Potti Sreeramulu
పొట్టి శ్రీరాములు
| Born | 16 March 1901(1901-03-16) Chennai, British India |
|---|---|
| Died | 16 December 1952(1952-12-16) (aged 51) Chennai, Union of India |
| Cause of death | Died after fasting for statehood |
| Nationality | Indian |
|---|
| Other names | Amarajeevi |
|---|
| Religion | Hinduism |
|---|
Potti Sreeramulu (Telugu: పొట్టి శ్రీరాములు; 16 March 1901 – 16 December 1952) (age 51), was an Indian revolutionary.
He became famous for undertaking a fast-unto-death for achieving the Andhra State
and losing his life in the process. His sacrifice became instrumental in the linguistic re-organisation of states. He is revered as Amarajeevi (Immortal being) in Andhra for his sacrifice. As a devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he worked life long to uphold principles such as truth and non-violence, patriotism and objectives such as Harijan upliftment.
Early life
Born to Guravayya and Mahalakshmamma at house no. 165, Annapillai street, Chennai.He belonged to the Arya Vysya caste. The caste members claim to be Vysya’s of the south and are brought up in strict vegetarianism and belief in non – violence. He was naturally influenced by Gandhi who was leading the freedom movement of India through non – violent ways. He studied in Madras till he was 20. Later, he studied Sanitary Engineering in the Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute in Bombay.
Career
Potti Sreeramulu joined the Great Indian Peninsular Railway and worked for about four years there. After the death of his wife in 1927 when he was only 26, he lost interest in the material world and resigned from his job. He divided property between his brothers and mother and joined Sabarmati Ashram as a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.
Independence Movement and Harijan Upliftment
He took part in the Indian Independence Movement. He was imprisoned for participating in the 1930 Salt Satyagraha. Between 1941-42 he participated in the individual satyagraha and the Quit India movement and was imprisoned thrice. He was involved in the village reconstruction programmes at Rajkot in Gujarat and Komaravolu in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. He joined the Gandhi Ashram established by Yerneni Subrahmanyam in Komaravolu.
Between 1943 and 1944 he worked for the widespread adoption of Charkha in Nellore district. He started partaking food from all houses without attaching importance to caste and creed. He undertook three fasts during 1946-48 for the entry of Harijans into religious places such as temples in Nellore. He fasted to gain entry for Harijans into the Venugopalaswamy temple in Moolapeta, Nellore and succeeded in achieving the objective. He again fasted to get favourable orders on Dalit upliftment passed by the Madras government.
As a result, the government instructed collectors to attend to measures of Harijan upliftment at least one day in a week. During the last stages of his life, he stayed in Nellore and worked for Harijan upliftment. He would wear placards with slogans on Harijan upliftment and propagate the cause. He used to walk wearing these placards in the middle of the summer without wearing slippers or using an umbrella. People who did not know about his antecedents dismissed him as a mad man. He was chastied by the upper caste and his own caste for his support for Harijan upliftment.
Statehood for Andhra
In an effort to protect the interests of the Telugu people in Madras Presidency, and to preserve the unique culture of Andhra people, he attempted to force the government to listen to public demands for the separation of Andhra region from Madras Presidency based on linguistic lines. He went on a lengthy fast, and only stopped when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised to support creation of Andhra State. However, there was no movement on the issue for a long time. He started fasting again for attaining statehood for Andhra in Maharshi Bulusu Sambamurthy’s house in Madras on 19 October 1952.His main motto behind fasting was to get Madras city (now chennai) to be a part of the andhra. It started off without fanfare but steadily caught people’s imagination despite the disavowal of the fast by the Andhra Congress committee.
The government of the day however did not make a clear statement about the formation of a new state despite several strikes and demonstrations by Andhra people. On the midnight of 15 December (i.e. early 16 December 1952), Potti Sreeramulu died and laid down his life trying to achieve his objective.
In his death procession, people shouted slogans praising his sacrifice. When the procession reached Mount Road, thousands of people joined and raised slogans hailing Sriramulu. Later, they went into a frenzy and resorted to destruction of public property. The news spread like wildfire and created an uproar among the people in far off places like Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Guntur, Tenali, Ongole and Nellore. Seven people were killed in police firing in Anakapalle and Vijayawada. The popular agitation continued for three to four days disrupting normal life in Madras and Andhra regions. On 19 December, the Prime minister of the country Jawaharlal Nehru made an announcement about formation of a separate Andhra state.
On 1 October 1953, the state of Andhra was established with Kurnool as capital carving it out from Madras State. However, the Telugu speaking Telangana was part of Hyderabad state until 1956. On November 1, 1956, Telangana was merged with Andhra and as a result Andhra Pradesh was formed with Hyderabad as its capital, against the recommendation of States Reorganization Commission (SRC). Kerala and Karnataka states were formed the same day in 1956, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960. Jawaharlal Nehru in the spirit of national integration was not very excited by Linguistic states which will strengthen the barrier of language between Indians. Multi Lingual states were expected to bring about more unity and feeling of oneness among all Indians. Linguistic states strengthen the linguistic identity which is detrimental to national integration in a country like India with so many languages.
Death
Potti Sreeramulu fasted in the heart of Madras (Chennai) city for over 58 days for an Andhra state with Madras as the capital. He described “Andhra without Madras as a dead body without a head. The reasons as to why the Rajaji government, Union government led by Nehru or police did not intervene to force feed or shift him to a hospital remain unclear. The intentions of Nehru and Rajaji governments to effectively homogenize the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Indian Union in the name of National Integration have seriously undermined the very federal spirit upon which India’s foundation lies. It is interesting to note that only one person before him in modern Indian history Jatin Das actually fasted to death; all the others either gave up or were arrested and force fed or hospitalised.
2Life of Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu
Many of us grow up hearing about Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu Gari’s sacrifice for the separation of Andhra state from the Madras state, but we really don’t know much about him. In the midst of hospital and IV hunger strikes by the so called today’s politicians, where one can do hunger strike for 30 years and then comparing themselves to his fast until death or Aamarana neraahaara deeksha , it is but necessary to know the life of Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu.
Here are the two excerpts from Newspapers to know about his life, the values he stood for and his supreme sacrifice. THE HINDU
The martyr of Telugu statehood
Monday, Nov 11, 2002:
He quit his job in the Great India Peninsular Railway in 1927 to join Mahatma Gandhi‘s Non-Cooperation Movement. He enrolled in Sabarmati Ashram, participated in various agitations along with the Mahatma and earned the latter’s appreciation. Seeing his grit and determination and pursuing things till their logical end, the Mahatma had remarked, “India would have attained Independence long back, if only it had a few stalwarts like him”.
That was, `Amarajeevi’ Potti Sriramulu, who had sacrificed his life for the sake of statehood for Andhra. He took up the emancipation of Harijans as a crusade. He went on a fast and succeeded in getting entry to the dalits into the Venugopala Swami Temple in Nellore. He established the “Hindu Sanskarana Samithi”, a voluntary organisation and worked relentlessly for the uplift of Harijans and for eradication of untouchability.
Born to Potti Guravayya and Mahalakshmamma in Madras on March 16, 1901, Sriramulu had his education in Madras. His ancestors, who belonged to Guntur district, had migrated to Madras in search of greener pastures. He did his diploma in sanitary engineering from the Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute in Bombay. He worked in the G.I.P. Railway in Madras and Bombay for four years for a salary of Rs.250 a month.
In 1928, his wife gave birth to a child and died. Within a few days, the baby also died, leaving him grief-stricken. The subsequent death of his mother made him lose interest in worldly pursuits and paved the way for his entry into and active involvement in the non-violent movements led by Gandhiji.
He participated in the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and underwent imprisonment. He took an active part in the Quit India Movement in 1942 and was jailed along with the Mahatma. In response to the call given by Gandhiji to serve the villagers, who constitute 70 per cent of the population, he enrolled in the Gandhi Ashram set up by Yerneni Subrahmanyam near Komaravolu village in Krishna district and spread the Gandhian philosophy.
Following the assassination of the Mahatma, Sriramulu was appointed director of the Gandhi Memorial Fund for Andhra. He was disappointed at the poor response from the Telugus to the cause. He also found the response to the Bhoodan movement, Gandhi Trust and Kasturba Trust was lukewarm. He contended that the poor response was due to the absence of a separate state for Andhras and decided to strive for it.
The demand for a separate state for Andhras first came up in 1910. Several Telugus were jailed during the `Vande Maataram’ agititation. At that time, some of them underlined the need for a separate state. The demand gained momentum in the convention held at Nidadavolu in Krishna district in 1912.
The demand was also raised in the subsequent conventions held at Bapatla in Guntur district, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. The Congress Working Committee at its meeting held under the leadership of Annie Besant passed a resolution approving the division of states on linguistic basis.
The British Government, however, rejected the demand. The Dhar Commission, which was appointed by the Central Government after Independence on August 15, 1947 rejected the idea of formation of linguistic states. It felt that the Telugu pockets in Madras State could be considered as a separate state. The Dhar report was opposed by the people. Sensing the mood of the people, the All-India Congress Committee at its meeting at Jaipur in 1948, appointed Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Pattabhi Seetharamayya to look into the demand. The committee suggested that barring Madras, the remaining Telugu speaking areas could be linked to form a separate Andhra state. The Telugus were not prepared to part with Madras.
On August 15, 1951, Swamy Seetharam launched a fast-unto-death for achieving the demand for a separate Andhra state. The Central Government did not take notice of the agitation. The fast continued for 35 days. Sensing danger, Acharya Vinobha Bhave apprised Nehru of the situation. The two leaders met Seetharam and made him give up the fast, promising to get statehood for Andhra. Nehru, however, did not keep his promise.
Potti Sriramulu decided to undertake a fast-unto-death. He began the fast in the house of Bulusu Sambamurthy in Madras city on October 19, 1952. Several people thought that this would be another fast that would be given up after some days. After 20 days his health deteriorated.
Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu used to visit the hunger-strike camp daily and inquire about his health. The Gandhian, Yerneni Subrahmanyam, used to shed tears secretly seeing his plight. Though Sriramulu became physically weak, he was mentally strong and declined to give up his fast.
On the 56th day, he passed into a coma and a couple of days later, he developed breathing problems. On December 15, 1952, Sriramulu breathed his last, after 58 days of fasting. On the intimation of Yerneni Subrahmanyam, the legendary singer, Ghantasala, and freedom-fighter and singer, Moparru Dasu, rushed to the place. They composed and rendered a song in honour of the immortal leader.
The body was taken in a procession. When the procession reached Mount Road, thousands of people joined and raised slogans hailing Sriramulu. Later, they went into a frenzy and resorted to destruction of public property. The news spread like wildfire and created an uproar among the people in far off places like Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Eluru, Guntur, Tenali, Ongole and Nellore.
Seven people were killed in police firing in Anakapalle and Vijayawada. The popular agitation continued for three to four days disrupting normal life in Madras and Andhra regions. On December 19, 1952, Nehru, agreed to grant statehood to Andhras.
The State of Andhra was formed on October 1, 1953, with Kurnool as its capital. On November 1, 1956, Andhra Pradesh was formed with Hyderabad as its capital.
The statue of this selfless leader has been installed on Beach Road in Madras.
Time Magazine
INDIA: Fast & Win
Monday, Dec. 29, 1952 :
Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi, a durable ascetic himself, was so impressed with disciple Potti Sriramulu’s ability to do without food (29 days on one occasion) that he once said: “If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu I will win freedom [from British rule] in a year.” Last week Potti Sriramulu, in a record fast, won autonomy, within the Indian constitution, for 22 million Telugu-speaking people. It was not all that he wanted, but it cost him his life.
Holyman Sriramulu made his fast in Madras city, and the objective was to force Prime Minister Nehru to carve a slice out of Madras state, to be called Andhra, where the Telugu could develop their own culture. Three years ago, a separation plan broke down over the failure of the Telugu (38% of the population) and the Tamils (49%) to agree on the Telugu claim to include Madras city (pop. 1,400,000) in Andhra. Since then the issue has been complicated by the Indian Communists, who have taken up the Telugu grievance, are now by one vote the largest group among the Telugu-speaking members in the Madras legislative assembly, and threaten to take over Andhra when it is created. Heedless of these hazards, Madras-born Potti Sriramulu announced last October that he would “fast unto death” unless there was an immediate decision.
Hungry Crows. Day after day, Sriramulu lay on a charpoy (stringed cot) on the veranda of his bungalow in Madras, where the raucous cries of hungry crows mingle with the whine of pariah dogs and the screech of ancient street cars. While Sriramulu lost weight, Andhra lobbyists tried to convince Nehru. As Gandhi’s disciple, Nehru knows the political value of a prolonged fast, but unlike the British, who eventually quavered under Gandhi’s persistence, Nehru stood firm. On Sriramulu’s 52nd day, Nehru warned: “This method of fasting to achieve administrative or political changes will [put] an end to democratic government.”
Six days later, Sriramulu came to the crisis. His eyes were sunken, his skin a ghastly pallor, and he was hiccuping continuously. His throat was so inflamed he was unable to swallow water and he vomited blood. One of the doctors at his bedside suggested that it was time to end the fast. Sriramulu had lost the power of speech, but he lifted his hand, slowly and unsteadily placed a finger on his lips in refusal. A few hours later he was dead.*
His followers bathed his body, tied a white loincloth around his waist and a towel around his shoulders, and placed him on a wooden pedestal in a sitting position, with legs crossed. Rose, jasmine and chrysanthemum garlands were hung around his neck. Camphor and incense were burned. Devotees recited prayers and a chant, composed by Gandhi, imploring God to grant wisdom to all. Hundreds came from all parts of Madras city, filed past the body of the man they now regarded as a martyr.
Emotional Wave. In the afternoon the body, seated in a chair on a four-wheel cart, was drawn through the streets by Telugu schoolboys waving lengths of black silk, beating their chests and crying, “Madras city is ours.” At the crematorium, the frail body was washed in rose water and burned on a pile of sandalwood while Hindu priests recited the funeral service and Telugu politicians thundered to the mourning mob that they would never give up Madras city.
The Communists hailed Sriramulu’s “supreme sacrifice,” accused Nehru of “deliberate delay in [forming] Andhra state.” When the All-India Parliament refused to stand up in homage to Sriramulu’s memory, the Communist members walked out. A wave of hysterical emotion swept Andhra territory. Students, youths and workers, led by Communists, attacked Indian government property, cut telegraph wires, damaged railroads, burned rail cars and stoned fire engines, looted railroad restaurants, hoisted black flags of mourning over government buildings. Police, firing on rioters, killed seven and wounded forty. A 13-year-old boy attempted to halt a moving bus by standing in its path, and was run over and killed.
At week’s end Prime Minister Nehru, responding perhaps as much to the violence as to Sriramulu’s nonviolence announced that his government had decided to establish Andhra state. But he still refused to include Madras city. To that extent, Potti Sriramulu of Madras city had died in vain.
It is impossible to compensate Shri POTTI SRIRAMULU loss to Andhra people as well as to India too forever & ever.
Conclusion:
Potti Sree Ramulu garu is a selfless being and a true Gandhian without any political inclinations. His sacrifice became instrumental in the linguistic re-organisation of states, thereby especially the South Indian languages and culture flourished after centuries of alien rule.
Trivia
- Observing Potti Sreeramulu’s commitment, Mahatma Gandhi once remarked, “We can achieve independence within a year if there were another ten people as committed and dedicated as Potti Sreeramulu.”
- House No. 126, Royapettah High Road, Mylapore, Madras (Chennai) is the house where Potti Sreeramulu died and it has been preserved as a monument of importance by the state government of Andhra Pradesh.
References
External links
- A write-up on the political scenario in Andhra Pradesh in 2004
- The battle for Andhra
- The Martyr of Telugu Statehood
- Appeal to Potti Sriramulu
- Sriramulu’s Condition Grave December 10, 1952
- Article by Shashi tharoor, mentioning state of Satyagrahas in India
- Stamp On Potti Sriramulu Released By Government Of India
jillellareddy 