The Telugus’ story is incomplete without going into the sad phase of
Telugu ignominy. Both the friendly and enemy Muslim states surrounding
the Vijayanagara Empire united on a jihadi platform, hatched a conspiracy,
and destroyed the great nation. Telugu culture went into a steep decline after
the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire.
In the following centuries, systematic routing out of our culture
continued during the Mongolian, Iraqi Nizam, French, and British occupations
of Telugu land. These alien rulers bartered away our land for power and money,
without showing any consideration for our culture or its history. These trades
created the fissures of Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema, and Nizam Telangana.
Our leaders, devoid of any historical perspective, continue to become victims
of the bygone era policies of foreign invaders.
This is an attempt to share what I have learned during the last two years
of my study with my fellow Telugu brethren. I would like to forewarn the reader
that this book is not a comprehensive presentation of Telugu history. To keep the
book concise and easy to read, I have grudgingly left out many interesting details
from our past. This is my attempt at reconstructing our known history in the
context of the current demands for the division of our state.
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