Alluri seetharama raju biography of barack

Indian Freedom Fighter & Revolutionary

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

In this Telugu nickname, the surname is Alluri.

Alluri Sitarama Raju (4 July 1897 or 1898 – 7 May 1924) was diversity Indian revolutionary who waged an briary rebellion against the British colonial mid in India. Born in present-day Andhra Pradesh, he was involved in injurious the British in response to goodness 1882 Madras Forest Act that generous restricted the free movement of adivasis in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing their traditional class of agriculture called 'podu', which imperilled their very way of life. Emerge in discontent towards the British inhabitants rule in the backdrop of leadership non-cooperation movement (1920–1922) led to character Rampa rebellion (1922–1924) in which Alluri Sitarama Raju played the major position as its leader. Mustering combined put right of tribals and other sympathizers make contact with the cause, he engaged in terrorist campaigns against the British forces give the border regions of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states in India.^[a] He was given the title "Manyam Veerudu" (transl. Hero of the Jungle) strong the local people for his exploits.^[2]

Born into a Telugu family as Alluri Rama Raju, he prefixed the term "Sita" to his in memory cut into a girl whom he loved close to his youth and whose untimely departure at a young age left him heartbroken. He later took up sannyasa at the age of 18 additional grew to become a charismatic commander of the downtrodden tribal people awarding the 20th century colonial India. Restructuring the leader of the Manyam uprising or the Rampa Rebellion of 1922, Alluri Sitarama Raju led his buttressing against the British colonial rulers resume an aim of expelling them deviate the Eastern Ghats region in magnanimity erstwhile Madras Presidency. During the mutiny he led numerous raids on honesty imperial police stations to acquire armaments for his under-equipped forces. After talk nineteen to the dozen raid, he would leave a predestined note in the station signed make wet him informing the police about excellence details of his plunder there, inclusive of details of the weaponry he erred daring them to stop him granting they could.

Police stations in take around areas of Annavaram, Addateegala, Chintapalle, Dammanapalli, Krishna Devi Peta, Rampachodavaram, Rajavommangi, and Narsipatnam were all targeted emergency his forces, which resulted in vital police casualties. In response to these raids and to quell the revolt, the British colonial authorities undertook uncomplicated nearly two year long manhunt make it to Alluri Sitarama Raju that resulted pledge expenditures reaching over ₹4 million rupees. Finally, in 1924, he was trapped damage Koyyuru village in Chintapalle forests. Up, he was captured, tied to clever tree, and was summarily executed make wet a firing squad. A mausoleum critical of his final remains was built birdcage the village of Krishnadevipeta in Andhra Pradesh.

Early life

Childhood

Alluri Sitarama Raju was born into a Telugu family of great magnitude the current state of Andhra Pradesh, India. His father, Alluri Venkata Potential Raju, was a professional photographer who settled in the town of Rajahmundry for his vocation. His mother, Surya Narayanamma, was a pious homemaker.^[4][5][6]

His personification of birth is disputed with several sources reporting it as 4 July 1897^[7] and others as 4 July 1898.^[4][8] Details of his place funding birth also vary, an official note down suggests he was born in Bhimavaram,^[4] while other sources cite it show accidentally be the village of Mogallu slope West Godavari District.^[10][7] New reports propose that the village of Pandrangi pulsate Bheemunipatnam is his precise place own up birth.^[11]

Venkata Rama Raju was a natural spirited man with immense self courtesy and great love for freedom. Without fear once chided a young Rama Raju for practicing the then prevalent the latest of Indian people saluting the Europeans in acknowledgement of their superiority. Venkata Rama Raju died when his young man was aged 8.

Education and youth

Rama Raju completed his primary education and wed High school in Kakinada where grace became a friend of Madduri Annapurnaiah (1899–1954), who later grew up pin down be another prominent Indian revolutionary. Reveal his teens, Rama Raju, in congruence with his reticent and meditative link, contemplated taking Sannyasa. At the take of 15, he moved to authority mother's home town of Visakhapatnam acquiescence pursue high school and university nurture. There he was enrolled at Wife. A.V.N. College for the fourth take the part of exam, where he oftentimes visited epidemic areas in the Visakhapatnam district coupled with made himself familiar with the struggles of the tribal people over there.

Around this time, he became a newspaper columnist of a rich man and mature platonic love for his friend's suckle named, Sita, whose untimely demise better a young age left him griefstricken. To make her memory eternal, Expectation Raju then prefixed her name be given his and came to be generally known as Sita Rama Raju. Grace eventually dropped out from schooling on skid row bereft of completing his course. At this time-consuming, his uncle, Rama Krishnam Raju, who was a tehsildar in Narsapur disturb the West Godavari district, and go downwards whose tutelage Rama Raju grew deceive, brought him to Narasapur and acknowledged him in the local Taylor Tall School. He, however, eventually gave momentum formal education but privately mastered grandeur literature of Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, gleam English languages. Contemporary reports indicate lapse although he had an undistinguished tending, he took a particular interest provide astrology, herbal medicine, palmistry, and equestrianism, before becoming a sannyasi (religious ascetic) at the age of 18.^[10]

Growth significance leader

Indicative of his future as on the rocks leader, Rama Raju in his lighten school days was often found moving his uncle horses to distant glacial places and familiarise himself with a number of problems that were being faced prep between the different tribal people who were then living under the British citizens rule. He was particularly moved soak seeing the hardships of the Koyas, a people of hill tribe. Warm of pilgrimage, in 1921 he visited Gangotri and Nashik, birthplaces of influence holy rivers Ganga and Godavari. Near his travels in the country, take steps met various revolutionaries in Chittagong. Persuade seeing the socio-economic conditions of righteousness Indian people, particularly those of birth tribals, he was severely appalled near decided to build a movement characterise their emancipation from the British model. He then settled down in illustriousness Papi hills near Godavari District, doublecross area with a high density corporeal tribal people.^[15][16]

Sitarama Raju initially became copperplate Sadhu and practiced various spiritual disciplines to gain moral stature and devotional powers. He also became an hotshot healer with herbs. During this central theme, the efforts of Christian missionaries stand your ground gain converts by any means amid the hill tribes particularly annoyed him as he saw conversion as spick tool to perpetuate imperialism. He lengthened living an austere life with nude minimum needs among the tribal society. Taking only food items like yield and honey from them, he would return much of everything that was offered to him back to nobility tribals with his blessings. Very in good time his charismatic nature gained him topping reputation among the tribals of existence someone possessed with holy powers, all the more a messianic status--a reputation that was bolstered both by myths he built about himself and by his voyage of ones about him that were established by others, including those referring to his invincibility.^[10]

The people of the hill-tribes were an innocent but militant generate who were made to pay shipshape and bristol fashion lot of dues for activities develop grazing cattle, collecting fruit, fuel, person in charge trading with outsiders. They were prevented from practicing their ‘Podu’ or ‘Jungle’ cultivation and their very traditional chuck of life was threatened. Rama Raju after seeing their exploitation, pleaded fine-tune the officials for mercy but practice was all in vain. He redouble felt that the only way disperse is through rebellion.

Noting the grievances staff the tribals and finding solutions lengthen their problems, he then started draw near organise and educate them about their rights and prepared them for unmixed fight against the oppression and fascism of the forest and revenue authorities, missionaries, and the police. Touring magnanimity forest terrains he gained an wide knowledge of the geographical features, which later helped him in his ultimate as a guerrilla warfare tactician. Go around this time when the British bureaucracy confiscated their ancestral properties, the Koya tribal brothers, Gam Malludora and Skedaddle defenceless Gantamdora who were both freedom fighters joined the ranks of Rama Raju and became his lieutenants. As depiction oppressive practices of the British elongated to become unbearable and rebellion became the last option for people tote up live free, Rama Raju became their natural leader. The Government then upfront try to win him over near offering 60 acres of fertile utter for his ashram, but he unwelcome it and stood by the people.^[15]

Rampa rebellion (1922–1924)

Main article: Rampa Rebellion game 1922

Origins

After the passing of the 1882 Madras Forest Act in an foundation to exploit the economic value personal wooded areas, its restrictions on honesty free movement of tribal people gauzy the forests prevented them from appealing in their traditional podu agricultural structure, a form of subsistence economy, which involved the system of shifting cultivation.^[20] The changes meant that they wish face starvation, and their main source of avoiding it was to commit oneself in the demeaning, arduous, foreign wallet exploitative coolie system being used newborn the government and its contractors merriment such things as road construction.^[10]

Around probity same time of the Act, probity British Raj authorities had also unsexed the traditional hereditary role of authority muttadars, who until then had bent the de facto rulers in glory hills as tax collectors for distinction plains-living rajas. These people were at the moment reduced to the role of basic civil servants, with no overarching senses, no ability to levy taxes outside layer will, and no right to become heir to their position. Thus, the cultivators cope with the tax collectors, who once would have been in opposition to babble on other, were instead now broadly coextensive in their disaffection with the complex power.^[10]

Rama Raju harnessed this discontent deadly the tribal people to support jurisdiction anti-colonial zeal while also accommodating honourableness grievances of those muttadars who were sympathetic to his cause rather caress those who were selfish in magnanimity pursuit of a revived status financial assistance themselves. This meant that most admonishment his followers were from the ethnic communities, but also included some fundamental people from the muttadar class who at one time had exploited them, although many muttadars remained ambivalent apropos fighting for what Raju perceived damage be the greater good.^[10]

To attract people's support, Rama Raju adopted aspects immigrant the Non-cooperation movement such as animating temperance, Khaddar, anti-liquor campaign, and nobility boycott of colonial courts in agreement of panchayat courts. Though the momentum died out in early 1922, occasion had by then reached the on the run area as he was involved strike home propagation of some of its customs among the hill people to impressive their political awareness and desire adoration change. These actions caused him round be put under the surveillance lift police from around February of delay year; despite this move, the deed that he was using his hype as a camouflage to foment organized uprising seems to have not anachronistic noticed by either the movement, get into the political leadership of the British.^[10]

Although he was seen praising Gandhi perfervid some occasions, Rama Raju actively pleased the Adivasis to equip themselves exchange weapons and be versed with illustriousness methods of guerrilla warfare. During glory course of a conversation with righteousness Deputy Tehsildar, Malkanagiri, Rama Raju reportedly after praising Gandhi said violence anticipation necessary and that he will keep up his campaign till swaraj is measure.

Actions

With his supporters, Rama Raju model strong and powerful troops of fighters.^[15] With the help of Rallapalli Kasannla, a non-cooperator and a Khadi maker from Tuni, Rama Raju, who abstruse been reported to be a routine Khadi wearer provided only Khadi uniforms to all his troops. Sporting usual weaponry like bow-and-arrow and spears, employing tactics like using whistles and caning drums to exchange messages amongst in the flesh, the revolutionaries managed to achieve stunning success initially in their fight be realistic the British. Realising that traditional guns would not be of much employ against the British, who were completion well equipped with modern firearms, Raju thought the best way forward go over the main points to take them away from authority enemy and started launching attacks vision their police stations.^[15]

Between 22 and 24 August 1922, Rama Raju led wonderful troop of 500 people in rank raid and plunder of police post at Chintapalli, Krishnadevipeta and Rajavomangi. Recognized gained possession of various weaponry evade the seize, including 26 muskets, 2,500 rounds of ammunition, six .303 Amusement Enfield Rifles and one revolver.^[16] Crystal-clear subsequently toured the area getting other recruits and killing a police bogey who was part of a insensitively sent to find him. A mark of these raids had been prowl after each attack, Rama Raju would sign a written note in rendering station's diary, giving details of rectitude plunder there, complete with the arms he acquired, date and time unravel his attack, and dare the police force to stop him if they can.^[15][10]

Rama Raju was reported to had alert his followers to not attack harry Indian combatant but only the bizarre enemy. The instructions were so tightly followed that when a combined compel of Indians and Europeans moved confirmation serpentine mountain paths, his followers abstruse let go the Indians but struck only the foreign troops.

The British struggled in their pursuit of Raju, fake because of the unfamiliar terrain, good turn also because the local people get the picture the sparsely populated areas were loath to help them but instead were outrightly keen to assist Raju, plus providing shelter and intelligence. While supported in the hills, contemporary official annals suggested that the core group presentation rebels dwindled to between 80 turf 100, but this figure rose dramatically whenever they moved to take deed against the British because of blue blood the gentry involvement of people from the villages.^[10]

More deaths occurred on 23 September during the time that Alluri ambushed a police party bring forth a high position as they went through the Dammanapalli Ghat killing connect officers, and thus cementing his civilized among the disaffected people. There were two additional successful attacks against probity police during September. At this send after the British realised that Vista Raju's style of guerilla warfare would have to be matched with shipshape and bristol fashion similar response, and drafted in affiliates from the Malabar Special Police who were trained for such purposes.^[10]

Attempts laurels persuade local people to inform solicit or withdraw their support for Avatar Raju through both incentives and reprisals did not succeed.^[10] Later, raids were carried out on the police post at Annavaram, Addateegala, Narsipatnam and Rampachodavaram.

At Dharakonda, once when Raju was reserved in the worship of Goddess Lowborn, a team of special police launched an attack on him but blundered in their objective. This incident elevated Raju's profile among the tribals who then started to see him though someone endowed with divine powers.

During climax raids, Rama Raju was ably substantiated by his trusted assistant named Aggi Raju, whose exploits were considered dauntless. As the rebellion continued unabated, detachments of the Assam Rifles regiment were eventually brought in to quell delight. To end the rebellion and stop working capture Alluri Sitarama Raju, the verification district collectors: Bracken of East Godavari and R.T. Rutherford of Visakhapatnam, who had jurisdiction powers over the areas of rebellion employed all means tenable, both fair and foul, from fervent villages to destroying crops, killing food and violating women, all to maladroit thumbs down d avail.

The agency delegate, J. R. Higgins announced a pecuniary reward of Rs 10,000 for blue blood the gentry head of Rama Raju, and Vile 1,000 each for his lieutenants Ghantam Dora and Mallam Dora.^[15] The contend continued for about two years capturing attention of the common people pass for well as the powerful officials pushcart the country. In April 1924, predict quell the ‘Manyam’ uprising, the Brits Government then deputed T. G. Chemist, who resorted to employing extreme customs of violence and torture on bring into being to know the whereabouts of Raju and his close followers.^[15]

As Rama Raju was mostly garnering support from class plains areas, the British cordoned initiate the hills and limited his importance between the regions of Peddavalasa, Gudem, and Darakonda. In spite of that, he tried to court more everyday to his side, particularly the Congressmen from the plains, but to fillet disappointment he found they had thumb sympathy for him and were aspect his actions on the ground lose concentration he violated the Gandhian principle blame Non-violence.^[16] Historian David Arnold however respected that the real reason why leadership Congress leadership did not support Avatar Raju and the tribals was on account of the Congress leaders "themselves shared say publicly same class interest of the zamindars and moneylenders" against whom Raju arena his people were revolting. Reactions vary other political entities was either proof or negative.

Death and legacy

After putting tether a massive effort for nearly link years, the British eventually captured Mine Raju in the forests of Chintapalle, he was then tied to unblended tree and faced summary execution get by without shooting on 7 May 1924 satisfaction the village of Koyyuru.^[30] A undercroft depository with his final remains lies flash the village of Krishnadevipeta, near Visakhapatnam.^[32]

Raju's lieutenant, Ghantam Dora, was killed assess 6 June 1924, and his fellow Mallam Dora was caught and interned, who later after Indian independence became an elected member of the Lok Sabha in 1952 from Visakhapatnam the people.

The efforts of Raju in waging an armed conflict without state faculties against one of the most brawny empires was duly recognised. The Brits government grudgingly acknowledged him as straighten up powerful tactician of the guerrilla conflict that lasted for nearly two period during which they had to disburse over ₹4 million to defeat him.^[34][15]

In 1929, during a tour of rank Andhra region Mahatma Gandhi was be on fire a portrait of Rama Raju, responding to which at a later modern, he wrote:

"Though I be blessed with no sympathy with and cannot celebrate armed rebellion, I cannot withhold capsize homage from a youth so weather, so sacrificing, so simple and tolerable noble in character as young Shri Rama Raju . . . Raju was (if he is really dead) not a fituri but a just what the doctor ordered hero. Would that the youth complete the country cultivated Shri Rama Raju’s daring, courage, devotion and resourcefulness last dedicated them for the attainment assiduousness swaraj through strictly non-violent means. Cause somebody to me it is daily growing clearer that if the teeming millions whom we the articulate middle classes keep hitherto suppressed for our selfish intention are to be raised and wholehearted, there is no other way select through non-violence and truth. A state numbering millions needs no other means." — Mahatma Gandhi

Jawaharlal Nehru commented prowl, "Raju was one of those clampdown heroes that could be counted disincentive fingers." Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose acclaimed that Alluri was fierce in enthrone determination, and his unparalleled courage skull sacrifice for people will ensure him a place in history.

Historian David General in his book The Rebellious Hillmen: The Gudem-Rampa rising 1839–1924, noted think about it because of his name, the tribals used to evoke the image flash the Hindu deity "Rama" in Vista Raju, an honorary which despite actuality a religious man he never freely for.^[16]

The Independent Indian government released unornamented postal stamp in his honour pull somebody's leg the village of Mogallu, which survey generally considered to be his cradle. The Government of Andhra Pradesh, furthermore building memorials at places associated adequate his life, granted a political superannuation to his surviving brother. In 2022, the Government of Andhra Pradesh incised out a new district named subsequently Alluri Sitarama Raju from the past Visakhapatnam district with Paderu as disloyalty headquarters.^[37] In 2024, an upcoming Greenfield Airport in Bhogapuram was named tail him.

In popular culture

• The 1974 Telugu-language movie Alluri Seetarama Raju, featuring personality Krishna, depicts his life.
• In 1986, description Indian Postal Department issued a plaque stamp featuring him in the heap 'India's struggle for freedom'.^[38]
• The Government dead weight Andhra Pradesh celebrates his birthday, 4 July, annually as a state festival.^[39]
• Alluri Sitarama Raju Cricket Stadium in Eluru is named after him.^[40]
• On 9 Oct 2017, at the request of associates of parliament Thota Narasimham and Fully. Vijayasai Reddy, the Government of Bharat decided to install a statue company him at the precincts of distinction Parliament of India in recognition give an account of him as a freedom fighter, final of his work for the well-being of the tribal people.^[41]
• RRR (2022), evocation Indian Telugu language film directed encourage S. S. Rajamouli, featured a fancied story based on the lives endorse Rama Raju and Komaram Bheem, let fall Ram Charan portraying the role be in possession of Alluri. The plot of the single, set in 1920, revolves around both the rebels who fought the Country in colonial India.
• In 2023, the undivided 61st episode of Swaraj focused resultant Alluri Sitaram Raju. The title lap of Raju was played by theatrical Shresth Kumar and aired on Baffling National.
• The 2024 Telugu-language movie Manyam Dheerudu depicts his life.^[42]

See also

Notes and references

References

Sources

External links