Unfortunately, there is dearth of authentic source material dealing with forts and fortifications reflecting the military architecture of India. Inspite of its abundant wealth, save few reports here and there in the Memoirs of Archaeological Survey of India and District Gazzetteers and few publications on the subject (viz) Forts of India by Verma, Amrit (1985); Forts of India by Fass, Virginia (1986) and Defence Architecture of Early Karnataka by S.K. Joshi (1985), which appeared in recent years. However, in the case of A.P., inspite of its being rich in the remains of forts–on the plains, river banks and hill tops, no such work appeared till now. In this context comes the book Forts of Andhra Pradesh, which emphasises on this much neglected aspect in the architectural and historical studies of Andhra Pradesh. It attempts to critically examine the rise and evolution of forts coupled with the concept of defence and classification of forts based mainly on the data available in archaeological excavations, extant remains, literary texts both Sanskrit and Telugu and local records from pre-state to state societies in Andhra Desa. The book also examines the nature and functional role of the forts in ancient and medieval periods in the context of contemporary trends of warfare and the way how the forts evolved themselves taking into account, the methods of attack and defence and the different kinds of weapons and strategies employed in warfare.
The book also furnishes an interesting account of the system of organizing and maintenance of forts during different periods, i.e. the different officers employed, the taxes levied etc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR N S Ramachandra Murthy
Dr. N S Ramachandra Murthy (1943), was born in the village Sitanagaram, near Rajahmundry in East Godavary District, Andhra Pradesh and had his school and collegiate education in Municipal High School and Government Arts College, Rajahmundry, respectively. He took his M.A. Degree from Andhra University, Waltair in 1964, in History with specialization in Archaeology. In the year 1981, he obtained his Ph.D. degree from Karnatak University, Dharwar, for his thesis “Forts in ancient and Medieval Andhra upto 16c. A.D. – a study†under the guidance of late Prof. P.B. Desai and Shri S.H. Ritti. He joined the Department of Archaeology and Museums in Epigraphy Branch as Assistant in – Epigraphy in 1966 and had the privilege of working under late Shri N. Venkataramanayya and Shri P.V.P. Sastry. He then became Registering Officer in the year 1974, and worked at several places like Tirupatim Kareemnagar, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, and as Assistant Director (Epigraphy) and presently working as Assistant Director (Epigraphy-Publications) in the Department of Archaeology & Museums, Hyderabad. During his service of over two and a half decades in the Department of Archaeology & Museums, he gained wide experience in various branches of the Department like Explorations, Excavations, Numismatics, Epigraphy, study of different kinds of antiquities, sculptures, temple art, architecture etc. Besides touring extensively in different districts of Andhra Pradesh like Cuddapah, Kurnool, Kareemnagar, Nizamabad, and Adilabad noticed several early historic sites, temples, epigraphs and sculptures, not known so far. He also conducted excavations at Nandalur, Cuddapah District, Kotilingala, Karimnagar District, Nirjapla, Medak District and brought to light for the first time a Buddhist site in Rayalasima region and extensive early historic habitation sites datable to pre and early centuries of Christian era respectively. He also took active part in organizing the Shri Bhagavan Mahavir Govt. Museum at Cuddapah and archaeological explorations at several places. Further he has over 15 research articles, published in various journals. He is a member of several research institutions like Indian Epigraphical Society and A.P. History Congress and attended Seminars and Conferences held at several places.
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