M. Kodandaram

In the last 35 years, Prof. Kodandaram has founded and worked with many organizations that have laid the foundation for the creation of the state of Telangana. Some notable organizations and events he was a part of were Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC), Human Rights Forum (HRF), Center for World Solidarity (CWS), World Social Forum and Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika (TVV). He was also appointed as Advisor to Commissioner of Supreme Court where he worked on food security issue in India. He was also an activist on Polavaram displacement issues in Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh, India. Prof. Kodandaram was responsible for High Court issuing a stay order to State Government to temporarily halt the Polavaram project. He directly worked with many prominent Telangana activists including late Prof. Jaya Shankar. As TVV was instrumental in uniting all organizations and laying foundation for separate Telangana movement, its key member, Prof. Kodandaram, was ideal to lead the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC). TJAC, formed in December 2009 with Prof. Kodandaram as its convener went on to unite all political and non-political organizations under one roof and was responsible for creation of Telangana. During Telangana movement, TJAC was responsible for some of the biggest political gatherings in history with successful programs like Sahaya Nirakarana, Million March, Vanta Vaarpu, Sakala Janula Samme, Sagara Haaram and Chal Main Hyderabad.