Pattabhi – “An Event-making” Leader

Prof. A. PRASANNA KUMAR

When the Editor of Triveni Sri Bhavaraju Narasimha Rao asked me to do an article on Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya for the special number, I could hardly realise the immensity of the task before me. But when I sit before the typewriter and begin to attempt a tribute to that great man, I wonder whether I can do justice to the subject assigned to me. For, on what aspect of Dr. Pattabhi’s personality should I write now? Should it be on his pioneering role in the field of social reform and education? Few perhaps know that Pattabhi and Konda Venkatappayya were the first to articulate the demand for a separate university for the Andhras. That was why Dr C. R. Reddi, another Andhra celebrity, described Dr Pattabhi as “a born intellectual excelling in originality of thought...the beaten track has never been his. He is of the tribe of pioneers and explorers. He is both a maker and writer of history.” It is not known to many that the vice-chancellorship of the Andhra University was offered to Pattabhi in the thirties and Pattabhi refused to accept it. This point needs mention particularly because the Andhra Jateeya Kalasala, founded by Kopalle Hanumantha Rao, Pattabhi and Mutnuri Krishna Rao was a unique institution which brought “tears of joy” to Mahatma Gandhi.

Or shall I venture to write on his leading role in the movement for linguistic redistribution of provinces? As the “father of the Andhra province” Pattabhi’s name finds a permanent place in the history of modern India. Or on his role as the founder of Andhra’s first commercial bank (The Andhra Bank) and a stalwart in the fields of insurance and co-operation. Such was his contribution in these two areas that The Indian Express editorially commented in 1937 that Dr. Pattabhi would make an ideal Registrar of Co-operative Banks under a National Government. Or on his role as the editor of “Janmabhoomi” and as a journalist of national repute, inspiring a number of rising Andhra journalists? To “the knights of quill” he was Kalpataru, “the benevolent uncle,” to quote the late Sri K. Rama Rao. Or on his role as a Congressman for sixty long years during which time he wrote the “History of the Congress”, was on the Working Committee and at last the Congress President in 1948? Or as the member of the Constituent Assembly and later as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh? Yes, how can anyone venture to summarise the many-sided and magnificent achievements of an eminent Gandhian who wrote history, made history (as C. R. Reddi said) and played a leading role in India’s public life. In fact his role first as a loyal supporter of the Mahatma and later as the interpreter of Gandhism entitled him to a prominent place in the Congress during the freedom struggle.

Yet, I have made up my mind to write briefly here on one of the outstanding contributions to modern India–his brilliant role in the movement of All India States’ People’s Conference. This I consider as a very significant part played by Dr Pattabhi, because more famous leaders like Nehru and Patel did not venture at that time to take up the leadership of the movement. Even Gandhiji preferred to lend support to the States’ people from the side-lines.

The merger and integration of the Princely States in the Indian Union has been described as “the world’s biggest bloodless revolution.” This merger was made possible by the hard work of the people in these Princely States. The movement in these States was called the States’ People’s Movement led by the All India States’ People’s Conference. The people in these States lived in feudal conditions and according to Jawaharlal Nehru the States were “more reactionary and incompetent than almost any place or country,” These States, about six hundred in number, varied in size, population and income and the atmosphere there, as the Butler Committee Report said, was medieval.

Strangely enough the Indian National Congress did not choose to identify itself with the struggle of the States’ people, but extended only sympathy. The requests of the leaders of States’ people for active support to their struggle were practically ignored by the Congress leaders. There was no change of Congress policy till 1936 when Pattabhi took up their cause. He was invited to attend the anniversary celebrations of the Servants of the People’s Society at Lahore in 1936. It was there that his interest in the States’ People’s Movement was aroused. He was elected President of the fifth session of the AISPC at Karachi in July 1936. And there he thundered, “The Congress is equally the Congress of the whole nation.” He declared that there would be no “genuine federation” without the Princely states. His speech soothed the feelings of the States’ people. Yet in the Congress circles he was criticised for deviating from the chosen path of non-interference in the affairs of the States’ people. The Karachi session of 1936 and Pattabhi’s election as President marked the turning point in the history of the AISPC’s struggle.

With characteristic zeal Pattabhi went about his task of mobilising the people’s support. He toured extensively, making inspiring speeches and giving the long-neglected States’ people a sense of direction. Pattabhi did not stop his work there. He geared up the machinery of the AISPC, started a journal “States’ People” for them, and planned the strategy for action. He activated the Prajamandals and crusaded for the emancipation of the peasantry and labour classes. In a moving speech he declared that “We should stand or fall together.” In the Congress circles he mobilised support for the cause of the States’ people. Under Pattabhi’s leadership “the principle of important non-intervention” was getting “transmuted into the practice of active involvement.” Pattabhi bridged the gap between the Congress and the AISPC and by 1938–two years after he took charge of the AISPC’s leadership–there was a total change of policy of the Congress. Subhas Chandra Bose, to whom Pattabhi lost the 1939 Congress presidential election, called it “unprecedeoted awakening.” Nehru, Rajendra Prasad and Patel hailed this “amazing awakening” in the Princely States. Gandhiji lent support to their cause in 1938 saying that “the movement for liberty within the States is entering a new stage.” Having done such outstanding work, Pattabhi handed over its leadership to Nehru. Pattabhi was chosen as the Vice-President and even Nehru, never kind toward Pattabhi, or Prakasam for that matter, hailed Pattabhi’s work. Under Pattabhi’s leadership the AISPC gained strength and stature and worked as a “safety valve at a time when there was despair and helplessness for the States’ people.” There is no doubt that Pattabhi prepared the ground for Patel. The latter’s political triumph (in the task of integration) was but the logical conclusion of a process set in motion by Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya.

Yet, Pattabhi as Iswara Dutt said, had the “fatal flair.” (an Andhra trait) for missing high offices. How apt was M. Chalapathi Rau’s brilliant observation that in the case of Pattabhi it was “a tragedy of national honours not equaling national renown.” That, however, should not come in the way of a correct assessment of a leader like Pattabhi Sitaramayya. I am reminded here of those famous lines of a biographer of Abraham Lincoln. The difference between an “eventful man” and the “event making” man, says the biographer, lies in that the former is an ordinary person moulded by circumstances, the latter displays extraordinary qualities of leadership that “leave the imprint of his personality upon history.” To such a tribe of event-making leaders belonged Dr. Bhogaraju Pattabbi Sitaramayya, who alas, is as little remembered today as he was honoured in his lifetime.

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