Formation of Andhra Pradesh – 1947 to 1956
The years 1947 to 1956 were very crucial in the history of Andhra Pradesh. Even as India got independence on August 15, 1947, the three distinct regions of Andhra Pradesh – Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema belonged to Madras state and Telangana was part of Hyderabad state, which was independent. Andhra Pradesh witnessed many struggles before it emerged as the first linguistic state on November 1, 1956.
Telugu speaking people’s dream of separate state
The Telugu speaking people struggled for the formation of a separate Andhra province since the British period, but they could not succeed. After India attained Independence, Andhra leaders put forth the desire for a separate Andhra State on several occasions before the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
The Government of India formed ‘The Dar Commission’ under the Chairmanship of S.K.Dar, which did not recommend the creation of States on the linguistic criteria. This drew adverse reactions in the Telugu speaking regions. The Congress Party immediately constituted an unofficial Committee consisting Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramaiah, popularly known as the J.V.P. Committee. In April 1949, the Committee recommended that the creation of linguistic provinces should be postponed by few years.
Nizam’s ambitious desire
Though India got Independence, there was nothing to cheer about for the people of Hyderabad state. During the years 1946 to 1948, Telugu speaking people were concerned about the developments in the state of Hyderabad. The Seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan was very anxious to become independent, resisting Indian government’s efforts to merge Hyderabad state into the Indian Union. With the help of Khasim Razvi of the Ittehadul Muslimeen and its militia called the Razakars, he spread violence to achieve his desire.
Telangana revolt
To counter Razakars and Nizam Police, the Communists led peasant revolt by organizing village defense squads to protect the villagers. This revolt began in 1946 in the Nalgonda district and spread to Warangal and Bidar (which was then part of Hyderabad state) districts quickly. Farmers and labourers revolted against the Nizam and his loyal local feudal landlords using guerrilla tactics.
With the cooperation of a few patriotic Muslims, the Hindus who were more than 90 percent of the population of Hyderabad state launched ‘Join India’ movement to integrate the state with the Indian Union. Swami Ramanand Tirtha led the state congress leaders and took part in the movement actively.
Merger of Hyderabad state into Indian Union
Indian Union’s negotiations with the Nizam were abortive. The Nizam Government refused to accede his territory to India Union. Government of India launched ‘Police Action’ code named ‘Operation Polo’ on September 13, 1948 against Nizam. Nizam’s forces surrendered within five days on 18 September 1948 and the merger of Hyderabad state into the Indian Union announced formally.
Until the end of 1949, Major-General J.N.Chaudhuri was the Military Governor of Hyderabad. M.K.Vellodi, a Senior Civil Servant acted as the Chief Minister of the State and the Nizam was designated ‘Raj Pramukh’ in January 1950. Burgula Rama Krishna Rao took charge of the state after 1952 general elections.
Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema form Andhra State
Potti Sri Ramulu one of the strong leaders of the separate Andhra movement, took indefinite fasting from October 19, 1952 demanding for a separate Andhra state from the Madras state for the Telugus. On December 15, Potti Sri Ramulu breathed his last breath in the fasting camp. As the news of his death broke, violence spread all over the southern parts of the country. As a result of Potti Sri Ramulu’s sacrifice, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Andhra state consisting eleven districts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema on October 1, 1953 with Kurnool as its capital city.
The Formation of Andhra Pradesh
However, Telugu speaking people demanded for their long cherished Visalandhra formation, but people of Hyderabad state were unanimous in their demand for splitting the state into three parts. The States Reorganization Commission headed by Syed Fazal Ali heard the views of different people and organizations. Based on the Commission’s conclusions, the Congress Party High Command preferred Visalandhra and enlarged the state by including nine Telugu speaking districts of Hyderabad state to eleven districts of Andhra state to form Andhra Pradesh with 20 districts. In the process, the Hyderabad state was split among Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra State. Aurangabad division merged with Maharashtra and Gulbarga division merged with Karnataka. The rest of the two divisions of the state – Gulshanabad or Medak and Nizamabad merged with Andhra State.
Thus, the state of ‘Andhra Pradesh’ emerged merging all the districts of Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana on November 1, 1956, with Neelam Sanjiva Reddy as the Chief Minister and C.M Trivedi as the Governor.
The years 1947 to 1956 were very crucial in the history of Andhra Pradesh. Even as India got independence on August 15, 1947, the three distinct regions of Andhra Pradesh – Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema belonged to Madras state and Telangana was part of Hyderabad state, which was independent. Andhra Pradesh witnessed many struggles before it emerged as the first linguistic state on November 1, 1956.
Telugu speaking people’s dream of separate state
The Telugu speaking people struggled for the formation of a separate Andhra province since the British period, but they could not succeed. After India attained Independence, Andhra leaders put forth the desire for a separate Andhra State on several occasions before the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
The Government of India formed ‘The Dar Commission’ under the Chairmanship of S.K.Dar, which did not recommend the creation of States on the linguistic criteria. This drew adverse reactions in the Telugu speaking regions. The Congress Party immediately constituted an unofficial Committee consisting Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramaiah, popularly known as the J.V.P. Committee. In April 1949, the Committee recommended that the creation of linguistic provinces should be postponed by few years.
Nizam’s ambitious desire
Though India got Independence, there was nothing to cheer about for the people of Hyderabad state. During the years 1946 to 1948, Telugu speaking people were concerned about the developments in the state of Hyderabad. The Seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan was very anxious to become independent, resisting Indian government’s efforts to merge Hyderabad state into the Indian Union. With the help of Khasim Razvi of the Ittehadul Muslimeen and its militia called the Razakars, he spread violence to achieve his desire.
Telangana revolt
To counter Razakars and Nizam Police, the Communists led peasant revolt by organizing village defense squads to protect the villagers. This revolt began in 1946 in the Nalgonda district and spread to Warangal and Bidar (which was then part of Hyderabad state) districts quickly. Farmers and labourers revolted against the Nizam and his loyal local feudal landlords using guerrilla tactics.
With the cooperation of a few patriotic Muslims, the Hindus who were more than 90 percent of the population of Hyderabad state launched ‘Join India’ movement to integrate the state with the Indian Union. Swami Ramanand Tirtha led the state congress leaders and took part in the movement actively.
Merger of Hyderabad state into Indian Union
Indian Union’s negotiations with the Nizam were abortive. The Nizam Government refused to accede his territory to India Union. Government of India launched ‘Police Action’ code named ‘Operation Polo’ on September 13, 1948 against Nizam. Nizam’s forces surrendered within five days on 18 September 1948 and the merger of Hyderabad state into the Indian Union announced formally.
Until the end of 1949, Major-General J.N.Chaudhuri was the Military Governor of Hyderabad. M.K.Vellodi, a Senior Civil Servant acted as the Chief Minister of the State and the Nizam was designated ‘Raj Pramukh’ in January 1950. Burgula Rama Krishna Rao took charge of the state after 1952 general elections.
Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema form Andhra State:
Potti Sri Ramulu one of the strong leaders of the separate Andhra movement, took indefinite fasting from October 19, 1952 demanding for a separate Andhra state from the Madras state for the Telugus. On December 15, Potti Sri Ramulu breathed his last breath in the fasting camp. As the news of his death broke, violence spread all over the southern parts of the country. As a result of Potti Sri Ramulu’s sacrifice, the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the Andhra state consisting eleven districts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema on October 1, 1953 with Kurnool as its capital city.
The Formation of Andhra Pradesh
However, Telugu speaking people demanded for their long cherished Visalandhra formation, but people of Hyderabad state were unanimous in their demand for splitting the state into three parts. The States Reorganization Commission headed by Syed Fazal Ali heard the views of different people and organizations. Based on the Commission’s conclusions, the Congress Party High Command preferred Visalandhra and enlarged the state by including nine Telugu speaking districts of Hyderabad state to eleven districts of Andhra state to form Andhra Pradesh with 20 districts. In the process, the Hyderabad state was split among Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra State. Aurangabad division merged with Maharashtra and Gulbarga division merged with Karnataka. The rest of the two divisions of the state – Gulshanabad or Medak and Nizamabad merged with Andhra State.
Thus, the state of ‘Andhra Pradesh’ emerged merging all the districts of Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana on November 1, 1956, with Neelam Sanjiva Reddy as the Chief Minister and C.M Trivedi as the Governor.
Related Articles:
Hyderabad Little Known History
Significant Contributors to Hyderabad City
“The States Reorganization Commission headed by Syed Fazal Ali heard the views of different people and organizations.
BASED ON THE COMMISION’S CONCLUSIONS, the Congress Party High Command preferred Visalandhra and…”
the commissions conclusion was that there should be no merger of the two states and it will be unfair for the hyderabad state(telangana region) to merge with andhra as andhra would have an unfair advantage.
So, the congress central decision to go ahead with the merger was not ‘based on the commission’s conclusion’ but based on the high level lobyying by andhra politicians
thanks for the informative article
Regarding formation of Visalandhra or Andhra Pradesh, I submit there was neither any popular movement nor any demand from any influential sections or interests for merging Andhra and Telangana. it must have been, then, a pragmatic and strategic decision taken in Delhi to prevent Hyderabad from raising its secessionist head once for all. The principle of forming states on linguistic basis came in handy and Hyderabad state was trifurcated permanently and merged with three different states thus losing its homogenity and distinct identity. It will be interesting to note that Junagarh and Hyderabad both of which tried to avoid signing the Instrument of Accession were brought to heel and merged with erstwhile British administered states to stamp out all feudal traces. I stand corrected if I am wrong.
Till now i didnt know the history of my AP but i came to know about my land so i really really….. thankfull to Hyderabad India Online