INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

ISSN : 2349-9656
VOLUME VI, ISSUE 1(1), JANUARY 2013

HISTORY OF MUNAGALA SAMASTHANAM

Dr. P. LINGAIAH
Lecturer in History
SSR & J Arts & Science College, Khammam.

The Geographical aspects of a region have a very great significance

sod they acquire a strategic importance in the study of the region. For
resistance, we might consider certain of the facts which would amplify the
geographical importance. The Greeks ruled themselves establishing for
nense,ves city - states. The Japanese made out their living in tiny islands.
The English people had a decisive supremacy when it came to naval sxength.
The Europeans were white and the Africans were black and the Indians were
brown. The study of such facts would lead us to a defines conclusion on
geographical studies. In the analysis of the history of Bethavole Makhta there
was the great role played by the Geography of the region.

Bethavole Makhta is now situated in Chilukuru Mandal, Nalgonda

District of Andhra Pradesh.In the Pre- Independence period, the Tadakamalla
family was the rulers of the Province. Bethavole Makhta is a part of
Telangana and hence, the Socio- economic conditions were very much akin
to the trends in Telangana.

Bethavole is in Suryapeta Taluq of Nalgonda District presently and it

is the junction of five villages. The other villages are Jerripotula Gedem,
Poleni Gudem, Achryula Gudem, Chennari Gudem, Sita Ram Thanda and
llufurc llic of independence for India, Sri Tadakamalla Sita Rama Chandra
Rao had been the ruler since 1885.

BOUNDARIES :
The Bethavole Makhta was 60sq miles wide andit has Nalgonda
District on its Three sides and on one side there is Munagala of Krishna
District.
East : Chilukuru (ND)
West : Surya Peta(ND)
North : Huzur Nagar (ND)
South : Munagala(ND)

There geographical features of a Province have a decisive role to play

in the life style of the people of a particular region.They are hence to be
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VOLUME VI, ISSUE 1(1), JANUARY 2013

analyzed carefully as one makes a his toric study. The Munagala province is
situated in the Andhra-Telangana border. In the preindependence period it
was a part of krishna District.The areas adjacent to Munagala were always
parts of Telangana and so,Munagala is also akin to Telangana culturally.In
this study any attempt is made to mention the different families that ruled the
province.

During the british rule , the zamindari of Munagala was a part of

krishna District.The villages are now combined with nadigudem and
Munagala mandals.They were bequeathed to east india company by Asaf
Zahi in 1768 A.D,from North circars.The Zamindari of Munagala did then
belong to kondapalli rulers and was a portion of Mujafar Nagar.The
province was ancient from the historical perspective .Sardar jagadadu
Marayya Ganapathi Reddy had been faithful to the kakatiya rulers and the
zamindari had been given to him for his personal expenses.

From 1900 A.D onwards , Raja Nayani venkata Ranga Rao was the
ruler of the zamindari. there used to be 22 major villages including three
Mukhasa Villages.There were a total of 17 hamlets for some major villages.

Boundaries:
The area of Munagala province was 110 sq miles wide. On three
sides it is surrounded by Nalgonda District and on fourth side there is
Warangal District.

East : Kodada
West : Suryapeta
North : NayakuniGudem
South : BelhavoluMakhta

In the medieval Political system, it was customary to gives Estates to

the faithful army officers. The Munagala providence came into existence
during the tenure of Kakatiyas. Present study is aimed to narrate of the
history of Munagala pravince of Pre - Independence period.

Munagala Province was in longer existence than the other

Samasthanams of Nizam State. It came into being as a part of the army
officers who had displayed valour in the battle field were given Estates as
gifts. Munagala was one of them. The Munagala Zamindar existed as a
subordinate to the Kakatiya rulers between 1262 AD and 1323 AD. in
1300AD it was under the rule of Cheruku Jagadadu Marayya Ganapathi

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VOLUME VI, ISSUE 1(1), JANUARY 2013

Reddy. From 1306 on wards Cheruku Jagadadu Annayya Reddy inherited

the rule, according to Tadavai inscription. As per the historical evidence
available, the region enjoyed provincial status during the reign of
Rachakonda, Devara konda Velama Rayalu and Golkonda kings. At the time
of Aurangazeb, it passed in to the hands of Moghuls.

Mukundappa among the Keesara family was very much courageous.

In 1963 Mukundappa received a “firman” from the Emperor Aurangazeb to
punish the rebel Aswarao, Mukundappa executed the “firman”. Keesara
Mukundappa had two sons, Suranna became the ruler of the province.
Suranna also died and Narasanna became the ruler, Narasanna‟s wife
Lakshmamma became the ruler as she became a widow. She had a son by
name Venkata Ramanna and he became the ruler after her death. Venkata
Ramanna also died, Yielding place to his elder son Keesara Venkata
Narasimha Rao.

Between 1746 and 1764 there occured Karnataka wars. The Nawabof
Hyderabad Nizam, the British rulers and the ruler of Munagala, Keesara
Narasimha Rao were on one side. The Nawab of Karnataka, French and the
Raja of Mukhtyala were on the other side. The Aliance of Nizam becme
victorious in the wars. The Hyderabad Nizam, Ul-Mulk made an agreement
with the East India Company on 1211-1766 and agreed to give five Circar
Districts as gift to the East India Company. Thus the Provence of Munagala
among them went into hands of the East India Company.

In the early days, there had been 10 villages under Munagala. It was
the “Zagir” of Mujaffarnagar under Kondapalli Zamindar. The Garlapati
family was one of his subordinates and hence, the Province was used to
maintain the horses for the cavalry (Tabela) during the reign of Kutub Shahi.
There were three Niyogi families also as the Garlapaties were “Desais”. The
three were Kondapalli, Kodati and Akkiraju families. They took the
Proviences as “Izara” from the Garlapati family the Keesaras came into the
picture and they were “Desmukhs” in the Chintakani region. As, time passed,
the Keesaras expressed preparedness to take the provience as Izara from
Garlapati directly.

There was confusion in regards to the caste of Garlapaties. Some

thought that they belonged to the Kamma caste. There were others who
thought they might have been Brahmins or Reddies. There were two men by
name Yellappa and Nagappa in the Garlapati family. Yellappa had no
children. Nagappa had an heir by name Ayyanna Desai. Ayyanna Desai

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becomes the heir on the death of Nagappa . In the days of Ayyanna Desai the
debts increased and he offered to sell his share to the Golkonda businessmen
by name the Siddhaluris. A couple of businessmen, Siddhaluri Ramanna and
Venkanna bought the share for 500 varahas. The deal was carried in 1609 on
Magha Bahula vidiyaof Prabhava nama Samvatsaram.on the death of
Yellappa, his share went to Ayyanna Desai. Ayyanna Desai‟s son met with a
premature death. The daughter -in-law Subhadramma became the ruler
subsequently. Being a woman, she was not able to rule efficiently. She
arranged a meeting of the “Kapu”s and the “Karana‟s and the responsibility
of the rule was handed over to keesara peddi reddy, Mukunappa and
Rayanna and a deed was executed on 13-6-1690. The Reddy brothers
acquired the remaining half from Siddhaluri Venkanna and Ramanna for
2000 varahas.

The first Capital city of Keesaras was Repala. The “Khiledar” of

Undragonda, Malik Khaboj Centered in Vallabha Puram terrains made an
invasion on Repala as he was not paid by the keesaras. The Keesaras were
defeated and came to an agreement with the khiledar. The cannon fired by
the khiledar showed an impact on the Repala Fort. The shell from if fell into
the Fort and on sentimental reasons,the keesaras shifted the capital form
Repala to Siripuram.

In 1759 AD Munagala was given to the East India Company. In

1802, East India Company adopted the method of “Permanent Settlement “
permanent “Sanad” was issued in the name of Keesara Vekata Narasimha
Rao. But Venkata Narasimha Rao died before taking the “Sanad” and hence,
the sanad was issued to kodanda ramaiah. From then onwards, the keesara
were called the Zamindar‟s of Munagala. The erstwhile posts of “Desa
Pandyas‟ were abolished. Kodati, Kondapalli and Akkiraju families acting as
“DesaPandyas” became the “Karana”s. British Government made some
“Zamins” divisible and some others indivisible. Munagala Estate was an
indivisible Estate.

Having been an indivisible Estate, the Zamindari would go into the

inheritance of the first of the sons. The remaining was to be satisfied with
compensations and pensions. During the rule of the Keesaras, the Estate was
confiscated by the Cout of Wards after the death of Keesara Ramaiah died in
1814 AD as his son Venkara Narasimha Rao was a minor. It was given back
in 1818. Venkata Narasimha Rao died childless in 1835. Gopamma was his
wife and Kodanda Ramaiah, aged 5, was adopted by her on 7-8-1836. The
Estate was once again taken over by the court of Wards between 1836 and

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1848. It was handed over back to kodanda Ramaiah in 1848. There was a
highly satisfactory development during the reign of kodanda Ramaiah.
Kodanda Ramaiah died in 1854 and there was a feud between Gopamma,
who had adopted him, and Rukkamma, wife of another son. Both went to
court. The judgement came in favour of Rukkamma and she took over the
Estate.

By the time Rukkamma became the Zamindarini, the keesaras grew

to be a multifamily. There were disputes among them and they went to court
for property. Rukkamma had to face many difficulties. There were many
attempts to assassinate her. She was poisoned once. As a result of these
attempts on her life she shifted her residence from Siripuram to Nadigudem.
As the problems increased day by day she appointed Veeraiah as her Diwan.
Veeraiah, saved Rukkamma from many of the litigations. Komarraju
Venkata Papaiah became the diwan on the death of Veeraiah and the Estate
was save from all legal problems. The Estate had good development. Rani
Keesara Rukkamma died in 1860. Her daughter Lachchamma Rao of Nayini
family inheited the Estate and it meant an end to the Keesara family rule and
the beginning of the Nayini rule. Nayini Lachchamma was the only daughter
of Rukkamma. She was married Nayini Venkata Ramaiah, Desmukh of
Torrur and a chieftain of the Hyderabad court.

Lachchamma confined herself to her mother-in-law‟s house at Torrur

for a long time. She appointed Narayana Reddy at Nadigudem to collect land
revenue. On the death of her husband Venkata Ramaiah, Lachamma stayed
full time at Nadigudem and for the affairs at Torrur, she appointed an agent
Bandaru Rajeswara Rao. Thus, she was able to conduct the affairs of both at
Nadigudem and Tormr12. Lachamma had a couple of servants Mallam
Papanna and Kasarla Ramachandraiah. Venkatappaiah was the Diwan then.
The two servants were in-laws. Both of them had the favour of Lachamma.

Mallam Papanna acquired the position of diwan after the death of

Venkatappaiah13. As Mallam papanna used to steal the income. Komaragiri
Venkayya prepared the accounts on a daily basis and passed on the
information to Lachamma. When his misdeeds came into open, Papanna ran
away the same night. Lachamma went into a debt ot the Nizam because of
these losses14.

During the rule of Lachamma, the Keesaras acquired a multi-family

structure. There was a relative of Nayini Lachamma by name Keesara
Buchchamma who was given Tellanbilli and Ratnavaram as “Mukhasa”. But

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she had no right to sell them or give as charity. Kamanth Reddy got
Nelamarri as “Mukhasa”15.

Naini Lachamma was issueless and hence, there arose a competition

among the Keesaras for the possession of the Province. Lachamma inclined
to pass on the Province to the Keesaras and she wanted to adopt Varadaiah a
son of Nayini Raghava Reddy of Manukota Talq in 1888. Lachamma made
all preparations. Varadayya was seated in a palanquin. When everybody was
busy before the Muhurat Varadayya got down from the Palanquin and started
playing Rangareddy, second son of Raghava Reddy entered the palanqauin.
The bearers of palanquain carried it to Nadigudem as the auspicious time
drew near. Thus Ranga Reddy was brought to Nadigudem. Keeping in view
the Muhurat, Ranga Reddy was named Venkata Ranga Rao by Lachamma
and he was groomed as the Zamindar. Lachamma died in 1892 and Naini
Venkata Ranga Rao became the Zamindar16.

Naini Venkata Ranga Rao belonged to Nellikuduru of Manukota

Talu, Warangal District. At the time of adoption, Ranga Rao was 13. As he
was a minor, the Estate went into the Court of Wards when Lachamma had
died. Ranga Rao, now in the protection of the collectoer of the Krishna
District, pursued his education at Noble College, Machilipatnam. He studied
up to Intermediate. He had a good proficient in English, Sanskrit, Telugu and
Urdu.

On the death of Lachamma there was litigation by the Keesara family

that Venkata Ranga Rao had got hold of the properties by illegal means and
two suits were filed in the court. The contention was that the adoption of
Nayini Ranga Rao was not valid legally and the adoption made and recorded
with the Nizam Government should be ratified by the Britih Government
within 4 months from the date of adoption. For the registration of adoption,
registration papers should be filed, Nayini Venkata Ranga Rao‟s father had
no right to file the registration papers. The Keesaras were not given enough
time to file their objections – in the Court. But all the judgements came in
favour of Venkata Ranga Rao. The Keesaras lost their case in all the courts
of India and they went to the Privy Council at London. Venkata Ranga Rao
was the second defendant. He stated that the Estate was bequeathed to him
by his adopted mother Naini Lachamma. His mother herself had been the
only heiress. The Estate properties were not subject to distribution. The suits
filed had suffered due to lapse of time and hence they were of no validity.
The Privy Council examined the two suits and the claims of Raja Keesara
Venkatappaiah and four toher were rejected. The judugement of the lower

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courts was thus confirmed. Naini Venkata Ranga Rao‟s inheritance was
endorsed and the Keesaras did not enjoy any irhgts and their claims hade
suffered for lapse of time. The adoption of Venkata Ranga Rao was justified
and a judgement was given on May 1, 193118.

Nayani lachamma‟s adopted son Ranga Rao was minor and the Estate
passed into the Court of Wards. Venkata Ranga Rao ascended to the power
in 1900 and continued ruling the Estate. The Zamindari System was
abolished in 1948, thus bringing an end to Ranga Rao‟s regime. He died in
1958 and in 1959 the Province of Munagala was added to the Nalgonda
District from Krishna District19.

Thus the History of Munagala Samsthanam corssed so many land

marks in the hands of Jamindar‟s and finally merged in Nalgonda Dist. of
Andhra Pradesh.

References:
1. B.N.Sastry, Sasana Samputi. 1, 2 Parts, Hyderabad, 197., P 46.
2. Interview, dated 12-04-2008, Sri Kodati Narayana Rao 75 years old,
was resident of Hyderabad.
3. Sri Kodati Narayana Rao, Chinnanati Gnapakalu op. cit, P-16.
4. Sri Badhiri Raju Seshagiri Rao, Andhra Pradesh Raithu Udyamalu,
Hyderabad 1990, P-23.
5. Andhra Rachaitala Sangam, Andhra Desha Charitra Bhugola
Saravaswam, Hyderabad, 1971, P 61.
6. Thatavarthi Venkateswara Rao, Munagala Paragana Praia Udyama
Charitra, Kodada, 1981, P4.
7. Interview, dated 14-07-2009, Sri Kollu Prasad Rao 69 years old, who
resident of Nadigudem.
8. Kodati narayana Rao, Chinnanati Ganapakalu opcit P 18.
9. Interview of Sri Nayeeni Gopala Krishna Reddy, 75 years old,
resident of Hyderabad, dated 19-05-2008.
10. Chandra Rajeswar Rao Some Memories about Communist
Movement in Ahdra Pradesh, Vijayawada, 1977, P5.
11. Interview, dated 18-05-2009, Sri Nayeeni Narendranadh Reddy, 70
years old, resident of Hyderabad.

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12. Interview, dated 14-07-2009, Kollu Prasada Rao aged 69 years old,
resident of Nadigudem.
13. Interview, dated 12-04-2008m, Sri Kodati Narayana Rao 75 years
old, resident of Hyderabad.

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