The local history of the area is brought into much greater relief in them, with particular reference to the events that took place in the territory, as the histories of larger regions omit many matters of local importance which have contributed to the rich tapestry of national life. The volumes trace the development or evolution of the many features and sum up the past and the present conditions and achievements and problems and look forward to the future by indicating the trends and potentialities of the various parts. Besides presenting a systematic analysis of a wealth of valuable data drawn from innumerable sources and fieldwork, these works reflect also the thoughts, ideals and aspirations of resurgent India. Colossal efforts involving laborious processes are needed for the preparation and publication, since they have to maintain a high standard from the point of view of objectivity, accuracy, reliability, practical upto-datedness and comprehensiveness.

Karnataka has been a unique territory, united politically only 52 years ago (on 1st November 1956) in modern times. Karnataka is a territory with great antiquity addressed so at least 2000 years ago and united for the first time under Pulakeshi II (610-642), the Badami Chalukya ruler. The empire founded by Pulakeshi II spread itself from the Cauvery to the Narmada and though dynasties changed, the empire continued intact for nearly five centuries and being at the centre of Indian sub-continent this Karnataka based empire could influence Indian history and culture in more than one way. The Rastrakutas who succeeded the Badami Chalukyas levied tribute on the rulers of kanauj successively in the so-called “Age of Imperial Kanauj” and this term employed to describe the post Harsha period of Indian history, is in fact a misnomer and the period must rather be called the “Age of Imperial Karnataka”. This was an age when calling oneself as a ‘Karnata’ was a matter of pride, and the Senas of Bengal called themselves as the ‘Karnata Kshatriyas’ and the dynasty that was founded at Mithila in Bihar called itself as the Karnata family. Bilhana, the poet from Kashmir came all the way to Kalyana, the capital of Karnataka in search of a worthy patron. The work of Vijnyaneshwara on Hindu law Mitakshara could get quick recognition all over the country as he was at the court of Vikramaditya VI (1076-1127) who was a patron of both Bilhana and this great jurist. Karnataka built the earliest rock-cut shrines of the Hindu gods in imitation of the Buddhists and the Jainas followed. This effort saw the culmination of the Kailasa temple at Ellora, now in Maharashtra. The experiments conducted by the Badami Chalukyas in temple architecture at Aihole, described as “one of the cradles of Indian temple architecture” by Percy Brown, influenced the temples of Andhra, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Orissa and even Central India.

Karnataka also saw the blooming of a synthetic culture. In art, it saw special schools of Indo-sarcenic art unfolding themselves at Gulbarga, Bidar and Bijapur. In Karnataka music, Persian modes came to be grafted and the new ragas like Darbara and kalyana were evolved by saints like Purandara. Bijapur ruler Ibrahim II composed Kitabe Navras to introduce Hindu music to the Muslims and the book begins with an invocation to Saraswati and Ganapati. The Sufis like Bande Nawaz and Baba Budan endeared themselves to large sections not only in their own times but are revered even today.

Almost all-religious sects flourished in Karnataka and every sect produced notable men. Jainism saw great men like Kundakunda, Jinasena, Veerasena and Gunabhadra. The last two composed celebrated Jain commentaries ‘Dhavala’ and ‘Jayadhalava’ . Adi Shankaracharya formed the Sharada peetha and reknowned Samskritha Vidya Peetha at Sringeri, which have been heralded as a pioneering effort. Shankara and Ramanuja stayed in Karnataka, the former having one of his major centres of activity at Sringeri (Chikmagalur Dt.) and the latter at Melkote (Mandya Dt.). Among the Dwaita school and the bhakti cult, the latter profounding shakti Vishshtadwaita and a revolutionary social philosophy. We have shrines worshipping Hari-Hara, the earliest representations of ardhanarishwara (at Badami), Trimurti temples, noted centres of Dattatreya worship, and the last named cult making serious efforts to bring Islam closer to it. Every religion upheld some value and enriched karnataka’s social life. Introduction of western learning, printing etc., by the Christians influenced Karnataka’s life in no mean way. In literature, men like Pampa, and kumara Vyasa in Kannada, Somadeva, Trivikrama and Bilhana in Sanskrit and Sanskrit grammarians like Pujyapada and Shakatyana flourished in this land.

Karnataka does not bask in past glory alone. It has numerous achievements to its credit. It has achieved self-sufficiency in food despite the fact that it enjoys not more than 20 per cent of irrigation facility, which is the lowest among the South Indian states. In coffee, areca and sericulture production, it ranks first in India. In electronic industry, it is a leading State, producing more than of electronic goods. In banking, it has a sound record, exceeding all-India averages in this sector and having four out of 20 nationalized banks originating from it. Its fine infrastructure attracted many leading central industries, and the state produces a variety of goods like aeroplanes, tractors, railway coaches, the most sophisticated electric and electronic goods, telephones, televisions, watches, clocks, a variety of two wheelers and its finest handicraft products of sandalwood and ivory and the Bidariware has a world market. Standard of living is good here when compared to a majority of states. In literature it has produced seven Jnanapeetha awards in our times. In painting, theatre, music, films and sports, Karnataka has thrown up reckonable names. To India’s life and culture, in the past and the present, Karnataka has made its own notable contributions.

The state of Karnataka underwent many vicissitudes, and major part of this state had to suffer appendages of provinces like Bombay and Madras and States like Hyderabad. In those major administrative units, kannada-speaking people were a minority, their regions neglected and backward. When the effort for uniting all Kannadigas into a single unit came, opposition did crop up from the developed regions like Mysore. Princely Mysore, under its benevolent rulers had achieved creditable all-round progress. This made some people in Mysore think that the poor backward brethren that who want to join them will be liability. But Karnataka has come of age. The so-called backward regions are rich in resources. They have been tapped. Forests, water, mineral wealth, manpower everything is being harnessed systematically and the inequalities are slowly vanishing. Newspapers, radio, roads and railways, films literature, exchange of goods and ideas, have made men to exchange affection. The Krishna, the Cauvery and the Kali have come closer. The Gazetteer tries to outline a picture of these brisk changes – social, cultural. economic and administrative.

Microfilm editions of Indian Gazetteers are being issued abroad by International Documentation Centres since they constitute an incomparable basic research literature and reliable sources of information for studies concerning India. These reference works help also to dispel prejudices and parochial tendencies and to promote understanding and amity. Administrators, researchers, journalists, writers, teachers, industrialists, social workers and general readers can find matters of immense intrerest in these volumes. Integrated outlook is highly essential for harmony and advancement. Close study of the galaxy of Gazetteers can help to achieve this effectively.