Damodaram Sanjivayya

Damodaram Sanjivayya
2nd Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh
In office
11 January 1960 – 12 March 1962
Governor Bhim Sen Sachar
Deputy Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy
Preceded by Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Succeeded by Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Constituency Kurnool
Union Minister of Labour and Employment
In office
24 January 1964 – 24 January 1966
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri
Preceded by Gulzarilal Nanda
Succeeded by Jagjivan Ram
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
1964–1972
Preceded by Narsing Rao
Succeeded by M Rahmatullah
Constituency Andhra Pradesh
3rd President of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee
In office
1956–1961
AICC President
Preceded by Bezawada Gopala Reddy
Succeeded by Mallipudi Pallamraju
Personal details
Born 14 February 1921
Peddapdu Village, Madras Presidency, British India
(now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died 7 May 1972 (aged 51)
Political party Indian National Congress
Spouse Krishnaveni
Alma mater Madras Law College
Cabinet Government of India
Portfolio Minister of Labour and Employment (9 June 1964 – 23 January 1966)

Damodaram Sanjivayya (14 February 1921 – 7 May 1972) was an Indian politician who served as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 11 January 1960 to 12 March 1962. Sanjivayya was the first Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state. He was also the first Dalit leader to become All India Congress Committee president.

Early life

Damodaram Sanjivayya was born in a Mala family in Peddapadu village of Kallur Mandal in Kurnool district. His father died when he was in young age. He studied at the Municipal School and he took a Bachelor's degree in Law from Madras Law College in 1948. Even being a student, he actively participated in the Indian freedom movement.

Career

Damodaram Sanjivayya 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 Shastri between 9 June 1964 and 23 January 1966.

Chief Minister

Sanjivayya was the first Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state.

He wrote a book on Labour problems and industrial development in India, in 1970 published by Oxford and IBH Pub. Co., New Delhi. He introduced pension system for widows, elderly people, he established Lalitha kala academy in Andhra pradesh, he was the youngest chief minister ever in India, he introduced the office of Anticorruption Bureau {ACB}, he completed the irrigation projects like Gajuladinne in Kurnool dist., Vamsadhara, Pulichintala and varadarajula swamy project near Atmakur in Kurnool dist.

Personal life

In 1950 Sanjivayya married a Dalit teacher, Krishnaveni. They had no children. Sanjivayya wrote literary articles and poetry in Telugu in his free time.

Honours