Sardar Papanna: 'Bandit' for Aurangzeb, hero for locals

 C R GOWRI SHANKER

Impressed by the stories of his life, a movie named Sardar Papanna was made in Telugu with a budget of Rs 2 crore in 2006.

 A painting of Sardar Papanna by the late Someshwara Rao, historian and former principal of a junior college in Warangal.

Hyderabad: Sarvai Papadu or Sardar Papanna, the 17th century king of Quilashapur, was a ‘bandit’ for the emperor Aurangzeb and a hero for the locals. 

It is said that, for a brief while, he held sway over Golconda in the tumultuous years between the emperor’s death and the time the Asaf Jahis took the throne in Hyderabad. 

His bravery in taking on the mighty Mughals and Golconda kings is, quite literally, the stuff of folklore. 

Sardar Papanna constructed the Quilashapur fort named after Shapur village located 5 km from Raghunadhapalli railway station in Jangaon district and 130 km from Hyderabad. 

He built the Tatikonda fort from where he ruled, and seized Bhuvanagiri fort 50 km from the city, and over 20 forts and renovated them during his life time. 

He defied the Mughal imperial authority for demanding toddy tax and for harassing women and the downtrodden. 

His sway extended over Warangal, Elgandal, Kaulas and, it is said, Golconda. Papanna was born in 1650 and died in 1709 or 1710. For much of his regnal life, Aurangzeb (1658-1707) was campaigning in the south and defeated Golconda, while Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626-1672) and Abul Hasan Tana Shah (1672-1689) ruled Golconda. 

Keeping in view the historical importance of the Quilashapur fort, the department of archaeology and museums has taken up renovation and restoration of the 17th century fort that spreads over 2.25 acres. 

“We have taken up renovation of the Quilashapur fort. The first phase of work is almost over. It’s a protected monument and is being restored to its past glory,” Ms N.R. Visalatchy, director, department of archaeology and museums, said. 

Engineer B. Narayana said the fort was constructed as a square structure with massive bastions at the four corners. “There might have been four cannons on the four sides, but only two exist now,” he said Granite, lime mortar and mud was used to build the fort. “We are adopting traditional methods to restore the fort,” Mr Narayana said. 

The funds were provided by then Jangaon collector Devasena. Impressed by the stories of his life, Panjala Jaihind Goud, a resident of LB Nagar, Hyderabad, produced, acted and directed a Telugu movie, “Sardar Papanna”, in 2006 with a budget of over Rs 2 crore.
“I was impressed by Papanna’s life, bravery and his fight for justice. We did a lot of research. It’s wrong to call him a bandit,” Mr Jaihind Goud said. 

“The rulers of that time used to call their opponents bandits and while their supporters bestowed them with titles. Sardar Papanna fought against harsh taxes, harassment of poor toddy tappers, women and other downtrodden sections,” he said. 

Dr Vidyanath, assistant professor in a private engineering college, who did his PhD in history, said there was no evidence to prove that Sardar Papanna belonged to the Goud community, but Gouds in the state have adopted him as one of their own. 

Besides his birth anniversary being celebrated on August 18 by the community, his statues have come up in Bhongir and other places. As with any hero, there are several stories surrounding on Sardar Papanna. 

It is said that before he became a king, Papanna was a cowherd. Once, the story goes, after setting out the cattle to graze, Papanna feel asleep under a tree. When the sun hit his face, folklore has it that a king cobra spread its hood to shield his face. Locals who saw this were astonished and word soon spread that Papanna was marked out to be a ruler.

The Quilashapur fort that has been constructed by Sardar Papanna in Jangoan district is located 5 km from Raghunadhapalli railway station and and 130 km from Hyderabad city.

An astrologer told Papanna that he would rule Golconda “one day. It went to his head and he started behaving like a king. He even declared himself local ruler and Nawab of Hyderabad,” said Dr Vidyanath. 

It is said that Sardar Pappana killed himself and had his head sent to Golconda. Some believe Papanna was born in Quilashapur in 1650 to the Goud family of Sarvamma. But some balladeers sing songs that claim that Pappanna hailed from Belgaum in Karnataka and migrated to his grandmother’s home in Quilashapur. 

Said to be tall and muscular, Papanna took on the might of then rulers with arms bought with financial support of his widowed sister and others and raised a small army. 

Aurangzeb, who heard of his defiance, sent his general Rustam Dil Khan to subdue Papanna. Rustam in turn sent Qasim Khan, commander at Kolanupaka, to attack the Quilashapur fort where he was killed by Papanna. 

Seeing Mughal rule weakening after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, Pappana seized the Warangal fort. A disputed version says he took Golconda too, in 1708, in the time between the Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi kings. 

Pappana was allegedly betrayed by some of his men when he was asleep at Husnabad. Rather than be captured, Pappana committed suicide. He was reportedly beheaded and his head was hung at Golconda fort.
July 8, 2018