Andhra Mahasabha

Andhra Mahasabha (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర మహాసభ, IAST: Āndhra mahāsabha) was a people's organisation in the erstwhile Hyderabad state of India. Started under the name Andhra Janasangham (Andhra People's Society) in 1921, the Andhra Mahasabha spearheaded people's awareness and people's movements among the Telugu-speaking populace of the state and eventually joined hands with the Communist Party of India to launch the Telangana movement.

There was an increase in political and cultural awareness among people of Hyderabad State at the end of 19th century. As the culture and language of the overwhelming majority of the people living in Hyderabad State was sought to be suppressed by the State rulers, the natural desire for education and cultural development, for protection and development of their other tongue would become a basic doctrinal plank of armed struggle against the Nizam's rule.

A triggering incident that led to the kindling of Telugu people's self-respect in Hyderabad state occurred on 12 November 1921, in the Nizam State "social conference" when a Telugu lawyer, Mr. Allampalli Venkata Rama Rao, spoke in Telugu on a resolution. Allampalli Venkata Rama Rao was heckled and shouted at by those in attendance in the audience, among whom were speakers who earlier spoke freely in English, Urdu and Marathi. This event is thought to have mobilized the sentiment of Telugu-language speakers and the perception of that language's "true position" in Hyderabad State .

That night witnessed the creation of the "Andhra Jana Sangham" with the stated intention of promoting Telugu language, literature, its books and historical research, with eleven members led by Suravaram Pratapareddy, Madapati Hanumantha Rao, Komarraju Venkata Lakshmana Rao and others.

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