Telangana State Controversy: Indian University Students Take Up the Fight

HYDERABAD, India -- In the middle of the University of Hyderabad's expansive campus is a large, haphazard tent, pitched precariously with sticks and rope. On a weekday afternoon, about 25 graduate students sit cross-legged on a dirty rug, talking among themselves. They shoot challenging glances at passers-by, half daring, half inviting them to come inside. They're protesting, and they want the world to know it.

These students, members of the Joint Action Committee, want only one thing -- the creation of a new state in south India called Telangana. They've been on a "relay fast" for over a month now, sharing the burden of a hunger strike between about 500 students.

"Our only, only, only demand is to form a separate Telangana state as soon as possible," said Upendar Gundala, a Ph.D. student studying English translation. "This is the end for our everything. Until the state formation, we will be continuing relay fasting."

Telanganans have long felt oppressed and exploited by Andhra, a much wealthier neighboring region south of Telangana. The feelings have often spilled over into violence, and in 1969, 400 people died in Telangana-related violence.

After India's independence from Britain, the nation was divided into 28 states based on language. Andhra Pradesh, a southern state on the Bay of Bengal, was created for the Telugu-speaking people. The state is divided into three regions: Andhra on the eastern coast, Rayalaseema in the south, and Telangana in the northwest. Separatists argue that Telangana remains poor -- nine of Telangana's 10 districts are considered backward and so underdeveloped that they qualify for government aid -- while the upper-caste people in Andhra enjoy a flourishing agricultural economy.

Since 1956, when Andhra and Telangana merged, Telangana has gotten the short end of the stick in terms of natural resources, funding and representation in government , separatists complain. Though two major rivers have their sources in Telangana, irrigation projects divert the precious water to other areas, they say.

"There are a number of arguments that support in favor of Telangana, but no argument has been stated for a united Andhra," said Vulli Dhanaraju, a graduate student and member of the Joint Action Committee. "The only argument: They are all speaking Telugu, Telugu, Telugu."

The government of India announced on Dec. 9 that it would begin the process of forming Telangana. The decision came during the indefinite hunger strike by Kalvakuntla Chandhrashekar Rao, president of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi political party. The government did not set a timetable for creation of the new state, which has led south-Indian youth in the capital city of Hyderabad to strike, protest, march and create "bandhs" -- road blocks and business closures.

"You suddenly find students participating in these political activities, giving a lot of their time, putting a lot of effort," said Dr. A. Vijay, an economics professor at the University of Hyderabad and JAC member. "In that sense it is a huge revival of the spirit of students' activity."

Though several students at the University of Hyderabad have been participating in the pro-Telangana movement, students at Osmania University have been its main impetus. Osmania, a state-run school nearly 30 km from the University of Hyderabad, has about 250,000 students. It has held massive JAC demonstrations during the past month, often with thousands of students.

Most demonstrations have been non-violent. "There was a huge mobilization of students at the Osmania campus, and that happened quite peacefully," said Vijay. "On the whole, I think it has been an extremely mature movement and in a way a historical turning point."

Non-Telugu students are also feeling the tensions in the city and at school. Aparna, a 21-year-old student, has been here for over three years studying economics. Even as an upperclassman, she has resolved to stay on campus and out of the city. "I've been inside and safe," she said. "We've been trying to avoid it, especially because we're not localites."

She says she sees both sides of the issue, but she is apprehensive about what will happen if the state is formed and she questions whether political leaders will carry out their promises. "I don't completely support, neither do I completely go against," she said. "I've not been a part of the oppressed."

Leaders from both sides are currently meeting in Delhi to decide the fate of Telangana. In the meantime, Telangana locals are watching, waiting, and fasting -- all while rallying as many supporters as they can.

"All sections of the Telangana people are participating in the movement," said Dhanaraju. "Irrespective of their caste, religion, their culture and everything, all communities have been participating."

And for members of the JAC at the University of Hyderabad, the makeshift tent in the center of campus continues to be the hub of their revolution. For students like Gundala, forming the new state has taken precedent even over their studies. "We'll do our best," he said. "We have been doing, and we will continue doing until they declare Telangana a state."

Click play below for a slide show of photos from Riane Menardi in Hyderabad.