Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Damodaram Sanjivayya

Damodaram Sanjivayya was a Congress leader from Kurnool district who served as a minister for about ten years in the Madras, Andhra and Andhra Pradesh governments. He was Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from January 1960 to March 1962, and G. Venkataramarao calls him the first Harijan (Dalit) Chief Minister in the country. He later became president of the All India Congress. The census handbook of 2001 speaks of him as the late Damodaram Sanjeevaiah.

Damodaram Sanjivayya was a Congress leader who served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 1960 to 1962.12 Before that he was a minister for about ten years, and afterwards he became president of the All India Congress.34 The census handbook of Kurnool district names him, as “Late Sri Damodaram Sanjeevaiah”, among the district’s great politicians.5

The official spelling of his name varies, as D. Sanjivayya, D. Sanjeevayya or D. Sanjeeviah.67 His later life is told mainly in G. Venkataramarao’s Telugu history Telangana Charitra (2014).8

A minister, 1952–1960

Venkataramarao writes that Sanjivayya was born in a Harijan (Dalit) family and faced great hardship in his youth.3 In his account Sanjivayya’s luck turned through Rajaji, and he served as a minister for ten years in the governments of Rajaji, Prakasam, Gopala Reddy and Sanjiva Reddy.3 In November 1952, P. Krishna Moorthy lists him among the five Andhra ministers who attended a meeting of the Andhra Provincial Congress Committee.9

When the Andhra State began on 1 October 1953, Sanjivayya was sworn in as a minister in T. Prakasam’s government.7 He took his oath as a member of the new Andhra Legislative Assembly on 23 November 1953, among the ministers.6 In the Assembly he answered questions for the co-operative department.10 On 26 September 1955, for example, he told members that the department had five propaganda vans.10

The list of members of August 1956 shows him as a minister and as the member for Yemmiganur, a reserved seat.11 In August 1958, in Neelam Sanjiva Reddy’s government of Andhra Pradesh, he was minister in charge of labour and local administration.12

Chief Minister, 1960–1962

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy left the state to become president of the All India Congress.8 Venkataramarao writes that A. Satyanarayana Raju, president of the state Congress, put forward the names of Sanjivayya and S. B. P. Pattabhi Rama Rao for Chief Minister.138 Sanjivayya was sworn in as the second Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in January 1960.81 He was 38 years old, and Venkataramarao calls him the first Harijan Chief Minister in the country.8

K. V. Ranga Reddy became Deputy Chief Minister in his government.8 Venkataramarao writes that Sanjivayya grew into an independent leader during his term.3 He announced before the 1962 election that he would stand for the post of Chief Minister again.3 But the Congress leaders in Delhi arranged for Sanjiva Reddy to be chosen as leader without a contest.34

On 12 March 1962 a new ministry headed by Sanjiva Reddy was sworn in.2 Venkataramarao writes that Sanjivayya was offered a place in it but did not join.4

President of the Congress

Sanjivayya was elected president of the All India Congress.4 P. Raghunadha Rao counts him among the Telugu leaders who held that post after independence, with Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and K. Brahmananda Reddy.14

The census handbook of 2001 for Kurnool district says that the district has not produced major historical figures, but it has a few great politicians.5 Among them it names the late Damodaram Sanjeevaiah and the late Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy, both Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh.5

Where the sources disagree

  • The day he took office. Venkataramarao says Sanjivayya was sworn in on 10 January 1960.8 Raghunadha Rao’s list of Chief Ministers gives 11 January 1960.1

Footnotes

  1. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (1997), Appendix 3, list of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, p. 369 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. India 1963: A Reference Annual (1963), p. 422, events of 12 March 1962 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  3. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 308 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  4. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 309 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Kurnool District (2006), p. 26 (PDF p. 67) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. Andhra Legislative Assembly Debates, 23 November 1953, swearing-in of members, p. 6 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  7. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 161 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  8. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 307 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  9. P. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (Ph.D. thesis, Karnatak University, 1987), p. 151 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  10. Andhra Legislative Assembly Debates, 26 September 1955, questions and answers, p. 15 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  11. Andhra Legislative Assembly Debates, 8 August 1956, list of members, p. vii (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  12. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Debates, Vol. XVII, No. 1 (11 August 1958), “Personnel of the Government of Andhra Pradesh”, p. ii (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  13. G. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 306 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  14. P. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (Telugu, revised edition 1997), p. 364 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

References

Sources (9)
  1. G. Venkataramarao; C. Narayana Reddy (chief ed.) and J. Chennayya (ed.), Telangana Charitra (తెలంగాణ చరిత్ర) (opens in a new tab), Andhra Saraswata Parishat, Hyderabad, 2014, pp. 306–309. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Telugu. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  2. P. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (ఆధునిక ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ చరిత్ర), Telugu version of History of Modern Andhra Pradesh (opens in a new tab), Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1997, pp. 364, 369. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Telugu. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  3. P. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (Ph.D. thesis, Department of History and Archaeology, Karnatak University, Dharwad) (opens in a new tab), 1987, pp. 151, 161. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  4. Andhra Legislative Assembly, Andhra Legislative Assembly Debates, Official Report, Vol. I, No. 1: Monday, 23rd November 1953 (with the index to Vol. I) (opens in a new tab), Andhra Government Press (printed by Gordon Press, Guntur), 1954, pp. 6. [Public domain in India]
  5. Andhra Legislative Assembly, Andhra Legislative Assembly Debates, Vol. IX, No. 1: 26th September 1955 (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra, 1955, pp. 15. [Public domain in India]
  6. Andhra Legislative Assembly, Andhra Legislative Assembly Debates, 8th August 1956 (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra, 1956, list of members, p. vii. [Public domain in India]
  7. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Debates, Official Report, Vol. XVII, No. 1: 11th August 1958 (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, 1958, ii. [Public domain in India]
  8. Research and Reference Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India 1963: A Reference Annual (opens in a new tab), Publications Division, Delhi, 1963, pp. 422. [Public domain in India]
  9. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Kurnool District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, pp. 26. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

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