Dated : 1953 Burgula. Ramakrishna Rao's thoughts on Vishalandhra
Dated : 1953 Burgula. Ramakrishna Rao's thoughts on Vishalandhra
Year : 1953
I post here excerpts from one of the confidential letters written by
B.Ramakrishna Rao to the then President of the Congress Party, U.N.
Dhebar. The letter is highly significant for it reveals the thinking
of BRK and his observations of the ground realities in Hyderabad state
and the impending merger of Telangana with Andhra. Some of his
observations may be uncharitable to those across the Godavari, but
that is what he felt. It makes for highly interesting reading.
From:
B. Ramakrishna Rao
Chief Minister
Hyderabad
To:
Shri U. N. Dhebar
President
Indian National Congress
New Delhi.
My dear Debarbhai,
What I am writing to you just now is in the nature of an interim
report. Shri Bhargava is flying to Delhi tomorrow and I thought I
should write to you lest the whole thing should be rather late.
Yesterday and today I had the advantage of meeting a number of persons
in individual and representative capacities. This morning both Shri
Bhargava and myself had a little round of villages round about
Hyderabad. It is not so very easy to assess the views of the people in
any manner that can be called accurate. Besides the time at our
disposal is so short that we have to do the assessment in a great
hurry. Subject to these considerations I am giving below the
assessment of the situation as I see it.
There is, no doubt, considerable agitation in Telangana on this
important question. When I say considerable, it is of course nothing
of the type we come across in Bombay. The agitation this side is
spread over the whole province and not restricted only to cities. My
estimate of the views of the people of Telangana is that the people by
majority would desire Telangana to remain a separate state. There is a
strong section of the people holding the other view, that is
in favour of Vishalandhra, but the majority is decidedly in favour of
retaining Telangana as a separate province as recommended by the
S.R.C. The actual breakdown of views I shall try to give in a fuller
report that I shall be sending from Bombay. There should, however, be
no doubt in anybody's mind that the majority opinion is inclined
towards a separate Telangana Province.
I shall now briefly summarise the pros and cons of the situation.
Those who desire the formation of Vishalandhra support their view on
the following considerations:
1. Many of them would have desired the retention of Hyderabad State as
it is at present, but since this is broken in linguistic pieces and
since the big two pieces have gone to their respective linguistic
units, the third also, viz. Telangana, should go to the large Andhra
province.
2. The slogan of Vishalandhra has been in the field for a long time.
It had its emotional appeal. In Hyderabad it represented the urge to
break away from the feudal system. Hence they believe that
Vishalandhra be formed to satisfy that urge.
3. The supporters of the Cultural Integration feel that it is better
that two Telugu-speaking people living in contiguous areas should come
together. For them there is a great cultural advantage in a bigger
province. This is entirely an emotional approach to which a section of
the literary people attach considerable importance.
4. In a bigger province, the expenditure of administration becomes
less. Duplication and overlapping can be avoided. This is one
important point in favour of Vishalandhra. There can be one Governor,
one High Court, one Public Service Commission and many other
departments can be reduced as compared to their double strength just
now for two provinces.
5. There is also a belief that in a larger province there may be a
larger scope for industrial development etc.
The enumeration of these points is rather illustrative than
exhaustive. Those who are strongly agitating for the retention of
Telangana as a separate province do so for, amongst others, the
following reasons:-
1. They believe that the emotional urge for Vishalandhra has been
considerably weakened after the formation of the separate Andhra
state. It will further weaken with the creation of Telangana which is
purely a Telugu state. There is no agitation of a strong character in
Andhra on this subject while there is a strong agitation in Telangana
not to merge with Andhra.
2. If a separate Telangana is formed, it will not practically upset
anybody. Ideologists and the people with emotional approach will be a
little disappointed but there will be no agitation. On the contrary,
if Telangana is compulsorily merged with Andhra there will be
considerable bitterness in Telangana with no adequate advantage on the
other side.
3. Telanganites feel that apart from being Telugus they have built up
their own way of life during the last 175 years. This way of life is
in many respects different from the way of life of the Telugus in
Andhra. The merger, they fear, will destroy this way of life. That is
why they are worried.
4. Quite a large number of Telanganites are Urdu-knowing and
Urdu-speaking people. For more than a hundred years Urdu has had its
place in the life of the people. The administration is carried on in
Urdu, records are maintained in Urdu, courts conduct their proceedings
in Urdu, lawyers and other professionals carryon their work in Urdu.
They are, naturally afraid that the merger would take away the
importance of Urdu in their life. They do not like this prospect.
5. Educationally Telangana is very backward as compared to Andhra.
They are particularly backward in the study of English for which there
are either no facilities or very poor facilities. They are, therefore,
afraid that in the matter of service in a bigger province, they will
be at a terrific disadvantage. While there are thousands of graduates
and M.A's in Andhra, there are not even a few hundreds in Hyderabad.
No guarantees can level up this great deficiency. Services, therefore,
are afraid of an adverse effect of the merger.
6. Economically, Telanganites are afraid that they will be sufferers
in Vishalandhra. On an average, Telanganites are poor people. They
have no money reserves as some people in Andhra have. They are afraid
there would be an immediate exploitation in land and even in trade,
small and big. They have got many instances where Telugus from Andhra
do not hesitate to exploit the Telugus from Telangana economically
when they get an opportunity to do so. This is by far their biggest fear.
7. Although the language is common, there are instances that there is
no love lost between the Telugus in both the states. The classical
example of this mutual dislike can be found in the attitude of Andhra
officers during the Razakar agitation and immediately after the
accession of Hyderabad. While, they say, the Marathi, Kannads and
other officers were comparatively kind to the people of Hyderabad,
Andhra officers were particularly harsh and unrelenting. There are bad
memories left. These memories are so fresh in the minds of the
Telanganites that they do not want to be at the mercy of their
brethren in Andhra.
8. The Communists and the Communalists, as in similar cases in other
parts of India, having made common cause in demanding Vishalandhra,
the other sections are rather doubtful whether it would lead to the
happiness of the people on both sides. They believe that for the
Communists and Communalists, it is a political game. They are not
sincere in their support of a larger province.
9. Those who desire a separate Telangana as recommended by the S.R.C.
are prepared, as they say, for any test to ascertain the wishes of the
people. They claim that in a test it can be found that a larger
majority of Telanganites are opposed to the merger. They also claim
that if elections are held on this issue they would not yield even a
single seat either to the Communists, the Communalists or even the
sponsors of Vishalandhra.
I have sketchily summarised some of the pros and cons of the
situation. It would be wrong on my part to give any opinion of mine. I
have kept my mind open on the subject. I have summarised the situation
in an objective and dispassionate manner. I shall write more about
this in my fuller review of the situation from Bombay.
Sd/-
B. Ramakrishna Rao
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| brk_debhar_1.jpg | 126.04 KB |
| brk_debhar_2.jpg | 141.33 KB |
| brk_debhar_3.jpg | 134.41 KB |
| brk_debhar_4.jpg | 118.63 KB |
| brk_debhar_5.jpg | 132.62 KB |
| brk_debhar_6.jpg | 145.47 KB |
|
Post count: 274
This letter must be dated 1955 or 1956. Because SRC report came in 1955. It appears this letter was written sometime after SRC published and before the formation of AP in 1956.
Here is the link for SRC http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/India_States_Reorganisation_Commission_Rep...
Post count: 213
I will check with Vijay Burgula on the date.
It could be that this mail was sent while the SRC was in process and had not submitted the final report.
Notheless this mail opens up the real prespective of Burgula.Often it has been quoted that Burgula was a proponent of VishalaAndhra
Post count: 209
Burugula Ramkrishana Rao analyzed the Telangana situation correctly in 1953 but later he chose a wrong path. Today Telangana is suffering because of Burugula’s 1956 decision. According to his own analysis, he understood the consequences and predicted correctly what injustice will be done to Telangana people. Burugula was the father of Telangana and no father puts willingly his own children’s future at risk. Burugula did exactly that, fifty years later we have witnessed thousands of Telanganites committed suicide, thousands dying in jungles, millions migrated in search of work and many more are dying on the streets of Dubai, Mumbai and many other cities. No other decision in the history of Telangana caused so much pain and suffering, and we still don’t see any end.
Post count: 493
But how much of a choice did BRR have ? I lack information on this, but the question is how much choice did BRR have.We see on a daily basis how manupilative things are at the highest level.It could be quiet possible that things were far worse and the heavy duty politicians (like now) had a complete sway over the govt. at the center leaving BRR choiceless and powerless.
I am speculating here, but I can see it happening !
Elders in this forum should know more.
Post count: 209
Vijay, It is important to see Burugula's 1953 letter in historical context and it should be published for the same reason. Can you publish a photo copy of the letter for the benefit of Telangana people and telangana history.
Post count: 450
When I posted this letter originally in the TDF group, I had clearly metioned that the date in the letter was not legible. Some have guessed it rightly to have been after the SRC recommendations were made public. Be that as it may, I will try and find that letter among the few thousand pages that have been scanned and will post a copy of the scanned letter.
Vijay
Post count: 450
Thank you Vijay for your work.We all need to come together and work together and your efforts are greatly apprecitaed.WE need to help one another in this cause.Thank you
Post count: 7
Chaitanya and team.. Bravo the new entreprenenours of Telangana are visible. Telangana is safe..
I want to thank you for this nice website and iceing in cake Burgula Vijay. Thank you Vijay for your time and energy.. The day when the common man of Telangana understand these events and loss to him Identically, culturally, politically we will have our Telangana with every Telangana man will be respected. I hope to see Telangana with museum and special place for all Telangana politicians including late hon'ble Burgula Ramakrishna.
Vijay, please can you take efforts to write a biography telling the facts the real story of this now bad bargain with Andhra cheaters.
-- Jai Jai Telangana
Post count: 213
Vijay Burgula has given me the scanned copies but due to the file sizes I am unable to load them as yet.I will get it done once I fix the technical difficulty.
I apologize and well get back to you all when done.
Thanks
Post count: 274
You may want to convert the image to jpeg file to reduce the size;if it is already jpg file you may even change the resolution to reduce the file size. You may even use paint.exe application to do this.
I would like to use this file to put it in wikisource.
BTW, you may want to change the .bmp files in http://www.ourtelangana.com/node/417 to jpg file to reduce the size.
Thanks
Post count: 161
Several apprehensions or mis apprehensions are there about BR . Some say that A&S leaders had were succeful to make him to be afried of politics of Telangana Reddys & on otherside assured him an imp. position in future state(AP).But the letter he wrote to Debhar clearing his opinion & the opinion of Telangana people of those days. Not only our T-leaders weak in language,but were weak in playing politics,gimmicks etc..This kind of articles/info related to formation of AP or just before that period is more needed .
Post count: 1
I am not exactly arguing for or against telangana.
Reading Vijay Burgula's comments on the letter, and the letter, I disagree with Vijay Burgula's comments that the subject letter reveals BRK's thoughts on telangana. Quoting from the letter, the last paragraph
"Quote"
I have sketchily summarised some of the pros and cons of the
situation. It would be wrong on my part to give any opinion of mine. I
have kept my mind open on the subject.
"Unquote"
BRK has merely put across both the perspectives and was not making any judgment about the issue. Therefore it would be wrong to attribute these views to him. He was merely transmitting the pros and cons of telangana issue.
Post count: 153
It is useless to argue about the past and be supportive or critical about BRK now.
However, in my opinion, it was BRK's duty to support or oppose AP formation as the CM of Telangana.
Merely enumerating Pro-s and Con-s is an intellectual exercise, any of us could have done.
In that respect, I believe, he abdicated his responsibility and let Delhi and Andhra politicians
make the decision for him.
Purushotham
Post count: 6
Dear Admin
please upload the scanned image, it would be great if u can do that.
If the file size is huge, please resize/convert it using any freely available software. Eg: http://www.fotosizer.com/ this free software can do the job for u
thank u
prasad
Post count: 493
I will try to get it , one of our users Ramcrk got hold of the scanned copies .I will try to get it from him/
Post count: 6
thanks a lot brother.
just wondering, why is there no signature or name of brk in the last page?
Post count: 274
You can find this letter also at http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Hyderabad_CM_Burgula_Views_about_merger including the scanned images.
In this letter, BRK, tried to be neutral even while giving enough space for arguments of people who are against merger. Even though he appear to be neutral, its obvious that if anybody makes a decision based upon this letter they will be against meger.
He also caputured Telangana people's voice in the statements "My estimate of the views of the people of Telangana is that the people by majority would desire Telangana to remain a separate state.", "but the majority is decidedly in favour of retaining Telangana as a separate province as recommended by the SRC" , "There should, however, be no doubt in anybody's mind that the majority opinion is inclined towards a separate Telangana Province." He mentioned 3 times in one paragraph what majority of Telangana people want. Remember these are his views. This is his reading of the situation. He is not paraphrasing somebody else.
By looking at the letter its obvious that he is for Telangana. But he wants to appear nuetral. I am not sure why he want appear nuetral. I understand if Chief minister of AP wants to be neutral. But Chief minister of Hyderabad does not have to be neutral. I wish there is a auto-biography by BRK to undertand his thinking completely.
Post count: 333
This letter throws enough light on mood of people and politicians before merger.
But I am more confused after reading this letter from BRK.
As mentioned in previous posts BRK stressed 3 times in same paragraph about Majority Telangana's desire to stay separate.
Other sources say (execuse me that I have not yet seen the authentic copy of 1st SRC) 1st SRC recommended Hyderabad to pass 2/3 resolution after 1961 elections. This commission did not tell Andhra to do the same.
What happened betwenn this letter and 1956?
Has Hyderabad passed resolution or not? If not why did they merge with Andhra in 1956 itself?
Please do not see this as counter argument to Telangana.
I am genuinely interested to know the facts.
Post count: 333
I agree that BRK did not express his opinion.
But we should accept his assement of Telangana's mood and apprehensions of merger.
Post count: 17
I don't know why BRK took that stand in his private or unpublished letter while he praised to the sky the formation of Andhra Pradesh as dream-come-true of Telugu people later, though he lost his CM post. It only shows that he was vacillating in his opinions and moreover belonged to a group which was not with Swami Ramanand Tirth, then President of the Hyderabad Congress. One may note that Swami Ramanand Tirth was firmly for the trifurcation of Hyderabad State and merger of different linguistic areas in the respective linguistic provinces, and a Hyderabad State Congress resolution was duly made in that respect much before the Fazal Ali Commission report. Burgula belonged to a group in Hyderabad Congress opposed to Swami Ramanand Tirth, who was an intrepid fighter for liberation of Hyderabad all along. May be in that phase Burgula was more influenced by KV Ranga Reddy and Marri Channa Reddy et al who strongly demanded a separate Telangana. But the fact remains that at that time the votaries of separate Telangana, barring some urban areas, were far less in number and fervour compared to the supporters of Visalandhra in Telangana. Not only a majority, powerful group in the Hyderabad Congress but the entire Communist Party which was perhaps more powerful and popular in Telangana than Congress, as also Socialist Party, and above all the Visalandhra Mahasabha led by Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao and others (with persons of all parties including independents and including KALOJI who later became a separatist since 1969) were strongly working for Telugu unity and greater Andhra. One should note that unlike BRK, Swami Ramanand Tirth firmly supported Visalandhra all along and even during 1969 separate Telangana agitation, he braved the surcharged separatist atmosphere in Secunderabad, attended a big pro-unity meeting conducted in a tense atmosphere at which late Sri Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiah and others spoke and made all the speakers and the audience take a vow to protect the unity of Andhra Pradesh. But one must also note that whereas Marathwada and Karnatak (Bidar, Gulbarga, etc.) which joined Maharashtra and Karnataka are not so developed even today compared to Telangana in AP, the people there do not voice any such separatist or rancorous feelings. And none of these leaders - Ekbote or others - would like them to do that even! Only in dividing Telugu people all these leaders and unfortunately many misguided and misinformed Telangana leaders are on the forefront! That is the tragedy of Telugu people that they do not have sufficient affection and admiration for their own language and national unity.
Post count: 226
ఈ లెటర్ రాసింది BRK అని నమ్మలేక పోతున్న. సంతకం లేదు, letterpad మీద రాయలేదు. మద్యలో ఒక పేపర్ చిన్నగా వుంది.
అయినా KVRanga reddy గారి పుస్తకాన్ని మార్చి పబ్లిష్ చేసిన విభజన వాదులను నమ్మాలంటే కష్టం.
ఒకటి మాత్రం నిజం. ముస్లిం, మరాటా ల ప్రభావం నుంచి తెలంగాణా ని కాపాడటానికే BRK ప్రయత్నం చేసారు.