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The stir that sowed seeds of T movement
The timeline of events that led to the birth of India’s 29th State Telangana presents a series of trials and tribulations. As the people in the State celebrate the second anniversary of the Telangana Formation Day on Thursday, it’s time to shed light on what really ignited the sparks of separate state movement before it turned into an inferno.
Khammam was in the forefront of the movement in the 60’s
Khammam: The timeline of events that led to the birth of India’s 29th State Telangana presents a series of trials and tribulations. As the people in the State celebrate the second anniversary of the Telangana Formation Day on Thursday, it’s time to shed light on what really ignited the sparks of separate state movement before it turned into an inferno.
No one would have imagined that the indefinite hunger strike to demand the rightful share of jobs for Telangana people launched by Annabathula Ravindranath in Khammam on January 8, 1969 would sow the seeds of the massive movement for a separate state. Unfortunately, destiny didn’t permit Ravindranath to see his most-cherished dream realise.
Had he lived for another week, he would have come to know the Congress Working Committee’s (CWC) decision to give Telangana State on July 30, 2013. If Ravindranath had sowed the seed for statehood demand, it was Kala Prakash Jain, a native of Garla village in Khammam district studying engineering in Osmania University, was the first to die for the cause.
Jain, said to be an intense Telangana supporter, was allegedly thrown into the flames of Jamai Osmania railway station by the police after the station was set on fire by the students when they came to know that the High Court held Mulki rules invalid on March 28, 1969. Besides this, the movement has many martyrs who laid their lives for the separate State like Ramchander and Md Dastagir of Khammam, who were gunned down by the police.
Later, the fast-unto-death by the TRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao in Khammam sub-jail in fact paved way to bring everyone on board after the historic December 9, 2009 announcement by the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, initiating process for the formation of Telangana.
The role of CPI-ML New Democracy (ND) could never be forgotten for carrying the movement in Khammam where the TRS has minimal foothold compared to other Telangana districts at that point of time. With due respect to other parties’ role, especially CPI, the ND was the backbone of the movement in the district. Its support to the movement when KCR was in Khammam jail was also unparallel.
The role of the writers of the district - Dasaradhi Krishnamacharya, Dasaradhi Rangacharya, Ravella Venkata Rama Rao, and many more – is as significant as that of anybody who provided strength and substance to the movement.
Events that culminated in Telangana State
1956: Telangana merged with Andhra Pradesh. Prior to it, a “Gentlemen’s Agreement” was signed between the Andhra and the Telangana leaders to go ahead with the merger.
1969: ‘Jai Telangana’ movement started with the people protesting that the Gentlemen’s Agreement had failed them. Over 300 people killed in police firing.
1971: Telangana Praja Samithi (TPS) wins 10 out of 11 seats in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections. Its chief Marri Chenna Reddy merged the party with the Congress. Eventually, the Telangana agitation fizzled out.
1975: Presidential Order issued to implement Six Point Formula, providing some safeguards to Telangana.
2001: K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) revives Telangana movement by floating Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
2004: Forging alliance with the Congress, TRS wins five Lok Sabha and 26 Assembly seats.
2008: Telugu Desam announces its support for Telangana demand.
2009: Despite alliance with the TDP, the TRS wins only two Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats.
November 29, 2009: KCR sits on fast-unto-death for Telangana State.
December 9: UPA government announces decision to initiate process for formation of Telangana State.
December 23: Centre puts the process on hold following protests in Seemandhra and en mass resignations of MPs and State legislators.
February 3, 2010: Srikrishna Committee formed to look into Telangana issue.
December 2010: Srikrishna Committee suggests six options.
March 10, 2011: Telangana JAC organise Million March in Hyderabad.
September 13 to October 24, 2011: Sakala Janula Samme
July 30, 2013: Congress Working Committee gives its nod for creation of Telangana State.
October 3, 2013: Union Cabinet approves the proposal to divide AP.
December 5, 2013: Union Cabinet approves the draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013.
December 9, 2013: The President gives time till January 23, 2014 to the State Legislature to give its views.
January 30, 2014: Both Houses of the State Legislature reject the bill.
February 18, 2014: Lok Sabha passes the Telangana Bill.
June 2, 2014: Appointed Day. Telangana and AP come into being. TRS president KCR takes oath as the Chief Minister of Telangana.
By Adepu Mahender
