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{{Short description|Indian politician (1915–2012)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Konda Lakshman Bapuji
| image =Konda Laxman Bapuji During Telangana Movement a (cropped).jpg
| caption = Father of Telangana
| birth_date = {{birth date |df=yes|1915|09|27}}
| birth_place = Wankidi, [[Asifabad district]], [[Telangana State]]
| residence = Jaladhrushyam, Hyderabad
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2012|09|21|1915|09|27}}
| death_place = [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| office =
| constituency =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| spouse = Dr. Konda Shakunthala Devi
| children = 2 sons & 1 daughter
| website = www.kondalaxmanbapuji.com
| footnotes =|
| year = |
}}
'''Konda Laxman Bapuji''' (27 September 1915 – 21 September 2012) was an Indian freedom fighter who participated in the [[Telangana Rebellion]] and Telangana activist.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telanganastateofficial.com/konda-laxman-bapuji-profile-history-telugu-english-pdf-essay-images/ |title=Konda Laxman Bapuji History & unknown Facts |date=21 September 2017 |work=TSO}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/karimnagar/1969-stir-veteran-yatra-t-956 |title=1969 stir veteran on yatra for T |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524024030/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/regions/karimnagar/1969-stir-veteran-yatra-t-956 |archive-date=2011-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/31/stories/2009083159990400.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903134105/http://www.hindu.com/2009/08/31/stories/2009083159990400.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 September 2009 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title='Khazana building' proposed for Telangana museum | date=31 August 2009}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101212215223/http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/09/stories/2010120959210100.htm The Hindu]</ref> He fought for the statehood of Telangana all his life.

==Early life==
Bapuji was born in Wankidi village, [[Komaram Bheem district]], [[Hyderabad State]] (now in Telangana) in a [[Padmashali]] community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-27 |title=KCR unveils Konda Lakshman Bapuji's statue at Padmashali Bhavan |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2014-09-27/KCR-unveils-Konda-Lakshman-Bapujis-statue-at-Padmashali-Bhavan/109373 |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=[[The Hans India]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jJczAQAAIAAJ&q=konda+laxman+bapuji+padmasali |title=Census of India, 1971: Series 1: India |date= |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |pages=198 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2013 |title=Konda Laxman Bapuji – The Torchbearer of Telangana |url=https://www.exploretelangana.com/konda-laxman-bapuji/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=ExploreTelangana |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Konda Lakshman Bapuji in a book release during Telangana Agitation.jpg|thumb|left|255px|Konda Lakshman Bapuji in a book release during Telangana Agitation]]

==Career==
Bapuji met [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in 1941 and inspired by him, he participated in the [[Quit India movement]] in 1942.

He also waged battle against the Nizam and the [[Razakars (Hyderabad)|Razaakar]]s during the Telangana armed struggle in 1947–48.

===Telangana movement (1952 - 1969)===
He participated in the [[1952 Mulkhi Agitation (Telangana)|1952 Non-mulki agitation]]. He was the first minister in Congress government to resign from his post for Telangana cause on 29 March 1969, and then participated to give impetus to the [[1969 Telangana Agitation]].

===Political life===
He was first elected as MLA from Asifabad constituency in 1952. In 1957, Asifabad became a reserved constituency, so he shifted to Nalgonda district which had large number of Padmashali population. He won from Chinna Kondur (later renamed as Bhongir) constituency in 1957 and served as deputy speaker from 1957 to 1960 and as minister from 1960 to 1962.

He unsuccessfully contested as MLA from Munugodu constituency in 1962 but later on served as MLA and minister (1967–69) for two terms from Bhongir assembly constituency (1967–72, 1972–78).

Because of his capabilities, straightforward nature and the clean image he was frontrunner for the CM post on two occasions. It was a well-known fact that due to caste equation and internal politics within the Congress he missed the bus. Unhappy with the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's opposition to the Mandal commission recommendations, he resigned from the primary membership of the Congress in 1987.

===Telangana movement (2008 - 2012)===
He was a member of [[Telangana Sadhana Samithi]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/09/stories/2007090950110100.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915055138/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/09/stories/2007090950110100.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=15 September 2007 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=TRCCC rejects 2nd SRC proposal | date=9 September 2007}}</ref> He announced, "We solemnly declare statehood for Telangana on November 2, 2008."<ref>[http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Goud-declares-Telangana-separate-state/380654/ Goud declares Telangana separate state]</ref>

Unlike most leaders from Telangana region, Konda Lakshman Bapuji had the courage to sacrifice and remained out of power for four decades to achieve Telangana statehood.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2013-11-26/Betrayal-of-Telangana-by-its-own-leaders-77967 |title=Betrayal of Telangana By Its Own Leaders, Creation of Telangana |publisher=The Hans India |date= 26 November 2013|accessdate=2015-03-05}}</ref>

He was instrumental in forming Akhila Bharat padmashali sangam at Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite news
| last = K. Kasturi | first = Suman
| title = Konda Lakshman Bapuji remembered on his 99th birth anniversary
| work = The Hans India
| date = 27 September 2014
| url = https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/News-Analysis/2014-09-27/Konda-Lakshman-Bapuji-remembered-on-his-99th-birth-anniversary/109376?infinitescroll=1
| access-date = 18 March 2024}}</ref>

==Honour==
In 2014, the horticulture university in Hyderabad was named, [[Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University]], by the [[Government of Telangana]] in his honour.

His birthday is celebrated officially by the government of Telangana.

==Death==
He died on 21 September 2012 at his residence, Jala Dhrushyam, in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Telangana-torchbearer-Konda-Lakshman-passes-away/articleshow/16496760.cms|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103113358/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-22/hyderabad/34021462_1_telangana-bill-separate-statehood-demand-telangana-state|url-status=live|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=Telangana-torchbearer Konda Lakshman passes away|date=22 Sep 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=9 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/konda-laxman-bapuji-cremated/article3927103.ece|title=Konda Laxman Bapuji cremated |date=23 September 2012|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=9 October 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He was married to Shankuntala Devi and has two sons and a daughter.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bapuji, Konda Lakshman}}
[[Category:Telangana Rebellion]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Politicians from Telangana]]
[[Category:Deputy speakers of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:People from Komaram Bheem district]]

Konda Laxman Bapuji - Revision history

TeenaDease50 at 17:59, 19 March 2026