In an effort to protect the interests of the Telugu people in Madras Presidency, and to preserve the unique culture of
Telugu people, Potti Sreeramulu attempted to force the government to listen to public demands for the separation of Andhra region from Madras Presidency based on linguistic basis. He went on a indefinite 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. 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 Telugu 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.so Potti sreeramulu died in the year 1952 and andhra pradesh was formed in the year 1956 .....so how can he take part in the union of Andhra pradesh as said by samikyavadis........
all mis understand his part in the freedom of Andhra state as union of Andhra pradesh 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.
It is interesting to note that only one person before Potti sreeramulu in modern Indian
history Jatin Das actually fasted to death; all the others either gave up or were arrested and force fed or hospitalised.
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