Secunderabad
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.
Secunderabad
(Sikandarabad}.- British cantonment in the Hyder- abad State, situated in 17 27' N. and 78 30' E., 6 miles north-east of Hyderabad city. The population of Secunderabad in 1901 was 83,550, and the population of Bolarum and Trimulgherry 12,888.
Secunderabad, named after the Nizam Sikandar Jah, is one of the largest military stations in India. The British troops stationed here were formerly known as the Subsidiary Force, and were paid from the revenues of the districts ceded by the Nizam for this purpose under the treaty of 1800. The Nizam also agreed to maintain a Con- tingent to act with the Subsidiary Force in case of necessity. This Contingent, for the payment of which Berar was assigned to the British Government by the treaty of 1853, modified by the treaty of 1860, had its head-quarters at Bolarum, other stations being Ellichpur in Berar, and five towns in the Hyderabad State : namely, Aurangabad, Hingoli, Jalna, Amba (Mominabad), and Raichur. During the Mutiny of 1857 an unsuccessful attempt was made to tamper with the fidelity of the troops at Secunderabad. An attack on the Residency was repulsed, and during the troubled times of 1857-8 much good service was rendered by both the Subsidiary Force and the Hyderabad Contingent. By an agreement entered into in 1902, the Contingent ceased to exist as a separate force, and was incorporated in the Indian army. The can- tonments, except Aurangabad, were vacated, and Bolarum was merged in Secunderabad. The garrison of Secunderabad and Bolarum con- sisted in 1904 of one regiment of British and two of Native cavalry; one battery of horse and three of field artillery, with ammunition columns; two battalions of British and six regiments of Native infantry; a company of sappers and miners, with a proportion of mule corps and transport bearers. The combined cantonment comprises the areas of Secunderabad, Chilkalguda, Bowanpalli, Begampett, Trimulgherry, North Trimulgherry, and Bolarum.
Up to 1850 the cantonment of Secunderabad consisted of a line of barracks and huts, extending for a distance of three miles from east to west, with the artillery in front and on the left flank, and the in- fantry on the right. Since that date, however, the cantonment boun- daries have been extended so as to include the areas already mentioned, covering 22 square miles, including many interspersed villages. New double-storeyed barracks have been erected for the European troops, and improved quarters for the Native troops.
The country for miles round Secunderabad undulates into hum- mocks, with outcrops of underlying rock, crossed from east to west by greenstone dikes. East of the cantonment are two large outcrops of granite and a hill of some size, known as Maula All, and near it another called Kadarn Rasul from a legend that it bears an impress of the Prophet's foot. Shady trees line the roads of the cantonment, and here and there are clusters of date and palmyra palms ; but otherwise the face of the country is bare, with but little depth of soil on the more elevated spots. Rice is cultivated in the dips and villages, in most of which tanks have been constructed. The water-supply from wells is not abundant ; and of late years the Jidimatla tank, which has not been an unqualified success, has been constructed for the purpose of pro- viding an adequate supply of watei for the troops and civil population of Secunderabad.
The climate of Secunderabad is generally healthy, though at the latter end of the rainy season, in September, fever is somewhat preva- lent. The rainfall varies considerably; during the twenty-five years ending 1903 it averaged 33 inches.
