Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Birth Anniversary 2026, Biography

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Birth Anniversary 2026 commemorates the 154th birth anniversary of Tanguturi Prakasam. He was an Indian jurist, politician, freedom fighter and Gandhian nationalist. He was popularly known as Prakasam Pantulu. His courageous role during the Simon Commission protest earned him the title “Andhra Kesari”, meaning Lion of Andhra. He later served as the Premier of Madras Presidency and the first Chief Minister of Andhra State.

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Birth Anniversary 2026

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Birth Anniversary 2026 will mark 154 years since his birth in 1872. He was born at Vinodarayunipalem in the present day Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh government declared his birth anniversary a state function in 2014. His public life covered the freedom struggle, constitutional work, provincial administration and the movement for a separate Andhra State.

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Biography

Tanguturi Prakasam was born on 23 August 1872 in Guntur district of the then Madras Presidency. He completed his schooling in Ongole and studied the Fellow of Arts programme at Rajahmundry. He went to the United Kingdom in 1904 to study law. He returned to India and practised at the Madras High Court. His political journey expanded through the Indian National Congress, journalism, legislative work and the freedom movement. His autobiography, The Journey of My Life, records important aspects of his personal experiences, legal career and public life.

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Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Role in Freedom Struggle

Tanguturi Prakasam played an important role in the Indian independence movement through political mobilisation, journalism, protests, Satyagraha and participation in major nationalist campaigns.

• Nationalist influence in Britain: During his legal studies in the United Kingdom, Prakasam interacted with Dadabhai Naoroji, Romesh Chunder Dutt and Lala Lajpat Rai. These interactions strengthened his understanding of Indian nationalism.
• Congress participation: After the Lucknow Pact of 1916, Prakasam regularly attended Congress meetings. He supported making the independence movement and Satyagraha accessible to ordinary people.
• Swarajya newspaper: He established Swarajya as a newspaper published in English, Tamil and Telugu. It became a platform for political communication and his involvement in ground level nationalist activities.
• Non Cooperation Movement: In 1921, Prakasam responded to Mahatma Gandhi’s call for Non Cooperation. He gave up his successful legal practice and devoted himself to the freedom movement.
• Andhra Region Congress Committee: In 1921, he was elected president of the Andhra Region Congress Committee. This position strengthened his organisational role in the nationalist movement.
• Simon Commission protest: In 1928, Prakasam opposed the Simon Commission during its visit to Madras. When police threatened protesters, he exposed his chest and challenged the armed police to shoot him.
• Andhra Kesari title: His courage during the Simon Commission protest earned him the title “Andhra Kesari”, meaning “Lion of Andhra”. The title became closely associated with his public identity.
• Salt March: In 1930, Prakasam led a Salt March from Devarampadu in response to Mahatma Gandhi’s campaign against the British salt monopoly. It was conducted in coordination with the wider Civil Disobedience movement.
• Imprisonment: Prakasam underwent imprisonment during the freedom movement. He was also arrested for participating in the Quit India Movement and had earlier faced jail terms during nationalist activities.

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Contributions

Tanguturi Prakasam contributed to provincial administration, land reform, constitution making, linguistic state formation, journalism and social causes before and after independence.

• Revenue Minister: Prakasam served as Revenue Minister in the cabinet of C. Rajagopalachari during the Madras Presidency government from 1937 to 1939. He prepared a report supporting the abolition of Zamindari.
• Zamindari reform: He advocated ending the Zamindari system and establishing land ownership for the Ryot. Zamindari was legally abolished in the region in the following period.
• Cottage industries: During his legislative career, Prakasam promoted cottage industries. He also proposed closing textile factories in Madras as part of his economic approach.
• Constitution making: Prakasam was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Madras on a Congress ticket. He participated in discussions concerning village republics and the discretionary powers of the Governor.
• Andhra State movement: After independence, Prakasam worked for the creation of Andhra State on linguistic lines. His political work became closely connected with the demand for a separate Telugu speaking state.
• Hyderabad State Praja Party: He formed the Hyderabad State Praja Party in 1952. His later political activities also involved the Praja Party, Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party and Praja Socialist Party.
• First Chief Minister of Andhra State: Andhra State was formed on 1 October 1953. Prakasam became its first Chief Minister and served from 1 October 1953 to 15 November 1954.
• Dalit issues: Prakasam continued to campaign on Dalit issues after independence. His public work therefore extended beyond constitutional and administrative questions.
• Prakasam Barrage: The barrage across the Krishna near Vijayawada was later named Prakasam Barrage in his honour. He laid its foundation stone in 1954.

Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu Death

Tanguturi Prakasam died on 20 May 1957 in Hyderabad after a brief illness. He was 84 years old. His death marked the end of a public career spanning the freedom struggle, provincial politics, constitution making and the creation of Andhra State. Ongole district was renamed Prakasam district in 1972 to honour his contribution as a freedom fighter and political leader.