Andhra State
Andhra State was a short-lived state of India established on 1 October 1953 through the linguistic reorganization of Madras State, encompassing the Telugu-speaking regions of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.[1][2] This formation addressed long-standing demands for a separate Telugu homeland, spurred by cultural and administrative unification needs following independence, with Kurnool designated as the temporary capital.[3] Tanguturi Prakasam, a veteran independence activist from the Indian National Congress, became the state's first chief minister, leading until November 1954, followed by Bezawada Gopal Reddy.[2] The state existed for just over three years before its dissolution on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act, which merged it with the Telugu-speaking territories of the former Hyderabad State to create the larger Andhra Pradesh, marking a key step in India's post-independence linguistic state demarcation.[4][5] This brief entity represented an interim solution to regional aspirations, highlighting the challenges of balancing ethnic identities with national integration in the early republic.[6]Historical Background and Formation
Linguistic Reorganization Demands
The Andhra movement, emerging in the early 20th century, sought to delineate Telugu-speaking territories within the Madras Presidency as a distinct administrative unit to preserve linguistic identity and mitigate cultural subordination to Tamil-dominated governance. Intellectuals and activists highlighted inefficiencies in the bilingual administration, where Telugu regions spanning northern Circars and Rayalaseema faced underrepresentation in official positions despite their demographic weight. The Andhra Mahasabha, formed as a platform for these aspirations, organized conferences and petitions emphasizing shared Telugu language, literature, and customs as bases for autonomy, predating broader Indian independence rhetoric.[7] Post-independence, these regional demands intersected with national debates on state reconfiguration, as Telugu leaders invoked Congress assurances from the freedom struggle era favoring linguistic alignment for administrative efficacy. The Dhar Commission, established by the Constituent Assembly in June 1948, rejected immediate linguistic provinces, arguing they risked fragmenting national unity amid recent partition traumas. In response, the Indian National Congress's Jaipur session in December 1948 appointed the JVP Committee (Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Pattabhi Sitaramayya), which reported in April 1949 that while reorganization should await political stabilization, Telugu-speaking areas presented a feasible case due to their cohesive cultural fabric and administrative viability.[8] Empirical pressures underscored these claims: Telugu speakers in Madras Presidency's relevant districts approached 14 million by early 20th-century censuses, comprising over 40% in key areas like the Godavari and Krishna deltas, yet official language policies prioritized Tamil, fostering alienation through limited access to Telugu-medium education and governance.[9] This demographic reality, coupled with inefficiencies in revenue collection and infrastructure favoring southern districts, fueled advocacy for separation to enable targeted development reflective of local needs.[3]Potti Sriramulu Agitation and State Creation
Potti Sriramulu, a Gandhian activist, began a fast-unto-death on October 19, 1952, at the residence of Bulusu Sambamurthy in Madras, demanding the immediate formation of a separate state for Telugu-speaking people detached from Madras State.[10] He persisted without food for 58 days, succumbing on the night of December 15, 1952, despite appeals from Congress leaders including Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to end the protest.[11][12] Sriramulu's death ignited immediate and intense unrest, with riots erupting in major Telugu towns such as Madras, Vijayawada, Guntur, and Eluru; police fired on crowds, killing at least seven and wounding dozens in initial clashes.[12] The violence escalated over days, prompting public outcry that pressured the central government, which had hitherto opposed carving linguistic states due to fears of national fragmentation.[13] On December 19, 1952, Nehru announced in Parliament the government's decision to establish Andhra State, comprising Telugu-speaking areas of Madras State excluding Madras city.[14] This marked a reversal from prior reluctance, driven by the scale of disorder rather than the fast alone.[13] The Andhra State Act, 1953, formalized the creation effective October 1, 1953, via presidential order, delineating eleven districts—Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Nellore, Anantapur, YSR Kadapa, Kurnool, and Chittoor—from Madras, with a portion of Bellary district transferred to Mysore State.[15] Kurnool was selected as the temporary capital to facilitate administration amid ongoing debates over a permanent site.[15]Initial Administrative Setup
The Andhra State Act, 1953, enacted by the Parliament of India and receiving presidential assent on September 14, 1953, provided the legal framework for the state's creation, effective October 1, 1953, by separating the 11 Telugu-speaking districts and parts of Bellary district from Madras State.[16][15] The Act outlined the transfer of territories, administrative assets, and liabilities from Madras to the new state, including the establishment of a high court for Andhra and provisions for interim governance until full reorganization.[16] Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi, an Indian Civil Service officer and former governor of Punjab, was appointed as the first Governor of Andhra State on October 1, 1953, tasked with overseeing the handover of executive powers from Madras authorities and ensuring provisional administrative continuity.[17][18] A provisional legislative assembly was formed immediately, consisting of 140 members elected from the Andhra districts in the Madras Legislative Assembly, which adopted temporary rules and initiated legislative functions under the Governor's administration.[19] Initial setup encountered transitional challenges, including boundary delineations under the Act, which empowered adjustments for taluks like Alur and Adoni transferred to Mysore, amid ongoing disputes resolved through committees such as the Wanchoo Committee.[16][20] Additionally, the state administration had to address the influx of Telugu refugees displaced by communal riots in Madras following Potti Sriramulu's fast-unto-death in late 1952, which had escalated ethnic tensions and prompted migrations straining early resources.[21][1] These measures focused on stabilizing governance without immediate adoption of distinct state symbols, relying instead on central emblems and provisional structures.[16]Geography and Demographics
Territorial Extent and Districts
Andhra State encompassed the Telugu-speaking districts of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema carved from the Madras State, excluding Telugu-majority territories of the Hyderabad State.[16] The state comprised 11 districts: Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Nellore, Anantapur, Kurnool, Cuddapah, and Chittoor.[16] [22] These administrative units formed the core territorial extent upon the state's creation on October 1, 1953, under the Andhra State Act.[16] The territory stretched along the Bay of Bengal with a coastline of approximately 974 kilometers, facilitating maritime trade through ports like Visakhapatnam.[23] Key geographic features included the fertile Godavari and Krishna River deltas in the coastal districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, and Guntur, which provided alluvial soils for rice cultivation.[24] Inland Rayalaseema districts such as Anantapur, Kurnool, Cuddapah, and Chittoor were characterized by drier landscapes, while Nellore served as a southern hub with access to coastal ports.[16]| District | Region | Notable Role/Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Srikakulam | Coastal Andhra | Northern coastal entry point |
| Visakhapatnam | Coastal Andhra | Major port and industrial center |
| East Godavari | Coastal Andhra | Godavari delta agriculture |
| West Godavari | Coastal Andhra | Godavari delta and irrigation |
| Krishna | Coastal Andhra | Krishna delta fertility |
| Guntur | Coastal Andhra | Agricultural hub in Krishna delta |
| Nellore | Coastal Andhra | Southern port access |
| Anantapur | Rayalaseema | Arid interior plateau |
| Kurnool | Rayalaseema | Tungabhadra River proximity |
| Cuddapah | Rayalaseema | Mineral resources and drought-prone |
| Chittoor | Rayalaseema | Eastern Ghats foothills |
Population Composition and Socioeconomic Profile
The population of Andhra State, based on the 1951 census data for its 12 constituent districts, stood at 31,115,000.[25] This figure encompassed a predominantly rural populace, with approximately 80% residing in villages and dependent on agriculture, consistent with broader patterns in southern India at the time.[26] Linguistically, the state exhibited high homogeneity, as Telugu speakers formed over 90% of the total, a demographic reality that underpinned the linguistic reorganization leading to its creation; minority languages included Tamil in northern border areas, Urdu among Muslim communities, and tribal dialects in agency tracts.[27] Religiously, Hindus constituted the vast majority, exceeding 90% of the population, with Muslims around 7% (concentrated in Rayalaseema districts), Christians about 1-2% (notably in coastal areas with missionary influence), and negligible others.[28] Caste composition featured dominant agrarian groups such as Reddys and Kammas, who held substantial landholdings and influenced local social structures, alongside Kapus, Scheduled Castes (about 10-12% statewide), and tribal populations in hilly regions.[29] Literacy rates remained low, averaging 15-20% across the state per 1951 census figures for the relevant Madras Presidency districts, with male literacy higher at around 25-30% and female rates below 5-10%; Rayalaseema districts like Kurnool and Anantapur recorded even lower levels, often under 15%, due to aridity and sparse infrastructure.[30] Emerging urban centers included Vijayawada (population ~150,000 in 1951) and Visakhapatnam (~140,000), which functioned as commercial nodes for cotton, tobacco, and port-related trade, drawing migrants from rural interiors and hosting administrative offices post-state formation.[30] These hubs contrasted with the overwhelmingly agrarian profile elsewhere, where smallholder farming and tenancy prevailed among Telugu-speaking Hindu communities.Government and Politics
Executive Leadership
Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi served as the Governor of Andhra State from its formation on 1 October 1953 until the state's merger with Hyderabad State on 1 November 1956.[31] The position of Chief Minister was held exclusively by Indian National Congress members during Andhra State's existence, reflecting the party's dominance in the state's executive leadership. Tanguturi Prakasam, a prominent freedom fighter known as Andhra Kesari, became the first Chief Minister on 1 October 1953 and held office until 15 November 1954.[32] Following Prakasam's resignation amid internal party differences, President's rule was imposed from 15 November 1954 to 28 March 1955, after which Bezawada Gopala Reddy assumed the Chief Ministership on 28 March 1955, continuing until 1 November 1956.[33][34] Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy served as Deputy Chief Minister under both Prakasam and Gopala Reddy, providing continuity in the executive during these transitions.[35]Legislative Structure and Key Elections
The Legislative Assembly of Andhra State operated as a unicameral legislature with 196 elected members representing 167 constituencies, comprising 138 single-member and 29 double-member seats.[36] Elections to the assembly occurred on 11 February 1955, marking the first democratic mandate for the state formed in 1953.[36] Voter turnout reached 60.14 percent, with 8,624,842 valid votes cast from a total electorate of 11,336,618.[36] The Indian National Congress (INC) achieved a clear majority, securing 119 seats and 3,394,109 votes (39.35 percent), which enabled stable governance amid the state's administrative consolidation.[36] Opposition parties, including leftist and agrarian groups, captured the remaining seats, highlighting fragmented regional politics but underscoring INC's organizational edge post-independence.[36] Key opposition figures, such as Communist Party of India leader Puchalapalli Sundaraiah, leveraged assembly debates to critique agrarian policies and fiscal dependencies on the center.| Party | Seats Won | Votes Polled | Vote Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian National Congress (INC) | 119 | 3,394,109 | 39.35 |
| Independents (IND) | 22 | 1,188,887 | 13.78 |
| Krishikar Lok Party (KLP) | 22 | 625,827 | 7.26 |
| Communist Party of India (CPI) | 15 | 2,685,251 | 31.13 |
| Praja Socialist Party (PSP) | 13 | 481,666 | 5.58 |
| Krishak Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP) | 5 | 240,884 | 2.79 |