His chapter should be inscribed in gold in the pages of Indian History. Konda Lakshman Bapuji possesses that kind of great personality. He never stopped fighting like a soldier for freedom, independence, and justice. Taking inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, M.N. Roy, he has defied Nizam’s Rule like a warrior. A staunch Indian National Congress Activist. A Leading satyagrahi in Hyderabad State who fought for independence.
After the attainment of India’s Independence, reflecting on people’s wishes and wants, the constitution came into effect and Bapuji became a lawyer to fight for the oppressed strata. He wanted lower strata to receive the fruits of democracy and he strived for it, he went on tours to instil spirit in backward castes . He was first elected to Hyderabad State Assembly in 1952 and went on to serve till 1978 in Andhra Pradesh Assembly. He served as Deputy speaker a couple of times and as Cabinet Minister, he relentlessly favoured the weaker sections of society. He impressed all of his fellow members, with his impartial treatment in Ministry meetings and Assembly.
He was a trailblazer for change in society, politics, formation of Telangana and what not. He worked for Congress and got elected five times when he was with the party but when Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in 1975, he resigned from the Congress Party protesting against the emergency. He was a stalwart for Telangana Formation, he was the first to resign from the cabinet in 1969 for the formation of Telangana. In 2008, he declared Telangana State, very much like Congress, which declared India independent in 1929, while under British rule. He gave his home for the establishment of TRS Party and lost it later during the TDP’s governing period.
He was the driving force for the Weavers Cooperation Movement, in 1943 “Nizam State Weavers Society” was established and was headed by Bapuji. In May 1950, he conducted a Grand Public Meeting of Weavers in Hyderabad. He went on to head another weavers association called “HYCO”, he was a board member of “All India Weavers Marketing Cooperative Society Limited - Bombay”, in 1954 Government nominated him as Member of All India Weavers Board. “All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society” is his brain child, which was registered in Bombay in 1956. On the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of HYCO, he was awarded ‘Sahakara Ratna’. Government in order to save the Weaving Industry, brought together a committee and Bapuji was one of the members. He also persevered for students, he wanted to build dormitories for poor students in 1943 and he collected donations for dormitories and in 1949 dormitories started to function, to this day many students are benefitting from it
This is just in brief the works and accomplishments of Bapuji, he has always been a very staunch disciplinarian, unhesitant in expressing what he believes in, humble and hardworking. Viewed the world beyond caste, religion. He fought chargeless in court of law for his clients. Government Garden University in Telangana is named after him and he has been awarded from America, Spain, Australia. There’s a lot more to learn from him and this is just an introduction to the man, Konda Lakshman Bapuji.
