( Kuradi Chandrasekhara Kalkura, Kurnool)
As soon as they hear the name of Potti Sriramulu, people reduce him to a person responsible for the formation of the Andhra State. This is one of many mistakes we commit in assessing great personalities.
In recent times, even the national leaders are considered as belonging to a particular section. Though regrettable, some times I derive satisfaction from this sectarian fact that at least a section wants to recall his services.
In the case of Sriramulu he deserves a place along with Gandhians such as Vinoba Bhave, Babu Purushothamdas Tandon, Acharya Kripalani, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Jayaprakash Naarayan, Achyuta Patawardhan, Swamy Ramanandna Teertha, Prakasam Pantulu, Bhogaraju Pattabhi Seetharamayya, Rajaji etc.
He was a transparent patriot, intellectual celebrity, statesman, spiritual thinker, Karmayogi with a nature ready to sacrifice everything for the human cause. His name should be written in letters of gold in the History of Andhras as well as India.
Potti Sriramulu was born to Guruvaiah and Mahalakshmamma, on 16th March 1901 at D.No.165, Annapillai Street, George Town, Madras. His ancestors hailed from Padamatipalem Village, in the present Potti Sriramulu Nellore Dist.
Till he attained 20, Sriramulu had his education in Madras. Owing to the untimely death of his father, his mother had become the sole bread earner of the family. She worked a maid in rich Vaisyas houses. During the leisure hours, she would prepare pappadams and pickles to earn some extra money. Thus Sriramulu was brought up, groomed, and educated by his mother.
Later he studied Sanitary Engineering course in Bombay, secured a job in the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, and served it for four years as an assistant plubmer. His salary was Rs.250 per month. When he was working in Bombay, he was married to Seethamma in 1927. Within two years, his wife with a stillborn child died. Later within six months, his mother died. He got dejected with life, gave up his job, and wanted to lead a peaceful life. Deciding to dedicate the rest of his life to public service he went to Sabarmati Ashram and became an ardent follower of Mahatma Gandhi. He distributed his ancestral properties to his brothers and sisters.
Influenced by the call given by the Mahatma for the Freedom Movement, Sriramulu joined the Movement from the Sabarmati Ashram. He was among the first rank followers in the Ashram selected by Gandhiji.
He meticulously followed the Ashram life for eleven years. He also suffered imprisonment for actively participating in the Non-cooperation, the Salt Satyagraha, and the Quit India Movement. As a committed Social Worker, he undertook scavenging and sweeping in the slums, fought for Harijans’ temple Entry, campaigned for Khadi Industries, Welfare of the depressed classes, etc. His services in these fields in Andhra and Gujarat were enormous, had rare parallels.
As Gandhiji’s follower, he always lovesd to engage himself in constructive social activities. Thrice he was imprisoned. He earned encomiums from Gandhiji for being at the forefront of the movements.
He worked hard in 1944 in Nellore in Khaddar Movement. He propagated, in a touching manner, the National cause in the red hot Sun, without wearing footwear nor holding an umbrella. He was stubborn, unwavering, and uncompromising as far as his belief in the power of satyagraha was concerned. So, people used to call the patriot an “eccentric Sriramulu” ((పిచ్చి శ్రీరాములు).
“If there were to be ten persons like Sriramulu, solidly behind me, I would have got independence to India within one year” lamented Gandhiji.
Gandhiji had a special affection for Sriramulu. But at the same, he was a bit irritated too by his eccentric attitude. As Gandhiji’s disciple, he launched Sathyagraha, fast unto death, on 26th Nov 1946, seeking entry for Harijans in all the Temples in Madras State.
As Independence was in the foreseeable future, Congress leaders were concentrating on the Freedom Movement. Therefore they did not want Sriramulu to embark on Sathyagraha. As eccentric as he was, Sriramulu, did not yield to the suggestions from his comrades. Finally, Gandhiji had to pitch in to persuade him to give up the vow.
Then Gandhiji wrote to Prakasam Pantulu -“Hum, as you said, Sriramulu’s giving up the vow has filled happiness in me. After giving up the vow, he sent me a Telegram. Though he is a firm believer in the causes he espouses, he is an ‘eccentric.”
Unfortunately, Gandhiji was not alive to persuade Sriramulu to give up fast unto death in 1952. Even if Mahatma were to be there, Sriiramulu’s determination would have been firm in the case of the formation of Andhra State. That was his commitment to carve out a linguistic state for Telugu people composite Madars state.
In the evening of his career, Sriramulu ceaselessly strove for the welfare of the Harijans in the Nellore district. Selflessness and sacrifice was the hallmark of his life. He accepted food whatever that was offered by the kind-hearted. Harijan welfare was a National agenda for him. He used to sport a placard around his neck seeking support from all for the welfare of Harijans.
In 1946 he started Sathyagraha seeking entry for Harijans to Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple, at Mulapet, in Nellore. As a result, Harijans were able to enter the Temple. After his 23 days of his Sathyagraha, the Madras Govt has passed two Laws, pertaining to the Harijan Entry to the Temples and Welfare of the Harijans.
His determined belief was fulfilled. The third time he undertook Sathyagraha for 29 days in 1948 at Wardha. Moved by this unprecedented action, Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru himself responded favourably. He declared that one day in a year would be declared as a Harijan Day. Then only Sriramulu gave up Sathyagraha.
After independence, Sriramulu came to the conclusion that without a separate State for Telugus, the development of Telugu people could not be achieved. Sriramulu was more interested in working for social emancipation than day to day politics post-independence. But, he felt statehood for Telugus would lead to a social reconstructive movement. Therefore he decided to enter politics, though reluctantly and made it clear that a separate state was only for constructive activities.
There had been a demand for the creation of Andhra State since the beginning of the 20th Century. The first Andhra Mahasabha (Conference) was held in Bapatla under the Presidentship of Konda Venkatappayya in 1913.
Seeking formation of a separate Andhra State, Sarvodaya Leader Swamy Seetharam undertook ‘a fast unto death’, Central Leaders promised him a solution. He gave up fast. But the formation of Andhra State was not in sight.
The disappointment was writ large among the Andhras. At this stage, Sriramulu entered the scene and started Sathyagraha on 19th October 1952 at the house of Maharshi Bulusu Sambamurthy. As time passed, on account of his strict adherence to the tenets of Sathyagraha, Sriramulu’s health deteriorated.
He became frail and weak with different parts, one by one started failing. Finally fell unconscious. The whole of Andhra was concerned about his health. Slogans were raised: “Award Andhra State; save Sriramulu’s life.” Important Andhra Leaders requested Sriramulu to give up fast. An uncompromising Sriramulu made it clear that he was bent upon achieving the Andhra State, might be by sacrificing his life. He was regularly writing to his friends and leaders: “I am hale and healthy. There is no need to be apprehensive about my health.” He was moving around the house and speaking as per the need.
All in the camp feared. Before launching the Sathyagraha he made it clear that he would take lemon juice alone with little honey and water thrice a day. Even that was being omitted. Occasionally alarmingly he was omitting blood also. His condition further deteriorated. He could not get up and speak. Like Gandhiji, Sriramulu never wears a shirt. Since it was the month of December to protect him from chilly weather, he was persuaded to wear a shirt. As he became very weak, doctors suggested administering Glucose. Sriramulu responded in the negative with signal.
Day by day, agitation was gaining strength. Yet the Govt was not responding. At this stage, he talked to the leader of the movement to clarify that even if he were to lose consciousness, the struggle must go on uninterruptedly. He asked not to inject food.
He was dismayed that agitation was turning violent elsewhere in the State. Prakasam Pantulu in his autobiography “My Life’s Pilgrimage” ( నా జీవిత యాత్ర) writes: “Andhras became more and more agitated, day by day on account of Sriramulu’s fast unto death. It created an emotional atmosphere in the minds of the people. It became hotter beyond nature’s belief. It disturbed the minds of the students and the workers in Andhra.”
On December 15th was Sriramulu attained martyrdom. He was unconscious since morning. He opened the eyes once. He lost his speech and body movements. It was estimated that he lost 24.5 k.gs of weight. Nature Cure specialist Vegiraju and his wife visited him in the evening. Though he could not speak to them, he welcomed them with a smile. Since then, part by part, his body became cool and by midnight 11.23 he breathed his last. A patriot sacrificed himself for the cause of the Andhra State.
Due to the unparalleled sacrifice of Sriramulu Andhra State was formed on 1st October 1953, with Kurnool as Capital. This led the way for the formation of Andhra Pradesh and the Nation was inspired to form the Linguistic States in 1956. Potti Sriramulu is the source for this achievement.
His life’s ambition was adhering to the Gandhiji’s ideals of truth, Non -violence, and welfare of Harijans till the end. House No.126, Rayapetha High Road, Mylapore, Chennai, where he breathed his last was made Sriramulu’s memorial. POTTI SRIRAMULU MEMORIAL SOCIETY maintains it. There is responsibility cast on Andhra govt and the people alike, to protect, promote, and preserve it as a Telugu Cultural Centre.
It is pathetic that even sixty years after the state’s formation, Andhra has not become a linguist state at the core. Telugu is not being implemented as the official language. The administration is still being carried out in English.
It is earnestly hoped that at least by the Centenary of the Belgaum Resolution, in 2024 or Sriramulu’s 125th Jayanthi in 2026 to console the soul of Sriramulu the Governments would make Telugu the language of governance.
(Kuradi Chandrasekhara Kalkura is an advocate from Kurnool. He has been at the forefront of the campaign for the implementation of Telugu as the language of governance of the Andhra Pradesh for two decades.)