GautamiPutra Satakarni (GPSK) the recent flick which talks immensely about Telugu identity, Amaravati’s cultural significance and border-less society is nothing but NandamuriBalakrishna’s(NBK) film. Not for one moment does one fail to see the efforts of NBK in portraying the role of GPSK. The movie takes audacious creative liberties and is everything one would expect visually in a classic NBK movie. He is known to defy laws of physics looks like his next target was history. Just like scientists, historians try to get closer to the truth than they are at now. While history of Satavahanas remains uncertain for a long time now, here are 5 errors in the film –
GPSK did not rule Indian subcontinent
Satavahana’s ruled their kingdom from areas in Maharashtra. He ruled over a wide area extending from Krishna in the south to Malwa and Saurashtra in north and from Berar in the east to Konkan in the west. VashishtiputraPulamayi (GPSK son) extended their rule to mouth of Krishna and conquered the Bellary district. So the notion that GPSK united all the kingdoms is false.
Satavahana’s were not Telugu people
They patronizedPrakrit language instead of Sanskrit. Telugu words were found in the Gatha Sapthasati of Hala but Telugu was not their official language nor they identified themselves as Telugu people
Kotilingala was not the capital
Coins can travel anywhere, there is no evidence that the capital was Kotilingala. The capital kept shifting with time. The Nashik inscription by GautamiBalari describes GPSK as the lord of Benakataka, suggesting that this could be the name of his capital. Ptolemy mentioned Pratishthana (modernPaithan) as the capital of Pulamayi.
Salivahana era was not started by GPSK
The Greek calendar which Demetrius brought to India gave birth to many eras including the Sakha and Kushana. The idea of reckoning time from a date fixed once for all came to India with Greeks. There is no significant evidence claiming that GPSK started the Salivahana era.
GPSK did not fight Demetrius
The Nashik inscription about GPSK says “…who crushed down the pride and conceit of the Kshatriyas; who destroyed the Sakas (Western Satraps), Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) and Pahlavas (Indo-Parthians) …” However, Demetrius was not the contemporary of Satakarni and there is no mention of war between Demetrius and GPSK.
All the names that we come across when reading Indian ancient history are mentioned appropriately and but the movie is limited only to that extent. For the most part, Satavahana history is in dispute, interpretations and emphasis keeps changing.It is absolutely commendable to make such a huge film in just 79days. But this is not a historical movie and the audience need to maintain intellectual humility to allow for ignorance.
References
- Some of the Early Dynasties of South India by Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya – speaks about the Nashik Inscription of GautamiBalasri
- Ancient Indian History and civilization by SailendraNath Sen –speaks about Prakrit
- Trade and Trade routes in ancient India by Moti Chandra – speaks about The capital of Satavahanas
- Indian History for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination by Krishna Reddy – speaks about the Greek Calendar, extension of GPSK kingdom
Note – Traditionally historian uses their judgement in combination with logic and collateral information to evaluate claims.
