Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Gearing up for centenary fete

S. Harpal Singh

Adilabad district to celebrate 100 years of its formation in October Adilabad district to celebrate its centenary in October

TIME TESTED: Kumra Asun Bai, a Gond tribal from Chinchughat village near Adilabad, claims to be of the same age as the district. The forests of Adilabad have been a home for the aboriginal Gond tribe.

ADILABAD: Adilabad will officially celebrate the 100 years of its formation as a district in October, according to Collector R. Subba Rao. "Better late than never," he observes when pointed out that the centenary year was in 2005.

The district, named after Ali Adil Shah, ruler of Bijapur, was conferred its present status in 1905 with Adilabad town as its headquarters. The area was initially a sub district called Sirpur-Tandur carved out in 1872 and comprised Edlabad (Adilabad), Rajura (now in Maharashtra) and Sirpur taluks.

Headquarters shifting

During 1913-14 the headquarters was shifted to Asifabad which was a flourishing town and a major centre in the agency tracts. In 1940-41, Adilabad was once again made the headquarters of the district. The year marked the high point in tribal unrest in the district. Komram Bheem, the legendary Gond leader, was martyred during this period at Jodeghat village. He had rebelled over the question of grant of land rights to tribals by the Nizam of Hyderbad.

During different periods, the district was ruled by Mauryas, Satavahanas, Vakataks, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Bahmanis, Imad Shahis of Berar, Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar, Mughals, Bhosles of Nagpur, Asafjahis and more importantly the Gond rajas of Chandrapur and Sirpur.

Greenery

The district's natural boundaries are formed by Penganga, Wardha in the north, Pranahita in the north-east and Godavari in the south. The most noteworthy facet of the district is its greenery as 43 per cent of the area is covered by forests and its mineral wealth of which coal is the main variety. Of the nearly 25 lakh population, 18.5 per cent are scheduled castes and 17.6 per cent are scheduled tribes. Gonds form the largest chunk among tribals. "The preliminary work on the centenary celebrations will begin soon. The celebrations will invariably include depiction of local cultures and honouring those who had left footprints on the Adilabadi sands of time. Tribal legends like Komram Bheemu and Ramji Gond will be remembered," says Mr. Subba Rao.

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