Formation of Andhra Pradesh

Formation of Andhra Pradesh

Ideal of formation of Andhra Pradesh State by integrating Telugu speaking areas in South India is 100 year old. In 1911 itself Gentlemen like Jonnavittula Gurunatham and Unnava Lakshmiranayana have drafted a map showing locations inhabited by Telugu people in South India and called the land as 'Akhilandra'.

However, the idea was shelved because of the fact that some areas inhabited by Andhra people were in Nizams State are outside the political setting of the then Government of India under the British.

In those days Madras consisted of Telugu speaking areas (present day Rayalaseema, Chittore and Nellore, and Saskar districts of Coastal Andhra ) and Kannada, Malayaalee, and Maratha areas. Some Kingdoms like Mysore, Cochin, etc., are outside the pale of Madras State. Nizam’s State is such another Kingdom.

A brief Historical sketch of Saga of Telugus or Andhras for a separate State within India is placed here under:

( Andhra State was formed on October First of 1953 and Andhra Pradesh State was formed on November 1956 ).

As early as 1911 Sri Jonnavittula Gurunatham and Sri Unnava Lakshmiranayana have drafted a map showing locations inhabited by Telugu people in South India.This vision for separate linguistic State must have cropped up in the minds of these Gentlemen may be after witnessing formation of National States of Germany and Italy in Europe on linguistic lines under the aegis of Garibaaldi and Mussolini respectively.
   
             Success of Vande mataram agitation against partition of Bengal might have emboldened and inspired Andhras to claim for a separate State hood in South India. It may be recalled that Bengal was divided in 1905 on communal lines and then in 1911 the division was cancelled.

Creation of Andhra State

Madras Province (South).

In an effort to protect the interests of the Telugu people of Madras State, Potti Sreeramulu attempted to force the Madras state government to listen to public demands for the separation of Telugu-speaking districts (Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra) from Madras State to form Andhra State. He went on a lengthy fast, and only stopped when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised to form Andhra State. However, there was no movement on the issue for a long time. He started fasting again for attaining statehood for Andhra in Maharshi Bulusu Sambamurti's house in Madras on 19 October 1952. It started off without fanfare but steadily caught people's attention despite the disavowal of the fast by the Andhra INC committee.

The government of the day, however, did not make a clear statement about the formation of a new state, despite several strikes and demonstrations by Telugu people. On the midnight of 15 December (i.e. early 16 December 1952), Sreeramulu died trying to achieve his objective at House No. 126, Royapethah High Road, Mylapore, Madras State; the house has been preserved as a monument by the state government.

In his death procession, people shouted slogans praising his sacrifice. When the procession reached Mount Road, thousands of people joined and raised slogans hailing Sreeramulu. Later, they went into a frenzy and resorted to destruction of public property. The news spread like wildfire and created an uproar among the people in far off places like Chirala, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Guntur, Tenali, Ongole and Nellore. Seven people were killed in clashes with police in Anakapalle and Vijayawada. The popular agitation continued for three to four days disrupting normal life in Madras and Andhra regions. On 19 December 1952, the Prime Minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru made an announcement about formation of a separate state for the Telugu-speaking people of Madras State. The central government appointed K. N. Wanchoo, Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, to look into issues related to formation of Andhra State. Parliament passed the Andhra State Act in September 1953.

On October 1, 1953, 11 districts in the Telugu-speaking portion of Madras State became the new Andhra State with Kurnool as the capital. Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu (also known as Andhra Kesari – "The Lion of Andhra") became the first Chief Minister of the new state.

Formation of this first "linguistic state" paved the way to creation of more and provided an opportunity for these states to develop independently, linguistically and economically, each of them having a state to support.

Andhra Rashtra Avatarana Dinotshavam

Fifty one years back, on the same day the state of Andhra Pradesh was formed with the sacrifice of 'Amarajeevi', Potti SriRamulu. The formation of Andhra Pradesh and the subsequent reorganization of states on linguistic basis is considered as a mile stone in the history of South Indian states. This was crucial because it helped in preserving the culture and tradition of the respective South Indian states which would have been impossible otherwise.

Telugu people call him 'Amarajeevi' meaning immortal soul for fasting until death for 57 daysfor the cause of separate state for Telugu speaking people. The death of Amarajeevi, followed by wide spread agitations was an eye-opener to the then stubborn Nehru government. This led to formation of Andhra Pradesh apart from Kerala, Karnataka, and later Gujarat and Maharastra.

From then on, November 1st is celebrated by telugu people as 'Andhra Raastra Avatarana Dinotshavam (AP Formation day)'. On this occasion I would like to quote the official song of Andhra Pradesh, penned by Sri Sankarambadi Sundaraachari.

తేనె కన్నా తీయనిది తెలుగు భాష