Andhra Kesari - Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu

Andhra Kesari - Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu

Tanguturi Prakasam or as he is widely known in Andhra Pradesh - Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu - was as well-known for his adherence to Gandhian principles as for his feckless courage in the face of real danger. He was also called “Andhra Kesari” (Andhra’s lion). Here are two brief historical accounts of his life -

In the days when the entire nation was in a political upheaval, the freedom movement of Andhra found a great champion in T.Prakasam who was a rare combination of a great lawyer, journalist, nationalist and a politician. It is no wonder that his lifelong exertion in such diverse fields in the service of nation has earned hum the honour of Andhra Kesari conferred on him by the people of Andhra Pradesh. Tangutri Prakasam was born on August 23, 1872 at Kanuparthi village in Ongole Distt. in Andhra Pradesh.

The year 1927 was a watershed in the annals of the freedom struggle, when the Simon Commission was deputed to discuss with leaders of the Indian National Congress the reforms and amendments to the existing statute pertaining to British India. When the commission came to Madras it faced a hostile crowd of processionists shouting full-throated: ‘Go back Simon Commission’. The police opened indiscriminate fire at the protesters in Parry’s Corner, the busy centre of the city, and a young volunteer died on the spot. The procession leaders asked the police officer to allow them to identify the victim. Training his rifle at the processionists, he threatened them with dire consequences, and none dared to approach the body. But one leader among them bravely unbuttoned his coat showing his chest before the rifleman and shouted: ”Shoot me”. Fearing fatal consequences, the police officer withdrew the revolver, whereupon a plethora of voices came from the crowd shouting loudly `Andhra Kesari ki Jai’. That was Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, who from then onwards came to be reverentially called ‘Andhra Kesari’.