A true, lion-hearted leader 

Seldom did a leader of the national movement groomed his kith and kin and favoured the men of his caste and community. However, they had unfailing and unbounded allegiance and attachment for their regions and mother tongues.

I hasten to add that it is only love for theirs and not hatred for others. It is all on their own merit, selfless service and saga of saga of sacrifice: Nehrus (Motilal, Jawaharlal, Vijayalaksm), Ali and Patel brothers, Kripalani Couple and nearer home in Kurnool Sardar Nagappa and Sardar Amaravathamma.

The list is unending. It is the influence of Gandhi, who led by practice did not appease his sons. Kasturba was as dearer to the country, if not more as Mahatma was! Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu is one among those who considered the entire India and Andhra Desa and the Indians and the Andhras as his own.

Prakasam, the son of a Pootakullamma (mess owner), was born in penury. After walking 20 miles to his uncle's house, he failed to get Rs 2 for the middle school examination fee. His mother Subbamma mortgaged her marriage silk saree and paid the examination fee; in his own words, 'Nector in mother's love'. (Mathru Premamuloni Amrutham).

Eyeing his career in pleader's profession, he rejected a job in Sub Registrar's Office, pursued his academic career in Rajamahendravaram and achieved the goal. Not satisfied with it, he sailed to England and after earning the Barrister's degree, became a front-ranking lawyer in Madras.

One among the ten topmost legal luminaries in the country, responding to the clarion call of the motherland, he gave up a lucrative practice and plunged into the national movement. Earning the encomium "Andhra Kesari," spending the last pie he had earned, Prakasam, without losing balance, roared: "People gave me money and I gave to the nation. Prakasam is Andhra and Andhra is Prakasam."

When asked as to how he could be so cool and calm even in distress and adverse circumstances, Prakasam opened his coat and showed them his back; torn shirt, indicating that he had not forgotten his past. Lion often turns back to see its finished path (Simhavalokanam). Few instances from his life would demonstrate how stable minded he was: Sthithaprajna.

Prakasam was a devoted student of one Immaneni Hanumantha Rao Naidu of Rajamahendravaram at Ongole. During the summer holidays, Prakasam's mother reluctantly agreed to send him to Rajamahendravaram along with Naidu. When the holidays were coming to a close, Prakasam went to the ferry point only to return home.

In those days, waterway was the only means of transportation. By that time the boat has left the shore of Godavari and there used to be only one boat per day. Naidu consoled the young Prakasam and sheltered him to prosecute his further studies in Rajamahendravaram. If only he were not to miss the boat, chances of Praksam molding into an Andhra Kesari were very bleak. So his life is the story of a missing boat.

Reminiscing his school days, he recollects one of his best friends, K V Reddy Naidu. Naidu was the son of an employee in the Taluk Ofice. Naidu was a "good boy.” Prakasam was almost a vagabond. Yet they were good friends. Later in life, they distanced themselves in the municipal politics.

In the state politics they were poles apart: Prakasam, Congress and Naidu Justice party. "Yet I have great regard for Naidu, I believe that he too bears no ill will or rancor for me." Rao Bahadur Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu KCSI was a lawyer, professor, politician and Justice Party leader who served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from 1 April 1937 to 14 July 1937.

When he was the Chief Minister of Madras in 1946, one early morning at about 3 am, Ismail Saheb, an Opposition Leader knocked at the door of Prakasam. He informed Prakasm about the communal riot that broke out in Vaniyambadi; tanneries and properties of the Muslims were set ablaze.

He urged Prakasam to instruct the Inspector General of Police (IG) to send force to quell the violence. With dexterity Prakasam responded: "Ismail Saheb, you are the Opposition Leader and I am the CM. What can IG do? I and you must go there. Come on; let us move". IG was informed and Prakasam and Ismail rushed to the spot. When they reached: "The whole place was as bright as day light. ...... After restoring peaceful conditions there, in the evening, Prakasam returned to Madras."

Born on 23rd August 1872, at Vinodaryapalem, Prakasam breathed his last in harness, but full of glory and honours, on 20 May, 1957, at Hyderabad. "Prakasam is the architect of Modern Andhra Desa. He has a genius for conducting constrictive programme. Every moment of his life, he spent in the service of India,” said Govinda Vallabh Pant, Union Home Minister.

Nehru in a choked voice told the Lok Sabha: "A great man has gone from our midst. He was not merely the architect of Andhra Desa, but exercised powerful influence on the political scene of India." Even his political adversaries bade a heart-rending tearful farewell. People from far and wide participated in the funeral procession. Hyderabad had never before witnessed such a huge funeral procession. A lion does not eat grass and stale food. Exactly the same was Prakasam.

By KC Kalkura