Profile of the Department of History & Tourism

The Department of History came into existence in 1984 under the sixth plan with one Professor, one Associate Professor, and two Asst. Professors. There was a long felt need from both the student community and educated to open this basic social science discipline in this University which has been the only University situated in the center of the Telangana region.

STUDENTS & COURSES:

We are offering M.A., M.Phil, and Ph.D Degree Programmes in History with Annual intake of 70 into M.A. Programme. Out of these 70 students, 35 are allotted to University College, Department of History & Tourism Management and 35 to PG College, Subedari under self-finance. Keeping in view of the tourism potential of the region and also to promote professional expertise for the newly emerging tourism industry, the Department of History, Kakatiya University, has started a two-year Post-Graduate degree course, Master of Tourism Management, in the academic year 1999-2000 with an intake of 35 students under self-finance scheme. Besides teaching, the Department is also engaged in research work offering M.Phil and Ph.D Programmes. So far 60 Ph.Ds, 80 M.Phils are awarded. We have also started B. Vocational course in Travel & Tourism at UG level in University Arts & Science College, Subedari, Warangal (2013-14) with an intake of 60 students.

Our students of History joined as Teachers, Lecturers & Professors in Kakatiya University, Dravidian University, Telugu University, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, National Institute of Tourism & Hospitality Management (NITHM) - Hyderabad, Indira Gandhi Tribal University, Chattisgarh and some have joined in administrative service after getting through A.P. Public Service Commission examination under Group I and II.

So far 400 students have successfully completed M.T.M. course and some of them have been well placed in the prestigious organizations like NITHM, ICFAI University, Alliance France, Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Travel Development Corporation, Department of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Ramoji Film City, JET Airways and AIR Deccan, etc. Our MTM Students have joined in different Tourism related offices in Tourism industry in all the major cities of India and settled in Singapore, Malaysia, UK, USA, Dubai etc.

Five of our first batch students have joined the teaching faculty in our Department as contractual, part-time lecturers to teach M.T.M. students. Three others have joined in the teaching faculty in Intermediate Vocational Colleges. One got an opportunity in SITA as Marketing Manager. Two of them have joined in Eenadu School of Journalism and Andhra Jyothi as trainees in tourism related journalism and are working as senior sub-editors with attractive salaries, during the training period; one has started a travel agency (Surya Travel Agency, Warangal).

CONTRIBUTION OFTHE FACULTY MEMBERS:

Our Department has also shown its organizational skills by hosting the prestigious Indian History Congress in 1993, Andhra Pradesh History Congress in 1990 and South Indian History Congress in 2000, and also a two-week workshop on Indian National Movement in 1992 sponsored by I.C.H.R. Besides organizing these conferences, the Department has also organized more than 30 seminars of National and Regional level sponsored by various funding agencies like UGC, ICHR and ICSSR. One day Interdisciplinary Lecture on “Beat generation writers and America in the 50’s” by Professor Barry Richard Burg, (U.S.A.) Director, American Studies Research Centre, Hyderabad, organized by the Department of History, in collaboration with English Department on the occasion of the Vicennial Celebrations of Kakatiya University, under the U.G.C. Scheme of “Forum for Interdisciplinary Activities” on 18th October 1996. Capacity Building Programme for Faculty in Social Science for15 days i.e., from 16-01-2014 to 31-01-2014. The staff members are also active in the executive bodies of various professional organizations like Indian History Congress, South Indian History Congress, Andhra Pradesh History Congress, Indian Institute of Public Administration, Indian National Trust for Art and Culture, Indian Council for Social Science Research, Indian Science Congress and Indian Council for Historical Research.

The faculty members have been regularly attending the Seminars / Conferences / Workshops held in other Universities with their research scholars, presenting papers and participating in the deliberations. Thus, the Department has so far built up a respectable image in the academic circles.

Prof K Vijaya Babu, has been working in the Dept of History and Tourism Management, Kakatiya University, Warangal. He has 25 years of teaching and research experience.  He worked for his M Phil on Early Tribal Resistance to the British Colonialism in Andhra (1768-1803). He has completed his Ph.D on “Problems and Perspectives of Contemporary Indian Historiography- A case study of Kashmir Problem.” He has also completed a minor research project on tourism potential of Pandavulagutta, A centre of ancient rock paintings in Warangal district. So far he has got published about 60 research articles in national and international journals on variety of subjects like tribal revolts, evolution of education system, Kashmir Problem and Kargil war, Dalith movements, reservations in the era of globalisation, corporate social responsibility, environmental problems, tourism development in Telangana, handicrafts of Warangal, suicides of artisans in Telangana etc.

 He has successfully guided 5 Ph.Ds and 5 M Phils and 6 Ph.Ds and 6 M.Phils are in progress. The topics include Religion and Secularism, Freedom Movement in Telangana Districts, Medical and Health Tourism in A P. History of Yoga, Tribal Festivals, Irrigation Projects and Tourism Promotion in A P Cultural Tourism in Telangana, Eco Tourism in Telangana etc. He is also guiding a foreign research scholar from Columbo University, Srilanka, who is working for his Ph.D in the Dept of English KU on the topic “English Communication Skills in Tourism Industry in Srilanka”.  He has also served as the editor of Kakatiya Journal of Historical Studies brought out by the Dept of History, K U. He has edited a text book on tourism management brought out by Telugu Academy, Hyd. He has also edited a book on Cultural Tourism   in India published by Distance Education center K U. He has also authored a book on Historiography published by Distance Education center KU. He has served as a member of the Editorial Board for the text books published by Board of Secondary   Education, Hyd. He has been associated with Ambedker Open University, Hyderabad and also IGNOU in their academic programmes.  He has organised a work shop on Art and Science of Teaching History for the benefit of Degree college teachers and also a seminar on Cultural Tourism in Telangana. He has served as a key note speaker and has been a guest of honour at several academic programmes and seminars. He has delivered more than hundred extension, guest lecturers in degree colleges in the region and spoke on AIR Warangal, DD Hyderabad, T News, V6, ETV, TV9, TV5, Zee TV, HMTV Channels etc, on the topics such as Contemporary social problems, education system, rural development, urbanisation, environmental issues, pollution, youth and career development, personality Development, democratic values, value based education, moral values, tourism promotion, employment generation, cultural tourism in Telangana etc.

He is a life member in A P History Congress, South Indian History Congress and Indian History Congress.  He has been associated with the programmes of District Tourism Promotion Council, Warangal, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, Sri Perambudur, World Peace Festival Society, Warangal. He is not the President of the Itihasa Sankalana Samithi, Warangal Chapter. He has served as NSS Programme Officer and organised youth festivals and national camps and also served as joint director of University Main Hostel. He has worked as the Head of the Dept., Chairman Board of Studies, Vice Principal, University Campus College; He has served as the General Secretary of  KU Teachers Association (AKUT), He has also served as the Secretary General of Employees Joint Action Committee (KU-JAC) and successfully organized the ‘Sakala Janula Samme’ (General Strike) for 42 days as part of the Telangana Agitation, He has also served as the Director of Hostels, KU and also as Co-Coordinator of BC, SC & ST Remedial Coaching Centre, KU. At present he is serving as the Director of Career Counselling Cell, KU.

Dr. Thallapally Manohar has joined Kakatiya University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History on 08-10-2001. He worked for his M Phil on Inamdari System in Telangana - A Study of Warangal District 1911-1955). He has completed his Ph.D on Land Issues in Telangana – A Study (1936-1990). He has contributed nearly 42 articles at various seminar proceedings, and in national and international journals. He attended International Conferences at Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok and Istanbul. He has author a book, entitled Land Issues in Telangana –A Selected Village (ISBN 978-93-84845-20-9), 2016, he edited tow book, entitled Cultural History of Madigas -A Brief Study (ISBN 978-93-84845-30-8) 2016, and Maigala Samkshiptha Charithra (ISBN 978-93-84845-26-1), 2016,also co-edited a book, entitled Telangana in 19th Century (The Select Documents) (ISBN 978-81-908906-4-9), Kakatiya Journal of Historical Studies (ISSN 0976-2345), Vol. V, No. 1, May, 2009 & Vol. V, No. 1, May, 2010 . He has guided Five Ph.Ds and 11 M.Phils and is at present guiding one Post-Doctoral Fellow. At Kakatiya University, he served in various positions like (1) Coordinator, SC/ST Remedial Coaching Centre for NET from April 29th 2005 to April 29th 2008, (2) Head, Department of History & Tourism Management from May 30th 2008 to May 29th 2010, (3) Additional Controller of Examinations from June 2nd 2010 to June 2nd 2012and (4) Chairman, Board of Studies, Post Graduate & Under Graduate from 06th February 2014 to 05th February 2016.  At present, he is the Director, University Hostels, Kakatiya University holding this position from August 14th 2015 to 2nd July 2015.  He had also organized three Seminars (1) National Seminar on Leather Working Communities of South India: Cultural Heritage and Social Transformation, at University Arts & Science College on 17-18 March, 2013 (Sponsored by ICHR, New Delhi), (2) National Seminar on Cultural Heritage of Qutb Shahis of Golconda, at University Arts & Science College on 25-26 February, 2005, (Sponsored by U.G.C. Regional Branch, Hyderabad) and (3) National Seminar on 1857-The Role of Peasants Artisans, Servicing Castes, Tribal and Women, at Department of History & Tourism Management, (Sponsored by ICHR, New Delhi & UGC Unit, K.U). He is a Life Member of Indian History Congress, South Indian History Congress, and Andhra Pradesh History Congress. He had participated in 70 National and International Seminars, Conferences, Workshops, and Symposiums. He had also attended two Orientation Courses and three Refresher Courses.

            Dr. P. Sadanandam has joined Kakatiya University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History on 02-01-2007. He worked for his M Phil on Oral History Tradition – A study of Mandahechu Sub-caste of Yadava Community. He has completed his Ph.D on Art and Culture of Marginalized Nomadic Tribes in Andhra Pradesh. He has also completed a major research project on Telangana Popular Culture through Folk Arts. He has contributed nearly 25 research articles to National and International Journals. He has authored a book, entitled Art and Culture of Marginalized Nomadic Tribes in Andhra Pradesh. He has also edited two volumes of the Journal, entitled Kakatiya Journal of Historical Studies, Vol. IX, No. 1, May, 2014 & Vol. X, No. 1, May, 2015. He has guided 04 M.Phils and 06 Ph.Ds. He has served in various administrative positions like Joint Director, University Hostels, Head, Department of History & Tourism Management, Member Incharge, University Library and also Incharge Head, Department of Gender Studies, Kakatiya University.  He had also organized a Symposium on Teaching History – Problems and Prospects, Three Day Orientation Course on Research Methods in History; He had participated in 40 National Seminars, Conferences, Workshops, and Symposia. He had also attended one Orientation Courses and one Refresher Course, Workshop on Capacity Building Programme and Training Programme on Research Methodology in Social Science. He has served as Local Secretary and successfully organized the South Indian History Congress, 35th Annual Session at Department of History & Tourism Management. He is a Life Member of the Indian History Congress, South Indian History Congress, Andhra Pradesh History Congress and Folklore Society of South Indian Languages.

Our faculty members have produced reading material for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Telugu Academy, School of Distance Learning and Continuing Education, Kakatiya University, for under graduate and post graduate and A.P. History Congress Volume on History & Culture of Andhra Pradesh.

Milestones in the History of the Department

AP HISTORY CONGRESS, 1990:      

XIX A.P. History Congress was organized by the Department with financial Assistance from I. C. H. R & U.G.C. About 300 delegates have participated and 100 papers were presented in simultaneous sections, Ancient, Medieval and Modem.  Historiography and   Local history. An Endowment  Lecture  was   delivered by famous historian, Prof. R.S. Sharma, Delhi  University,  Prof.  Sumit Sarkar, Delhi University chaired the Historiography section.

I.C.H.R. WORKSHOP ON INDIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT, 1992:

The Department has conducted a prestigious National Workshop on Indian National Movement sponsored by I.C.H.R. New Delhi, for two weeks from 1 to 14 March 1992. Fifty Lecturers and Research Scholars from various South Indian Universities and Colleges participated. Distinguished Historians were invited as resource persons like Prof. A.K. Majumdar, Prof. Y. Rama Krishna, Prof. Mridula MukheIji, Prof. Aditya Mukherji. The Participants were provided with books, research articles, reading material pertaining to the theme by the Indian Council of Historical Research.

INDIAN HISTORY CONGRESS - 1993 (February 13th to 15th):

53rd Session of Indian History Congress sponsored by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, New Delhi, U.G.C. and State Government, was Inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Late .K. Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy on 13th February 1993. Kakatiya Smarika was released on the occasion. About Six hundred delegates from all over India have participated in the conference and more than 400 research papers were presented in the simultaneous sessions on Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Historiography and Countries other than India. There was a galaxy of national and internationally known Historians.

XX SOUTH INDIAN HISTORY CONGRESS, 2000:

      The Department has hosted the XX Session of South Indian History Congress during 23rd-25th January, 2000 under the General Presidentship of Prof B.C. Roy, an eminent historian and former Vice-chancellor of Behrampur University. 240 delegates including 150 outside delegates have participated and 110 research papers on various aspects of South Indian History and Culture were projected in four sections, i.e., political, Cultural, Socio-economic, Historiography and Maritime History. On 23rd evening H.L. Gupta Endowment Lecture was delivered by Prof A.R. Kulkarni and a unique dance programme Bhamakalapam by S. J. Vedavalli and party of Sri Siddheswara Kala Keshetram Kuchipudi was arranged to familiarize the rich cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh among the delegates from different parts of the country. On 27th evening our University N.S.S. volunteers presented a cultural programme folk and tribal dances.

AP HISTORY CONGRESS, 2008:

32nd Annual session of A.P. History Congress was also organised at University Arts & Science College on 6th & 7th January, 2008. Nearly 300 delegates have attended the congress.

XXXIV South Indian History Congress, 2015:

35th Session, held at Department of History & TM, KU, Warangal, on 22 to 22 February, 2015. Nearby 750 delegates have attended the congress.

HEALTHY PRACTICES - ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS:

The Deccan plateau reclines from west to east between the two Ghats forming two major river valleys, Godavari and Krishna. This area was ruled by very famous dynasties during the historical period from Satavanhanas to the recent Asaf AJahis spanning over 2000 years. Besides this, the region provides rich data on Neolithic, Mesolithic and Megalithic cultures. The Department of History made a humble attempt to explore the Neolithic and Megalithic sites in and around Warangal town where Megalithic burials are found in good number. Since 1985 the Department undertook exploration work in the surrounding taluks like Jangaon (Warangal district) Suryapet (Nalgonda district) Nelakondapalli (Khammam district) Agiripalli (Krishna district) and Bavkonda (Vishakapatnam district). The Department has the benefit of collaboration with the Department of Archaeology, Government of Andhra Pradesh in the excavation work at the above places. The field work of the students was supported by the University.

The Department has also undertaken the programme for preservation and conservation of historical monuments in collaboration with Archaeological Survery of India, New Delhi. This activity at various Kakatiya Monuments like Thousand-pillar temple, Warangal fort, Ramappa temple, Ghanpur complex of temples.

DEPARTMENT MUSEUM:

The Department has set up a Museum with various artifacts collected during the exploration and excavation activities of the Department as a part of field work for the students at Post-graduate, M.Phil and Ph.D levels. These artifacts ranged from Neolithic times to early historic period.

A number of Neolithic stone implements, blades and potteries are exhibited in the Department Museum as teaching aids and also for research purposes.

The Department has also procured a very rich collection of numismatics dating from the Satavahanas down to the Asaf Jahis. The coins pertaining to the Bahamanis and Mughals are also procured Sri M. Gopal Reddy Research scholar of the Department has collected and presented them to the Department. Dr. Amazad Ali of Warangal who is interested in numismatics has donated one gold and one silver coin to the Department.

REGIONAL ARCHIVES:

Generally the Research Scholars of this Department opt for micro studies pertaining to modern period of the Telangana Region for their M.Phil and Ph.D degrees Therefore, they have to consult the archival material for their research. The Department has requested the A.P. State Archives, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad to set up its Regional Archives at Warangal. Thus the Regional branch of A.P State Archives has come into existence for which the University as kindly provided free accommodation on the campus. The Regional Archives has very rich collection of the office records of the erstwhile Warangal Suba and the present districts of Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar and Adilabad. Besides the primary material, Research Manuals, Gazetteers, Journals, and other source books published by the A.P. State Archives are made available in the Regional Archives for the benefit of research scholars.

EXHIBITION:

History and Culture Exhibition was conducted on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebrations of our University from 26th to 29th January, 2001, in collaboration with Archaeological Survey of India, Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Salarjung Museum, Telugu University and Andhra Pradesh Tourism and Travel Development Corporation, Hyderabad. The  archaeological remains found available in and around Warangal such as sculpture representations, early paintings artifacts, pottery of Megalithic cultures, stone and iron implements of early historic  period, coins ranging from the Satavahanas to the British period, photo exhibition of monumental heritage of Andhra Pradesh and drawings and sketches showing the evolutionary Process, etc, and the Photo-exhibition of Tourism Development of Andhra Pradesh with special reference to Warangal region were exhibited.

Publications/Extension work:

The Department of History, Kakatiya University, regularly publish its own Journal entitled Kakatiya Journal of Historical Studies since 2006. Two projects were completed during the five years as follows: 1. Dr. K. Vijaya Babu, Pandavulagutta – A Tourist Site in Warangal District in March, 2001. 2. Prof. P. Hymavathi, Agro-based Industries and Technological Development in Medieval Andhradesa, 2005-07, UGC.  Our faculty members have serve as Principal University PG College, Vice-Principal University College, Director Hostels, Joint Director Hostels, Development Officer, Building Division, Director, Ambedkar Study Centre, Coordinator, SC,ST Net Remedial Couching Centre and in various Academic Bodies such as ICHR, New Delhi, A.P. History Congress, South Indian History Congress and Indian History Congress at various capacities.

Other Highlights:

SAP programme applied for UGC, New Delhi and SAP Programme Presentation completed at UGC, New Delhi on 5th March, 2009 at 10.00 A.M.

Topic or Theme:  The idea and identity OF TALANGANA REGIONAL FORMATION IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (12th to 20th CENTURY A.D)