Interview with Katti Padmarao by Ghanta Chakrapani on Telangana
suneetha achyuta
(Interview with Katti Padmarao by Ghanta Chakrapaani, published in
Andhra Jyothi on February 7th)
Why are you demanding Separate Andhra, when Samaikyandhra (united
Andhra) and Telangana movements are going ahead in full steam? Can you
please elaborate your position?
Way back in 1998, when Dalit Mahasabha’s Executive Committee meeting
took place, all of us felt that the formation of Telangana is
imperative but also that a separate Andhra has also become a
historical necessity. Our reason was that the state administration in
Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema had begun to move away from the Dalits.
To a certain extent, Vijayawada was still functioning as an important
nodal point (for the administration) when Karamchedu (1984) and
Tsundur (1992) incidents took place (making it accessible to the
Dalits there). Later, it became totally Hyderabad-centric. The
question we asked ourselves was – should Hyderabad be our only point
of access to the government?
Do you think that in ‘Samaikyandhra’ (current Andhra Pradesh), those
districts that are far away from the capital city got neglected?
All the MPs from Coastal Andhra and Seema have begun to live and
invest in Hyderabad, neglecting their own constituencies. They have
destroyed Hyderabad in the name of industrial development. Before
Nagarjuna Sagar was built, 80% of the agricultural land there was
owned by the SCs, BCs and STs. As soon as irrigation prospects in that
area improved with this project, all such land was bought off. For
instance, in Karamchedu, two social groups obtained control over
18,000 acres of land, leaving a mere 140 acres to Dalits. The income
from this fertile land was in turn invested in industries in
Hyderabad.
Isn’t it the leaders from Coastal Andhra who are leading Samaikyandhra
movement?
None of them can be called a leader. Not a single one can organize a
meeting with 10,000 people. They all stay in Hyderabad. (Unlike them)
We (Dalits) cannot come to Hyderabad nor loot it. Telangana has a head
called Hyderabad. We don’t have one. 48 lakh acres of wet land and 38
lakh acres of dry land in Coastal Andhra get cultivated with the water
that flows through your (Telangana) area. The farmers are scared that
they will lose their livelihood if you stop this water. We also don’t
have a capital city.
There is an allegation that the Samaikyandhra movement is ‘sponsored’
and that it is led by capitalists. How far is it true?
We don’t have a single MP from Coastal Andhra who owns less than 500
Cr. They are all capable of owning their own private airplanes. They
might be running the show.
How do you see your role in filling the need for real leadership?
We (Dalits) are in a key position now. There have been three major
movements in Andhra country till now. In all these, I have been in
forefront. ‘I’ means Dalits. Before two separate states get carved, we
need certain assurances from the Telangana people. They should not say
‘You Andhra people’. We are all Indians. We also need urbanization.
Why couldn’t Vijayawada be turned into a Kanpur or Vizag into a mini
Mumbai? One can see that it is because Hyderabad lands have been sold
off that the Telangana movement came up. In fact, there should have
been a movement in Coastal Andhra after the announcement of Coastal
Corridor.
What is your social and political background? How did you become a
rationalist?
I was born in a working class family. And got habituated to
participating in social movements. My command over Telugu language was
obtained through learning the Bible. My teachers admitted me into a
Sanskrit College. There I came across Kondaviti Venkata Kavi who was a
rationalist. That is why I always argue that rationalism is a must for
any religion.
Why did you join the Sansrit College even though you are born in a
Dalit family?
My teachers admitted me there since I started writing songs from a
very young age. Through songs and poetry I learnt Sanskrit without
realizing that I was doing so. Ambedkar and Lohia also became leaders
after learning Sanskrit. All the Shatdarshanas in Sanskrit advocate
rationalism.
What are the circumstances which made you a full-fledged social
activist?
It was the incidents of Karamchedu and Tsunduru. We took Tsunduru till
the gates of Parliament, with 25,000 people. SC/ST Atrocities Act was
formulated when 107 MPs moved a resolution. That is what gives me
tremendous satisfaction even now. Now Dalits have attained a middle
class status.
Do you consider your joining a film actor who is a new entrant into
politics a historical blunder?
An activist has to enter (electoral) politics too. If you contest
several times, people may respond to you once. In future, we may need
a party for separate Andhra. Telugu Desam may get dissolved when
separate Andhra gets formed. Two distinct parties may emerge on both
sides.
Do you always use your knowledge only to oppose Brahmins?
I don’t oppose Brahmins as such. Dalits don’t have social reformers
like Kandukuri or Gurajada. I oppose Brahminism. Even among SCs there
is Brahminism i.e., to oppress others after reaching the top. I oppose
that too.
Is Katti Padmarao going to become the Chief Minister?
I did not enter politics aspiring for any particular post. My
objective is to speak in the legislative assemblies. For that,
becoming the CM is not important.
If a Dalit becomes the CM, will the lives of Dalits improve?
That is a political demand. If a Dalit becomes the CM, it becomes
imperative for all doras to meet him. Do you know how many new laws
Neelam Sanjivaiah brought? Why can’t a Dalit become the CM when 18%
voters are Dalits?
Fraternal Dalits split into Malas and Maadigas?
If Telangana becomes a reality, this problem would disappear. Here, in
Telangana, Maadigas are in the majority, while in Coastal Andhra Malas
are numerically dominant. The problem won’t arise.
How is it that your passion, thinking and commitment are not seen in
your children?
They too are committed. If I managed to write so many books till late
into the night, its due to their cooperation. Both of them are
Ambekarites. My son is an engineer. Both my son and daughter are
preparing for Civil services exams.
What do the people of Coastal Andhra want?
Many are supporting Samaikyandhra due to several apprehensions. They
need clear answers to certain questions - Will the new state be bound
by Bachawath award on river waters? Will the Telangana doras let river
water to flow towards the people in Coastal Andhra? There are 30 lakh
middle class people from Andhra in Hyderabad. Only a hundred among
them are exploiters. Every Telangana MP, including KCR has good
connections with them. Telangana leaders say that these exploiters
will be welcomed whole heartedly to invest here. Selfish people exist
on both sides. KCR and Lagadapati are good friends. We want separate
Andhra, irrespective of the formation of Telangana state.
What are you going to do when the state gets divided?
I have only one issue when two houses are getting formed. Telangana
people take care of their parents and sisters very well. Why can’t
they provide us with a house too?
Did Chiranjeevi ever feel like agreeing to Telangana demand?
He does not have the opportunity to feel like that. His lifestyle is
that of a Coastal Andhra person. We tried to teach him the concept of
Saamajika Telangana. He went off to that side because he couldn’t
understand the concept.
What is your message to the people of the state?.
Coastal area is rich in resources. We should split like brothers, form
a new state and develop a new capital city. It will be to our
beneficit. Now, it is no longer ethical to support a united state. It
is similar to supporting an ‘acid attack’ (on an unwilling love
interest).
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Katti Padmarao is the founder of Dalita Mahasabha that spearheaded the
Dalit movement in Andhra Pradesh in the aftermath of killings of
Dalits in Karamchedu in coastal Andhra. He has a wide range of
writings to his credit. In 2008, he joined a political party launched
by a well-known Telugu film actor, Chiranjeevi but has quit the party
recently. He represents the less publicized Dalit opinion in Coastal
Andhra which is in favour of a separate Telangana state. Dalit
organizations in coastal Andhra have organized several meetings and
formed a coalition with those in Rayalaseema to demand that the state
be bifurcated. This interview is a shortened version of the original
televised interview conducted for ABN news channel. Ghanta Chakrapani,
a teacher of Sociology in Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad, is a
Dalit intellectual who is active in the current Telangana movement. He
hosts a programme called Insider for ABN Telugu news channel.