Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

The Andhra movement, 1913–1953

For forty years Telugu speakers in the Madras Presidency campaigned for a province of their own. This page follows the Andhra conferences from Bapatla in 1913, the Congress's separate Andhra committee of 1917, the Sri Bagh Pact between Rayalaseema and the coastal districts in 1937 and the Madras resolution of 1938. It goes on to the committees of 1948–1950, the fasts of Swami Sitaram and Potti Sriramulu, and the start of the Andhra State at Kurnool on 1 October 1953.

The Andhra movement was the campaign of Telugu speakers in the Madras Presidency for a province of their own.1 It began among young men in Guntur about 1911 and held its first conference at Bapatla in 1913.12 It reached its goal forty years later, when the Andhra State began at Kurnool on 1 October 1953.3 The era page Reform, freedom & people’s movements tells the last years in short, and this page follows the whole campaign.

About the sources. Most of this page follows P. Krishna Moorthy’s doctoral thesis Unification of Andhra Pradesh (Karnatak University, 1987). He used conference reports, newspapers and government records.1 Where other books tell the story differently, the page says so. All these books are by named authors after 1930, so their words are given here in summary only.

How the demand began, 1911–1913

According to Krishna Moorthy, the idea of a separate province first came up in a talk among members of the Young Men’s Literary Association of Guntur in 1911.1 The next year it reached the joint conference of Krishna and Guntur districts at Nidadavolu, in May 1912.1 There the lawyer Valluri Suryanarayana Rao argued that the coastal Telugu districts should be separated from the Tamil districts.1

At the request of some delegates, the conference put off the subject.4 But young men in Guntur and Krishna kept up the agitation, and newspapers such as the Krishna Patrika took up the cause.4 An Andhra Conference Committee was formed at Guntur, with Vinjamuri Bhavanacharlu as president and Konda Venkatappayya as one of its secretaries.4

The committee’s agenda for the first conference shows what the movement wanted at first:5

  • an English daily newspaper for the Andhra people
  • the right of Telugus to enlist in the army
  • money to train Telugu students in science and technical subjects
  • more Telugus in the higher grades of public service
  • a teaching university in the Andhra districts5

Not everyone agreed. P. Kesava Pillai of Gooty, a member of the Madras legislature, strongly opposed the idea of a separate province.6

The first conference at Bapatla, 1913

The first Andhra conference met at Bapatla on 26 and 27 May 1913, under the presidency of Bayya Narasimheswara Sarma (B. N. Sarma).27 About 800 delegates came from all the Telugu districts.27 Some came from Nagpur and Thanjavur, and some from Warangal in the Nizam’s state.2

The meeting ground had twenty-two gates named after heroes of Telugu history, such as Krishnadevaraya, Rudramadevi, Nannaya and Molla.8 In his welcome speech, Konda Venkatappayya said the gathering was like a meeting of brothers who had long been separated.8

The conference did not vote for a province.9 Several elders asked for the question to be put off, so it was sent to a Standing Committee to win public opinion.9 Krishna Moorthy sums up the results as an awakening among Telugus, a demand for their own university and an open debate on a province.9

Winning support, 1913–1920

The debate was hottest in Rayalaseema, where some leaders feared rule by the coastal districts.1011 A cartoon in the Krishna Patrika of 19 July 1913 showed Rayalaseema as a mountain of snow in the path of the Andhra ship.12 So the Standing Committee sent Konda Venkatappayya, Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Mutnuri Krishna Rao and Valluri Suryanarayana Rao on a tour of Rayalaseema and Nellore.1211 Krishna Moorthy writes that most of the leading men they met there became supporters.11

After this, each yearly conference repeated the demand:13141516

  • Vijayawada, April 1914, under Nyapathi Subba Rao, passed a resolution for a Telugu province by a large majority
  • Visakhapatnam, May 1915, under the Raja of Panagal
  • Kakinada, May 1916, under Mocherla Ramachandra Rao, passed it with no vote against
  • Nellore, June 1917, under Konda Venkatappayya, passed it by a majority after protests from some Nellore delegates16

At Visakhapatnam the poet Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham spoke for the resolution.1715 “I am a poet and I prophesy,” he said, “that an Andhra Province will surely come.”15

In August 1917 the British government announced reforms for India.18 A special conference at Vijayawada on 30 September 1917 sent a deputation to Edwin Montagu and Lord Chelmsford, who were drawing up the reforms.18 Then, in December 1917, the Calcutta session of the Congress gave the Telugu districts their own Andhra Provincial Congress Committee.19 Nyapathi Subba Rao became its president and Konda Venkatappayya its secretary.19 Krishna Moorthy writes that the Congress had now accepted the idea of provinces by language.20

Years of waiting, 1921–1937

In the 1920s the Andhra Mahasabha (the Andhra conference) still met almost every year.2122 Its leaders also took part in non-cooperation, and in 1923 they hosted the Congress session at Kakinada.2324 In 1922 Jayanti Ramayya Pantulu moved a resolution for an Andhra province in the Central Legislative Assembly at Delhi.21

One old demand was met when the Andhra University was founded.25 But its place at Visakhapatnam, in a far corner of the Telugu country, angered leaders in Rayalaseema.25 In 1931 a special conference at Madras asked the Round Table Conference in London to make the Telugu districts a separate province.22 Nothing came of it.26

The silver jubilee conference met at Vijayawada in 1937, under K. Koti Reddy of Kadapa.26 It called on the people of Rayalaseema and the other districts to work together.27 It set up a committee to settle their differences.2724

The Sri Bagh Pact, 1937

The committee met on 16 November 1937 at Sri Bagh, the house of K. Nageswara Rao in Madras.24 Its agreement became known as the Sri Bagh Pact.24 Krishna Moorthy prints its terms in full:2829

  • the Andhra University would have centres at both Waltair and Anantapur
  • for ten years or more, Rayalaseema and Nellore would have first claim on new irrigation from the Tungabhadra, Krishna and Penna rivers
  • general seats in the legislature would be shared out on an equal district basis
  • the university, the High Court and the capital would be in different places, and Rayalaseema could choose between the High Court and the capital29

The pact was signed by K. Koti Reddy as chairman, and by others including Pattabhi Sitaramayya and Konda Venkatappayya.29 Krishna Moorthy calls it the main achievement of these years, because it united the two regions.30

The resolution of 1938

On 30 March 1938 the Madras Legislative Assembly passed a resolution, with no vote against, for a separate Andhra province.31 The Madras ministers also sent a memorandum to the Governor on 11 August 1938.31 It was signed by C. Rajagopalachari, T. Prakasam, B. Gopala Reddy and others.31 But the Secretary of State in London turned the request down.31

The Congress Working Committee also asked the Andhra leaders to stop agitating until India was free.32 It said the Congress would deal with the question when it came to power.33

Committees and delay, 1948–1951

Independence came in 1947, but the province did not.34 On 17 June 1948 a Linguistic Provinces Commission was appointed under Justice S. K. Dar.35 Its report of December 1948 was widely criticised.35 So the Congress set up a committee of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramayya, known from their initials as the JVP committee.35

The JVP committee agreed to an Andhra State made of the undisputed Telugu areas.34 But it asked the Telugu leaders to give up their claim to Madras city.34 Krishna Moorthy writes that this “outraged” Andhra feeling.34

In December 1949 the Madras government set up a Partition Committee to divide assets and offices.36 Its report of January 1950 proposed an Andhra province before 26 January 1950, with its capital outside Madras city.37 T. Prakasam alone disagreed: he wanted Madras as the temporary capital.38 Because the report was not unanimous, the Government of India put the whole question aside.39

Rayalaseema leaders still had doubts.40 A memorandum from N. Sanjeeva Reddy and nineteen other Rayalaseema legislators asked that the Sri Bagh Pact be written into law.40 The last session of the Andhra Mahasabha met at Guntur in January 1951.4142

Swami Sitaram and Potti Sriramulu, 1951–1952

By 1951 many Telugu leaders felt let down.43 Swami Sitaram, whose real name was G. Sitarama Sastry, had worked closely with Konda Venkatappayya.43 He began a fast on 16 August 1951 to press for the state.44 After 35 days, on 20 September 1951, he and 25 others ended their fasts at the request of Vinoba Bhave.44

In the elections of early 1952 the Congress did badly in the Andhra districts.45 Krishna Moorthy gives it 43 of the 145 seats there.45 Leaders such as Kala Venkata Rao, B. Gopala Reddy and N. Sanjeeva Reddy lost their seats.45

On 19 October 1952 Potti Sriramulu began a fast at the house of Bulusu Sambamurti in Madras.46 He asked for an Andhra State of all the undisputed areas, at once.46 He died on 15 December 1952, after 58 days without food.4748

The news led to strikes, attacks on railway property and police firing across the Andhra districts.48 Tenneti Viswanatham resigned his seat in the Madras Assembly the next day.47 On 19 December 1952 Nehru told Parliament that an Andhra State would be formed from the Telugu areas, without Madras city.4749

The Andhra State, 1953

Justice K. N. Wanchoo, Chief Justice of Rajasthan, was asked to report on the money and other questions.49 He reported on 7 February 1953.49 On 25 March 1953 Nehru announced the decisions:5051

  • the state would be made of the eleven undisputed Telugu districts
  • its capital would be inside its own territory, and its legislators would choose the place
  • it would have one house, a Legislative Assembly, and no council
  • it would begin on 1 October 195351

The Telugu members of the Madras Assembly met to choose the capital, with T. Prakasam in the chair.5253 The Sri Bagh Pact came up again, and the Communists wanted Guntur or Vijayawada.53 On the night of 5 June 1953, 79 members voted for Kurnool and 53 for Vijayawada.53

Parliament passed the Andhra State Bill, and the President signed it on 14 September 1953.53 Nehru opened the new state at Kurnool on 1 October 1953.3 T. Prakasam became Chief Minister and N. Sanjeeva Reddy Deputy Chief Minister.3 What followed is told on Andhra State & Andhra Pradesh.

Where the sources disagree

  • Swami Sitaram’s fasts. The police history of 1961 says he revived the agitation in May 1952 and fasted for 21 days at Bhimavaram.48 Krishna Moorthy describes a fast of 35 days, from 16 August to 20 September 1951, and a satyagraha camp at Bhimavaram from 4 June 1952.4454 P. Raghunadha Rao also gives a 35-day fast begun on Independence Day 1951, but he prints its end as 20 September 1950.55
  • The 1952 election in the Andhra districts. Krishna Moorthy counts 145 seats, with 43 for the Congress and 41 for the Communists.45 Raghunadha Rao counts 140 seats, with 43 for the Congress and about 43 for the Communists.55 Nagulapalli Bhaskara Rao gives 140 seats, with 40 for the Congress and 41 for the Communists.56
  • Deaths after Sriramulu’s death. The police history says eight people were killed in police firing, at Nellore, Anakapalli, Waltair and Tadepalligudem.48 Raghunadha Rao says seven died, naming Anakapalli and Vijayawada among the places.57

Footnotes

  1. P. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (Ph.D. thesis, Karnatak University, 1987), pp. 36–37 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 58 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 161 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), pp. 53–54 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 55 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  6. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 56 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  7. P. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (Telugu, revised edition 1997), p. 140 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  8. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 59 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  9. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 62 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 63 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  11. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 66 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  12. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 64 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  13. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), pp. 67–68 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  14. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 69 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  15. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), pp. 71–72 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  16. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 73 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  17. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 70 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  18. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 74 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  19. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 75 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  20. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 78 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  21. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 80 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  22. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 82 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  23. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 81 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  24. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 85 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  25. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), pp. 86–87 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  26. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 83 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  27. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 84 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  28. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), Appendix I, “Sri Bagh Pact-1937”, p. 234 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  29. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), Appendix I, p. 235 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  30. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 87 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  31. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), pp. 88–89 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  32. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 91 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  33. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 92 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  34. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 136 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  35. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 135 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  36. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 137 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  37. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 138 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  38. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 139 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  39. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 140 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  40. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 141 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  41. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 143 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  42. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 144 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  43. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 145 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  44. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 146 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  45. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 148 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  46. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 151 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  47. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 153 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

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

  49. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 154 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  50. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 155 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  51. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 156 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  52. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 159 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  53. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 160 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  54. Krishna Moorthy, Unification of Andhra Pradesh (1987), p. 149 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  55. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (1997), p. 231 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  56. Nagulapalli Bhaskara Rao, Fourth General Elections in Andhra Pradesh (M.A. thesis, Kansas State University, 1968), pp. 3–4 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  57. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (1997), p. 233 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

References

Sources (5)
  1. 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. 36–37, 53–64, 66–75, 78–79, 82–85, 88–92, 135–138, 141, 143–146, 148–151, 153–155, 159–161, 234–235. Cite-only; paraphrased. [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. 140, 231–233. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Telugu. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  3. 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. 49, 56. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  4. 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. [Public domain in India]
  5. Nagulapalli Bhaskara Rao, Fourth General Elections in Andhra Pradesh (M.A. thesis, Kansas State University) (opens in a new tab), Kansas State University, 1968, pp. 3–4. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

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