Andhra Mahasabha
Encyclopedia
Andhra Mahasabha was a people's organisation in the erstwhile Hyderabad state
of India
. Started as a subsidiary of the Indian National Congress
, it had later moved away from it permanently to join hands with the Communist Party of India
.
.
Its first conference was held in 1930 at Jogipet in Medak district under the presidentship of Suravaram Pratap Reddy. A women's conference called Andhra Mahila Sabha was also held simultaneously with the Andhra Maha Sabha under the presidentship of Nadimpalli Sundaramma. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao presided over the second conference held at Devarakonda in 1931. The Nizam Government developed a hostile attitude towards the Mahasabha and imposed several restrictions on it. Therefore Mahasabha could not get permission for three years until it held its third conference, at Khammam, in 1934, under the presidentship of Pulijala Venkata Ranga Rao.
in 1935, while his wife Manikyamba presided over the Andhra Mahila Sabha simultaneously at the same place. The speakers started speaking in Telugu in this conference giving up Urdu, Marathi and English. A primary form for the constitution of Andhra Mahasabha was given in this conference. Many important resolutions were passed in this conference.
The leaders like Baddam Yella Reddy
, Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
, Singireddy Bhoopathi Reddy and the social reformer Bhoomaiah vakil (pleader) played important role in organising this conference. Representatives from all the taluks of the district attended this conference. From Jagtial Kasam Shivaraja Gupta, Jaisetty Lakshmirajam Gupta and Siddamsetti Sangaiah etc. attended it. The branch of Andhra Mahasabha was opened by Kasam Shivaraja Gupta at Jagtial. Raghunath Kache, who attended this conference, established the Andhra Mahasabha branch at Manthani. After the conference of Sircilla, a permanent office of Andhra Maha Sabha was opened at Boiwada in Karimnagar
. Baddam Yella Reddy was elected as the District president of Mahasabha, while Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
was elected as secretary. Damodar Rao of Gundi-Ramadugu was made the incharge of the office. The branches of Andhra Maha Sabha were opened at Sircilla, Jagtial, Manthani, Peddapalli, Metpalli, Koratla, Choppadandi, Sultanabad, Huzurabad
and several other places in Karimnagar district.
The popular leaders like K.V.Ranga Reddy, J.V.Narasing Rao, Suravaram Pratap Reddy
, Raavi Narayana Reddy
, Baddam
Yella Reddy etc participated in the Sircilla conference on 6th September 1935. The famous weight lifter Kodi Rama Krishna of Vijayawada is said to have exhibited his feats in this conference.
The offices of Andhra Mahasabha opened in the district carried on a campaign against Vetti Chakiri or forced labour, compulsory levy system of paddy and the exploitation of the masses by the privileged class like landlords, Jagirdars and Deshmukhs. The Volunteers of the Mahasabha helped the weavers in getting the cotton thread supplied by the Government on ration cards. They worked for the fair distribution of the cotton thread without allowing scope for black marketing.
village Shadnagar in 1936 under the presidentship of Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy. The sixth conference held at Nizamabad in 1937 was presided over by Mandamula Narsinga Rao. When the Seventh conference was presided over by Mandamula Ramachandar Rao at Malkapur, young men like Raavi Narayan Reddy from Nalgonda
, Kaloji Narayan Rao from Warangal
and Polkampalli Venkatrama Rao from Karimnagar
attended it. The delegates were divided into two distinct groups namely moderates and leftists. The eighth conference held at Chilkuru near Huzurnagar in Nalgonda district
in 1941 was presided over by the Communist leader Raavi Narayana Reddy
. The problems of women and the agricultural tenants were mainly discussed in this conference. The Ninth Andhra Mahasabha conference held in 1942 at Dharmavaram in Warangal district
was presided over by Madiraju Rama Koteswara Rao. In 1943 the Tenth conference was held in Hyderabad. Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy belonging to moderates group having defeated the leftist leader Baddam Yella Reddy of Karimnagar district became the president of this conference. In the eleventh conference held at Bhuvanagiri in 1944 the communists dominated and their leader Raavi Narayan Reddy became the president. This Andhra Mahasabha attended by ten thousand people came under the control of communists. The communist leader Chandra Rajeshwar Rao addressed this eleventh session. This led to a split in the Mahasabha. Moderates like Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy and others formed a separate association called the Nationalist Andhra Mahasabha which held two sessions in 1945 and 1946. The last session of the Nationalist Andhra Mahasabha held at Kandi Village in Medak district
in 1946 was presided over by Jamalapuram Keshava Rao. However the Nationalist Andhra Mahasabha ultimately merged itself into the Hyderabad State congress.
The Communist led Andhra Mahasabha held its twelfth session at Khammam in 1946 under the presidentship of Raavi Narayan Reddy. More than forty thousand people attended this conference. On 3rd December 1946 the communist party was banned and naturally the activities of Andhra Mahasabha came to a close.
king, Mir Usman Ali Khan was very notorious for the strengthening of Feudalism
in the Hyderabad state
. The feudal lords, nobles and other government officials, known as Razakar
s exploited the poor peasants and workers of their wealth, property, land and many times raped their ladies. Common people had no way other than depending on the landlords' mercy for basic needs like food, shelter and clothing. This situation made the people very angry. Many communist leaders of the region inspired by the Russian Revolution have decided to overthrow the Nizam
's rule.
Sri Madapati Hanumantha Rao
started Andhra MahaSabha. It was in 1928 that the Andhra Mahasabha was organised
under the leadership of Sri Madapati Hanumantha Rao and others. Its first conference was held in Jogipeta in 1930 under the
chairmanship of Suravaram Pratapa Reddy. In conferences, it used to pass resolutions demanding certain reforms in the
administrative structure, for more schools, for certain concessions for the landed gentry, for certain civil liberties, but did not try to mobilise the people and launch struggles against the oppressors or against the Nizam's Government. But it became in those
wretched and tremendously oppressive conditions in Hyderabad state, a forum, a focal point for the rising democratic aspirations of
the people. (written by Sri Puchalapalli Sundaraiah
in his book 'Telangana People's struggles and its lessons')
The Communist Party of India
organised a peasant led armed rebellion against the cruel rule of Nizam
landlords under the banner of Andhra Mahasabha. Few among the well-known individuals at the forefront of the movement were great leaders like Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
, Puchalapalli Sundaraiah
, Chandra Rajeswara Rao
, Raavi Narayana Reddy
, the Urdu poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin
, Hassan Nasir
, Bhimreddy Narasimha Reddy
, Mallu Venkata Narasimha Reddy
, Mallu Swarajyam
, Arutla Ramchandra Reddy
and his wife Arutla Kamala bai.The rebellion is historically famous as the Telangana Rebellion
and ended in October 1951.
The Comrades Association
played an influential role in the guiding the Mahasabha.
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Started as a subsidiary of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, it had later moved away from it permanently to join hands with the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
.
History
The Andhra Mahasabha, formed in 1930, pushed for the social and cultural development of the people of TelanganaTelangana
Telangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
.
Its first conference was held in 1930 at Jogipet in Medak district under the presidentship of Suravaram Pratap Reddy. A women's conference called Andhra Mahila Sabha was also held simultaneously with the Andhra Maha Sabha under the presidentship of Nadimpalli Sundaramma. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao presided over the second conference held at Devarakonda in 1931. The Nizam Government developed a hostile attitude towards the Mahasabha and imposed several restrictions on it. Therefore Mahasabha could not get permission for three years until it held its third conference, at Khammam, in 1934, under the presidentship of Pulijala Venkata Ranga Rao.
The Fourth Andhra Mahasabha At Sircilla 1935
The fourth Andhra Mahasabha, held at Sircilla in Karimnagar district, was presided over by Madapati Hanumantha RaoMadapati Hanumantha Rao
Madapati Hanumantha Rao was the first mayor of the city of Hyderabad, India. He was a social reformer and also started one of the first schools for girls in India, the Madapati Hanumantha Rao Girl's High School, in Narayanguda, Hyderabad. This school was set up exclusively for female students...
in 1935, while his wife Manikyamba presided over the Andhra Mahila Sabha simultaneously at the same place. The speakers started speaking in Telugu in this conference giving up Urdu, Marathi and English. A primary form for the constitution of Andhra Mahasabha was given in this conference. Many important resolutions were passed in this conference.
- 1. Education system should be completely revised and the educational institutions should be recognised.
- 2. Compulsory primary education should be implemented.
- 3. Mother-tongue Telugu should be the Medium of Instruction.
- 4. The legitimate rights of the people in Jagirs should be protected.
- 5. Child marriages should be discouraged.
- 6. Local-self Government should be introduced.
- 7. Untouchability should be eradicated and the untouchables should be given due place in the society.
The leaders like Baddam Yella Reddy
Baddam Yella Reddy
Baddam Yella Reddy was an Indian communist politician from Telengana. He was one of the prominent leaders in Telengana armed struggle against the Nizam regime.-Early activism:Yella Reddy became influenced by the socialist ideas of Jawaharlal Nehru...
, Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
Anabheri Prabhakar Rao is a telangana armed struggle martyr and is also considered a foremost authority of the Telugu language. He was an Indian freedom fighter, considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement...
, Singireddy Bhoopathi Reddy and the social reformer Bhoomaiah vakil (pleader) played important role in organising this conference. Representatives from all the taluks of the district attended this conference. From Jagtial Kasam Shivaraja Gupta, Jaisetty Lakshmirajam Gupta and Siddamsetti Sangaiah etc. attended it. The branch of Andhra Mahasabha was opened by Kasam Shivaraja Gupta at Jagtial. Raghunath Kache, who attended this conference, established the Andhra Mahasabha branch at Manthani. After the conference of Sircilla, a permanent office of Andhra Maha Sabha was opened at Boiwada in Karimnagar
Karimnagar
As of 2011 India census Estimation, Karimnagar city had a population of 2,99,660. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49% has an average literacy rate of 86.75%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.61%, and female literacy is 80.79%. In Karimnagar, 12% of...
. Baddam Yella Reddy was elected as the District president of Mahasabha, while Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
Anabheri Prabhakar Rao is a telangana armed struggle martyr and is also considered a foremost authority of the Telugu language. He was an Indian freedom fighter, considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement...
was elected as secretary. Damodar Rao of Gundi-Ramadugu was made the incharge of the office. The branches of Andhra Maha Sabha were opened at Sircilla, Jagtial, Manthani, Peddapalli, Metpalli, Koratla, Choppadandi, Sultanabad, Huzurabad
Huzurabad
Huzurabad is located in southern state of India, Andhra Pradesh in Telangana Region in Karimnagar District.This is one of the main towns of Karimnagar. The city is located 40 km away from District main city Karimnagar and 30 km away from Hanamakonda. Huzurabad is mid sized town, Mandal...
and several other places in Karimnagar district.
The popular leaders like K.V.Ranga Reddy, J.V.Narasing Rao, Suravaram Pratap Reddy
Suravaram Pratap Reddy
Suravaram Pratapa Reddy was a social historian from the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India.His work Andhrula Saanghika Charitra is considered the best social history of the Telugus. It was first published in 1949 and has since gone through many editions. It is considered to be one of the...
, Raavi Narayana Reddy
Raavi Narayana Reddy
Shri. Ravi Narayana Reddy, , , was a founding member of the Communist Party of India. He was a leader in the Telengana Rebellion against the rule of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII...
, Baddam
Yella Reddy etc participated in the Sircilla conference on 6th September 1935. The famous weight lifter Kodi Rama Krishna of Vijayawada is said to have exhibited his feats in this conference.
The offices of Andhra Mahasabha opened in the district carried on a campaign against Vetti Chakiri or forced labour, compulsory levy system of paddy and the exploitation of the masses by the privileged class like landlords, Jagirdars and Deshmukhs. The Volunteers of the Mahasabha helped the weavers in getting the cotton thread supplied by the Government on ration cards. They worked for the fair distribution of the cotton thread without allowing scope for black marketing.
The Later Conferences of Andhra Mahasabha
The fifth conference of Andhra Mahasabha was held at JagirJagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
village Shadnagar in 1936 under the presidentship of Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy. The sixth conference held at Nizamabad in 1937 was presided over by Mandamula Narsinga Rao. When the Seventh conference was presided over by Mandamula Ramachandar Rao at Malkapur, young men like Raavi Narayan Reddy from Nalgonda
Nalgonda
Nalgonda is a town and a municipality in Nalgonda district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Its name is derived from two Telugu words Nalla and Konda . Nalgonda in the past is referred to as Nilagiri. During the period of Bahamani kingdom, it had been renamed as Nallagonda...
, Kaloji Narayan Rao from Warangal
Warangal
Warangal is a city and a municipal corporation in Warangal district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Warangal is located northeast of the state capital of Hyderabad and is the administrative headquarters of Warangal District. This district is a combination of three cities: Warangal,...
and Polkampalli Venkatrama Rao from Karimnagar
Karimnagar
As of 2011 India census Estimation, Karimnagar city had a population of 2,99,660. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49% has an average literacy rate of 86.75%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.61%, and female literacy is 80.79%. In Karimnagar, 12% of...
attended it. The delegates were divided into two distinct groups namely moderates and leftists. The eighth conference held at Chilkuru near Huzurnagar in Nalgonda district
Nalgonda district
Nalgonda / Nallagonda District is a district in Andhra Pradesh. It has a population of 3,483,648 of which 13.32% is urban as of 2001.-Etymology:Its name is derived from two Telugu words Nalla & Konda i.e...
in 1941 was presided over by the Communist leader Raavi Narayana Reddy
Raavi Narayana Reddy
Shri. Ravi Narayana Reddy, , , was a founding member of the Communist Party of India. He was a leader in the Telengana Rebellion against the rule of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII...
. The problems of women and the agricultural tenants were mainly discussed in this conference. The Ninth Andhra Mahasabha conference held in 1942 at Dharmavaram in Warangal district
Warangal district
Warangal District is located in the northern area in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The administrative seat is Warangal.Warangal District has an area of 12,846 km², and a population of 3,246,004 of which 19.20% was urban as of 2001...
was presided over by Madiraju Rama Koteswara Rao. In 1943 the Tenth conference was held in Hyderabad. Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy belonging to moderates group having defeated the leftist leader Baddam Yella Reddy of Karimnagar district became the president of this conference. In the eleventh conference held at Bhuvanagiri in 1944 the communists dominated and their leader Raavi Narayan Reddy became the president. This Andhra Mahasabha attended by ten thousand people came under the control of communists. The communist leader Chandra Rajeshwar Rao addressed this eleventh session. This led to a split in the Mahasabha. Moderates like Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy and others formed a separate association called the Nationalist Andhra Mahasabha which held two sessions in 1945 and 1946. The last session of the Nationalist Andhra Mahasabha held at Kandi Village in Medak district
Medak district
Medak District is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Sangareddy is the district headquarters of Medak. The district had a population of 2,670,097, of which 14.36% were urban as of 2001...
in 1946 was presided over by Jamalapuram Keshava Rao. However the Nationalist Andhra Mahasabha ultimately merged itself into the Hyderabad State congress.
The Communist led Andhra Mahasabha held its twelfth session at Khammam in 1946 under the presidentship of Raavi Narayan Reddy. More than forty thousand people attended this conference. On 3rd December 1946 the communist party was banned and naturally the activities of Andhra Mahasabha came to a close.
The Telangana Rebellion
The last NizamNizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
king, Mir Usman Ali Khan was very notorious for the strengthening of Feudalism
Feudalism
Feudalism was a set of legal and military customs in medieval Europe that flourished between the 9th and 15th centuries, which, broadly defined, was a system for ordering society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labour.Although derived from the...
in the Hyderabad state
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
. The feudal lords, nobles and other government officials, known as Razakar
Razakar
Razakar is an Urdu word for volunteer and may historically refer to:*Razakars : Islamist East Pakistani militia that aided the Pakistan Army against the Mukti Bahini during the Bangladesh Liberation War...
s exploited the poor peasants and workers of their wealth, property, land and many times raped their ladies. Common people had no way other than depending on the landlords' mercy for basic needs like food, shelter and clothing. This situation made the people very angry. Many communist leaders of the region inspired by the Russian Revolution have decided to overthrow the Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
's rule.
Sri Madapati Hanumantha Rao
Madapati Hanumantha Rao
Madapati Hanumantha Rao was the first mayor of the city of Hyderabad, India. He was a social reformer and also started one of the first schools for girls in India, the Madapati Hanumantha Rao Girl's High School, in Narayanguda, Hyderabad. This school was set up exclusively for female students...
started Andhra MahaSabha. It was in 1928 that the Andhra Mahasabha was organised
under the leadership of Sri Madapati Hanumantha Rao and others. Its first conference was held in Jogipeta in 1930 under the
chairmanship of Suravaram Pratapa Reddy. In conferences, it used to pass resolutions demanding certain reforms in the
administrative structure, for more schools, for certain concessions for the landed gentry, for certain civil liberties, but did not try to mobilise the people and launch struggles against the oppressors or against the Nizam's Government. But it became in those
wretched and tremendously oppressive conditions in Hyderabad state, a forum, a focal point for the rising democratic aspirations of
the people. (written by Sri Puchalapalli Sundaraiah
Puchalapalli Sundaraiah
Puchalapalli Sundarayya was a founding member of the Communist Party of India and a leader of the peasant revolt in the former Hyderabad State of India, called the Telengana Rebellion...
in his book 'Telangana People's struggles and its lessons')
The Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
organised a peasant led armed rebellion against the cruel rule of Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
landlords under the banner of Andhra Mahasabha. Few among the well-known individuals at the forefront of the movement were great leaders like Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
Anabheri Prabhakar Rao
Anabheri Prabhakar Rao is a telangana armed struggle martyr and is also considered a foremost authority of the Telugu language. He was an Indian freedom fighter, considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement...
, Puchalapalli Sundaraiah
Puchalapalli Sundaraiah
Puchalapalli Sundarayya was a founding member of the Communist Party of India and a leader of the peasant revolt in the former Hyderabad State of India, called the Telengana Rebellion...
, Chandra Rajeswara Rao
Chandra Rajeswara Rao
Chandra Rajeshwara Rao is an Indian freedom fighter . He was one of the top leaders of the Telengana Rebellion . He also worked as Communist Party of India general secretary for 28 years until he gave up the job in 1992 for health reasons..-Family:His son and grandson, Chandra Chandrasekhar and...
, Raavi Narayana Reddy
Raavi Narayana Reddy
Shri. Ravi Narayana Reddy, , , was a founding member of the Communist Party of India. He was a leader in the Telengana Rebellion against the rule of Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII...
, the Urdu poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin
Makhdoom Mohiuddin
Makhdoom Mohiuddin or Abu Sayeed Mohammad Makhdoom Mohiuddin Huzri was an Urdu poet and Marxist political activist of India. He was a distinguished revolutionary Urdu poet...
, Hassan Nasir
Hassan Nasir
Hassan Nasir was a Pakistani proletariat leader and Secretary General of the banned Communist Party of Pakistan . Hasan Nasir belonged to Hyderabad and had fought, along with Makhdoom Mohiuddin and others, in the Telangana armed struggle. He was a maternal grandson of Nawab Mohsin-ul-Mulk...
, Bhimreddy Narasimha Reddy
Bhimreddy Narasimha Reddy
Comrade Bhimreddy Narasimha Reddy was a freedom fighter and a leader of the Telangana Rebellion, fighting for the liberation of the Telangana region of India from the oppressive rule of the Nizam...
, Mallu Venkata Narasimha Reddy
Mallu Venkata Narasimha Reddy
Comrade Mallu Venkata Narasimha Reddy was one the leaders and fighters of the armed struggle against the oppressive rule of Nizam...
, Mallu Swarajyam
Mallu Swarajyam
Mallu Swarajyam was an Indian politician.-Early life:Born into a semi-feudal family in the backward Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh in India.-Career:During the period, Nalgonda district was a part of the Hyderabad State under Nizam...
, Arutla Ramchandra Reddy
Arutla Ramchandra Reddy
Arutla Ramchandra Reddy was an Indian freedom fighter. He was among the leaders and fighters in the armed freedom struggle against the rule of Nizam . The communists joined with the poor peasants in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh during the 1940s to throw out the regime...
and his wife Arutla Kamala bai.The rebellion is historically famous as the Telangana Rebellion
Telangana Rebellion
The Telangana Rebellion or Vetti Chakiri Movement also known as Telangana Raithanga Sayudha Poratam was a communist-led peasant rebellion against the feudal lords of the Telangana region and later against the princely state of Hyderabad between 1946 and 1951...
and ended in October 1951.
The Comrades Association
Comrades Association
The Comrades Association was a communist organization that operated in the State of Hyderabad in India during the rule of the Nizam. It represented the Communist Party of India in Hyderabad State. The Comrades Association played a very influential role in the Andhra Mahasabha. Revolutionary Urdu...
played an influential role in the guiding the Mahasabha.