Potti Sreeramulu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amarajeevi Potti Sreeramulu
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Father of Andhra (divided from Madras presidency)
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| Born | 16 March 1901 Padamatipalli , Nellore District , Andhra Pradesh , India
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| Died | 15 December 1952 (aged 51) |
| Cause of death | Fasting for statehood |
| Resting place | Chennai |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Amarajeevi |
| Education | Sanitary Engineering |
| Occupation | Engineer, social activist. |
| Known for | Hunger strike for a separate state of Andhra. |
| Title | Founding Father of Andhra Pradesh |
| Parent(s) | Guravayya and Mahalakshmamma |
Potti Sreeramulu was a brave Indian freedom fighter. He is known as Amarajeevi, which means "Immortal Being". People in the Andhra region call him this because he made a great sacrifice. He went on a hunger strike for 56 days. He did this to ask for a separate state for Telugu-speaking people. Sadly, he died during this protest.
His death caused a lot of public upset. It led to big protests and riots. Just three days after he passed away, India's Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, announced a new state. This state was called Andhra State. Sreeramulu's efforts helped create a separate state. It was for people who spoke Telugu. This state was formed from the larger Madras Presidency. This area was mostly Tamil-speaking. His struggles led to the creation of "Andhra Pradesh".
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Early Life of Potti Sreeramulu
Potti Sreeramulu was born in 1901. His parents were Guravayya and Mahalakshmamma. He was born in a village called Padamatapalli. This village was in the Nellore district. His family later moved to Madras. They moved because of difficult conditions. Later, they lived in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
Sreeramulu finished high school in Madras. Then he went to Mumbai (Bombay). He studied sanitary engineering there. After college, he worked for a railway company. In 1929, he faced a great sadness. He lost both his wife and his baby. Two years later, he quit his job. He joined Mahatma Gandhi's ashram. He wanted to help India become free.
Fighting for Freedom and Equality
Sreeramulu was very active in India's fight for freedom. He joined the Salt March in 1930. This was a famous protest led by Gandhi. He was put in jail for taking part. Between 1941 and 1942, he joined other protests. These included the Quit India Movement. He was jailed three times during these years.
He also worked on village improvement programs. These were in Rajkot and Komaravolu. Mahatma Gandhi admired Sreeramulu's dedication. Gandhi once said, "If only I have eleven more followers like Sreeramulu I will win freedom from British rule in a year." This shows how much Gandhi trusted him.
Working for Dalit Rights
From 1943 to 1944, Sreeramulu promoted charkha. This is a spinning wheel for making cloth. He encouraged its use in Nellore district. He was known for accepting food from everyone. He did not care about their caste or background.
He went on three hunger strikes between 1946 and 1948. These were to support the rights of Dalit people. Dalit people faced unfair treatment in society. Sreeramulu wanted them to be able to enter holy places. He specifically fasted for Dalit entry into temples in Nellore. One success was at the Venu Gopala Swamy Temple. He helped ensure Dalits could enter it.
He also fasted to get government orders. These orders aimed to help the Dalit community. As a result, the government told officials to help Dalits. They had to spend at least one day a week on this. In his later years, Sreeramulu lived in Nellore. He continued working for Dalit upliftment. He walked around the city barefoot. He carried signs calling for equality. Some people thought he was strange. He was criticized by some higher-caste people. Even people from his own community criticized him. But he stood strong for the Dalit cause.
The Fight for Andhra State
Sreeramulu wanted to protect the Telugu people. They lived in the Madras Presidency. He wanted to keep their culture alive. So, he tried to make the government listen. People wanted the Andhra region to be separate. They wanted it to be based on language. They also wanted Madras city as its capital.
He started a long hunger strike. He stopped when Prime Minister Nehru promised to help. Nehru said he would support the creation of Andhra State. But not much happened after that. This was partly because Telugu people insisted on Madras as their capital. A committee called JVP did not agree. This committee included Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, and Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
Since the Andhra State was not formed, Sreeramulu started another hunger strike. This began on October 19, 1952. He fasted at a house in Madras. Even his supporters asked him to stop. They felt keeping Madras as capital was not possible. The local Congress committee did not support his fast. But his action caught everyone's attention.
Despite protests and strikes, the government did not make a clear statement. Sreeramulu sadly died on December 15, 1952. He was one of the few people in modern Indian history to fast to death.
After His Sacrifice
When news of his death spread, people were very upset. His funeral procession was huge. Thousands joined, shouting slogans. The procession turned into a riot. Public property was damaged. Disorder spread to many cities. These included Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, and Vijayawada. Sadly, during these protests, some people lost their lives in clashes with the police. The protests continued for several days. They disrupted daily life.
Finally, on December 19, 1952, Prime Minister Nehru made an announcement. He declared that a separate Andhra state would be formed.
What Happened Next
On October 1, 1953, the Telugu-speaking Andhra State was created. Its first capital was Kurnool. Later, the Telugu-speaking parts of Hyderabad State joined it. This area was called Telangana. These two parts formed Andhra Pradesh. This new state was created on November 1, 1956. Hyderabad became its capital city.
Potti Sreeramulu's Legacy
The house where Potti Sreeramulu died is in Chennai. It is at 126 Royapettah High Road, Mylapore. The government of Andhra Pradesh has kept it as an important monument.
