Andhra Pradesh

There are different conceptions about the formation of Andhra Pradesh and its name. It is for the scholars and research students to bring out the truth after poring through various records. Since I am neither, I can, but conjure what could have been.

Regarding formation of Visalandhra or Andhra Pradesh, I submit there was neither any popular movement nor any demand from any influential sections or interests for merging Andhra and Telangana. Definitely it was not on the Agenda of Potti Sriramulu nor other Andhra leaders who fought for separation from Madras alone.

After formation of Andhra, it must have been, then, a pragmatic and strategic decision taken in Delhi to merge the Telugu speaking areas oh Hyderabad with Andhra to prevent the former ruling cliche of Hyderabad from raising their secessionist head once for all. Please recall the Razakar movement and the Police Action. The principle of forming states on linguistic basis came in handy and Hyderabad state was trifurcated permanently and merged with three different contiguous states thus losing its homogenity and distinct identity. It will be interesting to note that Junagarh and Hyderabad, both of which tried to avoid signing the Instrument of Accession, were brought to heel by force and merged with erstwhile British administered states to stamp out all feudal traces.

Likewise regarding the name, those were the heady days with independence movement still fresh in memory and its allied trappings like Khadi, Hindi, etc. The Congress Party wanted to Hindi-ize everything where there was no opposition and the name suggested for residual Madras province was Dakshina Pradesh which was rejected outright by Tamils who continued with Madras till changed to Tamil Nadu which is not a Hindi word. The Telugus, who were more loyal than the king , meekly accepted Andhra Pradesh. This is also in line with the names of other States like Uttar Pradesh (United Provinces), Madhya Pradesh (Madhya Bharat), Himachal Pradesh (carved out of Punjab). Probably that is how Telangana got dropped and the state got its present name.

I stand corrected if I am wrong.

...ponder