T. Prakasam: The Andhra Kesari

Armed police stood in a Madras street in 1928. A man stepped forward, bared his chest, and dared them to fire. That moment gave Tanguturi Prakasam his famous title, “Andhra Kesari”.

The name means the Lion of Andhra. He was a rich barrister who gave up his practice for the freedom struggle. Later he led the first state built on language.

1How did a poor boy become a barrister?

Prakasam was born on 23 August 1872 in Vinodarayanipalem. His family were hereditary village accountants and small landholders. They were not rich.

His father died when he was eleven. His mother had to earn for the family. Money was tight, and the family moved to Rajahmundry in 1887.

A mentor there, Immaneni Hanumanta Rao Naidu, helped him. Prakasam joined a local drama society. He qualified as a pleader in 1901. He also entered public life early.

He joined the Rajahmundry Municipal Council in 1900. He became its president in 1903. In 1904 he sailed to England to study law. He was called to the bar in 1907 and moved to Madras. His practice at the High Court earned him a great deal of money.

• Born 23 August 1872, in Vinodarayanipalem.
• Father died when he was eleven.
• President of Rajahmundry municipality in 1903.
• Called to the bar in 1907; practised at the Madras High Court.

2How did he become the Lion of Andhra?

In 1921 Gandhi called for non-cooperation. Prakasam answered at once. He quit his law practice, though it was very profitable.

He started a daily newspaper called Swarajya. It spread the message of non-cooperation. He also became president of the Andhra Region Congress Committee that year.

Then came 1928. The Simon Commission had no Indian member, so Indians boycotted it. When it reached Madras, a crowd gathered near the High Court. The police opened fire, and one protester died.

The police warned others they would be shot if they came near the body. Prakasam stepped up and bared his chest. He dared the officers to fire. This is the act that earned him the title.

• Joined the movement in 1921; gave up his law practice.
• Started the daily Swarajya.
• Protest against the Simon Commission, 1928, in Madras.
• He bared his chest before armed police.
• Read about the Simon Commission.

3What did he do in the Salt Satyagraha?

In 1930 Gandhi challenged the British salt monopoly. Prakasam took part in his own way. He led a salt march from the village of Devarampadu.

This march ran in step with Gandhi’s Dandi March. It showed that the movement was spreading far beyond Gujarat. Andhra had its own marchers and its own leader.

Admirers began calling him the Lion of Andhra after these two acts. The 1928 protest and the 1930 march together built the title. Rajendra Prasad later unveiled a memorial stupa for the march in 1935.

• Salt march from Devarampadu, 1930.
• It ran alongside Gandhi’s Dandi March.
• Title came from the 1928 protest and the 1930 march.
• Read about the Salt March.

4Why was he Premier of Madras?

Prakasam was Revenue Minister in Madras from 1937 to 1939. The Premier then was C. Rajagopalachari. In that post Prakasam wrote a report that argued for ending the zamindari system.

The aim was to give land ownership to the ryot, the peasant who tilled the soil. The report laid the groundwork for later reform.

After the 1946 elections he became Premier of the Madras Presidency. His term was short. In 1947 he resigned amid a rebellion inside his own party. Historians link much of that factionalism to K. Kamaraj. Zamindari was abolished in the state in 1948.

• Revenue Minister, 1937 to 1939, under Rajaji.
• Report on ending zamindari.
• Premier of Madras Presidency, 1946 to 1947.
• Resigned after a party rebellion.
• Read about C. Rajagopalachari and K. Kamaraj.

5How did he lead Andhra State?

In December 1952 Potti Sreeramulu died after a long fast. He had demanded a separate state for Telugu speakers. Public anger forced the government to act.

Andhra State came into being on 1 October 1953. No party had a majority, so a coalition ran it. All parties wanted Prakasam as the first Chief Minister. The Congress insisted on a Congress leader. He left his party and rejoined the Congress, then took the post.

The coalition soon cracked over the capital. Prakasam and the Congress wanted Kurnool. The Krishikar Lok Party wanted Visakhapatnam. When Kurnool won, that party left the coalition.

The final blow came over prohibition. A committee recommended it, but Prakasam refused to go along. On 4 November 1954 the Krishikar Lok Party moved a no-confidence motion. It passed by one vote. The government fell on 15 November 1954.

• Andhra State formed 1 October 1953 after Potti Sreeramulu‘s death.
• Prakasam was the first Chief Minister.
• Capital dispute: Kurnool versus Visakhapatnam.
• No-confidence motion passed by one vote; fell 15 November 1954.
• Read about Potti Sreeramulu and the States Reorganisation Commission.

6What are the exam traps?

He held two different offices, seven years apart. Do not mix them up. Also remember what he is honoured for today.

Ongole district was renamed Prakasam district in 1972. A Telugu film about his life, Andhra Kesari, came out in 1983. He died on 20 May 1957 in Hyderabad.

• Premier of Madras, 1946; Chief Minister of Andhra State, 1953.
• The title Andhra Kesari comes from the Simon Commission protest.
• His government fell over a no-confidence vote, not a merger.
• Ongole became Prakasam district in 1972.
• Do not confuse him with O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar, Madras’s first CM.