Fig 21.10 : Agitaters removing the fencing
Fig 21.11 : Agitaters participating in Million march
into the movement. These organizations gave a political shape to the amorphous
social organizations and strengthened the political movement and the mass
movement from below. These organizations trained fulltime cadres to the Telangana
cause. These activists coordinated the movement at different levels which took
new organizational forms connecting the masses and the leadership.
In order to unify the people, all parties and organizations came together to
form Telangana Joint Action Committee. Under its leadership, six major agitations
were launched: Non-cooperation Movement, Million March, Sakala Janula Samme
a forty two day general strike, Sagara Haram (human chain around Hussain sagar
lake in Hyderabad), Sansad Yatra (march to the Parliament) and Chalo Assembly.
The Central Government, in this background, continued its efforts in consultation with the Congress leaders of both the regions. There was a lot of pressure to take a decision at national level. Telangana thus became a national issue. The Congress Core Committee heard the presentations from Andhra side and Telangana side and
- A very large number of JACs and other organizations had been formed at all levels. Why do you think was it necessary to form an apex Telangana Joint Action Committee? How did its formation impact the movement?
- Imagine yourself as an activist of Telangana movement. Describe your feelings at the time when the central government agreed to form a separate state.