B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya (1880–1959) UPSC Study Material

No:1. Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya was a prominent freedom fighter and a dedicated follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

No:2. He was born on November 24, 1880 AD in Andhra Pradesh.

No:3. After his early education he obtained his MBCM degree in 1901 from the Madras Medical College. He initiated his career as a doctor in Masulipatnam.

No:4. The partition of Bengal in 1905 unveiled the cruel colonial face of the British government before him and he got directly involved in the Indian freedom struggle.

No:5. He even gave up his medical practice to pay full attention to the freedom movement.

No:6. Initially he was immensely inspired by the ideas of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, the extremist ideologists in the Indian National Congress.

No:7. He also actively joined the Home Rule League of Annie Besant. But after the emergence of Mahatma Gandhi on the Indian freedom movement front, he became the staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi and his principles.

No:8. Pattabhi launched an English weekly named the Janmabhumi from Masulipatnam to spread awareness among Indian, about the oppressive British rule.

No:9. In a short period of time he was elevated to the member of the Congress Working Committee from a simple party member.

No:10. He graced the position till 1948. Pattabhi took part in the Salt Satyagraha and he himself broke the draconian and oppressive Salt law in April 1930.

No:11. He was put behind bars for one year along with a fine for challenging the British government. He earned great fame as a dedicated follower of Mahatma Gandhi and a freedom fighter after the Civil Disobedience Movement.

No:12. Mahatma Gandhi pitched him as a candidate for the Presidency of the Indian National Congress against Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939 at Tripuri (now in Madhya Pradesh).

No:13. But Subhas Chandra Bose emerged victorious in the election with 1580 votes in his support while Pattabhi could secure only 1377 votes.

No:14. It was a political setback more for Mahatma Gandhi than for Pattabhi. In anguish Gandhiji said that Pattabhi’s defeat was, “more mine than of his”.

No:15. Pattabhi Sitaramayya was also chosen satyagrahi in Mahatma Gandhi’s Individual Satyagraha in 1940.

No:16. He also lent his full support to the Quit India movement led by Gandhiji.

No:17. He was sent to jail and was released in June 1945 AD. He was also elected member of the constituent assembly.

No:18. He became Governor of Madhya Pradesh in 1952. After a lifelong service to the nation, he passed away on December 17, 1959.

Some Important Points

No:1. Pattabhi Sitaramayya is referred to as the historian of the Indian National Congress. History of the Indian National Congress was the most prominent book by Pattabhi.

No:2. He along with K Hanumantha Rao wrote ‘National Education (1912) in which he gave his detailed views on the condition of education and reforms in it.

No:3. Indian Nationalism (1913), The Redistribution of Indian Provinces on a Linguistic Basis (1916) and Non Cooperation (1921) were other famous books penned by Pattabhi Sitaramayya.

No:4. He was also the founder of the Andhra Bank in 1923 in Masulipatnam. He also founded ‘Krishna Cooperative Central Bank’ in 1915, Andhra Insurance Company in 1925 and Bharat Laxmi Bank Ltd. in 1929 etc.

No:5. He wanted to develop a swadeshi financial structure for his fellow countrymen.