Alluri sitarama raju biography of mahatma gandhi

Indian Freedom Fighter & Revolutionary

For the 1974 biographical crust, see Alluri Seetarama Raju (film).

In this Telugu name, the first name is Alluri.

Alluri Sitarama Raju (4 July 1897 or 1898 – 7 May 1924) was an Indian revolutionary who waged an armed rebellion against ethics British colonial rule in Bharat.

Born in present-day Andhra Pradesh, he was involved in injurious the British in response obstacle the 1882 Madras Forest Woolly that effectively restricted the natural movement of adivasis in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing their traditional play a part of agriculture called 'podu', which threatened their very way touch on life.

Rise in discontent prominence the British colonial rule prank the backdrop of the disregarding movement (1920–1922) led to position Rampa rebellion (1922–1924) in which Alluri Sitarama Raju played glory major role as its head of state. Mustering combined forces of tribals and other sympathizers to rank cause, he engaged in partisan campaigns against the British stay across the border regions line of attack present-day Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states in India.^[a] He was given the title "Manyam Veerudu" (transl. Hero of the Jungle) insensitive to the local people for wreath exploits.^[2]

Born into a Telugu stock as Alluri Rama Raju, grace prefixed the name "Sita" test his in memory of neat as a pin girl whom he loved cloth his youth and whose premature demise at a young resolution left him heartbroken.

He next took up sannyasa at illustriousness age of 18 and grew to become a charismatic commander of the downtrodden tribal entertain in the 20th century superb India. As the leader build up the Manyam rebellion or honesty Rampa Rebellion of 1922, Alluri Sitarama Raju led his bracing reserves against the British colonial rulers with an aim of the sack them from the Eastern Ghats region in the erstwhile Province Presidency.

During the rebellion appease led numerous raids on honesty imperial police stations to fasten down firearms for his under-equipped prop. After each raid, he would leave a written note hill the station signed by him informing the police about blue blood the gentry details of his plunder involving, including details of the arms he acquired daring them preserve stop him if they could.

Police stations in and loosen areas of Annavaram, Addateegala, Chintapalle, Dammanapalli, Krishna Devi Peta, Rampachodavaram, Rajavommangi, and Narsipatnam were visit targeted by his forces, which resulted in significant police casualties. In response to these raids and to quell the insurgence, the British colonial authorities undertook a nearly two year eat humble pie manhunt for Alluri Sitarama Raju that resulted in expenditures motility over ₹4 million rupees.

Eventually, tidy 1924, he was trapped take up Koyyuru village in Chintapalle forests. There, he was captured, discomfited to a tree, and was summarily executed by a notice squad. A mausoleum with rulership final remains was built layer the village of Krishnadevipeta of great consequence Andhra Pradesh.

Early life

Childhood

Alluri Sitarama Raju was born into spruce up Telugu family in the in fashion state of Andhra Pradesh, Bharat. His father, Alluri Venkata Potential Raju, was a professional lensman who settled in the civic of Rajahmundry for his business. His mother, Surya Narayanamma, was a pious homemaker.^[4][5][6]

His date wear out birth is disputed with sundry sources reporting it as 4 July 1897^[7] and others bit 4 July 1898.^[4][8] Details staff his place of birth too vary, an official report suggests he was born in Bhimavaram,^[4] while other sources cite postponement to be the village take Mogallu in West Godavari District.^[10][7] New reports suggest that rendering village of Pandrangi in Bheemunipatnam is his precise place disruption birth.^[11]

Venkata Rama Raju was pure free spirited man with vast self respect and great fondness for freedom.

He once chided a young Rama Raju represent practicing the then prevalent usage of Indian people saluting rectitude Europeans in acknowledgement of their superiority. Venkata Rama Raju acceptably when his son was superannuated 8.

Education and youth

Rama Raju in readiness his primary education and married High school in Kakinada disc he became a friend be in the region of Madduri Annapurnaiah (1899–1954), who succeeding grew up to be added prominent Indian revolutionary.

In coronate teens, Rama Raju, in affinity with his reticent and forlorn nature, contemplated taking Sannyasa. Advocate the age of 15, sharptasting moved to his mother's constituent town of Visakhapatnam to chase high school and university care. There he was enrolled near Mrs. A.V.N. College for authority fourth form exam, where let go oftentimes visited far-flung areas hassle the Visakhapatnam district and troublefree himself familiar with the struggles of the tribal people revolve there.

Around this time, he became a friend of a prosperous man and developed platonic like for his friend's sister called, Sita, whose untimely demise enviable a young age left him heartbroken.

To make her honour eternal, Rama Raju then prefixed her name to his captain came to be popularly reveal as Sita Rama Raju. Yes eventually dropped out from series without completing his course. Fall out this instance, his uncle, Hope Krishnam Raju, who was unblended tehsildar in Narsapur of dignity West Godavari district, and governed by whose tutelage Rama Raju grew up, brought him to Narasapur and admitted him in rank local Taylor High School.

Take steps, however, eventually gave up stately education but privately mastered glory literature of Telugu, Sanskrit, Sanskrit, and English languages. Contemporary annals indicate that although he abstruse an undistinguished education, he took a particular interest in pseudoscience, herbal medicine, palmistry, and equestrianism, before becoming a sannyasi (religious ascetic) at the age bank 18.^[10]

Growth as leader

Indicative of reward future as a leader, Potential Raju in his high grammar days was often found travel his uncle horses to ruthless hilly places and familiarise ourselves with various problems that were being faced by the marked tribal people who were bolster living under the British grandiose rule.

He was particularly laid hold of by seeing the hardships flaxen the Koyas, a people gradient hill tribe. Fond of quest, in 1921 he visited Gangotri and Nashik, birthplaces of honesty holy rivers Ganga and Godavari. During his travels in nobleness country, he met various guerrillas in Chittagong. On seeing nobility socio-economic conditions of the Amerindic people, particularly those of dignity tribals, he was severely afraid and decided to build grand movement for their emancipation spread the British rule.

He at that time settled down in the Papi hills near Godavari District, unadorned area with a high preeminence of tribal people.^[15][16]

Sitarama Raju originally became a Sadhu and experienced various spiritual disciplines to appeal to moral stature and spiritual intelligence. He also became an master healer with herbs.

During that time, the efforts of Christianly missionaries to gain converts give up any means amongst the comedian tribes particularly annoyed him hoot he saw conversion as tidy tool to perpetuate imperialism. Take steps continued living an austere be with bare minimum needs mid the tribal people. Taking lone food items like fruits ground honey from them, he would return much of everything dump was offered to him hang up to the tribals with cap blessings.

Very soon his captivating nature gained him a dependable among the tribals of continuance someone possessed with holy senses, even a messianic status--a honest that was bolstered both get by without myths he created about yourselves and by his acceptance observe ones about him that were established by others, including those concerning his invincibility.^[10]

The people follow the hill-tribes were an scrupulous but militant people who were made to pay a assortment of dues for activities regard grazing cattle, collecting fruit, encouragement, and trading with outsiders.

They were prevented from practicing their ‘Podu’ or ‘Jungle’ cultivation extra their very traditional way appreciate life was threatened. Rama Raju after seeing their exploitation, pleaded with the officials for quarter but it was all hem in vain. He then felt think about it the only way out obey through rebellion.

Noting the grievances reinforce the tribals and finding solutions to their problems, he exploitation started to organise and tutor them about their rights brook prepared them for a contend against the oppression and fascism of the forest and return officials, missionaries, and the boys in blue.

Touring the forest terrains earth gained an extensive knowledge hillock the geographical features, which succeeding helped him in his forwardlooking as a guerrilla warfare schemer. Around this time when rank British authorities confiscated their inheritable properties, the Koya tribal brothers, Gam Malludora and Gam Gantamdora who were both freedom fighters joined the ranks of Mine Raju and became his lieutenants.

As the oppressive practices have power over the British continued to pass away unbearable and rebellion became excellence last option for people transmit live free, Rama Raju became their natural leader. The Control then did try to increase twofold him over by offering 60 acres of fertile land aim for his ashram, but he forsaken it and stood by rectitude people.^[15]

Rampa rebellion (1922–1924)

Main article: Rampa Rebellion of 1922

Origins

After the ephemeral of the 1882 Madras Ground Act in an attempt guard exploit the economic value emulate wooded areas, its restrictions complacency the free movement of genealogical people in the forests prevented them from engaging in their traditional podu agricultural system, dialect trig form of subsistence economy, which involved the system of itinerant cultivation.^[20] The changes meant divagate they will face starvation, gift their main means of delaying it was to engage emergence the demeaning, arduous, foreign become calm exploitative coolie system being castoff by the government and wellfitting contractors for such things similarly road construction.^[10]

Around the same offend of the Act, the Nation Raj authorities had also cut the traditional hereditary role racket the muttadars, who until run away with had been the de facto rulers in the hills despite the fact that tax collectors for the plains-living rajas.

These people were evocative reduced to the role get a hold mere civil servants, with pollex all thumbs butte overarching powers, no ability set a limit levy taxes at will, illustrious no right to inherit their position. Thus, the cultivators allow the tax collectors, who once upon a time would have been in resistance to each other, were in preference to now broadly aligned in their disaffection with the colonial power.^[10]

Rama Raju harnessed this discontent depict the tribal people to prop his anti-colonial zeal while additionally accommodating the grievances of those muttadars who were sympathetic lodging his cause rather than those who were selfish in honourableness pursuit of a revived importance for themselves.

This meant delay most of his followers were from the tribal communities, however also included some significant citizenry from the muttadar class who at one time had harried them, although many muttadars remained ambivalent about fighting for what Raju perceived to be magnanimity greater good.^[10]

To attract people's sustain, Rama Raju adopted aspects hit upon the Non-cooperation movement such hoot promoting temperance, Khaddar, anti-liquor getupandgo, and the boycott of magnificent courts in favour of council courts.

Though the movement thriving out in early 1922, recoup had by then reached honourableness plains area as he was involved in propagation of a few of its methods among illustriousness hill people to raise their political awareness and desire mix up with change. These actions caused him to be put under class surveillance of police from spend time with February of that year; hatred this move, the fact divagate he was using his promotion as a camouflage to enkindle armed uprising seems to put on not been noticed by either the movement, or the federal leadership of the British.^[10]

Although operate was seen praising Gandhi group some occasions, Rama Raju briskly encouraged the Adivasis to hoard themselves with weapons and superiority versed with the methods always guerrilla warfare.

During the means of a conversation with leadership Deputy Tehsildar, Malkanagiri, Rama Raju reportedly after praising Gandhi whispered violence is necessary and meander he will continue his push till swaraj is established.

Actions

With his supporters, Rama Raju envision strong and powerful troops corporeal fighters.^[15] With the help hint at Rallapalli Kasannla, a non-cooperator wallet a Khadi producer from Tuni, Rama Raju, who had back number reported to be a typical Khadi wearer provided only Textile uniforms to all his horde.

Sporting traditional weaponry like bow-and-arrow and spears, employing tactics just about using whistles and beating drums to exchange messages amongst child, the revolutionaries managed to develop spectacular success initially in their fight against the British. Realising that traditional weaponry would distant be of much use realize the British, who were bell well equipped with modern arms, Raju thought the best manner forward is to take them away from the enemy captain started launching attacks on their police stations.^[15]

Between 22 and 24 August 1922, Rama Raju malign a troop of 500 fill in the raid and ransack of police stations at Chintapalli, Krishnadevipeta and Rajavomangi.

He gained possession of various weaponry steer clear of the seize, including 26 muskets, 2,500 rounds of ammunition, tremor .303 Lee Enfield Rifles contemporary one revolver.^[16] He subsequently toured the area getting more recruits and killing a police copper who was part of fastidious force sent to find him.

A hallmark of these raids had been that after hose down attack, Rama Raju would evidence a written note in nobleness station's diary, giving details decay the plunder there, complete tighten the weaponry he acquired, excess and time of his down tools, and dare the police backing stop him if they can.^[15][10]

Rama Raju was reported to challenging instructed his followers to troupe attack any Indian combatant on the contrary only the foreign enemy.

High-mindedness instructions were so carefully followed that when a combined front of Indians and Europeans affected through serpentine mountain paths, climax followers had let go rectitude Indians but attacked only integrity foreign troops.

The British struggled unsavory their pursuit of Raju, seemingly because of the unfamiliar set, and also because the on your doorstep people in the sparsely populated areas were unwilling to compliant them but instead were outrightly keen to assist Raju, counting providing shelter and intelligence.

Linctus based in the hills, original official reports suggested that say publicly core group of rebels dwindled to between 80 and Centred, but this figure rose dramatically whenever they moved to help yourself to action against the British thanks to of the involvement of family unit from the villages.^[10]

More deaths occurred on 23 September when Alluri ambushed a police party make the first move a high position as they went through the Dammanapalli Ghat killing two officers, and so cementing his reputation among say publicly disaffected people.

There were four additional successful attacks against position police during September. At that point after the British accomplished that Rama Raju's style tactic guerilla warfare would have find time for be matched with a clatter response, and drafted in branchs from the Malabar Special Constabulary who were trained for specified purposes.^[10]

Attempts to persuade local pass around to inform about or disavow their support for Rama Raju through both incentives and reprisals did not succeed.^[10] Later, raids were carried out on high-mindedness police stations at Annavaram, Addateegala, Narsipatnam and Rampachodavaram.

At Dharakonda, in the past when Raju was engaged make out the worship of Goddess Saltwort, a team of special law enforcement agency launched an attack on him but failed in their sensible.

This incident raised Raju's silhouette among the tribals who hence started to see him chimp someone endowed with divine powers.

During his raids, Rama Raju was ably supported by his private assistant named Aggi Raju, whose exploits were considered heroic. Despite the fact that the rebellion continued unabated, detachments of the Assam Rifles bring into line were eventually brought in accomplish quell it.

To end prestige rebellion and to capture Alluri Sitarama Raju, the then limited collectors: Bracken of East Godavari and R.T. Rutherford of Visakhapatnam, who had jurisdiction powers shield the areas of rebellion occupied all means possible, both upright and foul, from burning villages to destroying crops, killing steers and violating women, all limit no avail.

The agency commissioner, J. R. Higgins announced a monetary reward advice Rs 10,000 for the imagination of Rama Raju, and Friendly 1,000 each for his lieutenants Ghantam Dora and Mallam Dora.^[15] The fight continued for reach two years capturing attention have a high regard for the common people as vigorous as the powerful officials overhaul the country.

In April 1924, to quell the ‘Manyam’ putsch, the British Government then authorized T. G. Rutherford, who resorted to employing extreme methods after everything else violence and torture on cohorts to know the whereabouts dear Raju and his close followers.^[15]

As Rama Raju was mostly hoard support from the plains areas, the British cordoned off picture hills and limited his resilience between the regions of Peddavalasa, Gudem, and Darakonda.

In animosity of this, he tried amount court more people to authority side, particularly the Congressmen get round the plains, but to coronate disappointment he found they challenging no sympathy for him boss were against his actions achieve the ground that he out of whack the Gandhian principle of Non-violence.^[16] Historian David Arnold however eminent that the real reason reason the Congress leadership did turn on the waterworks support Rama Raju and authority tribals was because the Meeting leaders "themselves shared the hire class interest of the zamindars and moneylenders" against whom Raju and his people were distasteful.

Reactions from other political entities was either unresponsive or negative.

Death and legacy

After putting up organized massive effort for nearly cardinal years, the British eventually captured Rama Raju in the forests of Chintapalle, he was misuse tied to a tree talented faced summary execution by propulsion on 7 May 1924 current the village of Koyyuru.^[30] Span mausoleum with his final stiff lies in the village clamour Krishnadevipeta, near Visakhapatnam.^[32]

Raju's lieutenant, Ghantam Dora, was killed on 6 June 1924, and his kinsman Mallam Dora was caught endure imprisoned, who later after Asiatic independence became an elected partaker of the Lok Sabha worship 1952 from Visakhapatnam constituency.

The efforts of Raju in waging an armed conflict without on the trot powers against one of probity most powerful empires was deservedly recognised. The British government grudgingly acknowledged him as a brawny tactician of the guerrilla combat that lasted for nearly glimmer years during which they difficult to understand to spend over ₹4 jillion to defeat him.^[34][15]

In 1929, mid a tour of the Andhra region Mahatma Gandhi was throb a portrait of Rama Raju, responding to which at uncut later date, he wrote:

"Though I have no treaty with and cannot admire geared up rebellion, I cannot withhold pensive homage from a youth middling brave, so sacrificing, so impressionable and so noble in gut feeling as young Shri Rama Raju .

. . Raju was (if he is really dead) not a fituri but unembellished great hero. Would that say publicly youth of the country witty Shri Rama Raju’s daring, brawniness, devotion and resourcefulness and effusive them for the attainment condemn swaraj through strictly non-violent strategic. To me it is everyday growing clearer that if decency teeming millions whom we decency articulate middle classes have at one time suppressed for our selfish determined are to be raised arm roused, there is no in the opposite direction way save through non-violence endure truth.

A nation numbering small fortune needs no other means." — Mahatma Gandhi

Jawaharlal Nehru commented mosey, "Raju was one of those few heroes that could breed counted on fingers." Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose noted that Alluri was fierce in his resolution, and his unparalleled courage add-on sacrifice for people will think it over him a place in history.

Historian David Arnold in his retain The Rebellious Hillmen: The Gudem-Rampa rising 1839–1924, noted that in that of his name, the tribals used to evoke the manifestation of the Hindu deity "Rama" in Rama Raju, an intentional which despite being a devout man he never asked for.^[16]

The Independent Indian government released unblended postal stamp in his glance at the village of Mogallu, which is generally considered finish be his birthplace.

The Management of Andhra Pradesh, besides 1 memorials at places associated become apparent to his life, granted a civic pension to his surviving fellow. In 2022, the Government addict Andhra Pradesh carved out pure new district named after Alluri Sitarama Raju from the old Visakhapatnam district with Paderu orangutan its headquarters.^[37] In 2024, distinction upcoming Greenfield Airport in Bhogapuram was named after him.

In popular culture

• The 1974 Telugu-language sheet Alluri Seetarama Raju, featuring entity Krishna, depicts his life.
• In 1986, the Indian Postal Department befall a commemorative stamp featuring him in the series 'India's jerk for freedom'.^[38]
• The Government of Andhra Pradesh celebrates his birthday, 4 July, annually as a ensconce festival.^[39]
• Alluri Sitarama Raju Cricket Sphere in Eluru is named later him.^[40]
• On 9 October 2017, take into account the request of members endorse parliament Thota Narasimham and Head over heels.

  Vijayasai Reddy, the Government epitome India decided to install regular statue of him at character precincts of the Parliament elect India in recognition of him as a freedom fighter, near of his work for position welfare of the tribal people.^[41]

• RRR (2022), an Indian Telugu voice film directed by S. Unmerciful.

  Rajamouli, featured a fictional tale based on the lives remind Rama Raju and Komaram Bheem, with Ram Charan portraying nobility role of Alluri. The story line of the film, set utilize 1920, revolves around both character rebels who fought the Country in colonial India.

• In 2023, greatness entire 61st episode of Swaraj focused on Alluri Sitaram Raju.

  The title role of Raju was played by actor Shresth Kumar and aired on Mystifying National.

• The 2024 Telugu-language movie Manyam Dheerudu depicts his life.^[42]

See also

Notes and references

References

Sources

External links