Images Of Telugu Bhoomi The word Telugu Bhoomi, Andhra Pradesh invokes traditional images of a fertile land watered by the perennial rivers, Krishna and Godavari, Images Of Telugu Bhoomi 23
a land outlined by many harbours and ports such as Vishakapatnam, Machilipatnam and many more, the Tirupathi shrine, the lilting language of Telugu, the traditional Kuchipudi dance of the land, the Kalamkari paintings, the Pochampalli, the Mangalagiri and the Venkatagiri weaves, the Kondapalli toys, the Kondapuram guavas and Banginapalli mangoes, the traditional festivals of the land such as Sankranthi and Ugadi, the Guntur chillies and the hot and spicy Andhra food, the rocky Cuddapah and Guntakal region and overall, the industrious nature of the people. Wide Spread Prosperity The green, paddy fields of the Andhra Pradesh region, the historical evidences and tales of the great rulers of the Telugu land and their wealth, are what come to one s mind in connection with the prosperity of the land. Many parts of the present day, political state of Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu land, were ruled by powerful and rich dynasties, starting with the Satavahanas two Millennia ago. Also called the Andhras, the region was named after them. They were successively followed by different dynasties, prominent among whom were the Pallavas, the Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, the Vijayanagaras, the Chandragiri dynasty along with the Deccan sultanate and the Nizams. Much has been written about the wealth and glory of their rule, when the land and people were rich with food grains, jewels and money. 24 Telugu Talli - Her Unknown Side Telugu Talli - A Mosaic Of Culture
Sustainable Prosperity The key point to be noted here is that the innate prosperity of the land came not from exploitation of other lands, but from sustainable practices of harnessing the resources of this land which included agriculture, water harnessing, mining, metallurgy, forest resources and the trade of the same, both within this region and with other regions of India and the world. It was not an exploitation of the land but a sustainable utilization of the resources that ensured that this land remained consistently and continuously prosperous for the last few thousand years until the advent of the British and their indiscriminate plunder of the land and its people. Cultural Expressions It is a land that also brought forth and nourished a range of art forms. Literature in the form of prose, poetry, debates, Painting, Krishnadevaraya - the famous Vijayanagara king Sculpture - on stone, wood, metal and other material, Architecture - construction of temples, palaces, Dance - dance forms like Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Music Carnatic, Hindustani and folk tunes. Images Of Telugu Bhoomi 25
These art forms even today continue to bring out the crafts, the skills, the colours, the feelings, the ethos and the culture of the people of this land. Kuchipudi Kuchipudi Dance One among some of the signature art forms of this land is the Kuchipudi dance form. Kuchipudi named after the village from where this dance form originated. This dance form captures the imagination of the people of this land and expresses their stories and the nuances of their feelings through graceful steps and movements. Kondapalli Toys From grace to shape, Kondapalli toys bring out the tales of the day to day life of the Telugu people as well as the animals and birds in the land, through intricately carved, colourful, realistic wooden toys. Kondapalli toys 26 Telugu Talli - Her Unknown Side Telugu Talli - A Mosaic Of Culture
Kondapalli is a town near Vijayawada. These toys made of light softwood called Tella Ponniki available locally and painted using vegetable dyes, convey visually, the daily life in Andhra Pradesh as well as the nimble craftsmanship of the artisans of Andhra. Kalamkari Kalamkari Paintings Kalamkari art, a very ancient painting art form of Andhra Pradesh, conveys the local stories of Andhra Pradesh and the legends of India, through panels painted using vegetable dyes and lines drawn using pens. The name Kalamkari for this ancient art form comes from the Persian words Kalam meaning pen and kari for work. Kalamkari are art works painted with a pen. Images Of Telugu Bhoomi 27
Pochampalli And Other Weaves From drawing lines to drawing yarn, the weavers of Andhra Pradesh weave magic into fabric and bring the attire alive with forms of animals, birds, leaves, flowers and geometrical patterns in vivid colours. Weaving such intricate designs requires not just creativity from the weavers but also lot of mathematics to translate the design into counts of threads. Pochampalli sari Salar Jung Museum Mangalagiri sari Venkatagiri sari This museum in Hyderabad, is the dogged collection of one man, Salar Jung III, who served as the Prime Minister to the Nizam of Hyderabad. The exhibits showcased here are not just art and craft pieces from Andhra Pradesh alone but include historical and archaeological aretfacts, apart from some wonderful clocks and other mechanical masterpieces that have been sourced from across the world. This unique, one man collection is a modern treasure house of Andhra Pradesh indeed. Salar Jung Museum 28 Telugu Talli - Her Unknown Side Telugu Talli - A Mosaic Of Culture
The Culture & Prosperity Connection For such varied forms of cultural expressions to flower among the people across the land, the one thing that is essential apart from creativity, is a state of prosperity in the land. For only if there is prosperity and the basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, all-round education, life styles, peace in the land are sustained, can people engage in creative pursuits, which collectively lead to creating a culture for the land. This collective culture, through the ages comes to be the heritage of the land. The Unsaid Much has been written about this culture and the various art forms of the Telugu land. But not enough has been done to bring out what made this land affluent enough to support the evolution of this rich culture. This effort is an attempt to uncover the state of prosperity that had nourished the Telugu culture in years gone by. It is an effort to understand the basic reasons for this prosperity. For only if we understand it, can we revive it and more importantly continue the practice in a sustainable manner for generations to come. Only then, can we lead, both a prosperous and culturally vibrant life. This judicious mix is what will turn life into a celebration. Two Paths The wheels of fortune keep turning continuously and every civilization keeps going through ups and downs. The fortunate ones enjoy brief lows and rise up quickly like the sphinx every now and then. What lies beyond prosperity? Prosperity, which is the fundamental goal that a society strives towards, can lead to two possible outcomes. Images Of Telugu Bhoomi 29
Decadence - The state of all round prosperity could lead to a state of decadence. Decadence in life style, decadence in values, decadence in moral thinking, decadence in moral action and decadence in practices, which have moved away from sustainable to non sustainable living. Cultural Vibrancy - On the other hand, a good understanding of the reasons for prosperity, along with a sane mind and a spiritual approach, could lead the same society into becoming a culturally vibrant one. A society where there are human values, moral values, family values, sustainable practices of living as well as individual and collective creative expressions bringing out the true colours of the soil. At Crossroads Today This land of Andhra Pradesh is at crossroads today. Prosperity is slowly returning now, after almost 350 years of unmitigated plunder during the British rule. It is for us to decide now whether we shall go down a path towards decadence or take a path towards knowledge, prosperity and cultural expressions, in a wholesome way to celebrate life. It is for each one of us to act individually as well as collectively. This book is an offering to understand the Telugu culture, reasons for the prosperity that nourished it and lessons to help us pick up the threads of prosperity and joy, to keep the Telugu land atop the wheel of fortune for generations to come. 30 Telugu Talli - Her Unknown Side Telugu Talli - A Mosaic Of Culture