who was Potti Sriramulu?

Potti Sriramulu was the person behind the formation of Andhra Pradesh as a separate state.

Andhra was initially a Telugu-speaking district in the Madras Presidency. In 1952, during the general elections in October, when Nehru came to visit the regions of the Madras Presidency, Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger fast demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers.
As the fast went on, Hartals and bandhs were progressed in many towns.
On 15 December 1952, fifty-eight days into his fast, Potti Sriramulu died.
After his death, the protests became so intense that the government was forced to give in to the demand.
On 1 October 1953, Andhra Pradesh became a new state for Telugu speaking people.