From TRS to BRS: A name game or a game changer? What does history say?

If any lesson can be deduced from history, it is that the Deccan is defiant and it limits itself to its own geography.

ByTadakamalla Vivek

Published Oct 11, 2022 | 11:11 AMUpdatedOct 14, 2022 | 4:38 PM

From BRS to TRS, what does history say

The other day, citizens of the state of Telangana woke up to see that the party they had voted to power had disappeared and in its place, a new one had been born. Many pinched themselves, trying to come to terms with the new name and many were found fumbling when trying to recall it.

There is no denying that this Houdini-like trick cast a spell on many and kept them engaged wondering why it was done. As if to scotch speculation, it has been said that the country is waiting for someone who can patch up a plural society and take it on a development path a la Telangana.

The announcement comes close on the heels of the South First Dakshin Dialogues event held at Hyderabad where southern satraps spoke with all eloquence at their command. They asserted that the south was second to none and made a near-strident demand for space and a say in matters political and economic of the country. In a sense, it was a southern siren for sway over the seat of power located north of the Vindhyas.

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Forays into the south over the years

Historically, there was a north-south equilibrium. A mutual equidistance and deterrence.

The dynasties that ruled the Gangetic plains made sporadic forays into the south and held them briefly. But the south disentangled itself and soon became independent.

The so-called pan-India empires in effect had a short longevity. Suzerainty was a mere symbolism. The southern satraps were astute enough to assert themselves and declare independence.

The Deccan was too inviting to resist for the rulers of the plains. Despite its rugged terrain, it held in its interiors gold and diamonds and access to the sea for trading. Ashoka enlisted the support of the Andhras to get to the gold mines of Suvarnagiri, the present-day Kolar in Karnataka.

Samudragupta of the Gupta dynasty carried his sword to the south, subjugated the local rulers, and yet did not keep them under his control. Harsha of Kanauj made abortive attempts to annex the Deccan but was checkmated by Chalukya ruler Pulakesin II.

The much-maligned Khilji crossed the Vindhyas, but was content to collect its booty. Muhammad bin Tughlaq, known for his “ahead-of-his-times thoughts” tag, wished to rule the Deccan, made Devagiri his capital, and ended as a monumental failure. Later, Aurangazeb, in his dogged pursuit of chasing the ever-elusive Shivaji, lost his energy and breathed his last at Aurangabad.

Going north from the Deccan

Conversely, the Deccan never brought the North under its control. The Rashtrakutas were successful as long as they confined themselves to the Deccan. Their advancement into Kanauj came crashing and they suffered an ignominious defeat.

Likewise, the Marathas were effective as long as they confined themselves to the Deccan. Their ambition came to naught when they tried to usurp power in Delhi. The third Panipat battle was their Waterloo.

In more recent times, NTR’s Bharatha Desham was a non-starter. The short stint of Deve Gowda and the one-off example of our own PV Narasimha Rao as prime ministers are quirks of history.

It is an axiom of history that it teaches lessons if only posterity is willing to learn from it. History must be a deliverer of not only undue influence of the past but from the undue influence of our times. Prophecy is no part of a historian’s duty but if any lesson can be deduced, it is that the Deccan is defiant and it limits itself to its own geography. Only time will tell if the metamorphosis of TRS into BRS is a name game or game changer.

(Tadakamalla Vivek is a former member, Telangana State Public Service Commission. These are the personal views of the author)