Hyderabad State, Population 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Population
The population returned at the Census of 1901 was 11,141,142. The total area is 82,698 square miles, and the average density of .population is thus 135 persons per square mile; but excluding the capital it falls to 129. The density ranges from 184 to 141 in the thickly populated Districts of Bidar, Medak, Gulbarga, Nalgonda, Nander, Elgandal, and Raichur; from 139 to 125 in Lingsugur, Osmanabad, Indur, Parbhani, and Atraf-i- balda; and from 117 to 54 in the sparsely populated Aurangabad, Bhir, Mahbubnagar, Warangal, and Sirpur Tandur Districts. Table I (p. 300) shows the distribution of population in 1901
The State contains 79 towns and 20,010 villages ; and of the total population 1,132,109, or 10 per cent., were enumerated in urban areas. The chief city is Hyderabad, with a population of 448,466. The State contains four places with a population ranging between 20,000 and 50,000, 16 towns of 10,000 to 20,000, and 58 towns of 5,000 to 10,000. Of villages with a population of 2,000 to 5,000, there are 514 ; in 1,862 villages the population ranges from 1,000 to 2,000; 4,344 villages have a population between 500 and 1,000, and 13,290 villages have less than 500 inhabitants. Some of the places classed as towns, from the fact of their having 5,000 or more inhabitants, are really overgrown rural villages, while on the other hand many taluk head-quarters, with decided urban characteristics, are reckoned as villages, from the acci- dent of their falling short of that standard.
The average population of a village is about 500. Gar/us or walled villages are found all over the State, testifying to the necessity that existed, up to the beginning of the nineteenth century, of affording security against the depredations of marauders, and the constant fear of civil wars in those troublous times. The houses are usually built of mud with thatched roofs.
The population of the State, according to the two previous enumer- ations, had been (1881) 9,845,594 and (1891) 11,537,040. At the Census of 1891 it was found that number had risen in all Dis- tricts, with the single exception of Nander, where there was a small decline. The total increase during the decade amounted to 17-18 per cent. ; but the six Districts of Lingsugur, Raichur, Gulbarga, Mahbub- nagar, Nalgonda, and Warangal showed abnormal increases, ranging from 29 to 26 per cent. The first three Districts had suffered most severely from the famine of 1876-8, and were recovering from their depressed state when the first Census was taken in 1881; while the other three Districts had also been affected by the same cause.
The Census of 1901 showed a net decrease from the population of 1891 of 3-45 per cent., due to the famines of 1897 and 1900, and to the abnormally high mortality from plague and cholera during the latter half of the decade, notably in the Districts of Bidar, Aurangabad, Bhir, Nander, Parbhani, and Osmanabad, in which the loss varied from 13 to 20 per cent. Elgandal, Indur, and Raichur suffered less severely, the decrease ranging from less than one per cent, to about 5 per cent. In the remaining Districts of Atraf-i-balda, Nalgonda, ^^^lrangal, Medak, Mahbubnagar, Sirpur Tandur^ Gulbarga, and Ling- sugur, population rose by about 10 per cent., including Hyderabad city.
The age statistics show the usual tendency to omit from enumeration females of ages ranging between 6 and 20. As elsewhere in India, giiis exceed boys in number up to the age of 5. But after that age there is a fall in the number of females up to the age of 20, when the females again preponderate over the males. After the age of 30 a sudden fall is observed in the number of females, which continues up to the age of 60 and over, when the proportion of females again exceeds that of the males. Apart from the omission above alluded to, there is probably a real deficiency of females between 5 and 20 due to deaths caused by early marriage and childbirth. Another tendency exists, especially among the Hindus, to understate the age of unmarried girls after they have attained the marriageable age. The effects of famine may, however, be clearly traced in the age statistics, imperfect as they are. Thus, the Census of 1901 showed the number of children under the age of 5 to be less than that of children in the age periods 5-10 and 10-15.
No reliable vital statistics are available, though the police /JA'A are supposed to record births and deaths regularly. The effect of the famine of 1900 on the birth-rate has already been alluded to, and infant mortality must have been very great during the period of stress.
The most common ailment is fever, which accounts for half the total deaths. Diarrhoea, dysentery, and other bowel complaints, as well as small-pox, are the next commonest causes of death. Cholera and small-pox sometimes carry off many persons. The people do not, as a rule, appreciate the advantages of vaccination, but its value is gradu- ally becoming known.
When plague invaded the State, the measures first adopted to stamp out the disease or arrest its progress consisted in evacuating infected houses and villages, and in disinfecting them. Camps were subse- quently established at some frontier railway stations, where passengers were inspected and detained, and travellers from infected areas were kept under observation after leaving the camps.
Out of the total population in 190 1, males numbered 5,673,629 and females 5,467,513. 'i'here were thus 964 females to every 1,000 males. The only Districts in which females exceed males are Nander and Indur, with 1,006 and 1,005 females, respectively, to every 1,000 males.
As regards civil condition, out of every 16 persons, roughly speaking, 8 are married, 5 unmarried, and 3 widowed. Of the male popula- tion, 46, 49, and 5 per cent, are single, married, and widowed respec- tively ; while among females the i)roportions are 31, 50, and 19 respectively. These figures show that the married males and females are almost numerically equal, the difference being an excess of only 43,223 married males over married females. The unmarried males, however, number half as many again as the unmarried females, while widowed females are about four times as numerous as widowed males. From the evenness of the proportions of married males and females it is obvious that, as a rule, polygamy does not exist, though allowed by the two main religions. On the other hand, the large number of widowed females leads to the conclusion that a strong prejudice exists against widow remarriage, shared by even the inferior castes of Hindus, who in this matter follow the practice of the Brahmans. Among the agricultural castes, however, widow remarriage is largely practised, being called imhtiirat or vidrmanii.
Distributing the population of either sex in each main age period by civil condition, it is found that unmarried boys under the age of 10 years form 97 per cent., while among females of the same age the percentage of single girls is 89. In the next age period 10-15, the percentage of unmarried boys and girls is 86 and 40 respectively. Between 15 and 40, however, 71 per cent, of the males and 78 per cent, of the females are married. The following table shows the population according to sex and civil condition : —
Telugu is spoken by 46 per cent, of the population, followed by
Marathi, which claims 26 per cent. Next come Kanarese and Urdu
or Hindustani, spoken by 14 and 10 per cent, respectively, so that
these four languages claim between them nearly 97 per cent, of the
total population. The Marwari dialect is spoken by 57,777 and
Hindi by 28,767 per.son.s, the former being the language of bankers
and traders from Marwar, and the latter of emigrants from Northern
India. The Tamil-speaking population numbers 24,475, who belong
mostly to the southern Presidency. Gondl claims 59,669 and Koya
15,895. The Gipsy dialects are spoken by 125,070 persons, the
Lamani (Lambadi) or Banjara alone claimirg 120,394.
European languages, English is returned by 7,^07 persons. Of the
Persons.
The main groups of castes represented are 21 in number, divided
into a large number of sub-castes.
The Kapus or Kunbis, the great agricultural caste in the State, number 2,953,000 persons, or 26 per cent, of the whole population. Next to the Kapus in numerical strength are the Malas or unclean castes, who number 1,584,000, or 14 per cent, of the total. The main group Mala includes the Malas or Dhers and Madigas of Telingana, corresponding with the Mahars and Mangs of the Maratha tract ; and though they occupy a very low position in the social scale, they play a most important part in the village economy. The other numerically strong castes are the Gollas (Dhangars) or shepherds, 832,400 ; the Brahmans, 692,800 ; the Vaisyas or trading castes, 548,000 ; the Korwas, 533,600 ; the Salas (weavers), 424,900 ; and the Gaundlas or toddy- drawers and liquor-vendors, 284,600. The Lamanis (Lambadis) or Banjaras, who are grain-carriers, number 172,300. Of the important aboriginal tribes, Gonds number about 55,000 and Bhils 9,600.
The population comprises people of various religions, but only two, Hinduism and Islam, have any appreciable following, comprising 88-6 and 10-4 per cent, respectively of the entire population of the State. The followers of other religions are: Animists (65,315), Christians (22,996), Jains (20,345), Sikhs (4,335), and Parsis (1,463).
The Hindus have lost 4-3 per cent, since 1891, and it may be observed that the Hindu population has been steadily decreasing for the last twenty years. In 1881 they formed 90-3 per cent, of the population; in 1891 the percentage was 89-4; while in 1901 it was only 88-6. Unlike the Hindus, the Musalmans are steadily increasing in numbers. During the last decade there was an increase of 17,084 persons, or 1-5 per cent. In 1881 Musalmans formed only 9-4 per cent, of the total population, while they formed 10-4 per cent, in 1901.
Like the Musalmans, the Christians have risen in numbers. During the last decade they increa.sed by 2,567, or 12-6 per cent. The Jains lost 7,500 persons, or 27 per cent., in the same period. A large increase was recorded between 1881 and 1891, which may be explained by the fact that some of them were returned as Hindus in the Census of i88r. During the last decade the Sikhs also decreased, while the Pnrsis showed a marked tendency to increase ; their numbers, however, are still small.
The increase among the Musalmans is partly due to proselytizing and partly to their fecundity ; while the rise in the Christian popu- lation is chiefly due to the efforts of missionaries, and to a less degree to the influx of Eurasians in the army and the civil service or in the mercantile class. Europeans decreased by 914, numbering 4,347 in 1901, compared with 5,261 in 1891. The number of Eurasians rose from 2,507 in 1891 to 3,292 in 1901, while native Christians increased from 12,661 to 15,357. The following table shows the variation in the population classified by religion : —
The first English public school in Hyderabad was founded by a clergyman of the Church of England about 1834, and was followed shortly after by another school opened by the Roman Catholic mis- sionaries. Since then the latter mission has gradually progressed, with the result that it now has several schools and convents in various parts of the State. In 1901 the Catholic adherents were returned at 11,649. The Church of England supports two schools, and in 1901 had 6,813 followers. Among other missions working in the State may be mentioned the Wesleyans and the Baptists, with 1,468 and S85 adherents respectively.
The former mission was established in 1 880 ; and, as opportunity offered, its operations have been extended in the Districts lying principally to the north and north-east of Hyderabad city, with stations at Aler, Karlmnagar, Siddipet,, Indur, Medak, and Kandi. The mission carries on medical, educational, and evangelistic work, the principal medical establishments being at Medak, where there is a well-equipped hospital for women and children, with two branch dispensaries. With a few exceptions, all the schools in connexion with this mission are primary. Eacc-making is taught at Secunderabad, Karlmnagar, and Siddipet, embroidery at Medak, weaving at Siddipet, and cabinet-making at Indur. The mission has 1 1 schools in various Districts, 6 of which are for boys. The American Baptist Telugu Mission commenced work at Secunderabad in 1875, and since then branches have been opened at Hanamkonda, Mahbub- nagar, Nalgonda, Suriapct, Jangaon, and Gadwal. In 1902 a hospital was completed at Hanamkonda. The work of this mission is chiefly among the Telugu population, and none of its schools is of a higher grade than lower secondary.
Of the total population, 5,132,902, or 46 per cent., are supported by agriculture. About 32 per cent, are landholders and tenants, 9 per cent, agricultural labourers, and 5 per cent, growers of special products. These figures exclude those who are partly agriculturists, numbering 250,000. Personal, household, and sanitary services support 655,870 persons, or nearly 5-9 per cent, of the population ; and the provision of food, drink, and stimulants supports 536,016 persons, or 4-8 per cent. Commerce provides a living for 427,974 persons, or 3-8 per cent. The preparation of textile fabrics and dress comes next, sup- porting 301,729 persons, or 2-7 per cent. ; while the care of animals maintains 284,304 persons, or 2-5 per cent. Earthwork and general labour provide a livelihood for 1,434,259 persons, or 13 per cent. ; and those leading an independent life number 410,394, or 3-7 per cent.
The staple food of the poorer classes consists chiefly of cakes of ioivdr and bajra^ though in the Telingana Districts rice is also used to a large extent. Along with the cakes are eaten curries made of vegetables and pulses, onions, oil or ghi, seasoned with tamarind or chillies or both. Musalmans and Hindus alike eat goats' flesh. The Musalmans in the country tracts, out of respect to the feelings and prejudices of their Hindu neighbours, do not indulge in beef; but the Musalman inhabitants of towns and large villages have no such scruples. The Malas, including Dhers, Chamars, Mahars, and Mangs, will eat the flesh of cattle which have died a natural death.
The ordinary form of dress for a villager is a dhoti or waislcloth, a short jacket or coat of cotton, a turban of red or white colour in the Maratha Districts and always white in Telingana, and a kanwial or blanket which he almost always carries. The women wear a sari, which is a piece of cloth 5 or 6 yards long and 4 feet broad, one end being fastened round the waist, while the other is carried over the head and shoulders, and covers the rest of the body. In addition to the sari, the women wear a choli or a short bodice. The dress described above is worn by Hindus and Musalmans alike ; but Musalman women often wear a iah/iga or petticoat, with a choli and dupaita, the last covering the head and the body. Viv,w\ and Waddnr females discard the choIl altogether, but wrap the cn<l of the sorl round the upper part of the body.
The lionie of the common cultivator consists of three or four small rooms, the walls being of mud and the roof tiled or thatched, the rooms being built round a bhavanti or courtyard. The Dhers and other low castes, and the poorer classes of villagers, live in huts made of reeds and hurdles, plastered over with mud iind cow-dung.
Hindus of the higher castes, such as Brahmans, Rajputs, and Banias, burn their dead, while the lower castes usually bury them. Among Musalmans the dead are always buried.
There are very few amusements in which the cultivators indulge. In the evenings they gather at the village chaiiri and join in gossip or pass the time with their families, discussing the topics of the seasons and the crops. Occasionally they go to neighbouring markets or visit places of pilgrimages and fliirs in the neighbourhood. Sometimes they enjoy the performance of mountebanks or strolling actors, and the recitation of religious poems is very popular.
The ordinary Hindu festivals are the Holl, the Divali, the Dasara, the NagapanchamT, the Ramnaumi, the Pitrapaksha, and the Sivaratrl. The Pola festival is celebrated everywhere, when the cattle are gar- landed and decorated, and led through the village, accompanied by their owners. The Musalman festivals are the Muharram, the Bakr- Id, the Id of Ramzan (feast after fasting month), the Shab-i-barat, the Duazdahum-i-sharif (anniversary of the Prophet's death), and the Yazdahum. The Nau-roz or Persian New Year's day is also cele- brated as a State holiday.
Among Hindus the joint family system prevails everywhere, but in most cases it is not maintained beyond one generation.
In the Maratha Districts the name of a person is usually followed by the name of the village to which he originally belonged, as for example Dada Korlekar, which means ' Dada of the Korla village.' But in Telingana the name of the village precedes the personal name, as Matur Yenka, which means ' Yenka of Matur village.' Mara- thas and Brahmans usually have three names, the first being the person's own name, the second his father's, while the third is the name of his family or village.
See also
For a large number of articles about Hyderabad State, extracted from the Gazetteer of 1908 (as well as other articles on Hyderabad State) please either click the 'India' link (below, left) and go to Hyderabad State (under H) or enter ' Hyderabad State ' in the 'Search' box (top, right).
Hyderabad State, Population 1908
