The history of Telangana post-independence is a tale of political movements, linguistic aspirations, socio-economic challenges, and eventual statehood. Two significant milestones in Telangana's journey were the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956 and the impact of linguistic reorganization, both of which shaped its socio-political identity.
Formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956
Background
The demand for a unified Telugu-speaking state gained momentum in the early 20th century, catalyzed by the growing linguistic and cultural identity of the Telugu people.
Hyderabad State, under the rule of the Nizam, comprised three linguistic regions: Telugu-speaking Telangana, Marathi-speaking Marathwada, and Kannada-speaking Hyderabad-Karnataka.
Following independence in 1947, Hyderabad was integrated into India in 1948 after Operation Polo, a military intervention.
The Vishalandhra Movement
The Vishalandhra Movement emerged in the 1950s, advocating for the unification of Telugu-speaking regions, including Telangana from Hyderabad State and the Andhra region from Madras State.
Potti Sriramulu, a prominent freedom fighter, undertook a fast unto death in 1952, demanding the formation of a separate Andhra state for Telugu speakers. His death intensified the demand for state reorganization.
Formation of Andhra Pradesh
The State Reorganization Act of 1956, implemented based on the recommendations of the States Reorganization Commission (SRC), led to the merger of Telangana with Andhra to form Andhra Pradesh on November 1, 1956.
Telanganas merger was conditional, based on the Gentlemens Agreement of 1956, which aimed to protect the interests of Telangana in areas like employment, education, and political representation.
Telangana Concerns Post-Merger
The Telangana region expressed concerns about potential neglect in development and resource allocation:
Unequal distribution of river waters (Krishna and Godavari).
Inadequate investment in education and infrastructure.
Perceived dominance of Andhra leadership in political and administrative spheres.
Impact of Linguistic Reorganization on Telangana
Linguistic Reorganization of States
The reorganization of states along linguistic lines was a landmark decision post-independence to promote administrative efficiency and cultural coherence.
While linguistic reorganization empowered several linguistic communities, its impact on Telangana was a mixed blessing.
Economic and Social Impacts
Resource Allocation:
Telangana, despite its rich resources, particularly coal in the Singareni mines, witnessed economic disparities.
Critics argued that wealth generated in Telangana was diverted to develop Andhra regions.
Educational Disparities:
The Andhra region had a head start in educational institutions due to British influence in coastal areas.
Telangana lagged in literacy and higher education infrastructure.
Agricultural Concerns:
Telangana, reliant on tank and rain-fed agriculture, faced issues related to irrigation inequality.
Large irrigation projects such as Nagarjuna Sagar benefitted Andhra more than Telangana.
Political and Administrative Impacts
Political Representation:
Telangana leaders feared marginalization in the unified Andhra Pradesh.
The promise of a fair share in the administration under the Gentlemens Agreement was not fully realized.
Cultural and Linguistic Marginalization:
Telanganas distinct cultural identity, including its dialect of Telugu and festivals like Bonalu and Bathukamma, received less emphasis in the larger Andhra cultural framework.
Emergence of Separate Telangana Movements
Dissatisfaction with the implementation of safeguards led to widespread protests in Telangana:
The first major agitation occurred in 1969, known as the Jai Telangana Movement, demanding the separation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.
Subsequent movements highlighted economic disparities, water-sharing issues, and the breach of promises made during the merger.
Resolution and Statehood
After decades of struggles and agitations, the long-standing demand for a separate Telangana culminated in the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana became Indias 29th state on June 2, 2014, fulfilling aspirations for self-governance and equitable development.