The article begins with the highlight of a commemorative event marking the 125th birth anniversary of a revered Indian freedom fighter, Alluri Sitarama Raju. The President of India recently graced the closing ceremony organized in Hyderabad. Initiated by the Prime Minister on July 4, 2022, the year-long celebration paid tribute to the legacy and contributions of Alluri Sitarama Raju to India’s freedom struggle.
Alluri Sitarama Raju: A Renowned Freedom Fighter
Alluri Sitarama Raju was an iconic Indian revolutionary recognized for challenging the British colonial rule in India. The heartland of his operations was the Eastern Ghats region of current-day Andhra Pradesh. He assembled the tribal population against the unreasonable forest laws and policies enforced by the British government. His audacious endeavors earned him titles like ‘hero of the jungle’ or ‘Manyam Veerudu.’
Life and Background
Alluri Sitarama Raju was born on either July 4, 1897, or 1898, in Pandrangi village, located in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Coming from a Telugu-speaking Kshatriya family, he grew up witnessing the trials and tribulations of his community.
Rampa Rebellion: A Fight for Rights (1922-1924)
Alluri Sitarama Raju became part of the Non-cooperation movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and observed the exploitation of the tribal people in the Eastern Ghats region by British authorities. The tribal communities practiced podu or shifting cultivation – a traditional, sustainable method that involved clearing parts of forest land for agriculture and relocating after some years. This practice also maintained their food security and cultural identity.
However, the Madras Forest Act of 1882 curtailed the tribal people’s freedom of movement and banned their collection of minor forest produce. This act essentially pushed them into low-wage labor for the forest department or contractors.
In response to this repression, Alluri Sitarama Raju formed a guerrilla army and utilized guerrilla warfare techniques to assault British police stations and outposts. These tactics included ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run strategies, and mobility, placing a smaller, agile force against the larger, less-mobile traditional British military.
His aim was to liberate the tribal people and expel the British from the Eastern Ghats region.
Demise and Legacy
Alluri Sitarama Raju’s fight against the oppressive reign ended when he was captured and executed by the British forces in Koyyuru village on May 7, 1924. His life and struggle epitomized a society unified beyond the boundaries of caste and class discrimination.
Recognizing his contribution to the nation, the Government of India issued a postal stamp featuring Alluri Sitarama Raju in 1986. His life was also commemorated in the 1974 biographical film titled “Alluri Seetharama Raju.” His legacy lives on, still finding resonance in the hearts of his people and countrymen.
