1969 Telangana Movement

Telangana separate movement of 1969 was not only a mass movement in Telangana, but also in the neighbouring states. There was support for the movement from Telanganites of Bombay and neighbouring districts in

Maharashtra. Separate Telangana movement of 1969 had inspired Telugu community all over the country. 1969 movement years are marked by great activism and people participation, dialogue on socio-cultural and political economy issues of post separate Telangana state. Bombay Telangana Samithi was formed on September 4, 1969. There was also a Telugu monthly published during that time by Ram Das who later contested for Legislative Assembly. Separate state movement of 1969 stirred the hopes and drew activists from neighbouring states as well. Five pictures of Bombay Telangana Samithi, presented here, reflect the peak days of Telangana movement 1969. We are trying to collect and disseminate many such materials that speak of the great 1969 separate telangana movement Hope these pictures delight friends engaged in collection of materials about 1969 Telangana movement Mamidi Ramakantha Rao, sub editor of Andhra Bhoomi and Editor of Telugugadda weekly was active in the Bombay Telangana Samithi and in building support base for it among the Telugu people in

Maharashtra. Other speakers include probably Sri Ram Das and other activists from various parts of
Maharashtra. Any information about who the other speakers are is highly appreciated

We shall share a few more source materials and archives of the journals and pictures and other publications that emerged out of the 1969 Telangana Movement. Discovery Telangana is also engaged in this effort of collecting and disseminating source materials pertaining to Separate Telangana Movement of 1969. Any information and assistance in this regard from friends is also highly appreciated In the years after the formation of Andhra Pradesh state, people of Telangana expressed dissatisfaction over how the agreements and guarantees were implemented. Discontent with the 1956 Gentleman’s agreement intensified in January 1969, when the guarantees that had been agreed on were supposed to lapse. Student agitation for the continuation of the agreement began at Osmania University in Hyderabad and spread to other parts of the region. Government employees and opposition members of the state legislative assembly swiftly threatened “direct action” in support of the students.students.

Although the Congress faced some dissension within its ranks, its leadership stood against additional linguistic states. As a result, defectors from the Congress, led by M. Chenna Reddy, founded the Telangana People’s Association. In Parliament elections held in May 1971, Telangana Praja Samithi won 10 out 14 Parliament seats in Telangana. Despite electoral successes, however, some of the new party leaders gave up their agitation in September 1971 after realizing that Prime Minister not inclined to towards Telangana, much to the chagrin of separatists, rejoined the safer political haven of the Congress ranks.

During this period, the Government promised to correct what critics saw as violation to Gentleman’s agreement in jobs, budget allocations, educational facilities. Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi was strongly against the division of the state but on her recommendation, P. V. Narasimha Rao became first Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from Telangana on September 30, 1971. In the year 1972, all candidates belonging to STPS under the leadership of M Sridhar Reddy contested the assembly elections, however, only Mr Thakkalapalli Purushothama Rao got elected from Wardhannapet constituency of Warangal District and rest were defeated. In 1969, Mr Purushotham Rao unveiled Telangana map in the state assembly.Purushotham Rao was for outright separation during the 1969 movement and he supported the student views.

At the end of 1972, when the Supreme Court upheld the Mulki rules, the very next day of the Judgement, Jai Andhra movement was started in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions protesting the protections mentioned in the Gentleman’s agreement.[28] P. V. Narasimha Rao had to resign as Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on January 10, 1973. President’s rule was declared in the state. Finally, a political settlement was arrived at under the aegis of the Central Government. A Six-Point Formula was agreed upon by the leaders of the two regions to prevent any recurrence of such agitations in future. The `Six-Point Formula’ included (1) the abolition of Mulki rules and the Telangana Regional Committee (protections mentioned in the Gentleman’s agreement) and (2) the establishment of a Central University at Hyderabad to augment educational facilities. (3) In regards to jobs, state divided into six zones, within the framework of three regions, namely, Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema, and Telangana (Zone V, and Zone VI) with Hyderabad under Zone VI. Each zone should prefer local candidates for state government jobs. However according to GOM, the regions were rezoned with Zone I,II,III Coastal Andhra, Zone IV Rayalaseema, Zone V,VI Telangana.