KUTUBSHAHI KINGDOM WAS LOST TO ENEMIES ( MUGHALS) AS THE RULERS FAILED TO ABIDE BY THE CONDITION OF AN HOLY MAN A LEGEND

 KUTUBSHAHI KINGDOM WAS LOST TO ENEMIES ( MUGHALS) AS THE                      

   RULERS FAILED TO ABIDE BY THE CONDITION OF AN HOLY MAN          

                                                        A    LEGEND

                                               Dr K Prabhakar Rao

              Kutubshahi kingdom was established by Kutub ul mulk  Sultan Kuli in  1518    He  was a Tarafdar at Golconda appointed by Bahmani sultan Mohammed shah IV (1482-1518) to look after Telangana provinces. Bhamani kingdom became very weak after the execution of  Chief Wazir  Mahmud Gawan due to a conspiracy of some of the court  nobles during the rule of Mahmud shah BahmaniIII. Slowly powerful nobles of the kingdom developed vested interests and Kingdom broke into  five small Muslim kingdoms  at Ahmed nagar, Bidar, Berar ( At Ilichpur). Bijapur and Golconda. Sultan Quli announced his independence only after the death of the nominal Bahmani king at Bidar who was more or less a captive in Bidar fort..

           Golconda was originally had a mud fort built by Kakateeya Rulers at Warangal. After the fall of Kakteeya dynasty, Golconda was handed over to Bahmanis by  the  ruler of Telangana province probably Krishna  Naika.  Its name was Golla Konda meaning Shepherd hill. The fort was suitably strengthened by the Muslims.  Sultan Quli was followed by Jamshed (1543-1550), Ibrahim (1550-1580), Mohammed Kuli ( 1580-1612), Mohammed Kutubshah (1612-1626), Abdulla Kutubshah (1626-1672) and Abul Hasan Kutubsha ( 1672- 1687). Golconda over a period of time became a powerful kingdom. Abdulla Kutubsha was the ruler during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb at Delhi. He had no sons and had daughters only. The  relations with Delhi were cordial till the  reign of Mohammed Kutubshah. However the relations  got strained during the reign of Aurangzeb and Attacks on Golconda started taking place from 1656. Abdullah Kutubsha  having felt the danger decided to strengthen the mud fort and  commenced  construction of the granite stone fort. However, he was not successful as the  stone fort could not be erected and there were many failures. Repeatedly the Sultan made attempts and every time failures took place and thus the sultan was very much agitated and he could not find any reason for the failures.

         During those days , there was a holy man  who was the religious  head of Shepherds ( Yadavas) and potters of various categories. He was staying at a village away from Golconda. His name was Dhangar Kondiah. He had some divine powers and his ancestors were recognized  by the Kakateeya monarch Prataparudra Deva  who was the last king of Kakateeya  empire at Warangal. He had in his possession some of the presents given by the Kakateeya king to his ancestors apart from the royal  scrolls with seals. Dhangar Kondia like his ancestors had certain mysterious powers and was held in great esteem by the people. Some  elderly locals  advised Abdullah Kutubsha to seek blessings of Dhangar Kondiah  before he attempts to build the stone fort again. Many failures in fact discouraged the Sultan. Abdullah Kutubsha on an auspicious occasion visited Dhangar Kondaia and  made him happy by offering him many costly presents and bowed to him. Kondia  enquired about the purpose of the visit and the Sultan narrated his problem in building a strong Stone fort.

 Dhangar Kondia  agreed that he would  indicate auspicious time and date on which the fort construction should commence and that he would visit the site and  perform the necessary ritual at the site. Accordingly The date and time were informed to the king and it was also told to the sultan that every year the sultan or his successor must take blessings from him or his successors once the fort construction  has been taken up. It was also warned that failure to adhere to the condition would result in loss of the fort to the enmies.. It was agreed and Abdullah Kutub shah  retired to his palace at Golconda with great relief.

                     On the prescribed date   Dhangar kondaiah visited Golconda and he was ceremonially welcomed by the sultan. At the auspicious time Kondia pformed rituals like  Bhoomi puja, offering Pulagam and other ceremonies. The Sultan was made lay the foundation stone.  The sultan profusely thaked Kondia and was  he was given many presents, jewellary, costly clothes, horses and other items. He was  warmly seen off along with suitable escort. The construction of the fort commenced and there was no looking back. I mighty stone fort was built soon at Golconda that stands even today gloriously and proudly with its massive bastions and doors. Abdullah Kutubsha  during his life time confronted Mughals successfully although he had to make peace with Aurangzeb  by offering great amount of tribute. His daughter was married to Mohammed sultan the  eldest son of Aurangzeb with the condition that he would be the sultan of Golconda after him.This however did not materialize as Moammed sultan was put in prison by Aurangzeb where he  whithered away and died.

            Abudllah Kutubsha  had no sons and after his death, in 1672 struggle for succession took place.  His  eldest son in law although was powerful and awsa an aspirant to the throne,  was put under arrest and the nobles ensured that Abul Hassan the younger son in law a mild natured and Allah fearing prince was crowned. Abul Hassan Kutubsha  ruled with the help of Madanna  the PM  and Akkanna the General. He was very tolerant ruler and looked after his people. It is believed that the tradition of seeking the blessings of the holy man of the shepherds was some how discontinued. Aurangzeb who was much against the rise of Hindu nobles in Golconda and  uncomfortable at the pact with Shivaji Maharaj with Kutubshah invaded Golconda province and  lay seize to the fort. The fort resisted for full one year. Akkanna and Madanna were murdered  by conspirators. The fort fell due to betrayal by Abdullah pani a  junior commander of Golconda army who openeda  small  window in a night through which Mughals entered the fort. Abul Hasan Kutubsha was  taken into custody and sent to Daultabad fort where he died after 12 years,. Golconda was  annexed to Mughal empire under a subedar. Thus  the Golconda fort fell into  enemy hands as warned by Dhangar Kondia arlier.

             The  successors of Dhangar kondia  at a later date changed their surname and lost all divine powers.