Telangana Formation Day: History of the statehood movement

Formed in June 2014, Telangana is the 29th and the youngest state India. Telangana turns three on June 2 and the State government is busy with the preparations of making the Formation Day a memorable event.

Timeline of Telangana movement:

The Telangana struggle began in the year 1955 when Hyderabad was recommended to retain as a separate state but the States Reorganisation Commission moved past the suggestion.

Telangana leaders went on to accuse the people of Andhra for colonising the region by grabbing their lands and jobs. In 1956, Telangana merged with Andhra on November 1 to form a united state for the Telugu-speaking population called Andhra Pradesh.

In 1969, a separate Telangana agitation arose where social groups, students and government employees took part in the protests ensuing battle with the government. The stir led to a tragic loss of 369 students who were killed in the police firing.

Following the agitations, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi then formulated a six-point agenda that focused on preferential treatment to local candidates in employment as well as accelerated development of backward regions in the state.

BJP came in support for separate Telangana state in 1997 and followed the promise of ‘one vote two States’ in the subsequent year elections.

However, K Chandrasekhar Rao's launch of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) intensified the push for Telangana movement.

Karimnagar which emerged to be the centrestage for the Telangana agitations had KCR contest as an MP from the district in 2004. Even in 2009, Karimnagar was the main stage for the Telangana statehood movement with the TRS President deciding to take up a fast-unto-death protest demanding Telangana.

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However, KCR who was on his way to launch the fast, was arrested by the police in Siddipet town and that led to mass protests with several youngsters committing suicide for the cause.

Mr Rao continued his fast-unto-death while in a hospital and subsequently, the Union Government announced the formation of separate Telangana State on December 9, 2009. But the Centre backtracked on the statehood issue on December 23, 2009 after violent protests occurred immediately after the announcement by people in the Coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions.

Meanwhile, with the Centre backing out on the issue, 17 students launching a fast-unto-death in front in the Osmania University campus, Hyderabad. Student activists continued their protests along with political leaders and the struggle continued in Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana. The movement claimed hundreds of suicides, strikes, disturbances to public life.

Following the continuous agitations, the Congress Working Committee unanimously passed a resolution on 30 July 2013 to recommend the formation of a separate Telangana state and the cabinet approved the bill in December 2013.

After various stages the bill was passed by the Parliament of India in February 2014 paving the way for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana State with 10 districts from north-western AP. On March 1, 2014 the President gave the assent and published in the Gazette.

Telangana was officially formed on 2 June 2014 with K Chandrashekar Rao getting elected as the first chief minister of the state with TRS securing majority of the votes in the elections.

Hyderabad was accorded as the joint capital of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a period of 10 years.

Read Also: Telangana celebrates Formation Day with grandeur

Telangana Formation Day - 2017:

The state celebrates the formation day with grandeur every year which includes various events lined up showcasing the cultural activities in the state.

As Telangana is nearing it's three year mark, the officials have been directed to celebrate the event at mandal, divisions and district-levels across the State on a grand scale for which the government has sanctioned Rs10 lakh for each district.

Chief Minister K Chandrsekhar Rao directed that the celebrations by government officials begin after paying homage to those who sacrificed their life for separate statehood.

KCR also instructed that every important junction in Hyderabad and in district headquarters towns to be decorated to reflect the celebratory mood of state formation.

This year, the state has planned a three-day Telangana Formation Day fete which is lined up with cultural and literary programmes highlighting Telangana traditions. A food festival with Telangana cuisines is also lined up in the events.

On June 2nd, the celebrations will kick-start after the Chief Minister pays floral tributes to the Telangana Martyrs at Gun Park in front of the state assembly and hoist the national flag at the Police Parade grounds.

A rally has also been scheduled with folk artistes highlighting the cultural heritage of Telangana. Later in the evening, a mega cultural event will be held at Sardar Patel Stadium which will feature the Perini dance, an old art form of the Kakatiya era.

KCR will distribute awards to 50 members in recognition of their contributions to various fields of life and disbursement of pension for single women.

The third anniversary celebrations of the Telangana will also feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intiative of 'Ek Bharat-Shresth Bharat’ which was launched last year in order to bridge the cultural gap in the country and increase the interaction between people living in different states.

ALSO READ: Telangana statehood: A timeline of events