KARNATAKA

Karnataka is the one of the leading State of India. Population of 60,000,000. Both nature and human efforts have combined to make Karnataka a Tourist Paradise. Its long sea shore has silvery beaches. The tall Western Ghats have lush green forests full of varied fauna, flora and a number of east and west flowing rivers emanating from the Ghats, enrich the soil of the land and contribute to State's agricultural prosperity. The rivers create many water falls which are a feast to the eyes of the on lookers. The plain area is renowned for its beautiful river banks and projecting wonderful stony hills looking like rock parks that are natural creations. The hilly tracks have many Wildlife sanctuaries. The Gangas, Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara Rulers, Bahamanis of Gulbarga and Bidar, Adilshahis of Bijapur, Wodeyars of Mysore, Nayaks of Chitradurga and the Keladi rulers have raised wonderful forts, beautiful temples with impressive plastic art in stone and magnificent mosques and mausoleums of Indo-Saracenic style. The advent of the Portuguese and the English introduced European Renaissance architecture imitation of both gothic and Indo-European styles. They built imposing churches and captivating public as well as private buildings in Karnataka.

The National Parks, the Animal and Bird Sanctuaries can provide the tourist the sight of wild animals like elephants, tigers, bisons, deers, blackbucks, peacocks and a variety of animals in their natural habitat. The National Parks also acquaint the visitor with a rich variety of flora like tall trees, bushy plants and creepers that try to entwine him. Karnataka is known for its aromatic sandal wood and broad beautiful trees of pipal and banyan with their hospitable broad shade. If one is spiritually inclined, there are living seers, whether Hindu, Christian or Muslim who can provide one with spiritual solace. There are also tombs of great religious leaders of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jaina or Veerashaiva. In the precincts of these tombs even today people seek spiritual solace.

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Other Subjects of Karnataka

History of Karnataka

Karnataka has a hoary past. It is blessed with innumerable inscriptions, memorial stones and monuments of rich historical and cultural heritage. It has many sites of Pre-historic period and most of them are found scattered in the river valleys of Krishna, Bhima, Cauvery, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Hemavathi, Tungabhadra, Manjra, Netravati and their tributaries. The Prehistoric culture of Karnataka viz., the Hand-axe culture, compares favourably with the one that existed in Africa and is quite distinct from the Pre-historic culture of North India. Places like Hunasagi, Budihal, Piklihal, Kibbanahalli, Nittur, Anagavadi, Khyad, Nyamati, Balehonnur and Uppinangadi (Lower Palaeolithic) ; Herakal, Tamminahal, Savalgi, Salvadgi, Menasagi, Pattadakal, Vajjala and Talakad (Middle Palaeolithic); Kovalli, Ingaleshvara, Yadwad and Maralabhavi (Upper Palaeolithic); Begaumpur, Vanamapurahalli, Hingani, Ingaleshwara, Tamminahal, Sringeri, Jalahalli, Kibbanahalli, Sanganakal and Doddaguni (Mesolithic); Maski, T. Narasipur, Banahalli, Hallur, Sanganakal, Hemmige, Brahmagiri and Uttanur (Neolithic-Chalcolithic); Rajana Kolur, Bachigudda, Aihole, Konnur, Terdal, Kumaranahalli, Tadakanahalli, Maski, Banahalli and Hallingali (Megalithic) are some of the important Pre-historic sites of Karnataka. The vagi grain is found commonly in Pre-historic sites of Africa and Karnataka. The early inhabitants of Karnataka knew the use of iron, far earlier than the North and iron weapons dating back to circa 1500 B.C have been found at Hallur, now in Hirekerur Tq. of Haveri district.

Parts of Karnataka were subject to the rule of the Nandas and the Mauryas. Maurya Chandragupta (either Chandragupta I Ashoka's Grand Father or Samprati Chandragupta, Ashoka's grandson) is believed to have visited Shravanabelgola and spent his last years there. Fourteen Ashokan (10 minor and 4 major) Rock Edicts found in Karnataka (two each at Nittur and Udagolam in Bellary district; one at Maski in Raichur district; one each at Gavimutt and Palkigundu in Koppal district; one each at Brahmagiri, Jattinga Rameshwara and Siddapura in Chitradurga district; and four at Sannati in Gulbarga district) testify to the extent of the Mauryan Empire. It is interesting to note that, Emperor Ashoka's name occur for the first time in his Maski minor rock edict wherein, his familiar epithet "Devanampiya Piyadasi" is accompanied with his personal name Ashoka. Hence his Maski edict has a unique place among all his royal edicts.

The Statue at hampi

The Shatavahanas (circa 30 B.C to 230 A.D.) of Paithan have also ruled over extensive areas in Northern Karnataka; some scholars even argue that this dynasty hailed from Karnataka, as in early times, Dharwad and Bellary districts were called Satavahanihara (or the satavahana region). Some of their rulers were called kings of Kuntala. At Sannati in Gulbarga district, Vadgaon-Madhavpur near Belgaum and Brahmagiri in Chitradurga district, remains of their period have been found. Banavasi in Uttara Kannada has an inscription of their queen, and at Vasana in Nargund Tq. remains of a brick temple of Shaiva order are noticed. Sannati had many Buddhist Stupas of their times covered with sculptures on them. Later, Karnataka fell into the hands of the Pallavas of Kanchi and the Chutu Satakarnis, the Shatavahana feudatories, ruling from Banavasi after the fall of the Shatavahanas, also seem to have accepted the overlordship of the Pallavas. Pallava domination was ended by two indigenous dynasties, namely the Kadambas of Banavasi and the Gangas of Talakad, who divided Karnataka between themselves.

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Economic Trends and Planning of Karnataka

View of Bangalore

Even before the advent of the British there were slight changes in the cropping pattern in agriculture. The introduction of agricultural crops like potato, chillies, groundnut and tobacco was one factor. The discovery of new sea route by the Portuguese brought new competitors to Arabs, who enjoyed almost a monopoly of Indian's overseas trade. Soon the Dutch and the English appeared on Karnataka's coast and overseas demand for Indian goods like rice, textiles, diamond and spices received a fillip.Production of agarbathi has been initiated by the Adilshahis in North Karnataka area. Tipu introduced sericulture and also started glass and paper industry.

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Transport and Communications of Karnataka

Railway Station View

Existence of early road system and flourishing trade centres in Ancient Karnataka has been recorded in early inscriptions. A Copper Plate record (713 A.D.) of Ganga Shivamara I from Hallegere in Mandya district, refers not only to the construction of a bridge across Kilini river, but also a 'Rajapatha" (Highway) passing across the village. Likewise according to a record of 1123 A.D., a major road was connecting Terdal and Halasi, two important commercial centres in North Karnataka. A Chola inscription reveal about a major road running from Tanjore to Kalyana viz., Basava Kalyana, the Chalukyan capital. Another Highway or 'Doddamarga' was connecting Konkan area with the interior Karnataka and a place on the borders of Goa has that name even now. There were aravattiges (where drinking water was provided), choultries and shady groves all along such roads. Ferries and boats were operating across rivers and streams. Goods were transported on head load, or else on the back of bullocks, asses or he-buffaloes. Carts were moving wherever roads existed. One bridge was connecting Hampi and Anegondi across the Tungabhadra river. Similar old bridges can also be seen at Harihara, Srirangapattana, Shivanasamudra and such other places.

Construction of systematic roads in the Bombay Karnataka area was started only after 1856. Among them, Belgaum-Hubli road on the Pune-Harihara route and Dharwad-Mundgod-Sirsi-Kumta roads were prominent. The oldest road in the Gulbarga area, is the road from Gulbarga to Firozabad via Kotnur, Nandikere, Shirur and Parwatabad. The road development activity in the Kodagu area was started actually after 1834, by the British. Some roads opened or improved in Dakshina Kannada District during 1837-1843. Madras was connected with Mangalore via Bangalore, Mysore and Madikeri. The Mangalore road which runs through Sampaje Ghat from Madikeri was started in 1837. In the early days, condition of roads in Bijapur district was not satisfactory. There were only two roads in 1820, and the first one was between Shikaripur to Bijapur and Sholapur while the second one connecting sea coast with the Nizam's territory through Bagalkot.

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Culture of Karnataka

Yakshagana

Karnataka's cultural heritage is rich and variegated. Kannada literature saw its first work from the 9th Century and in modern times it has created seven winners of Jnanapeetha Award for their literary talents. Literary activity in other languages of neighbouring areas in this state and purely local languages like Tulu and Kodava is also considerable. Journalism in Kannada has its history dating back to 1843 and has many achievements to its credit. Karanataka has thrown up outstanding men in histrionic talent. In the musical map of India, the State has bright spots, whether it is Hindustani or Karnatak, the latter having originated in this land. In the field of dance and art too Karnataka has creditable achievements. Yakshagana is both a folk and elite art that is flourishing here. The State's tradition in folk arts is also colourful. When one thinks of the cultural scene, Shivaram Karanth, Kuvempu, Dr. Rajkumar, Maya Rao, Mallikarjuna Mansur, T. Chaudiah, K.K.Hebbar, Gangubai Hangal, B.V. Karanth U.R. Anantha Murthy, Girish Karnad, Chandrashekar Kambar are a few bright faces that shine forth. An attempt is made to survey the cultural pageant of Karnataka in this chapter.

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Administration of Karnataka

Vidanasouda at Bangalore

Many of our administrative institutions were the legacy of the administrative arrangements that existed in the past. The text on Hindu polity like Manusmriti, Arthshastra, Kamandaka's Nitishastra did influence administration in Karnataka as elsewhere in India in ancient period as testified by inscription dating back to more than 1200 years. There were Nadus of 12 villages or 30 villages like Kisuvolal-6, Mulgunda-12 or Honnathi-12, or Kolanur-30 or Navilgunda-30 the figures indicating the number of villages in the Nadu. There were bigger units like Nagarakhanda-70, Rattapalli-70, , Hangal-500 and districts like Belvola-300. Terachuvadi-1000, Kuhundi-3000, but provinces like Banavasi-12000, indicated that it had 12 districts, Nolambavadi-32000, had 32 districts.

During the ancient period when kings ruled the land, the kingdom was divided into Maharastrakas (zones) and Rashtras or Deshas or Mandalas or provinces. Under these provinces were a number of districts called Nadu or Vishaya and each district had a certain number of villages or 'gramas' attached to them. Every province had a senior Viceroy or Governor to administer it apart from the hereditary local officers. Districts had Nadagavundas with certain powers invested in them. There were several village level officials called Patela, or Gouda (evolved from gramakuta) a village headman who did police duties also. Revenue records were maintained by the Shanbhogues or Senobhova or Kulkarni (Karanika or clerk) as mentioned in many inscriptions. Revenue records were called Kadita and officer in charge of it as Kaditavergade. Revenue administration formed the foundation of all administrative matters. The village headman had under him the totis, talaris, sanadis or ugranis who were the village militia. When the British took over Bombay and Madras-Karnatak region they appointed Collectors for districts, Mamlatdar or Tahsildar under them for taluks, and Revenue officers for circles. The village heriditary officials also continued. The old Mysore area which was under Wodeyars came under the British commissioner's rule in 1831. During this period (1831-1881) the British system of administration was gradually introduced and in 1881 the State was restored to Mysore Wodeyars.

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Education in Karnataka

University

Ancient educational institutions in the form of agraharas, brahmapuris, ghatikasthanas and mathas existed in the state following traditional methods of teaching. Mathas were residential schools where the teacher and the taught lived together. Agraharas and brahmapuris were settlements of scholars and separate arrangements existed to teach the three R's in these villages. Ghatikasthnnas were meant for conferring degrees or certifying scholarships. Rich families engaged teachers to teach their children privately. There also grew institutions like Koolimatha, Salimatha or Odisuvamatha where a teacher ran a school either in his house or in a public place like temple or choultry and was paid in cash or kind during the harvesting season. Reading, writing and arithmetic were taught and much of the learning was through memorising or repeating the sentences or verses collectively. The rod played a major role in disciplining pupils including those who were slow of learning.

Vocational learning was mostly hereditary. A boy who was to pursue the career of an accountant or a government servant was sent to a shop or government office after mastering the three R's. He was to be a probationer for long years. Government servants initiated their own young wards into their offices, and were later absorbed into service. Administrative service was also hereditary before the advent of the British, for long even after. The offices of a Shanbhag (village accountant) is a case to remind the old practice.

The beginning of modern education could be traced to the establishment of the Free English School at Mysore in 1833 by the palace of Mysore (for the erstwhile Mysore area); of the two Marathi Vernacular schools at Dharwad and Hubli in 1826 by the Bombay Native School and School Book Society respectively (for the Belgaum area); of schools in Mangalore, Udupi and Bellary in 1838 (for the Madras Kamataka area); of the Dar ul Uloom at Gulbarga in 1853 by Sir Salaarjung (for the Gulbarga area); of the two Anglo-Vernacular Schools at Madikeri and Virajpet and a Kannada School at Ponnampet by the Government in 1934 (for the Kodagu area). Christian Missionaries played a major role in starting schools and imparting English education during the 19th century. The Education Integration Advisory Committee constituted by the State Government in 1956 evolved a uniform system of education for the entire state. For the year 1999-2000, the rate of literacy among males was 67.25% and among females it was 44.34%. The total literacy rate was 56.04%.

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Sports in Karnataka

Karnataka holds the third place in the sports map of India to-day. Through the paintings of pre-historic period we learn that sports and games were the favourite pastime of people in the state. Records and evidences are available to us from the Kadamba times. Gambling and dice playing were among the means of recreation. MonoUosa, a 12th century Sanskrit encyclopeadia gives a long list of games like playing at the swing, at sands, and in groves, boat race, dice, animal fights etc. Several indigenous games played by boys and girls in groups, became popular. They included Katta-police, Kott-Koli, Topiyata, Cat and Rat, Run for Supper, Sun and Shadow, Upparapatte, Kannamuchchale (hide and seek), KuntebUle, Gultorio, Kabaddi, Marakoti, Bugariyata, Haavvchelu, Chinni-dondu, horse-race, sackrace, potato race and the like. Indoor games included Gqjjigaia, Chess, Ganjipa (a kind of card game), Adagulimane. Swargarohana (snake and ladder), Chess etc. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III had written a book on the game of chess.

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Agriculture And Allied Activities of Karnataka

Agriculture provides the main economic support to the State. The importance Karnataka had given to agriculture is indicated by the statement of famous Kannada poet Sarvajnya who says that meti vidye (agricultural science) is superior to koti vidye (millions of other sciences). The same poet further states that together with meti (agricultural implement), rati (spinning wheel) must also turn without stop. This shows that Karnataka had its peasants, especially women, also engaged in spinning as a part time vocation. This has been testified to by many records including travellers like Buchanan (1800) who says that a full-time worker engaged in spinning earned as much as a farm labourer. But Industrial Revolution in England and the tariff policy in Britain resulted in India being reduced to an agricultural country by ruining its weaving industry and other crafts. Consequently those engaged in those crafts had to fall back on agriculture, depending on the limited land available.

In historical times, Karnataka was famous for its rice, ragi and jowar crops and rice was a major export from its coastal ports. Spices like pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger etc., were also grown in plenty, some of them being wild crops. Literary and epigraphical sources speak of its rich rice fields and plantations of coconut, areca and plantains. Ibn Batuta, in 1347, says that the coastal area had very rich rice fields and in their centre were houses surrounded by a garden of flower plants and fruit trees. "These dominions are well cultivated and very fertile" says Domingo Paes who visited Vijayanagara Empire during the first part of the 16th century. "This land has plenty of rice and Indian corn, grains, beans, and other kinds of crops which are not sown in our parts; also infinity of cotton. Of the grains there is a great quantity because besides being used as food for men, it is also used for horses, since there is no other kind of barley, and this Country has also much wheat, and that good," Paes adds.

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Banking, Co-Operatives And Trade of Karnataka

Karnataka has made great strides in modern banking in India in the course of last one century. The functioning of organised sector of Banking was evidenced with the establishment of the branches of the then Presidency Banks, i.e.. The Bank of Bombay (1840) and The Bank of Madras (1843) which opened their branch offices at Dharwad in 1863 and at Bangalore Cantonment in 1864 respectively. In course of time, many more branches of the Presidency Banks were opened at Belgaum (1867), Mangalore (1867), Hubli (1870) and Kumta (1872-73). Dharwad branch was opened mainly to facilitate the cotton traders of the Bombay-Karnataka area.

The Unorganised sector of banking was mainly dominated by the local Money lenders or Sahukars, Zamindars and traders. Money-lending was a profitable business. It was commonly practised by all communities. The Marwadis, Gujarathis, Jains, Mahajans, Chettiyars and Multhani bankers from the North came and settled in important trading centres of Karnataka. They are found engaged in money lending business even to-day. Bangalore Cantonment area was dominated by the European money lenders (including widows of army officers) together with the natives. During the British days even special civil courts were set up to settle such money lending disputes called as small causes courts.

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Related Information of Karnataka

Industries of Karnataka
Power of Karnataka
Medical And Public Health Services of Karnataka
Peoples of Karnataka
Religions in Karnataka, India
Festivals and Fairs in Karnataka
Social Welfare Measures of Karnataka