Potti Sriramulu
Born 16 March 1901 · Andhra Pradesh
Died 16 December 1952
His 1952 fast unto death led to the creation of the Andhra State from Madras State.
🔔 Add birthday reminderPotti Sreeramulu was an Indian freedom fighter known for his pivotal role in the creation of Andhra State. Revered as "Amarajeevi", he is remembered for his commitment to social justice and the upliftment of Dalits, organizing fasts to advocate for their rights and access to religious sites. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Sreeramulu participated in major independence movements, including the Salt Satyagraha and Quit India movement, and was imprisoned multiple times.
✨ A detail that surprised us
Mahatma Gandhi reportedly said, 'If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu, I will win freedom from British rule in a year.'
1. In 1929, after losing both his wife and newborn child, Potti Sriramulu resigned from his railway job in Bombay and joined Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram, marking a radical shift from engineering to activism.
2. 🌾 Between 1923 and 1944, he pioneered the spread of charkha spinning in Nellore district, promoting self-reliance among villagers and bridging caste divides by accepting food from all households.
3. 🚩 In 1930, he was imprisoned for participating in the Salt Satyagraha, aligning himself closely with Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance during a crucial moment in the independence struggle.
4. Between 1946 and 1948, he undertook three hunger strikes demanding Dalit rights to enter temples in Nellore, concretely advancing social justice by challenging caste barriers in religious spaces.
5. 🥀 In 1952, he began a 58-day fast in Madras demanding a separate Telugu-speaking state; his death on December 15 triggered nationwide protests and forced the Indian government to announce Andhra State’s formation.
6. His death directly inspired Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to approve linguistic state reorganization, setting a precedent for redrawing India’s internal boundaries on language lines.
7. ❓ How did Potti Sriramulu’s personal tragedies and steadfast Gandhian discipline shape his unique role in both social reform and state politics?
Awards & Honours
🔍 One thing most people don't know
In 1929, after losing his wife and newborn child, Sriramulu abandoned his engineering career and joined Sabarmati Ashram, turning personal tragedy into political commitment.
🖼️ Through the Years
📅 The Journey
🗝️ Discoveries
"If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu I will win freedom from British rule in a year." – Mahatma Gandhi
— Potti Sriramulu
🎥 Speeches & Recordings
అమరజీవి ప్రాణత్యాగం మన ఆంధ్రరాష్ట్రం | Potti Sriramulu Birthday Special | TeluguOne
YouTube📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Potti Sriramulu’s 1952 hunger strike and subsequent death became the catalyst for the creation of Andhra State, the first Indian state formed on a linguistic basis, influencing the 1956 States Reorganization Act. His fasts for Dalit temple entry pushed forward social reforms challenging caste discrimination in Andhra Pradesh. Today, he is honored as "Amarajeevi" and symbolized as a martyr who fused social justice with regional identity politics.
💬 Social Buzz
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