Vijayawada: The Town Hall in Bapatla witnessed a grand celebration of the AP Formation Day, on Wednesday. It was organized under the auspices of the Forum For Better Bapatla.
The event paid homage to the historic moment when the Andhra State came into being on October 1, 1953, following a four-decade-long struggle for linguistic statehood.
The foundation of Andhra State was laid with the sacrifice of Potti Sreeramulu, a martyr of the Andhra movement. His unwavering commitment and selflessness played a pivotal role in realizing the dream of a separate state for the Telugu-speaking people.
Apart from paying tributes to Potti Sreeramulu, the event also remembered and honoured other prominent Andhra leaders who contributed significantly to the statehood cause.
Swami Sitaram, the founder of Vinayasramam in Kavuru, had embarked on a fast unto death on August 15, 1951. After an arduous 35-day struggle, his fast was withdrawn at the intervention of Acharya Vinoba Bhave.
This act of sacrifice demonstrated the unyielding spirit of Andhra leaders in their pursuit of a separate state.
Bapatla holds a special place in the annals of Andhra's struggle for statehood. It was in this town that the first Andhra Conference took place on May 26, 1913, marking a significant milestone in the fight for separate states based on linguistic lines. This conference was a pivotal moment that showcased the Telugu people's strong desire for statehood. They felt marginalized in the Madras Presidency, where they accounted for 40 per cent of the population but had limited political influence and were often treated as second-class citizens.
The First Andhra Conference not only galvanized the movement but also laid the foundation for the Linguistic States Policy.
Andhra Pradesh became the first linguistic state in India, setting the precedent for formation of states based on language and marking a significant moment in India's history.
The celebration in Bapatla was attended by V. Srinivasa Rao, associate dean of the Agricultural College, as the chief guest. At the event, Nagasuri Venugopal's book titled 'Amarajeevi Poratam' was unveiled. It sheds light on the sacrifices and dedication of Andhra leaders in their quest for statehood.
