from this region. The earliest capital of the Satavahanas was Kotalingala and then moved to the other popular capitals like Paithan and Amaravati (Dharanikota) only after two centuries of their rule. However, the first capital was either ignored or brushed aside to give prominence to the later place in coastal Andhra. The coins issued by the Satavahana kings Simuka (BC 231-208), Siri Satavahana, Satakani I, Satasiri, Satakani II, Vasittiputta Pulumayi, Vasittiputta Satakani and their governors were discovered in Kotalingala. Numismatic and epigraphic evidence showed that the Satavahanas ruled a larger area of the peninsula, with oceans as borders on three sides. Literature like Gathasaptashati, painting like Ajanta flourished during the Satavahana rule.

Post-Satavahana (200 CE – 950 CE)

After the fall of Satavahanas in the third century AD, Telugu-speaking areas were divided under various small rulers and till the emergence of the Kakatiyas, for about six or seven centuries this fragmentation continued. Even as the mainstream Andhra historians maintained that it was a dark period in Telangana history without any political formation, the current research found that Telangana was ruled by various kingdoms like the Ikshvakus, Vakatakas, Vishnukundins, Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Vemulavada Chalukyas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Mudigonda Chalukyas, Kanduri Chodas and Polvasa dynasty. A detailed research into this period is yet to take place.

Kakatiyas (950 CE – 1323 CE)

The sub-feudatories of the Rashtrakutas emerged themselves as independent kings and founded the Kakatiya dynasty around 950 AD and this kingdom became strong and united whole of Telugu-speaking lands and lasted for more than three centuries and a half. The kingdom saw powerful kings like Ganapatideva, Rudradeva and Prataparudra as well as the first ever woman ruler in the subcontinent Rudramadevi. The Kakatiyas ruled from Hanumakonda in the beginning and shifted their capital to Warangal later.
The Kakatiyas are known for their irrigation public works, sculpture and fire arts. Thanks to the well-planned irrigation facilities and a perfect system of chain tanks to suit the undulating nature of the terrain, the Kakatiya kingdom flourished economically leading to cultural progress also. Envy of this affluence, several neighbouring kingdoms as well as Delhi Sultanate tried to wage war on Warangal many times and failed. Finally in 1323, Delhi army could lay seize on Warangal fort and capture Prataparudra, who, according to the legend, killed himself on the banks of the Narmada unwilling to surrender when he was being taken as prisoner of war to Delhi.

Post-Kakatiya Interregnum (1323 – 1496)

After Prataparudra was defeated by Malik Kafur in 1323, the Kakatiya kingdom was again fragmented with local governors declaring independence and for about 150 years Telangana was again under different rulers like Musunuri Nayakas, Padmanayakas, Kalinga Gangas, Gajapatis, and Bahmanis.

Qutbshahis (1496 - 1687)

Sultan Quli Qutb Shah, subedar for Telangana under the Bahamanis, with Golconda as his capital, declared his independence in 1496 and seven sultans of this dynasty ruled not only Telangana but the entire Telugu-speaking land including parts of present day Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Moghul empire waged war and defeated Golconda in 1687 and for about three decades Telangana was again witnessed chaos and fragmented rulers.

Asaf Jahis (1724-1948)

In 1712, Emperor Farrukhsiyar appointed Qamar-ud-din Khan as the viceroy of Deccan and gave him the title Nizam-ul-Mulk . He was later recalled to Delhi, with Mubariz Khan appointed as the viceroy. In 1724, Qamar-ud-din Khan defeated Mubariz Khan and reclaimed the Deccan suba. It was established as an autonomous province of the Mughal empire. He took the name Asif Jah, starting what came to be known as the Asif Jahi dynasty. He named the area Hyderabad Deccan. Subsequent rulers retained the title Nizam ul-Mulk and were called Asaf Jahi Nizams or Nizams of Hyderabad. The Medak and Warangal divisions of Telangana were part of their realm.
When Asaf Jah I died in 1748, there was political unrest due to contention for the throne among his sons, who were aided by opportunistic neighbouring states and colonial foreign forces. In 1769, Hyderabad city became the formal capital of the Nizams.
Nasir-ud-dawlah, Asaf Jah IV signed the Subsidiary Alliance with the British in 1799 and lost its control over the state's defense and foreign affairs. Hyderabad State became a princely state among the presidencies and provinces of British India.
A total of seven Nizam's ruled Hyderabad. (there was a period of 13 years after the rule of Asaf Jah I, when three of his sons (Nasir Jung, Muzaffar Jung and Salabath Jung) ruled. They were not officially recognised as the rulers:

Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I (Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan)
Nasir Jung (Mir Ahmed Ali Khan)
‏Muzaffar Jung (Mir Hidayat Muhi-ud-din Sa'adullah Khan)
Salabat Jung (Mir Sa'id Muhammad Khan)
Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah II (Mir Nizam Ali Khan)
Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III (Mir Akbar Ali Khan)
Nasir-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah IV (Mir Farqunda Ali Khan)
Afzal-ud-Daula, Asaf Jah V (Mir Tahniyath Ali Khan)
Asaf Jah VI (Mir Mahbub Ali Khan)
Asaf Jah VII (Mir Osman Ali Khan)

Post-independence

When India became independent from the British Empire in 1947, Hyderabad remained an independent princely state for a period of 13 months.
The peasants of Telangana waged an armed struggle to liberate the region. Scores of people lost their lives in the armed struggle. The private militia named Razakars, under the leadership of Qasim Razwi unleashed terror in the state by resorting to looting and murder.
On 17 September 1948, the Indian government conducted a military operation called Operation Polo to bring Hyderabad state into the Indian Union. It appointed a civil servant, M. K. Vellodi, as first chief minister of Hyderabad State on 26 January 1950.
In 1952, Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was elected chief minister of the Hyderabad State in its first democratic election. During this time, there was an agitation by locals in the state to ensure proper representation was given to locals ( mulkis ) of Hyderabad.

First Telangana Movement

In early 1950s, people of Telangana region in Hyderabad state, started organizing themselves with a demand for separate state. In 1953 the Indian government appointed the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) to look into various statehood demands in the country. The Commission was headed by Fazal Ali, Kavalam Madhava Panikkar and H.N. Kunzru
The SRC toured the whole country to seek representations from various sections of the society. People of Telangana region submitted several memorandums to the SRC and expressed their wish to constitute Telangana as a separate state. Telangana intellectuals such as late Prof Jayashankar and political leaders such as Sri HC Heda, Sri Konda Venkat Ranga Reddy gave memorandums containing historic, political, economic, social and cultural justifications for creating the Telangana state. The Commission submitted its report on 30 September 1955, and recommended formation of Telangana state.
During the period between 1955 September and 1956 November, the people of Telangana launched a series of protests demanding statehood by implementing the SRC recommendations. But intense lobbying by leaders from Andhra state in New Delhi resulted in the merger of Telangana region in Andhra state to form the Andhra Pradesh state.
Telangana leaders insisted on a Gentlemen’s Agreement before the merger could take place. The agreement was signed by Andhra and Telangana leaders and provided safeguards with the purpose of preventing discrimination against Telangana by the Andhra leaders.However, the agreement was violated from day one by the Andhra leaders.

1969 Telangana Agitation

Non-implementation of Gentlemen’s Agreement and continued discrimination to Telangana region in government jobs, education and public spending resulted in the 1969 statehood agitation.
In January 1969, students intensified the protests for a separate state. On 19 January, all party accord was reached to ensure the proper implementation of Telangana safeguards. Accord's main points were 1) All non-Telangana employees holding posts reserved for Telangana locals will be transferred immediately. 2) Telangana surpluses will be used for Telangana development. 3) Appeal to Telangana students to call off agitation.
But the protests further intensified, as more and more students and employees joined the statehood movement. Police firing on protesters led to the death of about 369 youngsters during this phase of the agitation. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi called for a high-level meeting to discuss the statehood issue. After several days of talks with leaders of both regions, on 12 April 1969, the Prime Minister developed an Eight Point Plan. Sri M. Chenna Reddy, founded the Telangana Praja Samithi (TPS) political party in 1969 to spearhead the statehood movement.
Mrs. Indira Gandhi had called snap parliamentary elections in March 1971. In these parliamentary elections, Telangana Praja Samithi won 10 out the 14 Parliament seats in Telangana. However, Indira Gandhi’s Congress (R) Party scored a landslide victory on a platform of progressive policies such as poverty elimination (Garibi Hatao). She was reluctant to accept the Telangana statehood demand at that juncture. Sri M Chenna Reddy then merged TPS in Congress (R) party, after formulating a Six-Point Formula to safeguard Telangana’s interests. The statehood movement continued until 1973, but subsided later.

Final Telangana Movement

Since mid 1990s, the people of Telangana started organizing themselves under various organizations with a demand for separate state of Telangana.
In 1997, the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) passed a resolution seeking a separate Telangana. Though the party created the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand in 2000, it did not create a separate Telangana state citing resistance of its coalition partner, Telugu Desam Party.
Sri Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), who was then the Deputy Speaker of AP State assembly, had started background work on Telangana issue in early 2000. And after detailed discussions and deliberations with a plethora of Telangana intellectuals, KCR announced the launch of Telangana Rashtra Samithi on May 17th 2001.
KCR had resigned to the post of Deputy Speaker and MLA before launching the Telangana Rashtra Samithi party. Prof Jayashankar, the ideologue of statehood movement extended his support to KCR.
In 2004, TRS entered into a poll alliance with Congress party. The party won 26 MLAs and 5 MPs and entered into both the AP state and Indian government. Telangana issue found a place in UPA-1 Common Minimum Program. Statehood issue was also mentioned by President Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in their speeches.
TRS president KCR, was initially allotted the Shipping portfolio. But another UPA ally DMK demanded Shipping portfolio and threatened to walk out of the coalition, if its demand was not met, KCR voluntarily relinquished the Shipping portfolio to save the fledgling UPA-1 government. KCR remained as a Union Minister without portfolio, before being given the Labour and Employment portfolio. As the UPA government continued to dilly-dally on the decades old demand for Telangana state, KCR resigned to his ministry in 2006.
When a Congress leader made a belittling statement on the statehood movement in September 2006, KCR resigned to the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat and won it with a thumping majority. The massive majority achieved by KCR in that election proved the strong statehood aspirations in the region.
In April 2008, TRS party MLAs resigned also walked out of the state government in protest against the delay in Telangana formation. But, TRS could retain only 7 MLA and 2 Lok Sabha seats in this by-election.
In 2009 elections, TRS allied with TDP, CPI and CPM parties. The grand alliance did not yield the desired result, as the Pro-Telangana vote got split between TRS, Congress, PRP and BJP. In the end, TRS could win only 10 MLA seats and 2 MP seats.

Intensifying the movement

On Nov 29th, 2009 , KCR had announced an indefinite hunger strike demanding statehood to Telangana. But en route, the state police had arrested him and sent to Khammam sub-jail. The movement spread like wildfire with students, employees, peoples’ organizations plunging into it. In the next 10 days, the whole of Telangana region came to a standstill.
The state government, headed by Sri K Rosaiah had called for an all-party meeting on 7th December. Leaders of TDP and PRP parties promised that they would support a Telangana statehood resolution if it was tabled in the state Assembly. As KCR’s health was deteriorating very fast, on Dec 9th 2009, the UPA government announced that the process of statehood for Telangana would be initiated.
But within 2 weeks, resistance from Seemandhra leadership resulted in UPA backtracking on this issue. KCR then brought all political forces in Telangana region together to form the Telangana JAC – an umbrella body of several organizations and parties, with Prof Kodandaram as its Chairman. TRS cadre and leaders actively participated in several agitations and protests launched by TJAC.

State Formation

After 4 years of peaceful and impactful protests, the UPA government started the statehood process in July 2013 and concluded the process by passing the statehood bill in both houses of Parliament in Feb 2014.
In the General Elections held in April 2014, Telangana Rashtra Samithi emerged victorious by winning 63 of the 119 seats and formed the government. Sri K Chandrashekar Rao was sworn in as the First Chief Minister of Telangana. The Telangana state was inaugurated formally on June 2nd 2014.

Telangana is the 29th state of India, formed on the 2nd of June 2014. The state has an area of 1,14,840 Sq Km and has a population of 3,52,86,757. The Telangana region was part of the Hyderabad state from Sept 17th 1948 to Nov 1st 1956, until it was merged with Andhra state to form the Andhra Pradesh state.

After decades of movement for a separate State, Telangana was created by passing the AP State Reorganization Bill in both houses of Parliament. Telangana is surrounded by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh in the North, Karnataka in the West and Andhra Pradesh in the South and East directions. Major cities of the state include Hyderabad, Warangal, Nizamabad and Karimnagar.

Telangana Statistics

Items	Quantity
Capital City	Hyderabad
Area	114,840 Sq. Kms.
Districts	10
Revenue Divisions	42
Towns (as per Census, 2011)	158
Municipal Corporations	6
Municipalities	38
Nagara Panchayaths	25
Zilla Praja Parishads	9
Mandal Praja Parishads	443
Gram Panchayaths	8778
Revenue Mandals	464
Revenue Villages	10,761
Inhabited Villages	10,128
Un-inhabited Villages	633
Households	83.58 Lakhs
Household size	4
Population	351.94 Lakhs
Male	177.04 Lakhs
Female	174.90 Lakhs
Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 Males)	988 Ratio
Density of Population	307 per Sq. Km
Decadal Growth Rate (2001-2011)	13.58 Rate
Rural Population	215.85 Lakhs
Rural Population Male	107.97 Lakhs
Rural Population Female	107.88 Lakhs
Rural Population Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 Males)	999 Ratio
Rural to Total Population	61.33 %
Urban Population	136.09 Lakhs
Urban Population Male	69.07 Lakhs
Urban Population Female	67.02 Lakhs
Urban Population Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 Males)	970 Ratio
Urban to Total Population	38.64 %
SC Population	54.33 Lakhs
SC Population Male	27.05 Lakhs
SC Population Female	27.28 Lakhs
ST Population	32.87 Lakhs
ST Population Male	16.60 Lakhs
ST Population Female	16.27
Child Population (0-6 years)	39.20 Lakhs
Child Population (0-6 years) Male	20.28 Lakhs
Child Population (0-6 years) Female	18.92 Lakhs
Child to Total Population	11.14 %
Child Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 Males)	933 Ratio
Literates	207.84 Lakhs
Literates Male	117.49 Lakhs
Literates Female	90.35 Lakhs
Literacy Rate	66.46 %
Literacy Rate Male	74.95 %
Literacy Rate Female	57.92 %
Total Workers	164.53 Lakhs
Main Workers	138.06 Lakhs
Marginal Workers	26.47 Lakhs

Members of Parliament (MPs)	17
Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs)	119
Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency Members (ZPTCs)	443
Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency Members (MPTCs)	6497

Culture

'South of North and North of South,’ Telangana State has long been a meeting place for diverse languages and cultures. It is easily the best example for India’s composite culture, pluralism and inclusiveness. Located on the uplands of Deccan plateau, Telangana is the link between the North and South of India. It is thus no surprise that the region on the whole came to be known for its Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb and the capital Hyderabad as a ‘miniature India!’.

Geography, Polity and Economy of the region determined the culture of Telangana. Satavahanas, the earliest known rulers of the region sowed the seeds of independent and self-sufficient village economy, the relics of which can be felt even today. In the medieval times, the Kakatiya dynasty's rule, between the 11th and 14th centuries with Warangal as their capital, and subsequently the Qutub Shahis and Asafjahis, who ruled the Hyderabad state defined the culture of the region.

Art forms

Some classical art forms received the royal patronage and attained finesse. However, the art forms of the innumerable communities spread across the length and breadth of the State give Telangana its distinct identity.

While the Kakatiya rule led to evolution of dance forms such as Perini Sivatandavam, also known as ‘dance of warriors’, the commoners, faced with the challenges of daily life developed traditions of story-telling coupled with solutions to tide over them through Golla Suddulu, Oggu Kathalu and Gotralu etc.

Several art forms like above mingled and new forms emerged. The ubiquitous ‘Dhoom Dham’ is one such evolved and composite art form. They generally were about the struggle and exploitation. People adopted the old sensibilities of theatre and art changing the content as per the case and place.

A variant of Yakshagana, Chindu Bhagavatham is performed widely across Telangana. It is a theater art form that combines dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up, and stage techniques with a unique style and form. The word ‘Chindu’ in Telugu means ‘jump’. As their presentation is interspersed with leaps and jumps, it gained the name of Chindu Bhagavatam. Most of the stories narrated are from ‘Bhagavatam’.

Qawali, Ghazals and Mushairas evolved under the patronage of Qutub Shahi and the Asafjahi rulers in and around the capital city of Hyderabad.

Festivals

The Hindu festivals like Ugadi, Srirama Navami, Bonalu, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Dasara, Deepavali, Sankranti, Holi, Mahashivaratri are celebrated with pomp, gaiety and devotion. Dasara is the main festival with the epithet ‘pedda panduga.’

Bathukamma, a part of Dasara festivities, is unique to Telangana. This colourful festival has historic, ecological, societal and religious significance. Women clad in glittering costumes and jewellery carry beautifully stacked Bathukammas with flowers like Tangedu, Gunugu, Chamanti and others to the village or street’s meeting point.

Making circles around the assembled Bathukammas, womenfolk recite songs in a group. The songs have their roots in Puranas, History and even in the recent political and social developments of the particular region. The fete culminates in Saddula Bathukamma where the villagers immerse the flower stacks in the nearby tanks and lakes.

Bonalu is a Hindu Festival, celebrated during the Telugu month of Ashadam (translates to June/ July of Gregorian calendar) wherein Goddess Mahakali is worshiped. The festival is also considered a thanksgiving to the Goddess for fulfilling the desires of devotees.

As part of the festival, Bojanam or Meal is offered to the presiding Mother Goddess. Women prepare rice cooked with Milk, Jaggery in a Brass or Earthen Pot adorned with Neem Leaves, Turmeric, Vermilion putting a Lighted Diya on top of the Ghatam.

An important part of the festival is Rangam (prophecy). Women standing atop of an earthen pot ‘invokes’ goddess Mahankali onto her and turns an Oracle.

Next is Ghattam. A copper pot is decorated in the form of Mother Goddess. The Ghattam is carried by a priest and is taken in procession accompanied by ‘Pothurajus’ and musical instruments like trumpets and drums for the immersion. Pothurajus are considered the brother of Mother Goddess and are represented by well-built, bare-bodied men, wearing a small tightly draped red dhoti and bells on ankles with turmeric on bodies and vermilion on the foreheads.

While Ramzan is the main festival of Muslims, Moharram too is celebrated on a large scale in Telangana. It is known famously as ‘peerla panduga.’ Pir means Master. Many Hindus take part in the festival.

Chirstians, mainly in and around Hyderabad celebrate Christmas and Good Friday with great fervor and religiosity.

Arts and Crafts

Telangana is a great place for arts and crafts with many astounding handicrafts.

Bidri Craft

The unique art of silver engraved on metal. Black, gold and silver coatings are applied on this. It involves various several stages like casting, engraving, inlaying and oxidizing. The name of this art form is derived from a town called Bidar (currently part of Karnataka) of the erstwhile Hyderabad state.

Banjara Needle Crafts

Banjara Needle Crafts are the traditional handmade fabrics made by Banjaras (the tribal Gypsies) in Telangana. It is a form of embroidery and mirror work on fabrics employing the needlecraft.

Dokra Metal Crafts

Dhokra or Dokra is also known as bell metal craft and is widely seen in Jainoor Mandal, Ushegaon and Chittalbori in Adilabad district. The tribal craft produces objects like figurines, tribal gods, etc. The work consists of folk motifs, peacocks, elephants, horses, measuring bowl, lamp caskets and other simple art forms and traditional designs.

Nirmal Arts

The renowned Nirmal oil paintings use natural dyes for depicting themes from the epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. Also, the wood paintings and other wooden articles, has great aesthetic expression. The origin of the Nirmal craft is traced back to the Kakatiya era. The motifs used for Nirmal craft are floral designs and frescoes from the regions of Ajanta and Ellora and Mughal miniatures.

Bronze Castings

Telangana is famous world-wide for its amazing Bronze castings. While using solid casting of icons, the mould is created using several coatings of different clays on a finished wax model. This process then imparts fine curves to the cast image.

The Telangana government has announced the following four icons for the new State:

The State Bird - Palapitta (Indian Roller or Blue Jay).
The State Animal - Jinka (Deer).
The State Tree - Jammi Chettu (Prosopis Cineraria).
The State Flower - Tangedu (Tanner’s Cassia).

These icons reflect the culture and tradition of Telangana state and three of them - Tangedu flowers, Blue Jay and Jammi Chettu - are associated with the popular festivals of Batukamma and Dasara. While Tangedu flowers are used in stacking of Batukammas, spotting the Blue Jay on Dasara is considered a good omen and people worship Jammi Chettu on that day.

Palapitta

Lord Rama spotted the Palapitta before invading Lanka and vanquished Ravana. Palapitta has been chosen to put Telangana on the path of victory

Jinka

Deer is deeply associated with Indian history and a reference to this graceful animal was there in the great epic Ramayana. It can survive in the smallest forests also. It reflects the mindset of the people of Telangana as it is very sensitive and innocent.

Jammi Chettu

Pandavas had vanquished a large army of Kauravas only after performing worshipping the Jammi Chettu. They had hidden their weapons on a Jammi Chettu when they had been forced into exile in the forests. Now, Telangana requires the blessings of the Jammi Chettu.

Tangedu Flower

Tangedu flower which is used during the Batukamma festival by women folk is the most appropriate choice as the state flower.

AWARDS

CM Awarded Indian of the Year

CNN IBN "Indian of the year 2014" Popular Choice Award was awarded to Honourable Chief Minister Sri. K. Chandrashekar Rao. The award was received by MP Sri K. Keshava Rao on behalf of the Chief Minister at New Delhi (17-03-2015).

Telangana wins Renewable Energy Award

Telangana state has been awarded for outstanding performance in promotion of renewable energy. The Union ministry of New and Renewable energy, appreciated Telangana for its achievement at the first Renewable Energy Global Investment and Expo Re-INVEST, held in New Delhi on the 15th of February, 2015.
Telangana Energy Minister Sri G Jagadish Reddy received the award from Prime Minister Sri. Narendra Modi. Chief Minister Sri K Chandrasekhar Rao expressed his happiness at the Prime Minister lauding the achievement of the state. He said such recognition further motivates the state government.

The Skoch Renaissance Award 2014 in ICT Category

State wins the Skoch Renaissance Award 2014 in ICT category. Ramesh Akula, Director Communications, Telangana IT Department received it on 21 November, 2014 in New Delhi from Sri Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of Urban Development and Housing.

Best Infrastructure Award

Telangana was chosen for the State with Best Infrastructure Award at the India Today Conclave on 31 October, 2014. Telangana IT Minister K T Rama Rao received the Award representing the State.

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EXECUTIVES

Sri ESL Narasimhan

The Hon'ble Governor

Name:: Sri ESL Narasimhan
Date of Birth:: 1945
Age:: 69
Spouse:: Vimala Narasimhan
Birth Place:: Tamil Nadu
Education:: PG in Political Science and Law
Office:
23310521;
Fax :
23312650;
Residence:
23310521

Profile

Shri Ekkadu Srinivasan Lakshminarasimhan was born in Tamilnadu in 1945. After an initial two year Schooling at the Little Flower High School at Hyderabad, he completed his entire education from Chennai. Migrating from physics to political science Shri Narasimhan is a Gold Medalist from the Madras Presidency College. He is also a graduate in Law from the Madras Law College.

Shri Narasimhan joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1968, and was allotted Andhra Pradesh cadre. After a year's stint at Nandyal, he also did short tenures of a few months at Narasampet and Ongole before moving to the Intelligence Bureau in 1972. He spent the rest of his service, till he demitted office on December, 2006 in the Intelligence Bureau.
In the Intelligence Bureau, Shri Narasimhan held various assignments relating to national/internal security and was the Director, Intelligence Bureau from January, 2005 to December, 2006. Shri Narasimhan has a keen interest in application of technology for national security purposes.
Shri Narasimhan has done two tenures in the Ministry of External Affairs. In the first instance he was posted as First Secretary in the Embassy of India, Moscow from 1981-84. During the assignment his role was a combine of physical security measures for the Mission premises and personnel security besides counter intelligence responsibility.
Shri Narasimhan has also served in the Ministry of External Affairs from 1996-99 when he held the responsibility of overseeing the security aspects both human and physical of all the Indian Missions overseas.
Shri Narasimhan is also an alumnus of the National Defence College. He has varied interests ranging from getting to know people to music. He enjoys both Karnatic and Hindustani music.
On demitting office as Director, Intelligence Bureau on December 31, 2006, Shri Narasimhan took over as Governor of Chhattisgarh on January 25, 2007, in which capacity he played a pivotal role in coordinating Centre-State efforts in countering the Maoist menace in Chhattisgarh.
Shri Narasimhan moved over as Governor of Andhra Pradesh in January, 2010.
Shri Narasimhan is appointed as Governor of Andhra Pradesh for another term of 5 years on 03-05-2012.
Shri Narasimhan also assumed charge of the office of the Governor of Telangana on 02-06-2014 consequent to bifurcation of the state into successor states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Shri Narasimhan is happily married to Smt. Vimala Narasimhan. The Narasimhans have two sons both of whom are married and are proud grand parents of three grandchildren.

SRI K.CHANDRASHEKAR RAO

The Hon'ble Chief Minister

Name:: SRI K.CHANDRASHEKAR RAO
Date of Birth:: 17 February 1954
Age:: 60
Parents:: Sri. Raghava Rao and Smt. Venkatamma
Spouse:: Smt. Shobha
Birth Place:: Chintamadaka, Medak dist, Telangana, India
Education:: M.A. (Literature) Educated at Osmania University.
Office:: 040-23452933 ; 23455205 ; 23456698 ; Fax : 23452498
Residence:: 040-23410888 ; 23410333 ; 23410666 ; Fax : 23410555

Profile

Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, was born in Chintamadaka, Medak Dist, Telangana, India to Sri. Raghava Rao and Smt. Venkatamma on February 17, 1954 . After leading the Telangana movement to its desired end, he became the first Chief Minister of the State. He is also the founder President of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) which was in the forefront of the movement for Statehood to Telangana. He has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for multiple terms from different constituencies. He was also a Member of Parliament and has also held the position of a Cabinet Minister for Labour and Employment.

Sri Chandrashekar Rao attained a Master's degree in Telugu Literature from Arts College-Osmania University, Hyderabad.
His political journey started as a member of Youth Congress from Medak district in 1970. Shri Chandrashekar Rao joined the TDP in 1983. He was a member of AP Assembly from 1985 to 2004. He served as Minister of State in Government of Andhra Pradesh during 1987-88 and as a Cabinet Minister during 1997-99. He served as Deputy Speaker of AP Assembly during 1999-2001.
On 27 April 2001, Rao resigned from the Deputy Speaker and MLA positions. He also quit TDP at the same time and launched Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with the sole objective of realising Statehood to Telangana region.
In 2003, he was elected National Convener for New States Front. In 2004, Chandrashekar Rao became a Member of Parliament from Karimnagar Loksabha Constituency and became a Cabinet Minister at the UPA -I. He resigned from Union Cabinet in 2006 alleging the procrastination on the issue by the then Union government.
In November 2009, he undertook fast unto death demanding the creation of Telangana State. Consequently, the Union Home Minister on 9 December 2009 made a statement saying that the process of formation of Telangana has been initiated.
After a prolonged agitation, the Union government finally granted the Statehood to Telangana region and passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation, Bill 2013 in both the Houses of Parliament in February 2014 effecting the creation of Telangana State.
In 2014 general elections, Telangana Rashtra Samithi emerged victorious in 63 of the 119 Assembly seats thereby securing the required number of legislators for forming the government along with highest vote share among political parties. KCR was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of Telangana.
Sri K Chandrashekar Rao envisions leading Telangana into a new era of inclusive and sustainable development.
He is married to Smt. Shobha and has two children. Their son Shri K.T. Rama Rao, has been elected as a legislator from Sircilla, Karimnagar district and is a Cabinet Minister of Telangana State. His daughter, Kalvakuntla Kavitha, is an M.P from Nizamabad constituency.

Name of The Minister Sri/Smt/Dr	Portfolio	Constituency	Office	Residence
Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao	Chief Minister, SC, Minorities Welfare, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Coal, GAD and All other portfolios not alloted	Gajwel	040-23452933; 040-23455205; 040-23456698; Fax:23452498	040-23410888; 040-23410333; 040-23410666; Fax:23410555
Sri Kadiyam Srihari	Deputy Chief Minister, Education	MLC		9849488911
Sri Md. Mohamood Ali	Deputy Chief Minister, Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, ULC, Stamps & Registration.	MLC	040-23453241; 040-23450785	040-23333066
Sri Etela Rajender	Finance & Planning, Small Savings, State Lotteries, Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology, Civil Supllies.	Huzurabad	040-23454766; 040-23452699	040-23384412
Sri G. Jagadish Reddy	Energy	Suryapet	040-23453212; 040-23450520	040-23322298
Sri Jogu Ramanna	Forest & Environment, Backward Classes Welfare.	Adilabad	040-23453222; 040-23451217	040-23384411
Sri K. T. Rama Rao	Panchayat Raj & IT.	Sircilla	040-23453233; 040-23450455	040-23410888
Sri Naini Narshimha Reddy	Home, Prisons, Fire Services, Sainik Welfare, Labour & Employment.	MLC	040-23451072; 040-23451073	040-23386878
Sri P. Mahender Reddy	Transport.	Tandur	040-23453210; 040-23453211	040-23301333
Sri Pocharam Srinivas Reddy	Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development Corp., Seeds Corporation.	Banswada	040-23450813; 040-23450533	040-23386575
Sri T. Harish Rao	Irrigation, Marketing & Legislative Affairs.	Siddipet	040-23453220; 040-23450872	040-23324504
Sri T. Padma Rao Goud	Excise&Prohibition, Sports and Youth Services.	Secunderabad	040-23450368; 040-23455135
Sri C. Laxma Reddy	Health Minister	Jadcherla	040-23450328	040-23453631
Sri Azmeera Chandulal	ST Development, Tourism & Culture.	Mulug (ST)
Sri Jupally Krishna Rao	Industries, Handlooms & Textiles, Sugar.	Kollapur	040-23453207; 040-23452339
Sri Tummala Nageshwar Rao	Roads & Buildings, Women & Child Development.	MLC
Sri A. Indra Karan Reddy	Housing, Law and Endowments.	Nirmal	040-23450503; 040-23450708
Sri Talasani Srinivas Yadav	Commercial Taxes, Cinematography.	Sanathnagar	040-23453215; 040-23453217

Advisors

Telangana government has appointed six advisors with the status of Cabinet Minister for a period of one year. The names and the subjects they are entrusted with are given below:

Name	Subject
Sri R. Vidyasagar Rao	Irrigation
Sri A.K.Goel, IAS (Retd.)	Planning & Energy
Sri A.Ramalakshman, IAS (Retd.)	Welfare
Sri B.V.Papa Rao, IAS (Retd.)	Policy & Institutional Development
Sri K.V.Ramanachary, IAS (Retd.)	Culture, Tourism, Endowments, Youth and Media Affairs
Sri G.R.Reddy, IES (Retd.)	Finance

Dr Rajiv Sharma

The Hon'ble Chief-Secretary

Name:: Dr Rajiv Sharma, IAS
Date of Birth:: 06 May 1956
Age:: 59
Education:: Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University, USA.

Profile

Dr Rajiv Sharma is a Civil Servant belonging to the Indian Administrative Service. He did his Bachelor of Engineering in 1976 from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee; Master of Arts in Rural Development from University of East Anglia, U.K and Ph.D. in Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University, USA.

Dr. Rajiv Sharma joined the I.A.S. in 1982. As part of his professional career, he worked as Collector of two districts in Andhra Pradesh and extensively dealt with developmental issues involving poverty alleviation, education, health, welfare and infrastructure development.
Dr. Rajiv Sharma has also worked in different administrative positions in sectors such as Agriculture, Municipal Administration & Urban Development and Technical Education. While working as Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board in the State of Andhra Pradesh, he dealt with regulatory issues in environment. Dr. Rajiv Sharma worked as the Mission Director, National Mission Clean Ganga in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. In his last posting, he worked as an Additional Secretary, Home Affairs, Government of India.
Dr. Rajiv Sharma's areas of interest include Public Policy Analysis, Urban Administration & Urban Development, Infrastructure Development & Project Management, Agriculture & Rural Development, Education, Environment, ICT in development and Governance with specific focus on accountability and service delivery.