The website details the life and work of Swami Ramanand Teerth, focusing on his role in the Hyderabad liberation movement and the integration of Marathwada into Maharashtra. Here's a summary of key points from the sources:
Swami Ramanand Teerth's birth name was Venkatesh Bhavanarao Khedgikar, born on October 3, 1903, in Sindgi, Karnataka. He completed his primary education in Sindgi and then moved to Solapur for further studies. He completed his higher education in Amalner and Pune. Influenced by Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi, he vowed to dedicate his life to the service of the nation as a lifelong ascetic. He participated in Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement during his school days.
After completing his education in 1926, he worked with labor leader Shri. N.M. Joshi. He was imprisoned during a labor strike in Solapur. He served as the headmaster of the National School in Hipparga for six years. While in Hipparga, he took monastic vows and became known as Swami Ramanand Teerth. He established the Shri Yogeshwari Shikshan Sanstha's high school in Mominabad (present-day Ambajogai) to promote national education and awareness in the Hyderabad region.
The Hyderabad state was ruled by the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali, who declared it a Muslim state despite the majority Hindu population. The Nizam's government discriminated against Hindus in government jobs, the military, and the police force. Hindus had limited access to education in their mother tongue beyond primary school. Public gatherings and private institutions were restricted. Swami Ramanand Teerth began his political career in 1938, vowing to fight for the freedom of the people of Hyderabad. He united Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi-speaking activists to launch a state-wide movement against the Nizam. He was imprisoned several times for his participation in the struggle.
In 1937, the 'Maharashtra Parishad' was formed to demand civil rights. Swami Ramanand Teerth became the secretary of the Maharashtra Parishad at its Latur session, marking his full-time entry into politics. He played a key role in the formation of the 'Hyderabad State Congress' which was a unified organization of Telugu, Kannada and Marathi speaking people, inspired by Gandhi. The Nizam government banned the organization even before it came into existence. A state-wide Satyagraha was organized in 1938 to oppose this ban, in which Swami Ramanand was jailed for six months.
From 1939 to 1946, Swami Ramanand Teerth led the banned State Congress. The ban was lifted in 1946, and Swami Ramanand became the first president of the Hyderabad State Congress. After the British decided to leave India in 1947, most princely states merged with India, but the Nizam declared Hyderabad an independent state.
The Hyderabad State Congress, led by Swami Ramanand Teerth, launched a rebellion on August 7, 1947, demanding the unconditional merger of Hyderabad with India. Swami Ramanand Teerth was arrested, but his colleagues continued the struggle. The atrocities of the Nizam-sponsored Razakar organization led the Indian government to take police action called ‘Operation Polo’. The Nizam surrendered on September 17, 1948, and Hyderabad became part of India. Swami Ramanand Teerth played a significant role in maintaining peace after the police action.
Swami Ramanand Teerth was elected to the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1962. He advocated for the trifurcation of Hyderabad state, leading to the merger of Telugu regions into Andhra Pradesh, Kannada regions into Karnataka, and Marathi-speaking Marathwada into Maharashtra. He also pushed for the creation of a unified Maharashtra including Mumbai, which was finally achieved on May 1, 1960. He retired from politics in 1962.
Swami Ramanand Teerth's contribution to the Hyderabad liberation movement and the formation of a unified Maharashtra is significant. His contributions should be remembered by future generations, not just as a political leader, but also as a social worker, an educator, and a dedicated nationalist who made significant contributions to the region.