Nalgonda: Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India have revealed use of glass bangles and existence of glass industry even before 1800 BC in areas from Hastinapur to Sullur (Kerala). Villages in Telangana which have ‘gaju’ prefixes in their names are said to have glass industries.





A team of ‘Kotta Telangana Charitra,’ under the aegis of the Telangana Jagruti, has found traces of glass bangles industry in Basvapuram village, which is also known as ‘Gajula Basvapuram’, of Bhongir mandal, in Nalgonda district. The team members, Ramoju Haragopal and Vemuganti Muralikrishna, in coordination with Chakilam Surender Rao of Bhongir and Venkatesh, husband of the Sarpanch, claim to have found the traces dating back prior to 2000 years.





Pieces of glass bangles were found in glass-kiln on the outskirts of Gandronichelaka village along with mud tiles, melted small glass pieces and limestone used in making bangles. In one household a 4X2 foot black glass stone has been unearthed. A nearby stream had provided water supply to this industry.





The required raw materials and natural resources for the industry existed in Middelakadichelaka of Basvapuram. It also had one of the ingredients, ferric acid, used for getting coloured glass. Local farmers say red glass pieces were abundantly available in the village, along with ancient Shiva temple ruins dating back to 1000 years. In an Anjaneya temple, a Vinayaka ‘silpam’ dating back to 6/7 century was unearthed, along with village deity Bhulakshmamma.





The traces of glass bangles found in Basvapuram prove that glass ‘pusalu’, bits and other items were manufactured in the village itself. They were said to be supplied across the country through the old national highway linked to Bhongir. Hundreds of such industries existed in the village giving it the name Gajula Basvapuram.





A ‘Pandavula Gutta’ near Basvapuram also had dark caves which were inhabited by the ancient people. Stone implements have been found that were used by them. A place of worship near the Gutta needs to be explored. Like in the case of the famous banyan tree in Mahabubnagar town, about 100-year-old tree, ‘Lakshminarsamma’ spread over an area of 10 acres existed in Basvapur. A girl by that name is stated to have been sacrificed to save the village from a Tantric. A temple has been built for her. The land area has now shrunk to two acres. The tree could become a tourist spot like the one in Adayar (Chennai).