This paper sets out the historical context that led to the formation of Andhra Pradesh through a merger of Andhra state with the Telangana region of Hyderabad State. It may be that some reasonably dispassionate history based on recorded texts and academic research will help understand the reasons for past policy decisions that affect current political sentiment in Andhra Pradesh. In many ways the sentiments of the people of Telangana are no different than those of the former Andhra state who fought so long and hard to separate their region from the Tamil-dominated Madras Province. Yet the same political elite which fought for an Andhra state and, then for Andhra Pradesh, seemed not to have learnt that it is not fair or sensible to “do unto others what you do not wish done unto you”. It may be too late to learn that lesson now.