Damodaramsanjeevayya, first dalit chief minister of andhra pradesh and his contribution for the development of rayalaseema

Damodaram Sanjivayya was known for simplicity and good character. He (14 February 1921 8 May 1972) was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, India from 11 January 1960 to 12 March 1962. Damodaram Sanjivayya was born in a dalit family in Peddapadu village of Kallur Mandal in Kurnool district. His father died when he was young. He was a brilliant student at the Municipal school and he took a bachelor’s degree in law from Madras Law College. Even as a student, he actively participated in the Indian freedom movement. Coming from a poor Dalit family, Sanjeevaiah was a brilliant student of Municipal High School. One of his friends recalled that throughout his school days he brought only one dish for lunch - jowar roti and chilli powder and most of the times came poorly dressed. Yet, he excelled in education.

He was Minister in the composite Madras State. He was the member of the provisional parliament 1950-52. In 1962, Sanjivayya also became the first dalit leader from Andhra Pradesh to become All India Congress Committee president. He was Minister of Labour and Employment under Lal Bahadur Shastry between 9 June 1964 and 23 January 1966. A brilliant political strategist, Sanjeevaiah closely worked with Jawaharlal Nehru at the national level. He had the distinction of being among the first Harijans to have shouldered such high responsibilities in the cause of service to the Nation. He was known for his administrative ability and for his uprightness of character. He was a voracious reader and writer. He wrote a book on Labour problems and industrial development in India, in 1970 published by Oxford and IBH Pub. Co., New Delhi.