Andhra Mahasabha and the Visalandhra Movement:

The wounds of bifurcation r still afresh for most of us telugus. Its been only a few yrs, and we still dont realise its ill effects too.

But probing into how the demand for United Andhra arose in the first place. May guide us.

In 1913, in the first Andhra Mahasabha session held at Bapatla. Stalwarts like Prakasam Panthulu, Sir BN Sarma, Ayyedevara Kaleshwara Rao, Suravaram Pratap Reddy amongst others. Were determined to ensure Vishalandhra/the reunification of the divided Telugu lands!

By 1930, Andhra Mahasabha spread to Telangana, and Communist and Congress workers alike backed it. In fact, they refused to even change the name "Andhra" as it was against the Nizam, and refused to replace it with Telugu!

Such was the desire for a United "Andhra" even amongst Telangana stalwarts like Burgulla Ramakrishna Rao, Kaloji Naryana Rao, and Ravi Narayana Reddy. They campaigned and fought it for it too!

Whilst the struggle against Razakkars and Nizam raged on in Telangana, where many Telangana bravehearts fought for both liberation as well as the merging of the Telugu land to carve out a United Andhra Pradesh! The situation in Andhra and Rayalaseema were a tad bit different

In 1937, dispute between Seema and Andhra raged over Andhra University's headquarters which was inaugurated in Bezawada, to which Rayalaseema leaders opposed and insisted headquarters be shifted to their region as they lacked educational development.

Soon, the Rayalaseema Mahasabha was started by CL Narasimha Reddy and K Subramanyam to campaign for the needs of Rayalaseema/Circar districts. Debate raged and intensified. While on One side, the fight for a United AP of long lost lands raged on.

Andhra Mahasabha and its leaders like Kasinathuni Nageswara Rao, the founder of Amrutjanam n Andhra Patrika tried to figure out a solution with stalwarts like Prakasam Panthulu. A truce was sorted of reached in regards to Andhra University. It was shifted to Waltair to avoid

Further confrontation. After much deliberation, Seema leaders and Andhra leaders signed a pact called the Sribagh Pact in the house of Kasinathuni Nageswara Rao. Which guaranteed certain rights to Seema region, if they agreed to back Andhra's demand for a separate Andhra state.

The pact included promises for a University, Irrigation and more equal distribution of seats in Legislative matters to Seema. The signatories of the pact were:

Bhogaraju Pattabhi.
Kallur Subba Rao.
Pappuri Ramacharyulu.
L. Subbarami Reddy.

Amongst others.

Tanguturi Prakasam Panthulu, Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Kasinathuni Nageswara Rao were the key ppl who made the peaceful integration of Rayalaseema and Andhra possible. This is a important footnote to remember.

Thread will be updated and continued shortly..