<p>If Andhra Pradesh was the first ever state to be formed on linguistic lines in 1956, ironically, a part of it – Telangana - that came into existence as a separate state on June 2, 2014, after a protracted struggle, is the first to prove that language is no more a factor in binding the people as a state. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The lingua franca of the people played a pivotal role in the emergence of national states in Europe when Spain, Portugal, France and England became full-fledged nation states by middle of 16th century based on common language. But in India, multiplicity of languages paved way for diverse cultural moorings, never hindered country’s federal set-up.<br /><br />The Andhras were the first to launch a movement for a separate state for Telugu-speaking people during freedom movement. The formation of a separate Andhra Provincial Congress Circle in 1917 was a step in that direction.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had common political existence from historical times. They formed part of Shathavahana, Kakathiya and Qutub Shahi kingdoms. But during the rule of early Nizams, coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, which later formed as Andhra state, were separated from the Hyderabad dominions when they were acquired by British through treaties during the period of Nizam Ali Khan (1761-1803) of Hyderabad. <br /><br />Hyderabad state as a separate political entity and the rule of Nizams came to an end with the integration of Hyderabad in the Indian union after “Operation Polo” on September 17, 1948. It was the time when Telugu-speaking people in Madras Presidency were demanding for separate Andhra state.<br /><br />The central government conceded the demand after Potti Sriramulu sacrificed his life by undertaking fast unto death. Andhra state was carved out with Kurnool as capital and the new state came into effect on October 1, 1953. <br /><br />The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in December 1953 to make suggestions on the creation of states on linguistic lines, paradoxically did not favour for the immediate merger of Telangana with Andhra state though both were Telugu-speaking states.<br /><br />The SRC recommended division of erstwhile Hyderabad state into three parts on the basis of language and suggested the merger of Marathi-speaking Aurangabad division with Bombay state (renamed later as Maharashtra) and Kannada-speaking Gulbarga division with Mysore state (renamed Karnataka). <br /><br />Following a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between the Congress leaders of Andhra and Telangana, the central government formed unified Andhra Pradesh (Vishalandhra), with all the Telugu-speaking regions on November 1, 1956. The manner in which recommendations of the SRC not to hasten with the immediate merger was set aside, became a contentious issue during the Telangana separatist movement that came up later.<br /><br />The Telangana movement<br />The non–implementation of the gentlemen’s agreement that was agreed upon at the time of merger, discrimination of Telangana in government jobs, educational opportunities and spending public funds were some of the reasons for the rise of statehood demand. <br /><br />The separate political journey of two different geographical parts, one under the British and the other under the Nizam for nearly two centuries, could not bring the needed cohesive amalgam to sustain unity.<br /><br />Even in language, we find slight variations in the way Telugu is spoken in the two regions though there has been no difference in written form. Telugu as spoken in Andhra region, referred to as Andhramu, has greater Sanskrit influence while Telangana’s Tenugu has less of Sanskrit impact and forms part of the Dravidian group of languages. The Telangana slang came handy to quick-tongued separatist leaders for their fiery speeches during the agitation. <br /><br />Another significant cause to the cleavage was the ‘Telangana sentiment’ which the political leaders emphasised once when the movement gained momentum. Like Scotland in UK, Telangana always retained its cultural exclusiveness. The dissatisfaction among the people was not merely for the jobs, river waters and funds for the development of the area, but also for the preservation of the cultural identity and self-respect of the people of the region. <br /><br />When the formation of new states was coming up under the NDA-I rule and when the Telangana leaders were trying to garner support for a separate state, K Chandrasekhar Rao launched Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) in April 2001 with the agenda of achieving Telangana state. With several twists and turns and after about a decade of agitation, Telangana got statehood.<br /><br />The formation of Telangana has vindicated SRC stand that the merger can happen only when people of both parts were willing for such a merger. If the union of Telangana with Andhra to form a combined Andhra Pradesh in 1956 became an example for others in the formation of linguistic states, its division now, it is feared, may also become precedent for similar regional movements indicating linguistic formula, a redundant one.</p>
<p>If Andhra Pradesh was the first ever state to be formed on linguistic lines in 1956, ironically, a part of it – Telangana - that came into existence as a separate state on June 2, 2014, after a protracted struggle, is the first to prove that language is no more a factor in binding the people as a state. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The lingua franca of the people played a pivotal role in the emergence of national states in Europe when Spain, Portugal, France and England became full-fledged nation states by middle of 16th century based on common language. But in India, multiplicity of languages paved way for diverse cultural moorings, never hindered country’s federal set-up.<br /><br />The Andhras were the first to launch a movement for a separate state for Telugu-speaking people during freedom movement. The formation of a separate Andhra Provincial Congress Circle in 1917 was a step in that direction.<br /><br />Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had common political existence from historical times. They formed part of Shathavahana, Kakathiya and Qutub Shahi kingdoms. But during the rule of early Nizams, coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, which later formed as Andhra state, were separated from the Hyderabad dominions when they were acquired by British through treaties during the period of Nizam Ali Khan (1761-1803) of Hyderabad. <br /><br />Hyderabad state as a separate political entity and the rule of Nizams came to an end with the integration of Hyderabad in the Indian union after “Operation Polo” on September 17, 1948. It was the time when Telugu-speaking people in Madras Presidency were demanding for separate Andhra state.<br /><br />The central government conceded the demand after Potti Sriramulu sacrificed his life by undertaking fast unto death. Andhra state was carved out with Kurnool as capital and the new state came into effect on October 1, 1953. <br /><br />The States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in December 1953 to make suggestions on the creation of states on linguistic lines, paradoxically did not favour for the immediate merger of Telangana with Andhra state though both were Telugu-speaking states.<br /><br />The SRC recommended division of erstwhile Hyderabad state into three parts on the basis of language and suggested the merger of Marathi-speaking Aurangabad division with Bombay state (renamed later as Maharashtra) and Kannada-speaking Gulbarga division with Mysore state (renamed Karnataka). <br /><br />Following a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between the Congress leaders of Andhra and Telangana, the central government formed unified Andhra Pradesh (Vishalandhra), with all the Telugu-speaking regions on November 1, 1956. The manner in which recommendations of the SRC not to hasten with the immediate merger was set aside, became a contentious issue during the Telangana separatist movement that came up later.<br /><br />The Telangana movement<br />The non–implementation of the gentlemen’s agreement that was agreed upon at the time of merger, discrimination of Telangana in government jobs, educational opportunities and spending public funds were some of the reasons for the rise of statehood demand. <br /><br />The separate political journey of two different geographical parts, one under the British and the other under the Nizam for nearly two centuries, could not bring the needed cohesive amalgam to sustain unity.<br /><br />Even in language, we find slight variations in the way Telugu is spoken in the two regions though there has been no difference in written form. Telugu as spoken in Andhra region, referred to as Andhramu, has greater Sanskrit influence while Telangana’s Tenugu has less of Sanskrit impact and forms part of the Dravidian group of languages. The Telangana slang came handy to quick-tongued separatist leaders for their fiery speeches during the agitation. <br /><br />Another significant cause to the cleavage was the ‘Telangana sentiment’ which the political leaders emphasised once when the movement gained momentum. Like Scotland in UK, Telangana always retained its cultural exclusiveness. The dissatisfaction among the people was not merely for the jobs, river waters and funds for the development of the area, but also for the preservation of the cultural identity and self-respect of the people of the region. <br /><br />When the formation of new states was coming up under the NDA-I rule and when the Telangana leaders were trying to garner support for a separate state, K Chandrasekhar Rao launched Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) in April 2001 with the agenda of achieving Telangana state. With several twists and turns and after about a decade of agitation, Telangana got statehood.<br /><br />The formation of Telangana has vindicated SRC stand that the merger can happen only when people of both parts were willing for such a merger. If the union of Telangana with Andhra to form a combined Andhra Pradesh in 1956 became an example for others in the formation of linguistic states, its division now, it is feared, may also become precedent for similar regional movements indicating linguistic formula, a redundant one.</p>
