FREEEDOM STRUGGLE IN TELANGANA

By M H Ahsan

The role of the Telangana in the Freedom Struggle was significant and they had always been in the forefront along with the rest of the country. The first rebellion for Independence in 1857 did not affect the state of affairs in the south, though ripples were felt in the State of Hyderabad.But British suppressed the rebellions led by Rohilla and Arab soldiers and the Gonds in the Adilabad district under the leadership of Ramji Gond in 1860.

There were occasional rebellions of the peasants here and there, brought out by their dissatisfaction to the forefront. Agriculture became the mainstay of the people, as the cottage industries dwindled due to the deliberate policy of the Government to encourage British industries at the expense of the indigenous ones. The construction of dams across the Godavari and the Krishna in 1852 and 1855 respectively resulted in increasing agricultural production. The emergence of the strong, educated, and confident but dissatisfied middle class seeking equality with the white ruler was seen in the beginning of the twentieth century.

In 1920, when Mahatma Gandhi started non-co-operation movement, it had an immediate response in Telangana. Many lawyers gave up their lucrative practice and many students gave up their studies. In November 1921, the Congress gave permission to the Provincial Committee to start Civil Disobedience, if the conditions laid down by Mahatma Gandhi were fulfilled.

The next episode was the Forest Satyagraha of the ryots. The peasants had to pay heavy tax for permission to graze their cattle in forests. When the crops failed, they decided to send their cattle into the forests. They took the cattle forcibly, confined them in cattle-pounds and refused to free them unless the fee was paid. There was a clash between the cattle owners and the armed police. Gandhiji called off the Non Co-operation Movement due to some untoward incidents.

In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi started his salt-campaign. Telangana region became the venue of memorable deeds of many a young man and woman. The thirties saw the emergence of leftist organizations, which gave a fillip to the progressive trends. The arrest of the leaders in 1942 provoked the masses. The message of the National Congress inspired the people, and they brought the functioning of the Government to a stand still for a few days. Many young students and workers faced the bullets cheerfully.