C P Brown: Andhra 1800 - 1900

9. HISTORY OF ANDHRA 1800 – 1900

We now come closer in Time to C P Brown.

As we saw the monolithic Andhra (Dakshina Patna) got divided into what are now called the Coastal Andhra, Telengana, and Rayala seema. Maharashtra, and Karnataka getting separate identities though the people, a lot of customs, even dress and festivals are very common. In case of Karnataka, even the script is the same, a unique feature in the country where no two languages have the same script. The British were opposed by both Tippu, and Hyder with soldiers from all castes and creeds of this area, covering Bellary, Kolar, Bhadravati, Gulbarga, Raichur etc, which were Vijayanagar and Bahamani strongholds. These wars prove a cultural oneness, a unique together ness and above all lack of caste or societal divisions. Telugu writers and speaking people surface in groups of thousands all over the Dakshina Path even today.
Bengal in the North and Andhra Pradesh in the South have been the first to get dominated by the British while in the rest of the country the fight was going on.

Out of sheer greed the British altered the centuries old land owning cum tax collection system drastically. As a result the Rayala seema of those days was in economic and political distress, which has no parallel in the history of this country or the very world, said Historians. Famines became regular; people died like flies, moved away to Hyderabad, Mysore etc, food prices increased 300-400 times.

Along with the English Rule Christianity came in full swing. The missionaries started spreading disaffection and sowed seeds of social friction in the society as an aid for their nefarious activities of conversion. If the churches and lands round the churches in 1850 are marked on a scaled map of Andhra it will clearly show the fantastic spread of the missionaries in Andhra. I come from a coastal Taluka Headquarters, and I have seen in 1939 over 20 churches in an area of 5-mile circle. They are still existing, and most getting renovated!

Teachers in convents scoffed at the Puranic stories, at all fundamental tenets of the Hindus, like Worship, Religion, Varnashrama Dharma etc. until the children lost confidence in their own customs, traditions, English educated 'modernised' people started taking to Christianity. It is said that money was used freely to buy higher caste convertees.

Compared to the coastal areas, the plight of Cuddapah – Raichur – Gulbarga – Bellari – Gooty, Anatapur, seems to be more pathetic due to continued subjugation to the MUSLIM rulers after 1565 when Andhra Nayakas and Rajas moved away to further SOUTH. To a large extant credit should go to the Reddys, and Naidus, who rose to the occasion keeping small armed forces, resisting total islamisation, which happened in East Bengal.

The aim to convert and start a fifth column was in operation and in full swing when CPB, a missionary’s son came establishing a school as a meeting ground of young brains with the Saviour. Remember Caldwell said that CPB had a hatred of HINDUISM.

Now whom do they convert! No one can convert a Muslim without a swift retribution. Therefore the Hindu was the natural prey to these vultures hunting for souls.
That was the scenario and field of activity of CPB. A demoralised population, living with a devastated culture.