BODHI International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Science

An online, Peer reviewed, Refereed and Quarterly Journal

Vol : 1 No : 4 July 2017 ISSN : 2456-5571

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Vol.1 No. 4 July 2017 e-ISSN: 2456-5571

POLITICAL HISTORY OF BHIMIREDDY NARSIMHA IN ARMED STRUGGLE – A STUDY

Dr. Gugulothu Ravi Research Scholar, Depot of History & Tourism Management, Kakatiya University, Warangal-506009, Telangana,

Abstract Telangana armed struggle was a historical and a biggest struggle made for land, food and liberation by the Telangana people. In that struggle from starting to till the end including Puchalapally Sundarayya there are six major leaders who participated in the struggle. They are Devulapally Venkateshwara Rao, Chandra Rajeshwar Rao, Maddukuru Chandra Sekhar Rao, Makineni Bhasava Punnaiah, Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy participated in it. Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy names itself resemble the red flag which flutter in the air. Telangana mud smell blows with a the name of Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy. Telangana farmers armed struggle raises like a swell of the sea. When the B.N.Reddy catch the gun started for struggle the enemies’ hearts shiver with fear. He is a restless leader and Chanakya in building the Guerrilla forces. He make Bullets to flower for Moduga tree. Rebellion is his nature, his nature is never set back at any time and never compromise in the struggle. He is six feet tall with good looking personality. He is renowned Telangana son who simple named as B.N none other than Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy. In those days Telangana people are living without freeness and independence and living as slaves. Telangana poor people are suffering with land lords dictatorship and effected with pillage of those land lords. If the poor people asks for food land lards crushed and if asked for freedom they have to face the suppress of the land lords. Some persons cannot tolerate the insult to the Telugu language started language and cultural movement and it was strengthened. Andhra Jana Kendra Sangham started for the rebirth of language and cultural improvement has converted into ‘Andhra Maha Sabha’. By this the movement area was spreaded and the people problems and included in which land problem is also one main issue to that movement. Keywords: Telangana armed struggle, Marxist leader of Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy, Mondrai Incident, Lion Roar Of Ailamma.

Introduction from district. He also elected as Parliament Comrade Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy was a member in 1971, 1984 and 1991 from Miryalaguda freedom fighter and a leader of the Telangana Rebellion, constituency to Lok Sabha. He tried to solve the fighting for the liberation of the Telangana region problems of poor people in Lok Sabha and in Assembly. of State from the oppressive rule of Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy has discussed in parliament the Nizam. He belonged to Suryapet district of in 1971 itself to utilize the Godavari river water today's Telangana in India. He was a member of government has to construct the dams and to make the which led the peasant developments in backward areas of Telangana region. struggle that is famous as the Telangana Rebellion.1 He was born on 15-March-1922 at Karvirala Kothagudem Marxist Leader of Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy village, near Thungathurthi, Suryapet. The rebellion was Though born into a feudal family, Bhimireddy led under the banner of Andhra Maha Sabha by the Narsimha Reddy (B.N.Reddy) had rebelled against the Communist Party of India. He was well known as same feudal set up and liberated lakhs of acres of land Comrade B.N. Reddy among the cadres of the party. 2 from the clutches of the landlords. He always sided with He continued as a member of the Communist the poor and fought for the emancipation of the Party of India till 1964 and took the side of the splinter downtrodden from suppression and exploitation. group, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M) “He was a very dynamic leader and he used to then. He was elected to the state assembly tell many of his revolutionary activities.' “B.N.Reddy

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provided the basis for the People’s War Group’s discussed and came to one decision. Final decision was activities. He was the first man to plan attacks on police that the landlords were ready to occupy the land in stations to procure arms for the poor,” adding that he violence mode also. The Andhra Maha Sabha did not sensed the need to organise village level committees to make any arrangement to face the situation so at this protect the land taken away from the despotic landlords. situation if any attempt was made there was no use of it Stalwart of the Telangana Armed Struggle and veteran and there may be any loss to the lives of the farmers. So Communist leader Bhimreddy Narsimha Reddy. they decided to stop the lambadi farmers. 5 To implement B.N.Reddy as he was known, fought the this decision they decided to send Arutla Ramachandra during the Nizam’s rule for six years by being Reddy. underground. He escaped 10 attempts on his life, He said he cannot go alone. So they decided prominent among them being an attack against him, his to send Devulapalli Venkateshwara Rao along with him wife and infant son by the Razakars near Mahbubabad in to the incident place. After going for some distance Arutla Warangal district. B.N.Reddy broke the army cordon Ramachandra Reddy said I have promised to Lambadi while exchanging fire and escaped. He also carried out people that I’ll compulsory give you lands from the land struggles against feudal oppression and bonded labour. lords, but now I cannot come because I cannot stand on He was elected thrice to the Lok Sabha from my voice, so I’ll be back he said. Then Devulapalli Miryalguda and twice to the Assembly from Suryapet and Venkateshwara Rao alone went to incident place at Tungathurthy in on the CPI (M) ticket. Mondrai along with the people. There Bhimireddy He, however, quit the CPI (M) in 1998 following Narsimha Reddy, Yadagiri Rao and other leaders and differences and floated his own Marxist outfit that was members of Andhra Maha Sabha and thousands of later merged with the Marxist Communist Party of India people from Manpadu, Gollapally, Devaruppala, (MCPI). His long political career spanned six decades. 3 Kadivendi, Seetharampuram, Madipadiga, Katarupally and Ramapuram villages were ready to cut the crop. Mondrai Incident They questioning the record keeper () and In Mondrai area the Kadaru record keeper ready to cut the crop and stepping forward. 6 (Deshmukh) (Kadaru Ramachandra Rao) dictatorial was At that time police entered that place. increased. At the same time how to face the constraints Collector, Nizam police officers including S.P all the and how the government and landlords would bring the forces came there. They warned the lambadis not to put constraint like all these matters were discussed in the hand on the crop. This warning was not accepted by the Andhra Maha Sabha. On these issued some more Lambadis. Then Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy said wait discussions and representations also should be done, for four days. But the Lambadis did not accept the words and this was decided in the meeting. In this context with of Andhra Maha Sabha. This was becoming augmented Mondrai land lords the Andhra Maha Sabha leader ship environment between the Lambadis and chiefs and their on behalf of Lambadi farmers of Maidam Cheruvu has supporter i.e., police of Nizam and this would become made discussions, but the land lords said the land very critical. But on that day Bhimireddy Narsimha belongs to them only and they wont give any piece of Reddy, Devulapalli Venkateshwara Rao, Yadagiri Rao land and denied to give the land to the lambadies. 4 trying to convenience the Lambadis people and sending A committee was formed to take a legal advice messages to Police officers and Collector not to be and what to do to for giving 30 acres of wet land for embarrassed. 7 giving to the farmers. To this state committee orgainser “They requested don’t raise hands on S.V.K.Prasad, Devulapalli Venkateshwara Rao, Arutla Lambadis and don’t distend them. This land was Ramachandra Reddy formed into a committee and cultivating from so many years and please let them to

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take the crop. But the Collector and Nizam military did Somaiah, Lachaiah when the meeting was going on they not accept thisand make the Police and military ready kept their eyeson them and when they were trying to with their arms for firing. On the other side Collector attack the leaders they catched them by jumping on called the leaders and said you also say to the Lambadis them. At this situation the meeting was dispersed. In fact and we would convince the chiefs. Anybody should not in that fighting small injuries was happen but nobody has cut the crop and after taking the crop that yield would go died. But the Visunoor gundas has escaped and ran under the government, we were ready said Collector. away. 11 By taking advantage of this incident if the attack This was the best alternate method which would not go fails he planned to put the military forces into the field the crop to the chiefs now but later at any type it’ll reach and up to the morning police came into the village. But the chiefs only this was their and Lambadi’s opinion. 8 there was no Arutla Ramachandra Reddy there. Only the Even though at the first instant only such a huge loss of members of Andhra Maha Sabha who was local and the lives was not correct and they finally make accept from husband of Ailamma and son were there. Ameen Sab the lambadis side also. But ultimately the crop would be came with some forces and tried to arrest under the cut by Lambadis only and the crop would be taken guise of murder attempt and he taken them into custody custody into the officers. This was the agreement of that and take them into the streets by bearing with big sticks. day. At that day a big fighting was stopped. But the angry On that day the arrested people were D.Subba Rao, in the people came out and the dissent was spreading Gangula Sai Reddy, Manohar Rao, Chakali Ailamma like water under the mat. But the communist party leader husband Narsaiah and sons Somaiah, Lachaiah and ship cannot catch up from the Andhra Maha Sabha dais Nemalipuri Chandraiah of Vavilala village, Yerama what they have expected. 9 Reddy from Kadivendi and four others from Palakurthy was implicated. Palakurthy Open Meeting Including three members of Ailamma family To Shivarathri at Palakurthy so many people near about 20 people of Palakurthy village was faced the would come to there. On that day one meeting should be murder attempt. In this case Arutla Ramachandra Reddy conduct at that time thought by Arutla Ramachandra was there but according to the decision of Andhra Maha Reddy and without the permission of Andhra Maha Sabha he was spending underground life. The Andhra Sabha he decided the meeting. But the district committee Maha Sabha leadership known that the Visunoor was against the meeting. The people would not listen at Ramachandra Reddy was trying to make fear the people that time, this was the opinion of the committee. But to and making them into his custody they planned to arrest the command of Arutla Ramachandra Reddy from their supporters to make self stability increased in them. “Andhra Maha Sabha Sangham” Bhimireddy Narsimha But the Nizam government roamed the Arutla Reddy collected the people from the villages for that Ramachandra Reddy in the villages and tried to make particular meeting. At that time the Gundas of Visunoor fear in the people and at last sent him into the jail. To Ramachandra Reddy was trying to kill the Arutla make people brave only Devulapalli Venkateshwara Rao Ramachandra Reddy. This came to know by the youth of has went to different villages secretly and develop brave Palakurthy and 20 of the ‘‘Sangham’’ members in the farmers. In this case in support of the farmers to surrounded the dais as security. Even though the gundas cooperate to them the member of Andhra Maha Sabha of of Visunoor Deshmukh, Banamanala Venkanna and Suryapet Taluqua Nallu Prathap Reddy the charge was another sit with swords in the farmers wearing the rugs. 10 given. He completed his work with a good Chityala Chakali Ailamma’s husband and sons responsibility. 12 who were facing the conspirators in their lives has Palakurthy case went to session court. On smelled the situation. Ailamma husband Narsaiah, sons behalf of Andhra Maha Sabha members Nagulapalli

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Kodandarama Rao was worked. Arutla Laxminarsimha Man), barbers etc., caste people were feared very Reddy was also worked in this case as lawyer. The judge much. 15 The gundas of Deshmukh in the day time itself who listened the arguments was Gulam Panjathan. He looking above the wall into the house and warning the was acting in favour of Visunoor Ramacahndra Reddy Ailamma family and saying you cannot lead cool life in when the case started its trail in the court. He was close your lives. They make warning to the Bhimireddy friend to him also. For this reason the Andhra Maha Narsimha Reddy force also who was present in the Sabha decided to put a transfer petition in the High court, Ailamma house. Ailamma gave warning to the Gundas and the petition was filed by the Andhra Maha Sabha in which cannot be forgotten in the history of the world. In High Court it was accepted and sent it to the second those days the people were fearing very much the acts of judge Pingali Venkatram Reddy for the decision. He was the gundas but the Ailamma with a great brave said with famous person who gives right decision, his name was lion roaring you the gundas get back otherwise the Red spread all over about this. In front of him the lawyers of flag party would see you end and your evil acts would not Andhra Maha Sabha took the case with very confidence continued and she make a great warning to those and challenging. To the defense witnesses they put 30- gundas which cannot be forgotten till today. 16 40 farmers and the Andhra Maha Sabha members as witnesses in front of the judge and cancelled the murder Conclusion case against them. In his judgement on Visunoor Telangana Armed Struggle can be written in Ramachandra Reddy and on police behavior the judge the history of Bharatha Communist Party in a great has criticized them. In this period Devulapalli struggle. To gain agricultural revolution and to remove Venkateshwara Rao kept good relations with the farmers the feudal system from its root and to topple the Nizam of Palakurthy. With the defeat of the case Visunoor cruel system and for the people rule, Telangana armed Ramachandra Reddy has got angry in him tried to struggle was started by the Telangana farmers. surrender Ailamma in any way. Zakir Hussain, who was In “Mondrai” village , Land lords Visunoor Sub-Inspector at a time, now he was Public land was cultivating the Lambadies from long back. prosecutor in this case. 13 Maidam cheruvu (Mondrai) Lambadie farmers cultivating After the Ailamma family went into the jail a call land has tried to occupy by the land lords, to solve this came to Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy to come to problem on behalf of Andhra Maha Sabha, Bhimireddy Palakurthy. According to the command of the district Narsimha Reddy and the neighbouring village people leaders of Andhra Maha Sabha, Bhimireddy Narsimha gathered and tried to clash with the land lords. Reddy, Yadagiri Rao, S.V.K.Prasad, K.Ramachandra Devulapalli Venkateshwara Rao with great attention Reddy, Nallu Prathap Reddy and some other volunteers discussed with B.N.Reddy and temporarily stopped the has entered into Palakurthy. 14 clash between the land lords and lambadies, but they decision they have to face the land lords with weapons. Lion Roar of Ailamma Under the leadership of B.N.Reddy in Devaruppala Chityala Ailamma and her husband and sons village for youth people one training camp was organised were not there. Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy group has to give training for using arms and weapons. This to stand for lifting the flag at that time. In fact the gonads incident was the starting for the use of armed resistance of Visunoor Ramachandra Reddy has surrounded the in the struggles. Afterwards in Palakurthy incident Ailamma family round the clock and making fear and Washerwomen Chityala Ailamma was taken some land torture. Every second it was creating fear in the people. from Mallampally Makadhar for Kawulu (lease for Not only the Ailamma family the people who suffered cultivation), but to the Visunoor Deshmukh Ramachandra with drudging in the village like washer men (Laundry Reddy against him Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy was

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Andhra Maha Sabha committee secretary. Yadagiri Rao Archaeology, P.S.Telugu University, Srisailam, was the district committee member and some other 2015, p. 25. volunteers Andhra Maha Sabha under the leadership of 3. Interview with Mallu Swarajyam, Op. Cit. “Sangham ” Ailamma’s yieling was reached to her house 4. Interview with S.V.K.Suguna, Freedom Fighter, under the leadership of B.N.Reddy with that police and Age, 85 years, Miyapur, Hyderabad, on: 10-02- Visunoor Deshmukh cupid people took B.N.Reddy and 2014. other members into jail tortured them very much. In the 5. Ibid . eyes and anus they sprayed Chili powder and if they 6. K.Jithendra Babu, Nizam Rashtrandhra Maha asked water they gave urine. B.N.Reddy with great brave Sabhalu , Hyderabad, 2007, P.20. released with injuries and afterwards he came to 7. Ibid ., p.21. Hyderabad and showed to “ Miijan ” paper editor Adavi 8. Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy, Telangana Baapiraju. ‘‘ Miijan ” paper has responded’. This incident Sayudha Poratalu, Prathyaksha Anubhavalu- was popularized throughout the Telangana. Bhoomika, Hyderabad, 2003, p.38. 9. Ibid ., p.39. References 10. Alikatte Shankar Rao, Telangana Peasant 1. Interview with Mallu Swarajyam, Ex- Armed Struggle Bhimireddy Narsimha Reddy M.L.A.,Freedom Fighter, Age, 88 years, Experiences , Hyderabad, 2012, p.51. Baglingampally, Hyderabad, on: 11-02-2014. 11. K.Jithendra Babu, Op. Cit., p.22. 2. Dr. Ravi Gugulothu, Biography of Bhimireddy 12. Ibid., p.23. Narsimha Reddy – A Historical 13. Arutla Ramachandra Reddy, Telangana Background,Un-Published Thesis Submitted to Porata Smruthulu , Hyderabad, 2012, p.58. the Department of School of History, Culture & 14. Alikatte Shankar Rao, Op. Cit., pp.53-54.

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