Telangana remembers Statehood martyr Srikanth Chary

Telangana on Wednesday remembered Statehood martyr K Srikanth Chary, whose 2009 self-immolation ignited mass public unrest and transformed the separate-state movement. Born in Nalgonda district, the 24-year-old activist’s sacrifice remains a defining moment that united the region and accelerated the formation of Telangana.

Hyderabad: People from all walks of life in Telangana on Wednesday paid tributes to K Srikanth Chary, the martyr of the Statehood movement’s second and final phase, whose death became a turning point in the region’s modern history. His self-immolation on December 3, 2009, at just 24, transformed public anger into a mass uprising that ultimately led to the formation of Telangana State.

Born on 15 August 1986 in Podichedu village of the then Nalgonda district, Srikanth Chary came from a modest family. A physiotherapy student living in Chaitanyapuri and also an office bearer of the then TRS youth wing, he was deeply involved in the movement that gripped the region in late 2009.

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On November 29, 2009, hours after police detained BRS (then TRS) chief K Chandrashekhar Rao as he attempted an indefinite fast, protests erupted across Telangana. At LB Nagar crossroads, Srikanth joined fellow activists in a dharna. When police detained several protesters, he briefly slipped away, only to return minutes later.

Climbing atop the Ambedkar statue, Srikanth doused himself in kerosene and set himself ablaze, declaring that even death would not deter the fight for statehood. Passersby rushed to save him, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital, then to Osmania Hospital, and later to Apollo DMRL. With 70 per cent burns, his condition remained critical. He succumbed to burns late on December 3, after struggling for life for four days.

His death sent shockwaves across Telangana. The images of his burning figure which were broadcast on television and published in newspapers, triggered widespread protests, uniting students, workers, farmers and citizens into unprecedented collective action. The movement intensified, and Telangana’s demand became unstoppable.

People of Telangana continue to remember him as the martyr who lit the flame that led to a long-awaited dream.