Linganna Pujari
Encyclopedia
Linganna "Anna" Puttal Pujari (1915–1999) was a prominent political leader and social worker in Bombay (now Mumbai), India
.
-speaking
Perkiwar (Puragiri Kshatriya / Perike / Perika)
family of farmers in Domakonda village, Dist. Nizamabad in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh
.
His greatest political achievement was in 1946 when Pujari, as an independent candidate for the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) by-elections with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's blessings and support, defeated stalwart Congressman Raja Gunottam Hutheesing, husband of Krishna Hutheesing
and brother-in-law of none other than Shri Jawaharlal Nehru
, the first Prime Minister of independent India. Putting aside his pride, Nehru, impressed by Pujari's bold dynamism, charisma and popularity among the masses invited him to join the Indian National Congress party into which he was formally inducted in 1947. From this point on, there was no looking back for Pujari. He was elected to the BMC a record number of times until 1972, when he was elevated to membership of the Legislative Council of the State of Maharashtra
(MLC). In the BMC, he held important posts such as that of Chairman of the BEST
and Improvements Committees. For a number of years, he served as a member on the board of the Bombay Port Trust Authority.
While in the government Linganna never held any top-level executive post because he felt that a university or college degree was a basic requirement for any such position, something that he lacked. He was known as a king maker, making many "behind the curtains" decisions for the Congress Party. Although illiterate when he moved to Bombay, Pujari gained fluency in several languages such as English, Marathi
, Telugu, Hindi
and Gujarati
. His mastery of written and spoken English could put many a college graduate to shame. During the Indira Gandhi
vs. Morarji Desai
, S.K.Patil, Nijalingappa standoff of 1969, Pujari stoicly stood behind Mrs. Gandhi when many a senior Congressman flocked to the "Syndicate", an act of loyalty she remembered for many years. Even then, he declined presidentship of the Bombay Pradesh Congress Committee when it was offered to him.
Despite subtle opposition and sabotage attempts from the well established Telugu speaking Tulla and Puppala families of Kamathipura, Pujari's writ ruled supreme in the Kamathipura-Nagpada area for well over four decades. Though belonging to a different caste himself, his popularity among the majority Padmashali
or Telugu weaver community and local Muslims helped him win many an election. To the end, Pujari, known to the masses and the political and business elite alike as Anna, never forgot to laud the Padmashalis for their unflinching loyalty and support to him. His contribution to Bombay in general and Kamathipura in particular, was immense. Schools, hospitals, clinics and water supply came about on his initiative. Hundreds of local lads were recruited in the BMC and BEST. He was most emphatic about the importance of education. In 1975 he started the Vidyarthi Sahayyak Samiti, a free textbook distribution network for the underprivileged children of Kamathipura. Parents were severely reprimanded for disallowing their children from attending school. His eldest son Narayan, since deceased, went on to study Law and was later elected to the Bombay Municipal Corporation from the Worli constituency in 1978.
Mr. Pujari was especially known for his tough pragmatism and honesty in both his personal as well as his public life.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Early life and background
Linganna Puttal Pujari was born into a TeluguTelugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
-speaking
Perkiwar (Puragiri Kshatriya / Perike / Perika)
Perike
Perike/Perika/Puragiri Kshatriya : The Perike Caste is a Social Grouping found in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Literally they purely belongs to kshatriyas. Perikas were kings, agriculturists, peasants, warriors and landlords....
family of farmers in Domakonda village, Dist. Nizamabad in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
.
Career
In 1928, young Linganna moved to Bombay in order to support his large family of 10 siblings. In Bombay, he embarked upon his public service career in the crime-infested Kamathipura locality. Alongside his job as an apprentice to carpenter, Linganna got actively involved in social work and promoting communal harmony. He was singularly responsible for having quelled many a Hindu-Muslim riot in the Nagpada area of Bombay for which he was also felicitated by Commissioner Wilson in 1941.His greatest political achievement was in 1946 when Pujari, as an independent candidate for the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) by-elections with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's blessings and support, defeated stalwart Congressman Raja Gunottam Hutheesing, husband of Krishna Hutheesing
Krishna Hutheesing
Krishna Nehru Hutheesing was an Indian writer, the youngest sister of Jawaharlal Nehru and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, and part of the Nehru-Gandhi family.-Biography:...
and brother-in-law of none other than Shri Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
, the first Prime Minister of independent India. Putting aside his pride, Nehru, impressed by Pujari's bold dynamism, charisma and popularity among the masses invited him to join the Indian National Congress party into which he was formally inducted in 1947. From this point on, there was no looking back for Pujari. He was elected to the BMC a record number of times until 1972, when he was elevated to membership of the Legislative Council of the State of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
(MLC). In the BMC, he held important posts such as that of Chairman of the BEST
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
The BEST ) is Mumbai's public transport service and electricity provider....
and Improvements Committees. For a number of years, he served as a member on the board of the Bombay Port Trust Authority.
While in the government Linganna never held any top-level executive post because he felt that a university or college degree was a basic requirement for any such position, something that he lacked. He was known as a king maker, making many "behind the curtains" decisions for the Congress Party. Although illiterate when he moved to Bombay, Pujari gained fluency in several languages such as English, Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
, Telugu, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
. His mastery of written and spoken English could put many a college graduate to shame. During the Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
vs. Morarji Desai
Morarji Desai
Morarji Ranchhodji Desai was an Indian independence activist and the fourth Prime Minister of India from 1977–79. He was the first Indian Prime Minister who did not belong to the Indian National Congress...
, S.K.Patil, Nijalingappa standoff of 1969, Pujari stoicly stood behind Mrs. Gandhi when many a senior Congressman flocked to the "Syndicate", an act of loyalty she remembered for many years. Even then, he declined presidentship of the Bombay Pradesh Congress Committee when it was offered to him.
Despite subtle opposition and sabotage attempts from the well established Telugu speaking Tulla and Puppala families of Kamathipura, Pujari's writ ruled supreme in the Kamathipura-Nagpada area for well over four decades. Though belonging to a different caste himself, his popularity among the majority Padmashali
Padmashali
Padmashali or Padmasali is a Telugu weavers caste, predominantly residing in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. They are identified by different names in various regions throughout India.-Origin:...
or Telugu weaver community and local Muslims helped him win many an election. To the end, Pujari, known to the masses and the political and business elite alike as Anna, never forgot to laud the Padmashalis for their unflinching loyalty and support to him. His contribution to Bombay in general and Kamathipura in particular, was immense. Schools, hospitals, clinics and water supply came about on his initiative. Hundreds of local lads were recruited in the BMC and BEST. He was most emphatic about the importance of education. In 1975 he started the Vidyarthi Sahayyak Samiti, a free textbook distribution network for the underprivileged children of Kamathipura. Parents were severely reprimanded for disallowing their children from attending school. His eldest son Narayan, since deceased, went on to study Law and was later elected to the Bombay Municipal Corporation from the Worli constituency in 1978.
Mr. Pujari was especially known for his tough pragmatism and honesty in both his personal as well as his public life.