Musunoori Kapayya Naika who drove away Muslim rulers from Telangana
Was the true son of India
Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao
Musunoori Kapayya Naika was dynamic ruler who liberated Telangana in Andhra Province from Mohammedan rulers in 14 century. Telangana was ruled by Kakateeya dynasty and the last ruler was Prataparudra II ( 1289-1323) He valiantly resisted Muslim invasions from Delhi by Allauddin Khilji and from Mohammed Bin Tughlaq (earlier Known as Juna Khan). The relentless campaigns by the Muslims weakened the Hindu kingdom and finally Prataparudra II was defeated in a battle at Warangal and was captured. This is also attributed to the infighting between commandrs of Kakateeya army comprising of kapus, Reddys and Velams. He was imprisoned and was being taken to Delhi. However enroute King Prataparudra jumped into river Godavari ( Some say it was Narmada) and committed suicide to escape insult and dishonor. Warangal was kept under a Muslim governor and renamed with Islamic name as Sultanpur and was made a central province (1).The Telugu chieftains of Telangana who were vassals of Prataparudra however raised a banner of revolt in due course. Musunoori Prolaya Nayaka was the leader of this revolt and after his death his nephew Kapayya Nayaka became the leader and continued the fight from Rekapalli. In a span of ten years he defeated governor Malik Maqbool at Warangal and drove away Muslims from Telangana in 1335. Kapayya was accepted as the successor to kakateeya dynasty and the 74 vassals accepted him as the ruler. Kapayya assumed titles as Andhradesadheesa and Andhra Surathrana and ruled with iron grip for the next 32 years ( 2).Soon fissures developed among some of the chieftains and infact Kapayya delegated great autonomy to the vassals and this resulted in emerging of Velama rulers at Rachakonda( This is about 55 KM from Hyderabad) under Singamanaika I. Reddy dynasty emerged at Addanki under Prolaya vema Reddy probably after death of Kapayya.. Velama kings joined Bahamni Sultans and reletlessly fought with Kapayya. In fact Kapayya helped Hassan Shah Bahmani in establishing his kingdom at Daulatabad ( Devagiri) by revolting against Tughlaq by sending 1500 cavalry.He probably that a buffer statae would ward off threat from Delhi. However subsequent events proved that he misjudged the situation and the Bahmani kingdom became a lance in the sides of Hindu Deccan Kingdoms. Soon Bahmani sultan failed to reciprocate the friendship and attacked Kapayyas provinces. Kappaya was killed in 1368 by deceipt in a battle at Bheemavaram near Warangal fighting Velama rulers. Kapayyas son Vinayaka deva was earlier killed by Bahmani sultan Mohammed Shah after a battle. With this, the rule of Nayaka dynasty ended at Warangal after 36 years of glorious rule.
Kapayya was the true son of the soil and knew the danger of growing Mulsim influence in Indian political scene . But the local rulers did not lend a helping hand and betrayed him. Velama kings at Rachakonda and Deverakonda were the betrayers who joined Muslims and fought with Kapayya and the Vijaynagar Kings. Although Velamas had a sway in Telangana for nearly 100 years, they lost the kingdom to Bahmani sultans and at last the velamas had to serve Vijaynagar kings as commanders in the army. They never could establish an independent kingdom later on. They either ruled small principalities here and there or were mere commanders. Kapayya shines gloriously for his valiant efforts to drive out Muslim rulers from Telangana while velama rulers have gone down the history of letting down the own country by joining Muslim rulers (3). The caste politics were also responsible for mutual hatred which is no way better even now in Andhra Pradesh politics. The kammas, kapus, velamas, reddys, Gowds and other lower castes are relentlessly fighting each other even now and ruining the state. There is no national outlook even now. Make hay while sun shine appears to be the main aim of all political leaders. Every political party is wooing Muslims to get maximum votes by all types of appeasement as if they have separate identity and in turn the nation is degraded to such an extent that another partition is staring at us from a very close distance. Kapayya who struggled valiantly to ward off Muslim rule is forgotten by Indians and his efforts do not find place in History books . What a sad state of affairs? It is a national shame. There are some other heroes in India whose memory is thrown to winds and Ashok Chakras or PVC ( Param veer Chakras are bestowed on some characters to appease some guys. Disgusting indeed. Kapayyas efforts do not even are mentioned in two sentences. In fact heroes like Kapayya deserved titles posthumously such as Bharat Ratna although some may laugh it off. These are now given to all nuts and bolts. Hence its relevance has been lost. In fact People like Rana Pratap, Sivaji and Kapayya need no certificate or honors by the pseudo leaders of India. This shows the extent of degradation to which Indian politics have degenerated and swooped down to appease minority community with aim of capturing votes to corner power. The policy continues since 1947 ( Or even before) and probably would continue till India is destroyed by own actions.
Biblography
1.Prof Dr Colonel ( Retired) K prabhakar Rao, Strategic studies into Mulsim fundamentalism it's rise in India and its growing threat to India' security across the borders, Ph D Thesis, The International University, Misouri. Independence, USA, PP 24 -25
2. Etukuri Balaram. Andhrula sankshipta charithra, Visalandhra Publications, Sultan bazar, Hyderabad, AP, India, PP 138-139,
3. Ibid, PP 141