Bomb culture and faction feuds are not new to Rayalaseema region and it dates back to Vijayanagar empire.
Local chieftains, who were designated as `Palegaru' were indirectly responsible for the rise and fall of Vijayanagar empire. History is repeating now with factionists reaching a stage of dictating governments and causing their fall in the region.
The Vijayanagar rulers who did not want to interfere in local affairs allowed Palegars to rule with limited autonomy who had powers to collect revenue, maintain a small army and punish the guilty. A total of 200 power centers emerged during their reign. But Palegars refused to come to the rescue of the empire which was at the receiving end in Tallikota battle in 1565 AD and caused the downfall of the great southern empire.
After Rayalaseema districts came under the British rule as ceded districts, Palegars refused to share the revenue with the British. The Collector of the ceded district, Thomas Monroe, took a serious view of the rebellion and ordered the capture of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, Palegar of Koikuntla. He was hanged to death in public. However, after the incident, the British did not hunt Palegars, who were around 80 in the region. They just tried to be away from Palegars.
In the pre-independent days, Palegars conducted private courts and were a law unto themselves.
Palegars vanished after the independence, but the culture survived in the form of factionists. Factionists fought among themselves for supremacy over villages. Before the seventies, the factionists were considered unwise and stupid who fought for supremacy risking their lives and property.
The common man led a miserable life in faction villages where human rights were seriously violated. The weak presence of Government authority in troubled villages is the main strength of the faction leaders.
Bomb culture came into existence in the early eighties when bomb manufacturing emerged a cottage industry. During the time, the factionists made an entry to politics and political parties, too, vied for their support. Now, leaders with faction background are everything for political parties without their help the parties cannot fight elections and even if they try, they do not stand a chance.
Leaders from Faction background used to kill each other for supremacy. They seek protection under government representatives who can not win elections without support from factionists. Factionists used violence as a weapon to get votes in the elections.
Though factionism is slowly vanishing, but it flows in Rayalaseema and in every artery of Rayalaseema Bidda :)
Local chieftains, who were designated as `Palegaru' were indirectly responsible for the rise and fall of Vijayanagar empire. History is repeating now with factionists reaching a stage of dictating governments and causing their fall in the region.
The Vijayanagar rulers who did not want to interfere in local affairs allowed Palegars to rule with limited autonomy who had powers to collect revenue, maintain a small army and punish the guilty. A total of 200 power centers emerged during their reign. But Palegars refused to come to the rescue of the empire which was at the receiving end in Tallikota battle in 1565 AD and caused the downfall of the great southern empire.
After Rayalaseema districts came under the British rule as ceded districts, Palegars refused to share the revenue with the British. The Collector of the ceded district, Thomas Monroe, took a serious view of the rebellion and ordered the capture of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, Palegar of Koikuntla. He was hanged to death in public. However, after the incident, the British did not hunt Palegars, who were around 80 in the region. They just tried to be away from Palegars.
In the pre-independent days, Palegars conducted private courts and were a law unto themselves.
Palegars vanished after the independence, but the culture survived in the form of factionists. Factionists fought among themselves for supremacy over villages. Before the seventies, the factionists were considered unwise and stupid who fought for supremacy risking their lives and property.
The common man led a miserable life in faction villages where human rights were seriously violated. The weak presence of Government authority in troubled villages is the main strength of the faction leaders.
Bomb culture came into existence in the early eighties when bomb manufacturing emerged a cottage industry. During the time, the factionists made an entry to politics and political parties, too, vied for their support. Now, leaders with faction background are everything for political parties without their help the parties cannot fight elections and even if they try, they do not stand a chance.
Leaders from Faction background used to kill each other for supremacy. They seek protection under government representatives who can not win elections without support from factionists. Factionists used violence as a weapon to get votes in the elections.
Though factionism is slowly vanishing, but it flows in Rayalaseema and in every artery of Rayalaseema Bidda :)
