Nostalgic Memory Lane of Nephrologist Dr A Gopal Kishan
(Nostalgic REcollection)
A Glimpse of 1969 Telangana Agitation
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
The Hans India (12-11-2023)
Millennium Post (15-11-2023)
It is always ‘Thrilling, Exciting,
and Delightful’ to listen to someone, on any portion of 1969 Phase of
Separate Telangana Agitation, that ultimately laid foundation for the formation
of State in 2014. And more so, if the person who recounts is, none other than
86+ years old, Dr A Gopal Kishan, one among the seven who initiated Telangana
Movement in 1968-1969, it is still more electrifying. Dr Gopal Kishan along
with his brother and former Minister of United AP, A Madan Mohan mooted ‘Telangana
People’s Convention.’ He was detained for two-and-half months in
Rajahmundry Central Jail under PD Act. During that agitation, more than 300 innocent
persons lost their lives, and in an unprecedented manner, prohibitory orders
were imposed for several months in almost every town and village in Telangana
Region.
When former Superintendent Gandhi
Hospital, Dr P Nagabhushanam, former Depuy Civil Surgeon Fever Hospital, Dr AV
Manohar Rao, and myself, visited Jubilee Hills Residence of yester years’
Expert Nephrologist, Dr A Gopal Kishan, and spent an hour quality time with him,
he reminisced experiences of mutual interest. Despite his voice slowed down, healthy
looking Dr Gopal Kishan’s reminiscing narrative was superb. It was resolutely centered
around his participation in 1969 Telangana Agitation. Essentiality of ‘Rejuvenating
and Rebuilding the Historical Osmania General Hospital,’ headed by him as
Superintendent once and contribution of his professional friend Dr AP Ranga
Rao, pioneer of 108 and 104 Ambulance Services to the society, were the other subjects
he reminisced.
Most important of what Dr Gopal Kishan
recalled from his well-remembered memory lane was, that, his meeting with the
then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the midst of Agitation, when she visited
Hyderabad in July 1969 during one midnight. Dr Gopal Kishan also recalled his
close association with Badri Vishal Pannalal Pitti who actively took part in
the 1969 Telangana Agitation and said that, it was from his residence in Raj
Bhavan lane, he contacted Governor’s Security to seek appointment with Indira
Gandhi. As sought, the appointment was confirmed from PM Office, prior to
Indira Gandhi’s arrival in Hyderabad.
Dr Gopal Kishan said, that, Dr Chenna
Reddy, who took over as President of Telangana Praja Samithi (TPS) from Madan
Mohan, intensified the agitation. During the zenith of violence, almost the
entire Telangana Region was handed over to the army to maintain Law and Order.
This was also the peak period of the Telangana Praja Samiti's first phase of Telangana
Agitation which was marked by violence. Curfew was imposed frequently and remained
in force for 24 or 48 hours at a stretch, with few hours relaxation and extending
if violence continued.
Dr Gopal Kishan recalled that, earlier
on April 4, 1969, the Telangana Praja Samiti gave call to observe May 1, 1969
as the Telangana Demand Day, which led to violence and police firing in some
parts of Telangana. Complete Hartal was observed in Twin Cities again on May 2nd,
in response to the call given by TPS to protest against the police firing and
excesses in the city, and to mourn the death of those who died in police
firings the previous day.
At this juncture, recalled Dr Gopal
Kishan, that, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi invited Telangana Praja Samiti
leaders for talks in New Delhi on May 6, 1969. But 13 of 15 in the forefront of
Telangana Agitation who received invitation, jointly declined it, on the ground
that, formation of separate Telangana ‘is not negotiable’. Another
reason given was, the unequivocal statement of the Government of India, ruling
out the formation of Separate Telangana. On the 3rd and 4th
of June of 1969, the agitation got out of control and there was a complete
breakdown of normal life. Military was called. Curfew was imposed. When the Agitation
reached its climax on June 24th 1969, ‘Shoot at Sight’
orders were given.
Against this background, and Panicked
by killings of hundreds of people, recalled Dr Gopal Kishan that, Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi, visited Hyderabad on July 4th, 1969 midnight
to meet leaders of different shades of opinion and to study the situation
personally. Chief Minister Brahmananda Reddy, who flew from Delhi to Hyderabad
by the evening flight, was not aware of Indira Gandhi’s proposed visit to city
by the midnight, until he received telephone message from Delhi!!! Before
leaving for Hyderabad, she held discussions with Telangana Regional Committee
Chairman J Chokkaa Rao, available in Delhi, and also accompanied her.
Dr Gopal Kishan also recalled about
his going around city in a Police Vehicle a day before, provided to him on his
request, based on his personal contacts, and how he tried to infuse confidence
in public not to get panic. As Hyderabad City was under curfew, leaders whom
Indira Gandhi wanted to meet were escorted by City Police and Army Personnel to
enable them to meet her. Gopal Kishan said that he is the ‘FIRST PERSON’
whom Indira Gandhi met that night and from whom she had an overall picture of
the happenings objectively and in full detail.
Dr Gopal Kishan recalled that, Indira
Gandhi, after listening to him, said, that, shoot at sight orders will be withdrawn
and everything will be taken care of to restore peace. Despite this, said Dr
Gopal Kishan, that, he was severely disappointed when announcement from Delhi
came the next day, that, it will be only ‘Short of Telangana,’
that would be conceded and not formation of Separate State. And later
developments proved ‘No Telangana State’ at that point. In the
1971 Lok Sabha Elections despite 11 out of 14 seats, were in favor of Telangana
formation, Indira Gandhi strangely said ‘No,’ for Telangana State
formation!!!
Dr Gopal Kishan said that, he however
was confident that one day some leader will come and lead a massive agitation
to achieve Telangana, and was proved right. Expressing his happiness, he said,
that, his dream was fulfilled when Telangana was formed on June 2, 2014 under
the leadership of K Chandrashekhar Rao. Dr Gopal Kishan also recalled one of
his meetings with KCR along with Potturi Venkateshwara Rao and Chukka Ramayya.
He is also immensely happy for the award by Telangana Government in recognition
of his services.
Dr A Gopal
Kishan, an emeritus professor of nephrology, is a Medical Graduate and Post
Graduate (MBBS, MD, DM) from Osmania Medical College. As an active Student Politics
Leader, he was elected as President of Osmania Medical College Student’s Union
and General Secretary of National Students Union of India (NSUI). As Student
Union Leader he visited USSR. He was President of United AP Civil Assistant
Surgeons’ Association for ten years, when Surgeon Dr SL Kanata Rao was General Secretary.
Dr Gopal Kishan on whom Dr M Channa
Reddy had immense confidence, as an Expert Nephrology Professional, accompanied
him to USA and was by his side when Kidney Transplantation on him was
successfully performed in July 1990. Dr Gopal Kishan is known to me since 1989,
when I was PRO to Dr M Channa Reddy as AP Chief Minister second time.
Senior Journalist, Late Adiraju
Venkateshwara Rao in his book ‘Telangana, Saga of a Tragic Struggle’
mentioned at several instances, about the active participation and contribution
of Dr Gopal Kishan in the 1969 Phase of Telangana Agitation. For instance, Gopal
Kishan was one among the persons who gave a call for Bandh when police resorted
to brutal lathi charge and teargassing at the Nizam College. Adiraju also
narrated how he and Gopal Kishan smuggled themselves in to the lobby of
Assembly despite strict Prohibitory Orders with the help of a Police Inspector,
and raised ‘Jai Telangana’ Slogan. Before leaving, I presented my
book ‘Bhagavata Kathalu’ to Dr Gopal Kishan and wished him a long
life.
