Then, a fanatical man called Tuglaq brutally attacked Warangal and
killed scores of innocent people, looted its riches, and destroyed the Telugu
dream for hundreds of years to come.
After the fall of the Kakatiya Empire, from its ruins rose the
magnificent Vijayanagara Empire protecting all of South India from Muslim
onslaught. Two brothers from Warangal, Harihara, and Bukka, who escaped
from Tuglaq’s onslaught, founded the Vijayanagara Empire. When all of
northern India was overtaken and plundered by the Afghan, Persian, and
Turkish invaders, the Vijayanagara Empire built an impregnable wall against
the Muslim invasion and protected today’s Karnataka, Andhra, Tamilnadu,
Kerala, and parts of Orissa for centuries to come. The capital city of the empire,
Vijayanagaram, was a world wonder and known for its splendor. It was as large
as Rome during its heyday.
Thanks to these two great Telugu empires and to the millions of our
forefathers who sacrificed their lives fighting Muslim invaders, we now enjoy
the fruits of their sacrifices— namely language, literature, religion, culture,
values, food habits, and many art forms, including music, movies, and dance.
If it were not for the bravery of the Kakatiya and Vijayanagara Empires, South
India’s social fabric would have been radically different. Our culture probably
would have more resembled the north Indian culture with its heavy Islamic
influence. Two Telugu empires stand out in our recent history: the Kakatiya and
the Vijayanagara Empires, which are the last great symbols of Telugu glory
and represent our accomplishments’ high watermark.
Thankfully, vivid details of the glorious days of both these empires are
available through the eyewitness accounts of travelers worldwide visiting our
land and through many native sources.
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