Separate state to fulfil aspirations of Telangana people
December 10th, 2009 - 10:49 am ICT by IANS ( 6 comments )By Mohammed Shafeeq
Hyderabad, Dec 10 (IANS) The decision of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to initiate the process of the formation of a separate Telangana state fulfils the five-decade old aspirations of the people of the backward region.
The formation of a new state will also mark the beginning of the process of dividing Andhra Pradesh, India’s first state formed on a linguistic basis.
For the people of Telangana, the decision is historic as they feel liberated from the merger which was imposed on them in 1956 despite the first State Reorganisation Commission (SRC) expressing its apprehensions.
Neglected and exploited by the rulers from Andhra for over five decades, the region erupted in joy when the government Wednesday night announced that the bill for a separate Telangana state would be moved in the state assembly.
Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad, was part of erstwhile princely Hyderabad state and was merged with then Andhra state in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh for Telugu-speaking people.
With the division, Andhra will now be left with 13 districts. Nine prosperous districts of coastal Andhra, and four backward districts of Rayalaseema region. Telangana has a population of about 35 million people while Andhra and Rayalaseema have 40 million people.
After the accession of Hyderabad state with the Indian Union in 1948, Telangana continued as a separate Hyderabad state till its merger with Andhra state on Nov 1, 1956 despite opposition by the people of Telangana.
Andhra state with Kurnool as the capital was earlier carved out from then Madras province in 1953. This followed the sacrifice of Potti Sreeramulu, who died in 1952 after a 50-day hunger strike in Madras demanding a separate state for Telugu people.
Despite having a common language, Andhra and Telangana had cultural differences and socio-economic differences. The first SRC commission report submitted in 1955 had referred to these dissimilarities.
The educationally backward people of Telangana have apprehensions that they may be swamped and exploited by the more advanced people of the coastal areas, the report said.
The real fears of the people of Telangana is that they will be unequally placed in relation to the major partner, which will derive all the advantages immediately, while Telangana itself, may be converted into a colony by coastal Andhra, the commission had observed.
Ignoring these observations, then government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru went ahead with the formation of Andhra Pradesh. However, Telangana was guaranteed certain safeguards through the Gentlemens Agreement to address its concerns and ensure proper development of the region.
This agreement and even six-point formula of 1973 which guaranteed preference to local candidates in jobs besides accelerated development was never implemented sincerely, said M. Kodandaram, president of the Telangana Intellectuals Forum.
The people of Telangana felt cheated as all the assurances given to them were violated. They felt that the people of Andhra were not only grabbing the jobs but also diverting Telangana resources, especially water resources to Andhra.
The demand for a separate state for Telangana was raised in the 1970s. The movement took a violent turn in 1979. As many as 369 people, mostly students, were killed in police firing.
The people felt betrayed by their own leaders who gave up the demand for a separate state in return for some positions of power.
Some groups continued making subtle demands for the state but could not make any impact.
In 2001 when K. Chandrasekhara Rao revived the movement by floating Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), most of the groups seeking a separate state joined hands with him.
Just when everybody thought the Telangana movement died with the humiliating defeat of TRS in this years elections, Rao came out with a Gandhian way of protest: fast-unto-death. With students and all other sections of people protesting on the streets, the government had to bow before popular demand.
- Protests in Telangana mark Andhra Pradesh formation day - Nov 01, 2011
- TRS offers to share Hyderabad as capital for few years - Sep 29, 2011
- Telangana strike paralyses transport services - Sep 19, 2011
- PM's statement shocked Telangana people, says Congress MP - Nov 13, 2011
- Telangana only if we get our own state, demand Rayalaseema leaders - Dec 10, 2009
- Tension, protests in Telangana mar Andhra formation day (Lead) - Nov 01, 2010
- MIM opposes union territory status to Hyderabad - Apr 18, 2010
- Srikrishna finds case both for and against separate Telangana - Jan 06, 2011
- Expecting announcement on Telangana in two weeks: TRS - Jul 14, 2011
- Srikrishna Committee report on Telangana suggests six options - Jan 06, 2011
- Telangana echoes at YSR Congress plenary - Jul 09, 2011
- While Andhra celebrates, Telangana activists mark 'black day' - Nov 01, 2010
- Unease in Andhra ahead of Srikrishna panel report - Dec 29, 2010
- Telangana, Telangana council best options: Srikrishna panel - Jan 06, 2011
- Attempt to damage statue of Telugu leader Potti Sriramulu - Oct 29, 2010
Tags: accession, apprehensions, aspirations, cultural differences, decades, economic differences, hunger strike, hyderabad, kurnool, linguistic basis, merger, mohammed, nov 1, opposition, progressive alliance, rulers, sacrifice, shafeeq, state assembly, wednesday night
December 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
What does KCR think about himself?? Just by creating a separate state, does he think that the problem of Telangana can be solved?? Even if he goes mad and crazy how can people be so foolish to support him in such senseless deeds?? If he has so much enthusiasm about developing the state, he can do that as well by being a good leader. Why the HELL is he doing all this shit and nonsense???? Dont try to destroy the unity of the state just for ur personal benefit..!!Dont just go behind a CM seat like a dogg….prove urself to be a good leader instead….
December 10th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
And please….for heaven’s sake DO NOT COMPARE SRI POTTI SRIRAMULU with this guy….there is not at all any comparison between both of them. Please do not ruin the image of Sri Potti Sriramulu by comparing with this dumb head who is just behind some wealth and fame for no cause…And wat’s wrong with the people…why cant they use their own brains and think and sort out the issue instead of leaving it in the hands of these so-called politicians who look for their own benefit instead of for the benefit of the society…Also, if Telangana people fear that they are backward, then I bet KCR will make it even more backward…And well if he really wants to improve the lives of ppl out there in Telangana, let him do it without Hyderabad…I can bet anything that he wouldnt even dare to accept this offer itself….do it without HYDERABAD MR.KCR, lets see how much you can develop it by riping it out of its soul ANDHRA PRADESH rather than when it was together…PLEASE SIR, DONT TRY TO PLAY WITH PEOPLE’S LIVES FOR JUST YOUR OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT, IT IS THE LATER GENERATIONS WHICH ARE GOING TO SUFFER FOR YOUR MEANINGLESS ACTS..!!
January 4th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
i dont know where r u from. ihail from pucca Telangana. u have to know the plight of the Telangana people.thou they have all rich resorces and all the water flowing from the region their wealth ,water,representation were totally looted by andhrites. U have to agree or understand the reality. It is not u nor i , by sitting with a computer exchanging all this as u said shit. ok. It is the high time we hv a separate state which has historical reasons not a shit as u write.This sort of thinking or encroachment on all sorts has lead to a situation Dying for the cause of Telangana.
January 4th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
u know when Potti Sreeramulu was on hunger strike for 11 days ,a decision was taken by Nehru to seperate Andhra from Madras, but because of the ill intention of Andhrites to grab even Madras( as they are willing now to grab Hyderabad)he carried hunger strike for 56 days. The CM of Madras Rajaji sensed the intention and sent a warning to leave Madras within 24 hours and Andhrite could flee and reach Kurnool. Dont forget the history of looting by the Andhrites wherever they are. ok..
March 28th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Dude…. chill….watsoever be it, the present by getting a separate state would increase political looting rather than solving the problem. These issues could be solved being together too….just bring to light an instance when the so called politicians who are fighting for this cause brought out your issues and put as much effort as they are putting for getting a separate state now..! try to live in the present world dude….dividing is not always the solution and it is high time that you guys get this attitude in mind and for ur kind information i too hail from the same place n find no sense in the division. I only find the greed of KCR in this issue for some political power rather than any benefit to the state.
July 18th, 2010 at 6:59 am
if KCR says due to xyz reasons we want separate telangana and the central govert accepts it. then in the same xyz reaons south india must be indepent from North india. North India als behaves the same way with south indians (in movies they ridiculre south indians even in Indian idoil they ridiculle ) and all the 100 reaons what KCR says whyseparate telangana must be given and the central govt is accepting it. the same reaons are valid for South India to have Indepedent authoritiy…. even this proposal was there since long time… …