The article discusses the formation and important features of Telangana, a state in southern India. It mentions the celebration of Telangana Formation Day on 2nd June and provides key details about the state including its history, geographical location, iconic symbols, popular festivals, World Heritage sites, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, a water dispute, and recent initiatives.
A Brief History of Telangana
Telangana, established on 2nd June 2014, holds the distinction of being the 29th state of India. It was created from the northwestern region of Andhra Pradesh. The inception of Andhra, the first linguistic state in India, occurred with the enactment of the Andhra State Act (1953). This law separated the Telugu-speaking areas from the State of Madras, currently known as Tamil Nadu. Later, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 led to the merger of Telugu-speaking regions of Hyderabad state with Andhra state, forming an enlarged Andhra Pradesh. However, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (2014) bifurcated this large state into two separate entities: the residuary Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Geographical Details
Located in the southern part of India, Telangana shares borders with several states. To the North, it is flanked by Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, while Karnataka lies to its West. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh surrounds it in the South and East directions. The capital city of Telangana is Hyderabad.
The Icons of Telangana
Telangana is represented by various state symbols. These include the Palapitta (Indian Roller or Blue Jay) as the state bird and Jinka (Deer) as the state animal. The state tree is the Jammi Chettu (Prosopis Cineraria), and the state flower is the Tangedu (Tanner’s Cassia).
Cultural Festivities
A variety of Hindu festivals are celebrated in Telangana, including Ugadi, Srirama Navami, Bonalu, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Dasara, Deepavali, Sankranti, Holi, and Mahashivaratri. Among these, Dasara is the grandest and holds the epithet ‘pedda panduga’.
Global Recognition
In Telangana, the Ramappa Temple, situated in Mulugu district, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the unique Kakatiya architecture style. Furthermore, Sadarmatt anicut in Nirmal district and Pedda Cheruvu in Kamareddy district feature in the ICID Register of Heritage Irrigation Structures.
The Natural Expanse: National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries
The state houses diverse fauna within several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. These include Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, Mrugavani National Park, Kinnersani Wildlife Sanctuary, Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Kawal Tiger Reserve, Lanja Madugu Siwaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjeera Crocodile Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Wildlife Sanctuary, Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary.
Pending Issues: Krishna River Water Dispute
Beyond its cultural and natural richness, Telangana is also involved in a long-standing dispute over the water of the Krishna River.
Recent Initiatives
In addition to its rich history, cultural diversity, and natural beauty, Telangana has also marked its progress with innovative initiatives. Recently, it has approved the use of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) developed Drone-Based Vaccine Delivery Model, i-drone, to deliver vaccines in remote areas. This development underscores the state’s commitment to leveraging technology for healthcare accessibility.
