A brief note on the creation of Andhra State:The idea that Andhra should be a state by itself was passed as a resolution in 1920s during a Congress party meeting. Also, Andhra Mahasabha was perhaps the first organization to ask for a separate Andhra state (their argument was that Telugu speaking people are second only to Hindi speaking population in independent India, etc.). Soon after independence, Andhras reminded the Congress party of this resolution but Nehru (who was heavily influenced by Rajaji) did not cooperate. His public speeches were somewhat dishonest (he tried to indicate that he was not opposed to the idea) but privately expressed the view that he was opposed to it. While Andhras were asking for a separate state, Marati and Gujrati speaking people in Bombay state also wanted separate Marati and Gujrati states and Nehru was equally evasive on those ideas.In 1951, members of the Madras assembly from Andhra areas revived the idea that Andhra should be a separate state. One of their arguments was that in the combined Madras state while the revenue was higher from the coastal Andhra region, most of the development expenditure went to Tamil speaking areas. Andhras also felt that they were being discriminated against by Tamils. In 1951, Gollapudi Sitarama Sastry (called swami Sitaram), a famous physician from Repalle (Guntur dist.) who joined the independence movement and had an ashram to treat the poor, started to fast asking for a separate state for Andhra. Vinoba Bhave and Nehru visited him and at the time Nehru promised Swami Sitaram that he will grant a separate state fro Andhra. However, after Sitaram gave up on his hunger strike, Nehru reneged on his promise (on the advice of Rajaji – who was of the opinion that creation of Andhra at that time was not a great idea). Also, Rajaji advised Nehru that even if a state for Andhras was created, Madras (which had majority Telugu speaking people and strong economic presence at that time) should not be included in Andhra! This infuriated Telugu leaders. In May, 1952, Nehru made a speech (being influenced by Rajaji) in Parliament that the time is not ripe for creating linguistically based states (i.e., Andhra). Andhra leaders felt betrayed by Nehru and felt that Rajai, who was trying to save Madras city for Tamils, was the cunning fox behind Nehru’s rhetoric.In October 1952, Potti Sriramulu took the blessings of ageing swami Sitaram (who was betrayed by Nehru) and went on a “fast-unto-death”. Several Telugu leaders supported Potti Sriramulu and all across coastal Andhra people became aware of his fast. Nehru didn’t pay much attention to Potti’s fast and depended on Rajaji’s advice. It was only after Potti died (after 56 days of fasting) and when coastal Andhra (from Vijayanagaram to Nellore) started violent agitation, did Nehru agree to the creation of Andhra. He still went along with Rajaji and Madras not included in Andhra.These days, ars-licking p-sec CON-wallahs in AP name streets, hospitals, airports, stadiums, etc., after Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, etc., and ignore local heroes like Potti, PVN, Prakasam Pantulu, swami Sitaram, NTR, etc. I don’t think Nehru deserve such treatment from Andhras.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 16:44:45 +0000
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