Telugu states

Following the Independence of India in 1947, Telugu-speaking population was divided between Hyderabad State and Madras State. To gain an independent state based on linguistic identity and to protect the interests of the Telugu-speaking people of Madras State, Potti Sreeramulu fasted to death in 1952. The Telugu-speaking area of Andhra State was carved out of Madras state on 1 October 1953, with Kurnool as its capital city. Vishalandhra was the term used in post-independence India for a united state for all Telugu speakers. On the basis of the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956, the States reorganisation act created Andhra Pradesh by merging the neighbouring Telugu-speaking areas of the Hyderabad State with Hyderabad as the capital on 1 November 1956. ==Language==

Telugu is spoken across the Telugu states. As of 2022, Urdu has also gained official status in both the states. Telugu stands alongside Hindi, Bengali and English as one of the few languages with primary official language status in more than one Indian state. It is one of eleven languages designated a classical language of India by the country's government. == Culture ==

Given the proximity of the two states and the shared language, there are quite a few similarities between the states like cuisine (see Telugu cuisine, Andhra cuisine and Hyderabadi cuisine) and cinema (see Telugu cinema). ==References==