- KR Bharat
- 2025-12-15
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and several other leaders paid rich tributes to Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu on his death anniversary on Monday, recalling his supreme sacrifice that led to the creation of Andhra State and later the linguistic reorganisation of states in India.
Governor Abdul Nazeer described Potti Sriramulu as a legendary freedom fighter whose life symbolised courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to the aspirations of the Telugu people. He said Sriramulu’s sacrifice would remain permanently etched in the nation’s history.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also paid homage, calling Potti Sriramulu a valiant and noble soul who actively participated in India’s freedom struggle under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. He took part in movements such as the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement, the Chief Minister said in a post on X.
Naidu added that Potti Sriramulu’s fast unto death for a separate Telugu state set a historic precedent for the formation of linguistic states in the country. “Bowing my head in reverence to that great soul who sacrificed his life for the Telugu people, I once again offer my tribute,” he wrote.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also paid tributes, recalling that Potti Sriramulu undertook a fast unto death with the firm resolve that the Telugu people should have their own state. He said the Telugu states that exist today are the direct result of Sriramulu’s supreme sacrifice.
Pawan Kalyan noted that Potti Sriramulu followed Gandhian ideals and aspired for a casteless society. He emphasised that future generations should be made aware of the historic hunger strike that shaped the destiny of Telugu-speaking people.
Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy described Potti Sriramulu as a symbol of Telugu self-respect. He said Sriramulu remains an immortal figure who laid down his life for a separate state, forever living in the hearts of the Telugu people.
Potti Sriramulu died in 1952 after a 56-day hunger strike in Madras demanding a separate state for Telugu-speaking people. His sacrifice led to the formation of Andhra State in 1953, with Kurnool as its capital. In 1956, Andhra State merged with Telugu-speaking Telangana to form Andhra Pradesh, while Telangana later became a separate state in 2014.
