By Gudipoodi Srihari
Today you find every one conscious of the fate of A.P., making this issue a debate point, as to whether or not the state would be split into Telangana and Andhra. Some feel if it happens it is a retrograde step, going back to the early days of 1954, when Andhra State was first formed with Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu as its first chief minister functioning from Kurnool as state Capital. We earned the statehood after the martyrdom of Potti Sriramulu, who laid his life for this cause, fasting unto death.
At that time other part of Andhra Pradesh was existing as Hyderabad state, with Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, as chief minister, after military action undertaken by the then central Home minister Sardar Patel, the Iron Man. He redeemed the state from the hands of the Sixth Nizam, a ruler then, ending the Muslim rule and uniting this with Indian Union.
That was also the time when the patriots in Telangana were struggling to realize this dream of retrieval of land of Telugus for Telugus. They included great names like Burgula, Madapati Hanumantha Rao, Jamalapuram Kesava Rao who was known as Telangana Kesari a la Andhra kesari -Tanguturi Prakasam and many more persons aspiring for this merger of Telugus of Telangana with Telugus of Andhra. At the same time, the Communist party of India was also craving for the formation of 'Visalaandhra', combining Telangana with main land of Andhra.
History of Telugus says that 'Andhra' is the original word found in 'puranas' too. Pt.Jawaharlal Nehru was convinced of the need of formation of states on linguistic basis. Accordingly the state of Andhra Pradesh was formed with Burgula, also a staunch linguist, acceding to the realization of this dream. Parts of Hyderabad state joined with Karnataka and Maharastra and states were formed on linguistic basis. Everything had settled down well, for good. This is the flashback before the formation of the State for Telugus called Andhra Pradesh on November 1, 1956. It was a real struggle for Andhras to get the state out of the hands of C.Rajagopalachari, who was working against the interest of re-organization of states on linguistic base. At that time, Andhrites were more in number in Madras city and hence demanded to make Madras as the capital of Andhra relinquishing the rights of Tamils on the city. But Rajagopalachari succeeded to keep the city of Madras with Madras state, later named as Tamilnadu. It was said that Andhra leaders preferred to forego the city in the interest of forming their own state of Andhra. Hence Kurnool became their capital.
The story repeats now. Some argue to keep Hyderabad independent state on the lines of New Delhi , administered by central government. This time the division is among the Telugus themselves. The issue now is not the language but the backwardness of Telangana, compared to Andhra. But few know the conditions in Telangana at the time of formation of A.P. Today's Telangana is much advanced, compared to the situation in fifties, some say. Most of the barren land in Telangana area came under cultivation purely because of the migration of farmers from Andhra area. Some of the enterprising men of Andhra area sold their properties there and settled in Telanagana parts in districts like Nizamabad, Khammam, Warangal and even Karimnagar. At the same time persons from the equally barren districts of Rayalaseema too migrated to these parts and launched industries and contributed to the industrialization of Telanagana.
A peep into history tells us that this backwardness in the Telangana was the result of the rule of Nizams and the domination of landlords, working for the Nizam, maintaining their fiefdom. But the large parts of Deccan and the coastal belt of Andhra was all nothing but Andhra, once called Trilinga Desam. Muslim rulers attacked Golconda and other areas and appropriated these lands, thus segregating from the rest of Andhra. They also invaded and appropriated some parts of Kannada and Maratha lands and finally they too added to the Hyderabad state, in the last Muslim rule of Nizam. This rule lasted almost three centuries till the rule of last Nizam. All this land also constitutes main Telugu land. Orugallu ( Warangal) was the birth place of pure Telugu (Achha Telugu), without any Sanskrit words in the sentence or verse. That was pure Telugu. Children were being taught verses and prose in this Achha Telugu, along with the Sanskritized Telugu. One should understand that invasion of the land called Telangana of Deccan plateau by Muslim rulers divided us, though our language and culture being the same. The changes in Telangana culture and language were due to the culture of the invaders. The end of the rule of last Nizam, paved way for the rule of Telugus for Telugus and by Telugus. The merger of Telangana with the rest of the Telugu land called Andhra which included Rayalaseema completed the map of Telugu Desam, that is Andhra Pradesh or 'Visalandhra', call it anyway you like.
Today Hyderabad has turned into a global city, purely because of the efforts put in by all Telugus and also people from other parts of the country. Like the way coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema are parts of Telugu land, Telangana too is part of same Telugu land. The Telugu and Telugu culture are binding factors. I am sure that majority people in Telangana too believe that the change in their lives and the progress they made in different walks of life are the result of this combined strength of Telugus.
Why then this demand for separate Telangana. - Not once but twice? This is not the demand of the people but of the hurt politicians – hurt because they were put away from the seat of power. Or felt belittled or ignored. The only way left for them to take revenge is by dividing the land, like the way children of the same mother demanding their share like the Amana brothers did. It is because of the aspirations of the politicians, who for one reason or the other raised the bogey of separation. The first agitation for a separate Telangana in 1969 was raised by persons who lost political power. They thought that if Telangana is separated, some of them could become the rulers of Telangana. It was power game but not special love for Telugus and Telugu land.
Now a new situation has developed. The eastern parts of Andhra, central coastal people and Rayalaseema too started demanding separate states. Every one of them is taking this as clue to the disgruntled Telugus of Andhra coastal belt those wanted their land ides to separate Telangana. Which means our state is seeking for breaking into four parts. This is surely an alarming situation, if they are really serious. Andhra Pradesh is now fifty years old. We celebrated its Silver Jubilee recently. Quit people belonging to other parts of the state those settled in Telangana and Hyderabad .
In Nizam days the government recognized a person as Hyderabadi, if he lived in Telnagana for a minimum of 15 years. Only then they were getting seats in educational institutions. Now you find many persons born and brought up here. Their elders contributed to the economy of these parts. The separate Telangana agitation and separate Andhra agitation met with natural death because of the wisdom shown by the rulers in the center and state. Jalagam Vengal Rao ruled the state almost at this time of jinx and set everything in order and implemented the six point formula announced by Indira Gandhi., besides taking other measures in trying to keep balance between these two parts - Andhra and Telangana. Andhra Pradesh state fell back to normalcy even during the long rule of Telugu Desam party.
Again the political ambitions of disgruntled politicians raised their heads. In his second term of rule, Chandrababu Naidu, appeared to have ignored the importance of Telangana leader K.Chandra Sekhara Rao and gave him an insignificant portfolio in his cabinet, like he did in his first term rule after he snatched the power from NTR. Rest is history unfolding before our eyes.
This time it was the turn of KCR to launch a separate Telangana Party with the name Telangana Rashtra Samiti and seek separation from Andhra.
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Congress joined hands shared seats and contested last General elections and defeated the ruling party- then TDP. The governments in state and centre brought some of the TRS leaders to power.
Meanwhile the BJP leader A.Narendra also tugged with KCR. Both were ministers in the center and some of TRS MLAs joined state cabinet. KCR and Narendra kept up the pressure on Sonia Gandhi to break the state. As a protest, the TRS ministers in Assembly first resigned. Later after some time, KCR and Narendra also resigned on pressure.
The language has changed into threats or hurling insults against Andhra leaders in public meetings. The incumbent Chief Minister is the main target, like Brahmananda Reddy in the first agitation held by Telangana Praja Samithi. Challenges and counter challenges between M.Satyanarayana Rao and KCR and again between K.Kesava Rao and KCR forced KCR to resign his MP seat and contest for Karimnagar seat raising the bogey of Separate Telangana. He became a hero overnight after winning the seat with huge majority.
There were examples of many other leaders winning parliamentary seat with bigger majority without any promises. P.V.Narasimha Rio was one. If this bait of 'every vote you give me is for separate Telangana' was not there the result would have been different, some say. Yet this winning with stunning majority has now become an issue to claim that entire Telangana people seek separation. This time the coastal and Rayalaseema Telugus reacted fast. Now every region in Andhra Pradesh wants separation. What is wrong in asking for it, says KCR. This means the bread of Andhra Pradesh should be cut into four parts – Telangana, east Andhra, Central Andhra and Rayalaseema.
How funny the entire theme is reduced to! This is slowly gaining farcical look. Funnier is the way, like the stock market, the real estate market goes up and down in these areas, according to the news they receive about the formation or no formation of Separate Telangana state. Those who hold huge properties in Andhra area change sides and seek separate Andhra. And those who have huge properties in Telangana area express their opposition for the division of Andhra Pradesh. There is no leader to lead Andhras in coastal area. Therefore Chiranjeevi's name is kicked up as possible contender launching his own party, which still continues to be no more than a rumor. Even the Telangana men in congress began playing double game, thinking that KCR would simply walk away with Telangana.
What is the role of people in this whole drama? They are all silent voters. For one who witnessed many elections, one realizes that the wind of change comes not by judging the rule of the party but by a wind of sentiment. Presently people think that Telangana sentiment is working. If this emotion dies down and elections are held after a big gap giving enough time for the people's mind settles down, you will find different results. No wonder the wish of the Telangana people might also tilt in favor of united Telugu land, after assessing their living standards and growing opportunities in Andhra Pradesh. Better everybody keeps silence for some time and allow the formation of second SRC. There is talk of rising of Kapu power if Chiranjeevi gets into politics. The Kammas too aspire for power. So are Rayalaseema's Reddy rulers. Otherwise, why this talk of too many separate states in A.P emerge? The two earlier agitations took a toll of big life. It is time for the UPA in the center to take strong decisions, with pragmatic outlook.
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