In spite of the controversies surrounding the recent district reorganisation move taken up by the State government, the process is lauded for one reason: attempting to recoup the lost legacy of the erstwhile ‘Cuddapah’ district.
It was in October 1800 that the entire Rayalaseema region comprising Bellary, Anantapur, Cuddapah and Kurnool collective known as the ‘Ceded districts’ or ‘BACK districts’ as an acronym, was acquired by the British East India Company.
The Principal Collector Thomas Munro ruled the entire region with Cuddapah as the headquarters. The region remained a single block till 1 April, 1911, when Chittoor district was formed and Madanapalle and Piler areas were appended to the newly-carved district.
