The Congress government’s decision to change Telangana emblem is attracting criticism from several quarters, particularly the removal of Kakatiya arch that is synonymous with the Kakatiya dynasty and its significance on the Telangana psyche.
Cultural connection to Kakatiya arch
The Arch, a curved vertical structure spanning an open space underneath it, was included in the “tentative list” of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Indian government also favoured it to be included in it given its historic and cultural importance.
The monument is also synonymous with the dynasty that ruled the present Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from the 12th century to the 14th century with present-day Warangal as the capital. Kakatiya rulers like Prataparudra, Ganapati Deva and Rani Rudrama Devi are embedded in every Telugu’s psyche over centuries.
Terming their rule as ‘feudalistic’, a reason that is being used to remove image of the arch from the State emblem, is what is objectionable to people including even though not limited to Congress stalwarts. “Can anyone deny their contribution to irrigation by using unique linkage of lakes that continue to inspire modern day engineers,” asks a Historian urging congress government not to undermine this piece of monument. “It’s like another identity for Telangana”.
If Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is keen to replace it with any other identity after all then there should be a good cause rather than just terming it ‘feudalistic’ which does not make sense according to historians. They also argue that Kakatiya Arch is neither created by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao nor owned by him even if one thinks Mr. Revanth Reddy wants replacing its past cultural aspects adopted by BRS government.
“The image belongs to people but not political parties or leaders,” said an O.U senior professor who declined to be named. From the political point of view too, removing Charminar or the Kakatiya Arch from the emblem is not going to be an easy ride for Mr. Reddy as it may trigger a full blown fight between Congress and BRS offering advantage to the latter in its quest to awaken Telangana sentiment. “Why allow the party, which is looking for a reason to strike at the Telangana sentiment benefit politically yet again,” he argues.
The effort by the Government led by Mr. Reddy to bring in changes to the State emblem, adopted by the BRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao after he was elected as the Chief Minister, is being looked at from political prism as irrational.
BRS strongly opposes removal of Charminar’s image
The BJP’s silence is easy to understand given its political discourse but none can dispute that Charminar is identified with Hyderabad across the world.
“Hyderabad is a globally recognized information technology city and a melting pot of Hindu-Muslim traditions. In such a case, the Government must be cautious in inviting resentment from any community. Sentimentally, the Muslim community has an attachment to the Charminar and there is no valid reason to annoy them as well. Congress should not undermine its own image by trying to erase K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s legacy in Telangana,” said a senior Congress leader.
