Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026 · 2 min read
1. Causes
- Feudal land system — most land was under jagirdars, deshmukhs and the Nizam's own estate; tenants had no security.
- Vetti (forced, unpaid labour), illegal levies and evictions.
- Heavy grain levies during and after the Second World War.
- Political suppression in Hyderabad State and the violence of the Razakars — the armed volunteers of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen led by Qasim Razvi, who opposed merger with India.
2. Organisations and leaders
| Organisation / person | Role |
|---|---|
| Andhra Mahasabha | Began as a cultural-reform body (1930); its left wing turned to agrarian struggle in the 1940s |
| Communist Party | Led the armed struggle — leaders included Ravi Narayan Reddy, Puchalapalli Sundarayya, Chandra Rajeswara Rao, Baddam Yella Reddy, Mallu Swarajyam |
| Doddi Komaraiah | Killed by the deshmukh's men at Kadavendi (Jangaon) on 4 July 1946 — his death sparked the uprising |
| Chakali Ilamma (Ailamma) | Washerwoman of Palakurthi (Jangaon) who resisted the deshmukh of Visnoor's attempt to seize her land — a symbol of the struggle |
| Shoebullah Khan | Journalist (Imroz) killed in 1948 for criticising the Razakars |
3. Course
- Villagers formed sanghams and armed dalams (squads); deshmukhs were driven out of many villages.
- About 3,000 villages set up gram rajyams (village committees) that redistributed land — commonly cited as about 10 lakh acres.
- After the Indian Army's Operation Polo (September 1948) ended Razakar rule, the Indian government moved against the armed squads; the struggle was formally withdrawn in October 1951.
4. Results
- Led to the Hyderabad Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1950 and the abolition of jagirs (1949).
- Weakened the deshmukh system and vetti.
- Shaped later land-reform debates in India and inspired Telugu literature and songs.
Revision SummaryQuick recap
- 1946–51; against deshmukhs, jagirdars and the Razakars (Qasim Razvi).
- Spark: Doddi Komaraiah killed at Kadavendi, 4 July 1946.
- Symbol: Chakali Ilamma of Palakurthi.
- Gram rajyams in about 3,000 villages; land redistributed.
- Withdrawn in October 1951; jagirs abolished 1949, Tenancy Act 1950.