Anantapur: The foresight of the rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire to ensure sustainable agriculture has been highlighted by a stone inscription dating back to the 14th century. It stresses diversion of river waters into tanks to help farmers overcome drought effects.
Myna Swamy, a historian and writer, has come across the stone inscription in the agriculture fields belonging to Gangisetty Subhash Chandra Bose of Karaavulapalli in Gorantla mandal.
A dasavakanda inscription, the language is simple and sweet, he said, explaining their meaning. He observed, “In those days, writing of prose was not available. Everything was in the form of poetry. But Meereddipalli inscription is throwing new light about development of Telugu language in the 14th century itself.”
The inscription belonging to Bukkaraya-II dates back to 1388 AD. He was ruling Penukonda area at that time and his father Harihara-II (1377–1404) was the King of Vijayanagar (presently Hampi in Vijayanagar district in Karnataka). It was carved on a stone slab in total 26 lines. The year was Prabhava - Maagha Suddha and its equivalent date as per English calendar is January 23, 1388. It reveals about Nayankara administration, irrigation facilities and development of agriculture in Vijayanagar Kingdom across all parts of the empire.
The writer says it was an order of Bukka-II to construct a tank and dig a canal from Chireru (now Chitravati river) to link up with the tank. With the permission of then Ruler Bukka Raya, son of Maha Mandaleswara Sri Veera Harihara Raya II, the Nayankacharya (mandal president) Harigila Poli Nayudu, son of Kithi Nayudu, the ruler of Mereddipalli, constructed a tank and dug a water supply canal as well. Poli Nayudu also gifted some land to Toleti Peda Byrapoju and Toleti China Byrapoju for timely completing the tank and canal works.
Myna Swamy said there are several inscriptions of Bukkaraya-II in the district. The archaeology department should protect and preserve the inscription as a monument, he demanded.
