Some of our leaders highlight festivals such as bathukamma, variations in
spoken language, and local cuisines of the Nizam Telangana region to argue that
the regions have their own identities. Each region, and in fact districts within each
region, has its own unique aspects. However, let us not fail to acknowledge that
Telugu people have far many more things in common than differences. Our music,
our dance forms, our movies, our festivals, our dress habits, our food habits, our
rich literature, our art, our gods, our value system, our glorious history, our bravery,
and last but not least, our sweet language, uniquely define the Telugu race.
Whereas the reasons for us to stay united are historic and profound, the
excuses to split for the most part are grounded in prejudice. The consequences of
splitting our state would have disastrous long-term consequences on our people,
economy, and culture.
KCR, in his article written for the Deccan Chronicle on March 21, 2009,
claimed that 36 of the 42 political parties across the nation support his demand
for a separate state. Does anyone in their right mind think that Lallu Prasad
Yadav, Sharad Pawar, or Mayawati give a hoot for the people of Nizam Telangana?
All these political parties across our nation support our separation because the
weak and smaller Telugu states will no longer exercise the leverage that the fifth
largest state in India today does, which is the exact same reason Nehru opposed
creating Vishalandhra and accused Telugus of having imperialistic tendencies.
Our strength comes from our size, and that is an undeniable fact.
Today, the Andhra Pradesh state enjoys the second longest coastline
among Indian states. Let us not forget how the British and French landlocked
Nizam and weakened him to the point of submission. In the centuries to come, we
do not know what our future holds. We cannot allow the Nizam Telangana region
to be landlocked again. The consequences of such a move could be disastrous.
We should never again deny our progeny access to the coastline. It is the most
important strategic asset we can pass on to our children.
Fortunately, in the last 50 years, the lines between Nizam Telangana,
Coastal Andhra, and Rayalaseema have started to blur. There is cross-pollination
of people between the Mahbubnagar and Kurnool, among the Nalgonda, Guntur,
and Krishna, and between the Khammam and Godavari districts. Dividing our
state would again create a wedge among Telugus who are slowly but steadily
blending into one society.
Food is the basic commodity, and self-reliance is crucial during emergencies
such as wars, natural calamities, and unpredictable inflationary environments.
Andhra Pradesh is popularly termed as India’s rice bowl. In a united state, the
Kosta districts’ surplus agriculture production could be shared among the Nizam
Telangana, Rayalaseema, and Uttara Andhra regions before it is exported out of
the state. Along similar lines, Kosta districts could benefit from the abundant coal
and mineral rich mines of Telangana, Seema, and Uttara Andhra, which can act as
a reliable source for basic commodities such as cement, granite, steel, and thermal
electricity. Separation of state would destroy this natural symbiotic relationship
existing among the regions.
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