A new site, built from published sources. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us
Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Potti Sriramulu

Began a fast at Madras on 19 October 1952 for the forming of a separate Andhra State, and died on the night of 15 December 1952, the 58th day. His death set off protests across the Andhra districts. Four days later the Government of India announced that the state would be formed, and it came into being on 1 October 1953.

Potti Sriramulu began a fast at Madras on 19 October 1952 to demand a separate Andhra State.1 He died on the night of 15 December 1952, the 58th day of his fast.1 On 19 December the Prime Minister announced that an Andhra State would be formed.1

Background

The demand for a separate province for the Telugu districts of the Madras Presidency grew from about 1911.2 In Sarojini Regani’s account it united people of every political opinion in those districts.2

After independence a committee of the Congress, known as the J.V.P. committee, suggested that a beginning could be made with Andhra.3 The Congress Working Committee adopted its report in April 1949.3 The committee also laid down that disputed areas should not be included in new provinces.3 This kept Madras city, then in dispute, out of the proposed state.3 In May 1952 Swami Sitaram fasted for 21 days at Bhimavaram for an Andhra State.1

The fast

Potti Sriramulu began his fast at Madras on 19 October 1952.1 By early December it had become a matter for the Madras Legislative Assembly.4 On 9 December T. Nagi Reddi asked to adjourn the House to discuss the government’s failure to end the fast.4 It had then lasted more than fifty days, and Sriramulu’s condition was very grave.4

The Speaker would not admit the motion.5 A similar one had already been ruled out, and the forming of a new state was a matter for the central government.5 T. Viswanatham and P. Ramamurthi argued that the Madras government shared the responsibility.6 Ramamurthi charged both the Centre and the state with using the dispute over Madras city to hold up an Andhra State.6

C. Rajagopalachari, the Chief Minister, replied that a debate would save neither the cause of the Andhra province nor the fast.7 Ramamurthi then led some members in a walk-out.7

Death and its consequences

Sriramulu died on the night of 15 December 1952, the 58th day of his fast.1 According to the police history, the news was followed across the Andhra districts by demonstrations, strikes and the stopping of trains.8 Railway property was damaged, especially in the Circars, the northern coastal districts.8 It adds that some people took the chance to loot.8

Police fired on crowds at Nellore, Anakapalle, Waltair and Tadepalligudem.8 Eight people were killed and 38 injured by firing and baton charges.8 Stones hurt 51 police and magistrates.8

On 19 December the Prime Minister announced in Parliament that an Andhra State would be formed from the undisputed Telugu areas, without Madras city.1 The States Reorganisation Commission later recorded that he had said earlier that month that the government could act only on the J.V.P. Committee’s principles.9 It placed the announcement after Sriramulu’s death.9 It noted that Justice Wanchoo was then asked to report on its financial and other effects.9 The Andhra State came into being on 1 October 1953, with Kurnool as its capital.10

How his fast was remembered

The Madras Assembly debated the Andhra State Bill in July 1953.11 In that debate Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah recalled that Nehru had said he would not be much concerned by the fast.11 He told the House that the Andhra State would not have come into being without Sriramulu’s sacrifice, since it was announced only after his death.11

Regani’s history, published in Hyderabad by the Andhra Pradesh government, likewise credits the forming of the Andhra State to his self-sacrifice.12 The story continues on the page Andhra State & Andhra Pradesh.

Footnotes

  1. The History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1861–1961) (1961), p. 248 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  2. Sarojini Regani, Highlights of the Freedom Movement in Andhra Pradesh (1956), p. 49 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  3. Report of the States Reorganisation Commission (1955), pp. 17–18 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, 9 December 1952, p. 399 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, 9 December 1952, pp. 399–400, 403 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  6. Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, 9 December 1952, pp. 400–402 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  7. Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, 9 December 1952, pp. 402–403 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  8. History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1961), p. 248 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  9. Report of the States Reorganisation Commission (1955), p. 18 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1961), pp. 249–250 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)); Report of the States Reorganisation Commission (1955), p. 19 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  11. Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, 17 July 1953, p. 522 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  12. Regani, Highlights (1956), p. 5 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

References

Sources (5)
  1. Inspector-General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, The History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1861-1961) (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1961, pp. 248–250. [Public domain in India]
  2. Madras Legislative Assembly, Adjournment Motion regarding Sri Potti Sriramulu's Fast for the Formation of an Andhra State (Assembly debates, 9 December 1952) (opens in a new tab), Madras Legislative Assembly, 1952, pp. 399–403. [Public domain in India]
  3. States Reorganisation Commission (S. Fazl Ali, H. N. Kunzru, K. M. Panikkar), Report of the States Reorganisation Commission (opens in a new tab), Government of India (Manager of Publications, Delhi), 1955, pp. 17–19. [Public domain in India]
  4. Madras Legislative Assembly, The Andhra State Bill, 1953 (Assembly debates, 17 July 1953) (opens in a new tab), Madras Legislative Assembly, 1953, pp. 522. [Public domain in India]
  5. Sarojini Regani, Highlights of the Freedom Movement in Andhra Pradesh (opens in a new tab), Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1956, pp. 5, 49. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

Spotted an error on this page? Tell us

Last updated: