Damodaram Sanjivayya
Damodaram Sanjivayya (14 February 1921 – 7 May 1972) was an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 11 January 1960 to 12 March 1962.[3][4] Sanjivayya was the first Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state.[5][6] He was also the first Dalit leader to become All India Congress Committee president.[7]
Damodaram Sanjivayya | |
---|---|
2nd Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh | |
In office 11 January 1960 – 12 March 1962 | |
Governor | Bhim Sen Sachar |
Preceded by | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
Succeeded by | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
Constituency | Kurnool |
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
In office 1964–1972 [1] | |
Constituency | Andhra Pradesh |
Personal details | |
Born | Peddapdu Village, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India) | 14 February 1921
Died | 7 May 1972 51) | (aged
Political party | Indian National Congress |
Spouse | Krishnaveni |
Alma mater | Madras Law College[2] |
Cabinet | Government of India |
Portfolio | Minister of Labour and Employment (9 June 1964 – 23 January 1966) |
Early life
Damodaram Sanjivayya was born in a Mala family[8] in Peddapadu village of Kallur Mandal in Kurnool district.[3] His father died when he was in young age. He studied at the Municipal School and he took a Bachelor's degree in Law from Madras Law College in 1948.[9] Even being a student, he actively participated in the Indian freedom movement.[10]
Career
Damodaram Sanjivayya was Minister in the composite Madras State. He was the member of the provisional parliament 1950–52. In 1962, Sanjivayya also became the first Dalit leader from Andhra Pradesh to become All India Congress Committee president.[11]
He was Minister of Labour and Employment under Lal Bahadur Shastri between 9 June 1964 and 23 January 1966.[12]
Chief Minister
Sanjivayya was the first Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state.[13]
He wrote a book on Labour problems and industrial development in India, in 1970 published by Oxford and IBH Pub. Co., New Delhi.[14] He introduced pension system for widows, elderly people, he established Lalitha kala academy in Andhra pradesh, he was the youngest chief minister ever in India, he introduced the office of Anticorruption Bureau {ACB}, he completed the irrigation projects like Gajuladinne in Kurnool dist., Vamsadhara, Pulichintala and varadarajula swamy project near Atmakur in Kurnool dist.
Personal life
In 1950 Sanjivayya married a Dalit teacher, Krishnaveni. They had no children. Sanjivayya wrote literary articles and poetry in Telugu in his free time.[9]
Honours
- His statue was erected opposite Public Gardens in Nampally, Hyderabad
- A park, Sanjeevaiah park on the banks of Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad was named in his honour. His grave is also located inside the park.
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam one of the premier legal institutions in the country has been named in his honour.
- India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honour (INR 5.00) on 14 February 2008.
References
- "RAJYA SABHA MEMBERS BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 1952 – 2003" (PDF). Rajya Sabha. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- "Damodaram Sanjivayya Dead". The New York Times. 8 May 1972. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- Life Hyderabad : Memorial for Sanjeevaiah. The Hindu (21 April 2005). Retrieved on 23 September 2011.
- Rulers of India. Rulers.org. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.
- "What's Under A Surname? Well, A Whole State". Outlook. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- "Before Punjab CM Channi, here are Dalit leaders who held top post in country". Hindustan Times. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- Ghosh, Abantika (19 October 2022). "As its 1st Dalit president in 50 yrs, what difference will Kharge make to Congress's fortunes?". ThePrint. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
The first Dalit ever to become Congress president was Damodaram Sanjivayya, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, who held the post twice.
- Gundimeda, Sambaiah (2009). "Dalits, Praja Rajyam Party and Caste Politics in Andhra Pradesh". Economic and Political Weekly. 44 (21): 50–58. ISSN 0012-9976.
- "Damodaram Sanjivayya Dead; Head of India's Congress Party". The New York Times. 8 May 1972. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
- Obituary in Assembly Proceedings.1972. Megassembly.gov.in. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.
- "Presidents of Indian National Congress". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link). Retrieved on 23 September 2011. - Union Ministry of Lal Bahadur Shastry. Kolumbus.fi. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.
- "What's Under A Surname? Well, A Whole State". Outlook. 16 December 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
- "Sanjivayya, D. 1970. Labour Problem and Industrial Development in India". New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Publishers.