A commemorative postage stamp on the Birth Anniversary of ‘Andhra Kesari‘ T. Prakasam, 12^th Chief Minister of Madras Presidency (1946-47) and 1^st Chief Minister of Andhra (1953-54) [a part of ‘Centenary Series‘] :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 16, 1972

Issued for : From this year, the P & T Department has introduced a new ‘Centenary Series‘ of postage stamps to commemorate the centenaries of personalities which fall during the year. The P & T Department feels honoured to bring out in this series the special postage stamps this year for the following personalities on the October 16, 1972.

1. Vemana : 3^rd Centenary
2. Bertrand Russell : Birth Centenary
3. T. Prakasam : Birth Centenary
4. Bhai Vir Singh : Birth Centenary

Type : Stamp, Mint condition

Colour : Hornet Brown

Denomination : 20 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.56 x 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked Adhesive Stamp paper

Number Printed : Three million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and printed at : India Security Press

Name : Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu

Born on Aug 23, 1872 at Vinodarayunipalem, Madras Presidency, British India [now in Andhra Pradesh]

Died on May 20, 1957 at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India [now in Telangana]

About : 

• In the days when the entire nation was in a political upheaval, the freedom movement of Andhra found a great champion in T. Prakasam who was a rare combination of a great lawyer, journalist, nationalist and a politician. It is no wonder that his lifelong exertion in such diverse fields in the service of nation has earned him the honour of Andhra Kesari conferred on him by the people of Andhra Pradesh.
• Tanguturi Prakasam was born on August 23, 1872 at Kanuparthi village in Ongole Distt. in Andhra Pradesh.
• After higher education, Prakasam entered the profession of law and set up practice at Ongole and later at Rajahmundry in a bid to widen his clientele. In 1904, Prakasam sailed for England to qualify himself for the Bar. On return he started practice at the Madras Bar becoming before long, one of the leaders of the Madras Bar commanding a lucrative practice.
• Responding to Gandhiji‘s call, Prakasam gave up his legal practice and led the great Gandhian upsurge in that part of the country. He became President of the Andhra Provincial Congress Committee in 1921. He led the Simon Commission Boycott in 1928 in Madras City and virtually bared his chest when a British Bayonet was pointed at him.
• He started a Nationalist Daily “Swarajya” in 1921. Within a short time not only did it rise in circulation phenomenally, but there did arise a persistent clamour for Telegu and Tamil editions of the daily.
• When the Congress got into power in 1937, Prakasam became the Revenue Minister and initiated many progressive measures. Later in 1946 he became the Chief Minister of the Composite Madras State and remained in office for about 13 months setting in motion a spate of revolutionary reforms.
• On October 1, 1953, the Andhra State came into being and Andhra Kesari was prevailed upon to head the first Andhra Ministry. His administration at Kurnool was packed with significant events. To crown them all, he declared general amnesty for over 2,000 condemned criminals to mark the State’s first anniversary in 1954.
• Full of years and honours, Prakasam passed away on May 20, 1957 in Hyderabad. History will ever remember him as a National hero.

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