Andhra Pradesh — Formation and Modern History
1. Potti Sriramulu and the Birth of Andhra State
Potti Sriramulu (1901–1952): A Gandhian freedom fighter and social worker. He participated in the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement. After independence, he devoted himself to the cause of a separate TELUGU-SPEAKING state — carved out of the multilingual Madras Presidency.
In 1952, he began a FAST UNTO DEATH. The government of Jawaharlal Nehru was RELUCTANT — fearing that linguistic states would FRAGMENT India. Sriramulu fasted for 58 DAYS. On December 15, 1952, he DIED.
His death triggered WIDESPREAD protests and violence across the Telugu-speaking districts of the Madras Presidency. The government — unable to contain the upsurge — finally RELENTED. ANDHRA STATE was created on October 1, 1953 — INDIA'S FIRST LINGUISTIC STATE. Capital: Kurnool.
'Potti Sriramulu's sacrifice PROVED that non-violent protest — fasting unto death — could move even the most powerful government. The States Reorganisation Commission (1956) then recommended reorganising ALL states on linguistic lines. Sriramulu is the FATHER of linguistic states in India.'
2. Andhra Pradesh (1956) and Reorganisation (2014)
November 1, 1956: Andhra State merged with the Telugu-speaking regions of Hyderabad State (Telangana) → ANDHRA PRADESH was formed. Capital: Hyderabad.
June 2, 2014: The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act bifurcated the state. TELANGANA became a separate state (capital: Hyderabad). Andhra Pradesh retained the residual territory. New capital: AMARAVATI — named after the ancient Satavahana capital, located on the Krishna River in the Guntur district.
3. Social Reformers of Andhra
Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu (1848–1919): 'Father of Telugu Renaissance.' Fought for WOMEN'S EDUCATION — established the first school for girls in AP. Championed WIDOW REMARRIAGE — performed the first widow remarriage in Andhra in 1881. Wrote extensively against social evils, superstition, and caste discrimination. Translated English works into Telugu to spread modern ideas.
Gurram Jashuva (1895–1971): Dalit poet. His masterpiece 'Gabbilam' (The Bat) uses the bat as a messenger to God — a Dalit's cry against caste oppression. 'A voice for the VOICELESS — Jashuva gave Telugu literature its first powerful Dalit voice.'
Tripuraneni Ramaswamy (1887–1943): Rationalist poet. Challenged superstition and orthodoxy through his writings. 'Sutapuranam' reinterpreted mythology through a rationalist, humanist lens.
Durgabai Deshmukh (1909–1981): Freedom fighter. Social reformer. Founded Andhra Mahila Sabha for women's education. Member of the Constituent Assembly of India.
Common Mistake
'Andhra State was formed in 1956' — Andhra STATE was formed in 1953. Andhra PRADESH (merger with Telangana) was formed in 1956.
4. Detailed Timeline of Andhra Pradesh Formation
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1901 | Potti Sriramulu born in Madapati, Nellore district |
| 1913 | Andhra Mahasabha formed in Bapatla — first organised demand for a separate Andhra state |
| 1930s | Sriramulu participates in Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement |
| 1944 | Andhra Mahasabha passes resolution demanding a separate province for Telugus |
| 1947 | India becomes independent. Telugu-speaking areas remain part of Madras Presidency |
| 1951 | Sriramulu gives up all possessions, becomes an ashramite |
| Oct 19, 1952 | Sriramulu begins his FAST UNTO DEATH in Madras |
| Dec 15, 1952 | Sriramulu DIES after 58 days of fasting |
| Dec 16-19, 1952 | Massive protests, violence, and civil unrest across Telugu districts. 7 people killed in police firing in Nellore and Visakhapatnam |
| Dec 19, 1952 | Prime Minister Nehru announces the formation of a separate Andhra State |
| June-July 1953 | States Reorganisation Commission appointed under Fazal Ali |
| Oct 1, 1953 | ANDHRA STATE FORMED — India's FIRST linguistic state. Kurnool is the capital |
| Oct 1953 | Tanguturi Prakasam becomes first Chief Minister of Andhra State |
| 1955-56 | States Reorganisation Commission recommends reorganisation of ALL states on linguistic basis |
| Nov 1, 1956 | ANDHRA PRADESH FORMED — merger of Andhra State with Telangana region of Hyderabad State. Hyderabad becomes capital |
| 1956-2014 | Andhra Pradesh (with Telangana) exists as a single state |
| Dec 9, 2009 | Government of India announces intention to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh |
| Feb 18, 2014 | Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act passed by Parliament |
| June 2, 2014 | TELANGANA FORMED — 29th state of India. Andhra Pradesh continues with residual territory |
| Oct 2015 | Foundation of AMARAVATI laid as new capital of Andhra Pradesh |
5. The Vishalandhra Movement
'The Vishalandhra (Greater Andhra) movement advocated for the unification of ALL Telugu-speaking regions — including the Telangana region of the former Hyderabad State — into a SINGLE state. This was in CONTRAST to those who wanted a separate TELANGANA state.'
Key Supporters: Andhra Mahasabha, Communist Party of India, and many Telugu intellectuals. They argued that Telugu language and culture should unite all Telugu-speaking people.
Key Opponents: Some leaders from Telangana feared DOMINATION by the more advanced Coastal Andhra region. Mulkhi rules (which protected local employment in Telangana) would be lost.
Gentlemen's Agreement (1956) : Before the merger of Andhra State and Telangana, leaders from both regions signed the GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT — a set of GUARANTEES to protect Telangana's interests:
| Provision | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cabinet seats | Equal representation for both regions |
| Budget allocation | Telangana's revenue surplus would be spent on Telangana |
| Civil services | Telangana region gets preference in state-level jobs (Mulkhi rules partially retained) |
| Education | Telangana students get preference in local institutions |
| Language | Telugu and Urdu both official in Telangana region |
'The Gentlemen's Agreement was a POLITICAL COMPROMISE. It was intended to address the concerns of Telangana while enabling the formation of a UNITED Andhra Pradesh. Over time, many felt the agreement was NOT IMPLEMENTED in letter and spirit — leading to renewed demands for a separate Telangana state.'
6. The Mulki Rules
'The MULKI RULES were a set of regulations in the Hyderabad State that RESERVED government jobs for LOCALS (those who had lived in the state for at least 15 years). These rules were designed to protect Telangana's people from competition with outsiders — particularly the more educated people from Coastal Andhra.'
- Introduced during the Nizam's rule in the Hyderabad State.
- After the formation of Andhra Pradesh (1956), the Mulki rules were RETAINED for Telangana region as part of the Gentlemen's Agreement.
- The Mulki rules became a MAJOR SOURCE OF CONTROVERSY. Some argued that Andhra government employees were being DISCRIMINATED against in Telangana.
- The SUPREME COURT upheld the Mulki rules in 1972.
- After AGITATIONS, the rules were MODIFIED over time.
- The issue of Mulki rules was one of the factors that kept the TELANGANA MOVEMENT alive.
7. The Bifurcation — Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014
'The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (led by the UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) officially BIFURCATED Andhra Pradesh into TWO states: TELANGANA (29th state, capital Hyderabad) and ANDHRA PRADESH (residual state).'
Key Provisions of the Act
- Division of Assets and Liabilities: Allocated between the two states based on population ratio, location of assets, and specific needs.
- Hyderabad: Becomes the capital of BOTH states for a period NOT EXCEEDING 10 YEARS (as a joint capital). Thereafter: Hyderabad remains capital of Telangana. Andhra Pradesh establishes a NEW capital.
- Revenue Sharing: Specific arrangements for sharing revenue from taxes, excise, and central devolution.
- Water Sharing: Krishna and Godavari river waters divided through a tribunal. Key points: irrigation projects, hydroelectricity, and drinking water needs protected.
- Polavaram Project: Declared a NATIONAL PROJECT. Its implementation is to be done by the Central Government.
- Special Category Status: Andhra Pradesh was promised SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS (analogous to North-Eastern states) for 5 years. This has been a MAJOR POLITICAL ISSUE since bifurcation.
Post-Bifurcation Challenges
- New Capital: Building AMARAVATI from scratch required HUGE investment. The project has faced delays and funding challenges.
- Revenue Deficit: Andhra Pradesh lost Hyderabad — the major source of tax revenue.
- Water Disputes: Sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters remains contentIOUS between the two states.
- Special Category Status: The promise of SCS has been a CENTRAL political demand of Andhra Pradesh — with multiple governments raising it at the national level.
8. Modern Political History of Andhra Pradesh
| Period | Ruling Party | Chief Minister | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-1980 | Congress | N. Sanjiva Reddy, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, P.V. Narasimha Rao, others | Congress dominance. Industrialisation (Vizag Steel Plant, Shipyard). Irrigation projects (Nagarjuna Sagar, Srisailam). |
| 1983-1989 | Telugu Desam (TDP) | N.T. Rama Rao | First non-Congress government. Welfare schemes (Rs. 2 per kg rice). Telugu pride. Film star charisma. |
| 1989-1994 | Congress | Marri Chenna Reddy, N. Janardhana Reddy, K. Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy | Internal instability — 4 CMs in 5 years. |
| 1994-2004 | Telugu Desam (TDP) | N.T. Rama Rao (1994-95), N. Chandrababu Naidu (1995-2004) | Naidu's "Vision 2020." IT revolution (HITEX, Cyber Towers). World Bank-funded reforms. Power sector reforms. |
| 2004-2014 | Congress | Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (2004-09), N. Kiran Kumar Reddy (2010-14) | YSR's welfare schemes (free health insurance — Rajiv Arogyasri). Fee reimbursement. Massive irrigation projects. YSR died in helicopter crash (2009). Telangana agitation peaks. |
| 2014-2019 | TDP-BJP alliance | N. Chandrababu Naidu | Post-bifurcation management. Amaravati foundation. Capital construction begins. Alliance with BJP breaks (2018). |
| 2019-2024 | YSR Congress | Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy | Welfare schemes (Amma Vodi, Rythu Bharosa). Decentralised capital plan (3 capitals proposal — controversial, later withdrawn). |
| 2024-present | TDP-JSP-BJP alliance | N. Chandrababu Naidu | Return of TDP-led alliance. Super six welfare promises. Focus on Amaravati development. |
9. Self-Test Questions
- Write a detailed account of POTTI SRIRAMULU's fast unto death. What was its outcome?
- Differentiate between ANDHRA STATE (1953) and ANDHRA PRADESH (1956).
- What was the VISHALANDHRA MOVEMENT? Who were its supporters and opponents?
- Explain the GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT of 1956. What were its key provisions?
- What were the MULKI RULES? Why were they controversial?
- Describe the key provisions of the ANDHRA PRADESH REORGANISATION ACT, 2014.
- What challenges did Andhra Pradesh face after bifurcation?
- Write short notes on: (a) Kandukuri Veeresalingam (b) Gurram Jashuva (c) Durgabai Deshmukh
- Trace the political history of Andhra Pradesh from 1956 to 2024.
- Why is POTTI SRIRAMULU called the 'FATHER OF LINGUISTIC STATES' in India?
Answers to Selected Questions: Q1: Potti Sriramulu fasted for 58 days (starting Oct 19, 1952) demanding a separate Telugu-speaking state. He died on Dec 15, 1952. His death triggered massive protests, leading to the formation of 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. Q10: 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 — a principle adopted nationwide in 1956.
