Second Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

Early life

Damodaram Sanjivayya was born in a poor dalit family in Peddapadu village in Kurnool district. He was a brilliant student at the Municipal school and he took a bachelor degree in law from Madras Law College. Even as 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.[4] He was Minister of Labour and Employment under Lal Bahadur Shastry between 9 June 1964 and 23 January 1966.

He had the distinction of being among the first Harijans to have shouldered such high responsibilities in the cause of service to the Nation. He was known for his administrative ability and for his uprightness of character. He wrote a book on Labour problems and industrial development in India, in 1970 published by Oxford and IBH Pub. Co., New Delhi.

His statue was erected opposite Public Gardens in Nampally, Hyderabad.

A beautiful park, Sanjeevaiah park along the banks of Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad was named in his honor. Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhaptnam one of the premier legal institutions has been named in his honour.