Telangana Government to Rename Women’s University in Honor of Revolutionary Leader Ailamma

Hyderabad: The Telangana government has decided to rename Koti Women’s College in Hyderabad in honor of Chakali Ailamma, a key figure in the Telangana Armed Struggle. This decision, announced by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Ailamma’s birth anniversary on September 10, marks a first for the state. Ailamma is celebrated for her 1946 rebellion against her feudal landlord in Warangal, which ignited a broader uprising across Telangana against the oppressive jagirdar (landlord) system under the Nizams of the Hyderabad state.

Chief Minister Reddy also announced the appointment of Ailamma’s granddaughter, Shweta, to the State Women’s Commission, recognizing Ailamma’s impact on land rights movements. Inspired by her struggle, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi later introduced land reforms in India.

Background of the Hyderabad State and Telangana Armed Struggle:

The princely state of Hyderabad, under Osman Ali Khan, opted for independence post-Indian independence in 1947, leading to a period of turmoil marked by oppressive feudal practices, especially in Telangana. Landlords (Jagirdars) were notorious for exploiting lower-caste communities through bonded labor and excessive taxation, which fueled widespread dissent. Ailamma’s revolt against these conditions was a significant trigger for the Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-1951), which continued even after the Indian Army’s Operation Polo in 1948, which integrated Hyderabad into India. The struggle saw the rise of key Communist leaders in Telangana, such as Makhdoom Mohiuddin and Ravi Narayan Reddy, advocating for land and social reforms.

Women’s University : Women’s College : Osmania University College for Women

The Telangana Mahila Viswavidyalayam, formerly Osmania University College for Women, is a state university in Hyderabad, India. It was formerly a constituent women’s college of Osmania University. The main building of this college, which was part of the British legacy in India, is a monument of great aesthetic, architectural and historical importance. Commissioned in 1803 for the British resident, J. A. Kirkpatrick, his builder the Lt. Samuel Russell of the Madras Engineers, has produced a structure capable of rivaling the Governor’s house in Kolkata.

The college started in 1924. In 1939, the college was shifted to Golden Threshold. It was moved to its present location belonging to James Achilles Kirkpatrick’s mansion Koti Residency in 1949.

In 2022, the college was upgraded to a state university, called Telangana Mahila Viswavidyalayam. It has plans to start offering engineering courses.