Andhra Pradesh (India)

Last modified: 2013-09-07 by ian macdonald
Keywords: andhra pradesh | map on flag | telegu | janmabhoomi |
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Andhra Pradesh

Indian states officially do not have flags of their own, except for Jammu and Kashmir. However, some unofficial flags have been reported:

• Andhra Pradesh: green with a map of the state in yellow in the center

The image of Andhra is wrong according to Flag Bulletin. The map is different and covers only a part of the state.
Jaume Ollé, 8 June 1999

In Flags of Aspirant Peoples this flag is labeled as "Andhra (Jai Andhra movement) - Andhra Pradesh" It is more likely a revendicative or separatist flag.
Ivan Sache, 16 Sep 1999

I believe that it is not a state flag, but a secessionist flag.
Jaume Ollé, 27 June 1999

The annual conference Andhra Mahasabha of 1913 claimed the creation of a separate entity of Andhra. In 1921 was established in Hyderabad (then a princely state) the movement called Andhra Jana Sangh renamed in 1931 as Andhra Mahasabha, under the leadership of Suravaram Prathapa Reddy. After 1927 many political leaders of Andhra fell under influence of Gandhi, but always claiming an Andhra separate administrative division and all the parties remained within the umbrella of Andhra Mahasabha. In 1938 was established the Hyderabad State Congress, helping in the consolidation of the Andhra movement in Telingana region. After 1941 the Andhra Mahasabha fell under the leadership of leftist politics as Ravi Narayana Reddy, Kaloji Narayana Rao, Baddam Yella Reddy and others. In 1946 the Andhra Mahasabha led by Ravi Narayana Reddy started an armed revolt against the feudal lords, called Telangana Movement and, against them, the Muslims organized within the party al Ittehad ul Muslimeen used their paramilitary forces (called Razakars) and started a violent campaign; in 17 September 1948, in middle of the civil struggle, the Indian army invaded the state (that was independent after June 1947) and was annexed. The Andhra (Telugu speaking) from Hyderabad and the coastal Andhra (territory united with Madras) claimed a separate state. Potti Sreeramulu, an Andhra man living in Madras, immolated claiming a Telugu separate state and Jawaharlal Nehru, Indian first minister, granted the creation of the state of Andhra (1 October 1953) with capital in Kurnool, only with the coastal territories before enclosed in Madras. In 1956 Telangana, this is the Telugu speaking regions of Hyderabad, were segregated and united to Andhra, forming the state called Visalandhra (Great Andhra), 1 November 1956, with Hyderabad city as the capital. The new state adopted officially the name of Andhra Pradesh.

In 1969 the leaders of Telangana region claimed that the state government didn’t honor the agreements and called for a separation of Telangana from the coastal Andhra. Then was formed in the coast a movement named Jai Andhra (Andhra Victory) that sought the division between Andhra and Telingana. The agitation continued until 1978 when a agreement established that two regions will remain together. Congress Party dominated politics for about 25 years until 1983 when the power passed to a party called Telegu Desam, but then opposed to the division. Lately, already in XXI century, the parties agreed in the creation of Telangana that can be proclaimed in next weeks.

The flag of Jai Andhra was green with a golden map in the centre showing the 12 coastal districts (the old Andhra state 1953-1956). Perhaps there existed a rival movement called Jai Telangana with similar flag but with the map of Telangana region, but never a flag with a map of all the state.
Jaume Ollé, 6 August 2013

From http://www.apinfo.org/janma2.htm:

The logo of the JANMA BHOOMI depicted on the flag represents three circular designs harmoniously balanced. The outer circle depicts human chain indicating collective effort, team spirit and development of human resources,which are cardial principles of the JANMA BHOOMI movement. The second circle depicts industrial wheel and two twigs with leaves in green indicating a balanced development of Industrial and Agricultural sectors and prosperity. The sun at the center of the design symbolises a vibrant work culture and all round development of the state. The sun as the universal source of energy also symbolises new horizons and progress by harnessing the sources of energy. The background color of the flag which is blue, is indicative of natural resources which have to be harnessed effectively along with the development of human resources for acheiving the goal of sustained development.