In the modern history of Telugu people, particularly after India gaining independence there was no period free of controversies and dissatisfaction. Initially Telangana was part of Nizam state and after one year of India’s independence, police action by the Union government freed this region. Andhra and Rayalaseema were part of Madras state. After a lot of struggle and other reforms, the first linguistic state in India was formed, and this was AP in 1956.
However, the fear of Telangana people that the much-educated Andhra elite, who prospered under British rule and flourished with a lot of money would dominate them was never really addressed. This gave rise to discontent and eventually the separate Telangana movement erupted and reached its peak in 1969. After this, it was the Jai Andhra movement that dominated our political landscape and affected our regular life with regular bandhs and strikes.
Again, a set of promises were made to Andhra and Telangana people which remained unfulfilled and then what happened is history. Congress party’s Telangana MLA’s demanding separate state and then KCR launching TRS in 2001 changed the game altogether. Telugu states witnessed five-year turmoil from 2009 to 2014. However, even after Telangana state formation, there are still pending issues between both states.
Although people to people contacts and bonds continue, on a political level again the latest controversy surrounding the spirit of United AP being kept alive has stoked fresh fears on both sides. In another two years, it will be a decade of bifurcation and still it is a matter of concern that old wounds are being dug up and there is no time given to truly heal the wounds of AP state division in 2014. Political leaders from both sides of the divide need to find a long-term solution.
It is not wise to play the sentiment card every time there is an election and to divert issues from some political heat generated within the states. In this regard, neither AP nor Telangana can be vindicated and so is every political party. Till when should this generation suffer from the bitterness of separatism and division? Should we move on to march towards common prosperity and once Hyderabad loses its status as joint capital in 2024, what will be the fate of AP’s assets in Hyderabad? Well, there are only more and more questions. We only wish there are answers.
At a time when other states focus on development, we should not allow any controversies to hijack our spirit. It’s time for Telugu people to be united despite existing as two states.
