Bulusu Sambamurti
Encyclopedia
Bulusu Sambamurti was an Indian lawyer, politician and freedom-fighter who served as the President of the Madras Legislative Council from 1937 to 1942. He was popularly Known as Maharshi Bulusu Samamurti.
. His father Subbavadhanulu was a Vedic scholar. Sambamurti had his schooling in his native village and graduated in Physics from Maharajah's College, Vizianagaram
. He worked for a short period as a lecturer before pursuing a course in law. Sambamurti graduated as a lawyer in 1911 and immediately enrolled in the bar at Cocanada. When the Non-Cooperation movement
broke out in 1920, inspired by a speech by Konda Venkatapayya Pantulu, he gave up his profession and plunged into the Indian freedom struggle.
. He became one of the first leaders to demand Purna Swaraj
(complete independence).
In April 1930, he participated in a Salt Satyagraha
at Chollangi near Cocanada and was arrested on April 18, 1930 and sent to Vellore
jail. He stood in the 1937 Madras assembly elections
and was successful. The Indian National Congress
won the elections and Sambamurti was made President of the Madras Legislative Council
. He served from 1937 till 1942 when he resigned due to the outbreak of the Quit India Movement
.
Bulusu Sambamurti was also connected with the Andhrodyamam (Andhra movement) being a hard and active advocate for a separate Telugu Province comprising Telugu areas in Madras Presidency
. When Potti Sriramulu decided to fast unto death at Madras in 1953 on the issue of formation of Andhra province, nobody was prepared to give shelter. Then Sambamurthy placed his residence at his disposal, though all others became beneficiaries later. Potti Sriramulu fasted to death for the state of Andhra
. Sambamurthy took to loin cloth discarding shirt in the true Gandhian style.
Having lost his wife and position in public life, he spent his last days in penury at his hometown of Kakinada
. Those who adored him earlier, avoided and even ignored him. Hearing about his plight, Govind Ballabh Pant
, the then Union minister rendered financial assistance. He died as a neglected patriot. When his daughter applied for financial assistance, powers-that-be in the Secretariat wanted to know who Sambamurthy was.
at the age of 71.
Early life
Sambamurti was born on March 4, 1886 in the village of Dulla in Godavari district, Madras PresidencyMadras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. His father Subbavadhanulu was a Vedic scholar. Sambamurti had his schooling in his native village and graduated in Physics from Maharajah's College, Vizianagaram
Vizianagaram
Vizianagaram is the main city of the Vizianagaram District of north-eastern Andhra Pradesh in southern India. Vizianagaram district was formed on 1 June 1979, with some parts carved from the neighbouring districts of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam. It is, at present, the largest municipality of...
. He worked for a short period as a lecturer before pursuing a course in law. Sambamurti graduated as a lawyer in 1911 and immediately enrolled in the bar at Cocanada. When the Non-Cooperation movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
broke out in 1920, inspired by a speech by Konda Venkatapayya Pantulu, he gave up his profession and plunged into the Indian freedom struggle.
In the Indian independence movement
Sambamurti adopted Gandhian principles and ways of life. In 1923, he became a member of the organising committee of the Cocanada session of the Indian National CongressIndian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. He became one of the first leaders to demand Purna Swaraj
Purna Swaraj
The Purna Swaraj declaration, or Declaration of the Independence of India was promulgated by the Indian National Congress on January 26, 1930, resolving the Congress and Indian nationalists to fight for Purna Swaraj, or complete self-rule independent of the British Empire...
(complete independence).
In April 1930, he participated in a Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
at Chollangi near Cocanada and was arrested on April 18, 1930 and sent to Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
jail. He stood in the 1937 Madras assembly elections
Madras Presidency legislative assembly election, 1937
The First legislative assembly election for the Madras Presidency was held in February 1937. The Indian National Congress obtained a majority by winning 159 of 215 seats in the Legislative Assembly. This was the first electoral victory for the Congress in the presidency since elections were first...
and was successful. The Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
won the elections and Sambamurti was made President of the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
. He served from 1937 till 1942 when he resigned due to the outbreak of the Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
.
Bulusu Sambamurti was also connected with the Andhrodyamam (Andhra movement) being a hard and active advocate for a separate Telugu Province comprising Telugu areas in Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. When Potti Sriramulu decided to fast unto death at Madras in 1953 on the issue of formation of Andhra province, nobody was prepared to give shelter. Then Sambamurthy placed his residence at his disposal, though all others became beneficiaries later. Potti Sriramulu fasted to death for the state of Andhra
Andhra State
Andhra State was a state in India created on October 1, 1953 from the Telugu-speaking northern districts of Madras Presidency. On November 1, 1956 it was merged with the Telangana region of Hyderabad State to form the united Telugu-speaking state of Andhra Pradesh.- Madras Manade movement :In 1953,...
. Sambamurthy took to loin cloth discarding shirt in the true Gandhian style.
Having lost his wife and position in public life, he spent his last days in penury at his hometown of Kakinada
Kakinada
Kakinada is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad. It is also the headquarters of East Godavari district. It is nicknamed "Fertilizer City" , "Pensioner's Paradise" and "Second Madras"...
. Those who adored him earlier, avoided and even ignored him. Hearing about his plight, Govind Ballabh Pant
Govind Ballabh Pant
Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was a statesman of India, an Indian independence activist, and one of the foremost political leaders from Uttarakhand and of the movement to establish Hindi as the official language of India.-Early life:Govind Ballabh Pant was born on September 10, 1887 in...
, the then Union minister rendered financial assistance. He died as a neglected patriot. When his daughter applied for financial assistance, powers-that-be in the Secretariat wanted to know who Sambamurthy was.
Death
Sambamurti died on February 2, 1958 at KakinadaKakinada
Kakinada is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad. It is also the headquarters of East Godavari district. It is nicknamed "Fertilizer City" , "Pensioner's Paradise" and "Second Madras"...
at the age of 71.