Potti Sriramulu — Formation of Andhra State
Potti Sriramulu (1901–1952)
A Gandhian freedom fighter and social worker. Participated in the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement. After independence: devoted himself to the cause of a separate TELUGU-SPEAKING STATE — carved out of the multilingual Madras Presidency.
The Fast Unto Death (1952)
The government of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru RESISTED — fearing linguistic states would fragment India. Sriramulu began a FAST UNTO DEATH. He fasted for 58 DAYS. On December 15, 1952, he DIED.
The Result
His death triggered WIDESPREAD protests and violence across Telugu-speaking districts. The government RELENTED. ANDHRA STATE was created on October 1, 1953 — INDIA'S FIRST linguistic state. Capital: Kurnool. 'Sriramulu's sacrifice PROVED that non-violent protest could move the most powerful government. He is the FATHER of linguistic states in India.'
Andhra Pradesh (1956)
Andhra State merged with Telugu-speaking Telangana → ANDHRA PRADESH (Nov 1, 1956). Capital: Hyderabad. 2014: Telangana separated. New AP capital: Amaravati (named after the ancient Satavahana capital).
Common Mistake
'Andhra State was formed in 1956' — Andhra STATE = 1953. Andhra PRADESH = 1956.
Potti Sriramulu — Detailed Biography
Early Life: Potti Sriramulu was born in 1901 in MADAPATI village, Nellore district (present-day Andhra Pradesh). He was a BRAHMIN by birth but REJECTED caste discrimination and social hierarchies. He was deeply influenced by GANDHI's philosophy of non-violence, simplicity, and service to the poor.
Participation in Freedom Struggle: Sriramulu actively participated in the SALT SATYAGRAHA (1930) — he made salt illegally and was ARRESTED. During the QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT (1942), he was ARRESTED again and imprisoned. After independence, he devoted himself to SOCIAL WORK — particularly among the poor and Harijans (Dalits). He lived an EXTREMELY SIMPLE LIFE — giving up all possessions, wearing only khadi, and eating only spartan food.
The Cause: After independence, the Telugu-speaking districts of the Madras Presidency were part of the multilingual MADRAS STATE. Telugu-speaking people felt DISCRIMINATED against by the Tamil-dominated Madras government. The ANDHRA MAHASABHA (formed 1913) had been advocating for a separate Telugu state. But the central government under Nehru RESISTED — fearing that linguistic states would lead to FRAGMENTATION of India. 'This was the DEADLOCK. The government said NO. The people wanted YES. Sriramulu decided to BREAK the deadlock through a SACRIFICE.'
The Fast Unto Death — Day-by-Day Account
| Day | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | October 19, 1952 | Sriramulu begins his fast in MADRAS. He demands: a separate Telugu-speaking state. |
| Day 10 | October 28 | His health begins to WORSEN. But he REFUSES to break the fast. |
| Day 20 | November 7 | News of his fast SPREADS across Telugu districts. PUBLIC CONCERN grows. |
| Day 30 | November 17 | Jawaharlal Nehru writes to him — but does NOT agree to the demand. |
| Day 40 | November 27 | Sriramulu's health CRITICAL. Blood pressure drops. Kidney function fails. Doctors BEG him to break the fast. He REFUSES. |
| Day 50 | December 7 | Mass PRAYERS held in temples, churches, and mosques across Telugu districts for his recovery. |
| Day 56 | December 13 | Nehru sends a message that the government is CONSIDERING the demand. But NO firm commitment. |
| Day 58 | December 15, 1952 | POTTI SRIRAMULU DIES at 6:15 PM. His last words: 'I die for ANDHRA.' |
Aftermath — The Explosion of Public Grief
'When the news of Sriramulu's death reached the Telugu districts, the RESPONSE was EXPLOSIVE. Millions of people poured into the streets. The grief turned to ANGER — and the anger to ACTION.'
December 16, 1952: HARTALS (closures) across all Telugu districts. SHOPS SHUT. SCHOOLS CLOSED. PUBLIC TRANSPORT STOPPED. Massive PUBLIC MEETINGS held.
December 17-18: Protests turn VIOLENT. Police FIRING in: Nellore (3 killed). Visakhapatnam (2 killed). Vijayawada. Guntur. Tenali. In some places, PROTESTERS ATTACKED government buildings, railway stations, and post offices.
December 19: Prime Minister Nehru — facing INTENSE PRESSURE — announces on the floor of Parliament that a separate ANDHRA STATE will be created.
October 1, 1953: ANDHRA STATE is officially inaugurated. Kurnool is the capital. Tanguturi Prakasam becomes the first Chief Minister. 'This was India's FIRST LINGUISTIC STATE — a direct result of Sriramulu's sacrifice.'
The States Reorganisation Commission (1953-1955)
The creation of Andhra State PROVED that linguistic states were not just possible but NECESSARY. The government appointed the STATES REORGANISATION COMMISSION (SRC) in June 1953 under Justice Fazal Ali. Other members: Hriday Nath Kunzru, Sardar K.M. Panikkar.
Key Recommendations (1955) :
- States should be reorganised on LINGUISTIC BASIS as the primary principle.
- But: the LANGUAGES OF INDIA principle should be balanced with GEOGRAPHICAL CONTIGUITY, ADMINISTRATIVE VIABILITY, and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Impact: The SRC recommendations led to the States Reorganisation Act (1956) which reorganized ALL Indian states on linguistic lines. This created the MODERN MAP OF INDIA — 14 states and 6 union territories.
Formation of Andhra Pradesh (1956)
The Merger: Andhra State (capital: Kurnool) merged with the Telugu-speaking regions of the HYDERABAD STATE (TELANGANA) to form ANDHRA PRADESH on November 1, 1956. Capital: HYDERABAD. The merger was preceded by the GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT — which guaranteed certain protections for Telangana.
Key Figures in the Merger:
- Burgula Ramakrishna Rao: First Chief Minister of Hyderabad State. Played a role in the merger.
- N. Sanjiva Reddy: First Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh (1956-1960). Later became PRESIDENT OF INDIA (1977-1982).
- Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (same person — different spelling from N. Sanjiva Reddy? Actually NEELAM SANJIVA REDDY is the same person, known by both names).
Bifurcation and Formation of Telangana (2014)
Background: The Telangana movement — demanding separation from Andhra Pradesh — grew from the 1950s onwards. Grievances: the Gentlemen's Agreement was NOT IMPLEMENTED. Telangana's revenue surplus was spent on Andhra region. Jobs and education opportunities were dominated by people from Coastal Andhra.
Key Dates:
- December 9, 2009: Government of India announces intention to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
- February 18, 2014: Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act passed by Parliament.
- June 2, 2014: TELANGANA becomes the 29th state of India. Hyderabad remains joint capital for 10 years (as per the Act).
- October 2015: Foundation of AMARAVATI laid as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh.
After Bifurcation — Andhra Pradesh's Challenges:
- Building a NEW CAPITAL (Amaravati) from scratch.
- Revenue DEFICIT — Hyderabad was the major revenue generator.
- Water SHARING disputes with Telangana (Krishna and Godavari waters).
- Need for SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS from the central government.
Key Figures in Andhra's Formation
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Potti Sriramulu | Gandhian who died fasting for a Telugu state (1952) |
| Tanguturi Prakasam | 'Andhra Kesari.' First CM of Andhra State (1953-54) |
| N. Sanjiva Reddy | First CM of united Andhra Pradesh (1956-60). President of India (1977-82) |
| Neelam Sanjiva Reddy | Same as above |
| Burgula Ramakrishna Rao | First CM of Hyderabad State. Facilitated merger |
| K.V. Reddy Naidu | Telangana leader who opposed merger |
| P.V. Narasimha Rao | CM of Andhra Pradesh (1971-73). Later PM of India (1991-96) |
| N.T. Rama Rao | Founded TDP (1982). CM (1983-89, 1994-95) |
| Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy | CM (2004-09). Died in helicopter crash (2009) |
| N. Chandrababu Naidu | CM (1995-2004, 2014-19, 2024-present) |
AP SSC Exam Focus
| Topic | Marks | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Potti Sriramulu's fast unto death | 4-5 | Essay / Short Answer |
| Formation of Andhra State (1953) | 3-4 | Short Answer |
| Gentlemen's Agreement (1956) | 3-4 | Short Answer |
| Bifurcation (2014) — causes and consequences | 4-5 | Short Answer / Essay |
| Social reformers — Veeresalingam, Jashuva, Durgabai | 3-4 | Short Answer |
Self-Test Questions
- Write a detailed account of POTTI SRIRAMULU's life and sacrifice. What was the outcome of his fast?
- What is the STATES REORGANISATION COMMISSION? How did Andhra State influence its recommendations?
- Differentiate between ANDHRA STATE (1953) and ANDHRA PRADESH (1956).
- What was the GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT (1956)? What were its key provisions?
- Describe the events leading to the BIFURCATION of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
- What challenges did Andhra Pradesh face after the bifurcation?
- Write short notes on: (a) Kandukuri Veeresalingam (b) Gurram Jashuva (c) Durgabai Deshmukh
- Why is POTTI SRIRAMULU called the 'FATHER OF LINGUISTIC STATES' in India?
- Who was the first Chief Minister of Andhra State? Who was the first CM of united Andhra Pradesh?
- Describe the role of the ANDHRA MAHASABHA in the formation of Andhra State.
Answers to Selected Questions: Q1: Potti Sriramulu fasted for 58 days (Oct 19 - Dec 15, 1952) demanding a separate Telugu state. His death triggered massive protests across the Telugu districts. The government relented and created ANDHRA STATE on Oct 1, 1953 — India's FIRST linguistic state. This set the precedent for the States Reorganisation Commission (1956) which reorganised all states on linguistic lines. Q8: Because his sacrifice directly led to the creation of India's first linguistic state (Andhra State, 1953), which ESTABLISHED THE PRINCIPLE that states should be organised on linguistic basis. This principle was adopted NATIONWIDE in 1956, affecting the entire map of India. Sriramulu's FAST PROVED that linguistic identity was a POWERFUL FORCE that could not be ignored by the government.
