Chasing the Telangana dream since 1952

In 1952, a young intermediate student from Osmania University walked in with a bunch of friends to tell the 1st States Reorganisation Commission that Telangana should not be merged with Andhra into a grand state. And why. He was all of 18 then.

Tuesday will mark a poignant moment for Jayashankar when he walks into North Block to plead why Telangana region should be separated from Andhra Pradesh, an argument which has endured over six decades.

If there is a thread joining Telangana's continuing appeal over 62 years and four generations, Jayashankar may be it. The man, however, underplays his role in the struggle for statehood. "I have just sensitized the people of Telangana through research and academic studies, and by educating them on injustice," the statehood ideologue said.


It will be yesterday once more when the former vice-chancellor of Kakatiya University, along with TRS boss K Chandrasekhara Rao, makes a forceful plea for division of AP at the all-party meeting called by Centre on Tuesday. "Telangana is bound to come. I am optimistic," the academic-turned-activist told TOI.

His pursuit of one dream in a lifetime may be a record of sorts. Telangana has erupted at regular intervals and Jayashankar has been in the forefront always. He was a teenaged activist when he met the first SRC.
Then, in 1962, he was part of a campaign which rocked the region. As a lecturer, in 1968, he participated in the revived agitation.

The big hope came when he worked with Channa Reddy in 1971 in what is remembered as the most successful Telangana upsurge since 1947. It again resulted in disappointment till the retired professor of economics came across a rebellious TDP leader to forge a new statehood platform — TRS.

"I never joined a party," he said, adding, "My range is from RSS to TRS. Anyone who stands for Telangana can be done business with." This time, however, the 76-year-old says Telangana is round the corner. He has not given up hope.

Sources: Times of India

Political Parties Condemn JAC Member Comments

Political parties across the spectrum have condemned the statement made by one of the members of the Joint Action Committee for Telangana, Mr.P Ravi who stated that if Hyderabadi Andhras donot support Telangana then they wont allow the Andhras who go to their home towns for celebrating Sankranti Festival be allowed back.

It is important to note that the politicians who condemned the statement included those from Telangana too. Andhra politicians and people have to accept the fact that there are always people in agitations who tend to go to extremes. This we have seen in both Telangana and Samaikya Andhra agitations.

BJP leaders Mr.Kishan Reddy and Dr.K Lakshman who hail from Telangana have categorically snubbed the JAC statement saying that Agitations should not be against people and agitations should not cause any harm or problem to the common man. They demanded that JAC leaders have to take back the statement made by one of their leaders. They also advised that JAC leaders show caution while making any statements which can lead to mistrust among people.

Mr. TG Venkatesh, another irresponsible leader from Raayalaseema had called Telangana leaders to come to Raichur in neighbouring Karnataka State for a challenge. He said they would take care of Telangana leaders in Raichur.

Mr.Venkatesh from Raayalaseema is famous along with Lagadapati Rajgopal from Andhra and K Chandra Sekhar Rao from Telangana for making irresponsible statements which are not upto their stature.

Senior Congress Leader from Telangana, Mr.P Sankar Rao had stated that the JAC statement is not in the spirit of Telangana.

Others senior Congress leaders from Telangana like Jeevan Reddy and state minister, Ponnalla Lakshmaiah have asked people not to take the statement seriously as they are made in a highly charged atmosphere where police where persecuting the students and not allowing the students attend the rally.

Even the JAC Convener,Professor Kodandaram reminded that the same Mr. P Ravi had said that they would go to Andhra areas to celebrate Sankranti Festival and invite Andhras to Telangana to celebrate Dasara Festival.