Medak librarian goes digital to preserve district’s rich heritage
HYDERABAD: Burra Santosh, a Librarian at a Telangana Government Residential School, grew up in Medak with a dream to revive its fading heritage. After publishing a book on the Edupayala region, he noticed fewer people turning to books. Determined to keep Medak’s stories alive, he set out to reach a wider audience, especially Gen Z, and transformed himself into a passionate heritage crusader.
Recognising changing reading habits, he observed, “Few read books these days. Everyone is glued to YouTube or Instagram.” So, he picked up his phone and started documenting local heritage. He launched YouTube and Instagram accounts to reach people who moved away from print.
As a result of his efforts online, his digital presence grew quickly. His Edupayala history video reached nearly 200,000 views. The Velpugonda and Medak Church videos each crossed 100,000 views. Across the channel, total views range from 300,000 to 400,000. “My target audience is the youth of Medak. I want to create awareness and make Medak proud again. That is my motto,” he said.
Rediscovering Medak’s forgotten history
Santosh believes Medak has been unfairly ignored by authorities, even though it has carried the district’s name for generations. Historical records tell a different story. For example, a copper-plate inscription found in Sitarampalli village, dated to 979 AD, records a land grant in Medak and shows it was a significant town over a thousand years ago. King Prataparudra II later built the fort here. “For a town that once enjoyed such greatness, that glory is now missing,” Santosh says.
Motivated by these historical findings, he studied the histories of Ramappa, Warangal, and Hyderabad. He wondered why Medak did not get similar recognition. He looked for Medak-related works and visited the State Museum in Hyderabad, where he found paintings and artifacts from Elladurga and other parts of Medak. “I realised Medak truly has major inscriptions and historic temples. That realisation fuels all my work.” For more than a thousand years, Medak was a prominent town. “My motto is to revive that era’s heritage so Medak can stand tall again,” Santosh says.
During his explorations, Santosh’s most exciting find was the Velpugonda Tumbureshwara Swamy Temple, about 35 kilometers from Medak. Few people knew about this temple. The site contained prehistoric tools, burial mounds, a Parshwanatha Digambara statue that highlights the area’s Jain heritage, and temple architecture first built by the Kalyani Chalukyas and later rebuilt by the Kakatiyas.
Connecting temples across borders
Notably, locals call it Mini-Ramappa because of its detailed carvings. The temple has the same motifs as the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple in Warangal: Darpana Sundari, celestial dancers, and naga shilpas. It is the only temple in Medak with all these features. “Such architectural beauty exists in our district,” Santosh said. This temple rivals the artistry of famous sites like Hampi, Halebidu, Warangal, and the Thousand Pillar Temple.
Building on these discoveries, Santosh’s research revealed more. He plans to visit the Nilanga Shiva Temple in Maharashtra, which he believes is almost identical to the Velpugonda Temple. The two temples share nearly the same architecture, built over a millennium ago. Santosh wants to share stories like this link between Medak and Maharashtra.
However, Santosh’s videos made Velpugonda famous, but also exposed its risks. Soon after the temple was featured, thieves stole the Parshvanatha statue. Although it was recovered, the incident shows the urgent need to document and protect such sites before they are lost.
Architectural marvels of Medak
Turning to architectural heritage, the Medak RDO Building, built by the Nizam government in 1926, is a fine example of British architecture. Its arches, large windows, and teak wood interiors make it stand out. It remains an active government office and a reminder of the region’s colonial past.
Similarly, an ancient mosque sits by Kontur Lake. Hazrat Maulana Ali Saheb built it during the Qutb Shahi era. The mosque, made of stone masonry and lime mortar, has two large and four small minarets. It offers a peaceful and striking sight for visitors.
In addition, Chandampet village, named after a relative of 18th-century ruler Rani Shankaramma, has a notable stone fort and a large stepwell. This stepwell, built for the rulers of that time, is the largest in Medak district.
Among the lesser-known landmarks, perhaps the most poignant site is the Tippannagulla Ruins, a Shiva temple built in the early Kakatiya architectural style. According to local accounts, the temple was constructed by a Kakatiya military commander named Tippadu, but its formal consecration was never held due to unforeseen circumstances. Despite this, the sculptural artistry found here, especially the stone pillars, ornate doorframes, and massive Nandi sculptures, is remarkably reminiscent of the famous Ramappa Temple.
A wealth of unexplored treasures
Expanding the scope, beyond these sites, Santosh point to a long list of unexplored treasures: forts in Venkatraopet, Appajipalli, Velmakanne, Alladurgam, Shankarampet, and Papannapet, centuries-old watchtowers (burujus) in numerous villages, historic water projects like the Ghanapur Dam, Pocharam Reservoir, Bara kaman, and the Rayipalli Project, and the sculptures of Madur.
This summer, Santosh will launch Mana Charitra Vedika (Our History Forum). He says his passion grew from many experiences over time. “Medak has huge potential for tourism. Its nearness to Hyderabad, along with attractions like Yedupayala, the Church, the Qilla, and Pocharam, are big advantages for the district,” Santosh says.
Despite his social media presence, Santosh says, “Social media is temporary. My main focus and goal is my book.” He wants every household in Medak to own a copy and be proud of it.
Santosh’s journey as a school librarian from Medak has taken him from museum collections to Maharashtra and from rescuing a Jain statue to making viral heritage videos. He hopes his second book will become Medak’s main record, preserving a history that survives even when forgotten. He urges everyone, locals, youth, and leaders, to explore these sites, share their stories, and help Medak’s heritage shine again.
