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PREFACE
The India's Freedom Movement in modern history makes an interesting
and expiosive study ro the scholars as well as general readers In the past India
assimilated a number of cultures of different races and oour.tries. The country
had witnessed innumerable movements and agitations in fighting for the right
cause from times immemorial. In course of time the Brltishers finally emerged
victorious in occupying :he Indian sub-continent through trade. East India
Company had sway over Rayalaseema region when palegars subjugated t o
Britlsh power and became feudal lords under British rule. These palegars were
treated 3s local military chieftains who held sway over small regions by paying
annual tributes to the sovereign British rulers and supplying military troops t o
the authorities whenever necessary arose during the times of battles. The East
india Company appointed Sir Thomas Munroe the principal collector of the
Ceded D~stricts of Rayalaseema in 1800 A.D. Major General Duglas Campbell
was appointed the commander of the Ceded Districts. As the palegars of
Rayalaseema did not have any intention to recognise the authority o f the British
and revoiied against the British rule at several places. Thomas Munroe
successfully suppressed them by the end of 1807 A.O. Even then some of the
palegars in Rayalaseema oiganised conspiracy against Brit~sh rule and attacked
the British off~cials. The palegars were arrested by the new Collector Cockburn,
and again gave a chance as a humanist to come to settlement. As they refused
to conciliate, the company forces ultimately defeated them absolutely at
Nagapatnam, Kaliur, Pulicherla and Pullalur in September 1803 A.D. Their
estates were confiscated and peace pacts were reached in accordance w ~ t h the
the country. The prominent local regional leaders like Gooty Kesava Pillai, Kalluri
Subba Rao, Pappuri Ramacharyuiu, Anantasayznam lyengar, Gad~cheria
Harisarvotharna Rao and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy not only followed the main
stream of Nationai struggle but also successfully led the common people In the
major !ong drawn agitations to attain freedom of the country, as they bei~eved
that the region would be developed under self-governed agencies rather than
foreign dom~nation. The present study aims at showing the national
consciousness of common people and their role in National freedom struggle In
3ayalaseema with special emphasis on major political activities entitled
"Rayalaseema Freedom Struggle with special reference to main events" like
Vandemataram Movement, Home Rule Movement, Non Co-operation Movement
including Khilafat Movement, Salt Satyagraha combined with Civil Disobedience
Movement, Quir lndia Movement, Roie of Muslims in Rayalaseema freedom
struggle and Role of eminent freedom iighters have been studied and discussed
in this enquiry and examined briefly the ideas produced and propagated by the
natlonal leaders of North lndia in every major even: which was the deciding
factor of the Indian freedom movement as suggested by the Indian National
Congress reflected over Rayalaseema in carrying out the freedom struggle.
There have been a number of works on the theme of the National
Movement in Andhra, o f which Rayalaseema forms a part. In this direction
M.Venkatarangaiah, a prominent Historian of Andhra Freedom struggle
produced much literature in the form of the work "Freedom Struggle in Andhra
Pradesh". Volume l to IV is an extensive major research on the course of the
national movement pertaining to Andhra Region. He produced severai
documents on the subject. Sarojini Regani's 'Highlights of Freedom Movement
in Andhra Pradesh' is a useful work forthe proper understandng of the polltical
end constitut~onal developments in Andhra during freedom struggle. Further,
some of the scholars have vivid account of Rayalaseema Freedom struggle.
Similarly fragments of works by a few scholars came into I~rnelight. All
highlighted the events area wise and isolated from the main stream of North
lndia. Hence, the researcher makes an attempt to fill up the wide sulf between
North lndia and Rayaiaseema. The Impact of North lnd~an Programmes over
Rayalaseema has been touched and studied under the present enquiry entitled
"Rayalaseema Freedom Struggle with Special Reference to Main Events".
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Due to vastness of the subject, the research IS confined to only major
events of freedom struggle from 1905 A.D. to 1947 A.D. The contribut~on of
common people and their participation in the major events from Anantapur,
Cuddapah, Chittoor and Kurnool have been discussed in the study. The role of
eminent leaders from Rayalaseema and Musl~m partic~pation In National
Movement of Rayalaseema have been highlighted in the work. The
conternporaneity of North Indian programmes envisaged by Indian Nat~onal
Congress from tlme to tlme and thew impact on Rayalaseema is also carefully
examined i~ the presen? enquiry witi-out disturbing the reflections of Andhras
over Nationalism according to the local tradit~ons on various aspecrs like
inloxication, untouchability and uplift of Harijans and development of local
industries and national education. The invoivement of the people o i
Rayalaseema in the main stream of Nationalism was a continbous process. I t
professed in Vandematararn, Home Rule Movement, Non Co-operation and
Khilafat, Sai; Satyagraha and Civii Disobedience and Quit India Movement.
METHODOLOGY
The study has been made on the basisoiprimary and secondary sources.
The primary data have been collected from State Archives at Hyderabad,
Madras and National Arclives at New Delhi. Ali the details of Primary records
are available in these Archives and repositories and distr~ct collectorates.
Various documents, letters, records and newspapers collected from State
Archives of Hyderabad are very useful for this present study. Biographical
information has been collected in the form of personal interviews with the
leaders who are still alive in the Rayalaseema region. The other primary sources
like mff~cial documents, official as well as personal letters and pamphlets have
been consulted for the preserlt study. Besides, the information provided from
prominent Historical Records, Memoirs, Jail Queries, Monographs supplements
information of eminent freedom fighters in Rayalaseema. Many literary works
both in Telugu and English throw a flood light in reconstructing the present
study. I would like to mention here some of the library works like Sweeya
Charithramu by K.Veeresalingam, Naa deevitha Katha Mavyandrarnu by
Ayyadevara Kaleswara Rao, which are very csefui for the present enquiry. The
records o i Ail lndia Congress Committee and District Congress Committees of
this region have been studied. The roie of newspapers is commendable because
of their numerous attempts in gathering oublic opinion against the British mlghty
yoke. Other government records like confidential reports, District Magstrate
reports, pension records whichspokeof the details aboutthe prosecution of the
people by the government who participared in the movement have aiso been
referred to Various newspapers like Andhra Patrika, Sri Sadhana, The Hindu.
The Madras Mail, The Indian Express, The Indian Review and Young lndia
provide valuable information in the construction of the work. In addition to the
primary sources mentioned above, some of the secondary sources furnish
sufficient information for he preseni enquiry. The work has been divided into
ten chapters inciuding introduction.
FIRST CHAPTER : Chapter One reiatlng to a brief geographical and historical
background of Rayalaseema.
SECOND CHAPTER : I t emphasises the socio-religious, economic (cultural) and
political circumstances leading to the freedom struggle in Rayalaseema. The
social order (caste system) and its eco~iomic self-reliance in their respective
professions and soclal restrlctlon over down trodden classes caused fascinat~on
towards establlshmant of English Christ~an Missionar~es, which encouraged
social equality snd uitimately much against the Hindu tradition by making law
on famiiy property. The religious oneness feeling of Hindus, anti-social
legislations and exploitation of economic resources, and new western
philosophicalthought inspired the Rayalaseema people against the alien rule has
been discussed in detail in this cha~ te r .
THIRD CHAPTER : Chapter Three deals with Vandemataram Movement and
discusses the role of moderates in the movement in North India during the year
1905 A.D. The division of Bengal, Calcutta Corporation Act, New Official
Secret Act, Indian University Act etc., have been passed by Lord Curzon.
causing much resentment by the Indians. As a result the extremists like Baia
Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo Gosh
inculcated the new spirtt of opposition among the people against the British Raj.
The spirit of restiveness and discontent voiced by Tilak boon spread t o the other
parts of the country. The oblectives of the movement were (i) Boycotting the
British goods and replacing them with Swadeshi ones, ( 2 ) Boycotting of
students from Government and aided institut~ons, imparting of national
Education by the establishment of National Schools and Colleges and (3) The
boycotting of courts and setting of National Arbitration Courts which formed
part of the plan of action drawn up by the leaders of North India
The Rayalaseema people too plunged into the movement with the impact
of North India. The impact of the writings and teachings of the Nationalist
ieaders had an impact over Rayalaseema. The Rayaiaseema Weavers were sent
to Japan to get technical know-how for the establishment of indigenous
industries in order to put an end to the foreign goods. K.T.Atchayya and some
others from Ceded Districts went to Japan and France and came t o
Rayaiaseema with full fledged technical skill in sericulture. The News paper
Suryodayapvakashika referred to the subscriptions collected In Rayalaseema
from Kurnool to send students to Japan for the train~ng of glass-making. In this
way Rayalaseema took both actlve and prominent role in the Vandemataram
Movement.
FOURTH CHAPTER : Chapter Four makes a detailed study of Home Rule
Movement. The extremists had faith in Swaraj but did not establish ar:
organisat~on of their own i o lead any movement. The time of hollowness was
occup~ed by Home Rule Movement of Balagangadhar Tilak and Mrs.Ann~e
Besant. Both held meetings at various places In North and South iBelgaum,
Ahammadabad, Madras, Bombay) and started the Home Ruie League at Madras
in September 1916 A.D. by Mrs.Annie Besant and Tilak started the same at
Poona. Swadeshi and national Education were Chief object~ves o f the
movement. National University was established at Madanapalli in Chittoor
district in Rayalaseema which became the centre of activity for Nat~onal
Education. Through the journals Common Weal and 'New India' Mrs.Annie
Besant cr i t~c~sed the British policies. She also established Scout Movement and
Young Men's Indian Association. Gooty Kesava Pillai was influenced by the
speeches of Mrs.Annie Besant and played a vital role in popularising the Home
Rule Movement In Rayalaseerna region. Kallur~ Subba Rao, one of the prominent
leaders of Anantapur was attracted by her speeches and plunged inio the
movement. Besides, Ranganada Mudalisr, Hatti Siva Rao, Watti Sankar Rao,
Dora Swami lyengar, Partha Sarathi lyengar, Rajaramanaiah, Munaswami Naidu,
Kasi Naidu, Nageswara Rao, Goddi Rengaiah Naidu, A.S. Krishna Rao from
Rayalaseemajumped ~ n t o the rnovemeqt. Mrs.Annie Besant was arrested for her
anti-British Policies. The remaining leaders raised a voice revolting against the
arrest and number of meetings were he!d at Madanapalli, Vayalpad, Tirupati,
Kurnool, Anantapur and Cuddapah In Raya!aseema. Then the Britlsh
Governmenr released Mrs.Annie Besant on 17th September 1917 A.D. As the
First World War came to an end in the year IS1 9 A.D. the political turmoil also
changed and the Home Rule League ended.
FIFTH CHAPTER : Chapter Fifth discusses Non Co-operation Movement,
including Khilafat agitation. The first tlme we witness unity among two sectons
in the freedom movement of Indian Independence. Gandhi and Ali Brothers
toured the country and explained the meaning and signif~cance of the
movement. The Indian National Congress Committee at the Nagpur session in
December 1920 A.D. approved of the Non Co-operation and Khilafat agitation.
The people of Rayalaseema responded spontaneously to the Non Co-operation
and Khilafat agitation. It was significant that the Rayalaseema Musllms
responded to Khilafat Movement in North Indla. Swadeshi organisations were
made throughout the Rayalaseema, and foreign goods were put on bonfire. A
sp~nning home was established at Nagalapuam in Kurnool district and Charkas
were supplied free of cost ro the poor st Adoni. Swadeshi Khaddar store was
also started by Ramachandra Rao in Kurnool district. The Khadi production
centre was opened at Kalakada in Vayalpad and a sales depot at Chittoor. In
1922 A.D. Gandhi Weaving school was started at Kalyanadurg and spinning
wheels were popularised in Tadipatri Taibk in Anantapur district. In 1924 A.D
Khaddar Board was started at Kwnool and popular leaders became the members
of the boards. Establishment of National Schools also followed by the
Rayalaseema people. During the years 1923 A.D. a National school was
established at Nagi Reddy Palli in Kadiri Taluk of Anantapur district by Venkata
Swami Reddy. National School was established in Anantapur under the aegis
of the district Congress Committee. Thirteen Munsifs resigned their jobs in
Cuddapah, Anantapur, Kurnool and Chittoor districts. Anti intoxication
campaigns were organised in all the Rayalaseema districts. Due t o this
programme Government suffered from substantial loss o i income from the
Ceded D~stricts.
SlXTH CHAPTER : Chapter Six deals with the Salt Satyagraha and the Civil
Disobedience Movement. The object of the Indian national Congress at t h ~ s time
was t o secure complete independence for India. Gandhiji took charge of the
programme. The Civil Disobedience Movement started by breaking Salt law
along wi th 80 of his chosen followers. He started a March from Sabaramati on
March 12th, 1930 A.D to Dandi on the sea shore and reached Dand~ on 6th
April, 1930 A.D. and picked upsalt by violating law. It was a signal for others
to start civil disobedience all over the country. The 3ayalaseema peopie too
foliowec! Salt Satyagraha and Civil Disobedierce Movement. But, the t w o other
progranmes of the T~ip!e Boycott namely Anti-drinking and Swadeshi
Movements were successful in these areas. Kallur~ Subba Rao played a
prominent role in the Ceded Districts ro see that the 1930 A.D. Satyagraha
Movement was successf~l. In Rayalaseema, Salt Laws were violated by
preparing contraband salt from sait bay and distributed it in packets at various
places. Camps were organised at Bellari, Nandyai and Dharmavaram, Kalluri
Subba Rao, idukallu Sadasivam, KSubramanyam, V.C.Sastry, Anantasayanam
lyengar, Srinivasachari and Pappuri Ramacharyulu participated in the Salt
Satyagraha Movement in Rayalaseema. Boycottof foreign cloth wasmaintained
in Rayalaseema as a part of C~vil Disobedience Movement. As a result, Khaddar
Associations were started at many places in Rayalaseema. M.Anantasayanam
lyengar taught the peopie of Kaiakada village how to spin and make Yarn for
Khaddar. The students of Rayaiaseema who were studying in Madras colleges
joined Civil Disobedience Movement.
Responding to the call given by Gandhiji, number of women from
Rayalaseema participated in Civil Disobedience Movement. On 13th April, 1930
A.D. the students of Rayalaseema conducted a meeting at Gandhi Chowk in
Chittoor. A.Ananthasayanam lyengar was the leader of the students movement
and made them participate in Khaddar and temperance movements and the salt
campaigns. The Andhra Press took prominent role in the II phase of Civil
Disobedience Movement. Besides, Rayalaseema Press attained ~ t s share in
inspiring common people through the publication of articles written by
intellectual patriots. The Telugu Newspapers in Rayalaseema were Koumodaki
and Aindravathi published from Nandyal and Pattikonda in Kurnool district. Sri
Sadhana, from Anantapur pub!ished The Round Table Conference and The
Lease of Toddy shops. Another Telugu annual, Rayalaseema Ugadi Kanuka
published a seditious article Wash Thy Feel in Worm Blood' from Tadipatri.
The uplift of Harijan programme was undertaken in Rayalaseema
especially by M.Ananthasayanam lyengar and Kalluri Subba Rao. During the
year 1933 A.D. in the last quarter of the movement Gandhiji again v~sited
Rayalaseema spearheading the movement of untouchability. As a result a
School for Harijans named Kesava Vidya Nilayam was established at Anantapur.
SEVENTH CHAPTER : Chapter Seven refers to the Quit lndia Movement. The
advancement of Japan army in the ll World War made Britishers cripple and
they realised that without cooperation of the Indians they would not be
successful in the battle field. So they sent Crips to lndia to get co-operation.
Finally the mission proved a total failure. ult~mately Gandhi concluded that the
adverse position of the British in the battlefield should make them realise to
leave lndia for Indians since they were unable to safeguard India. Finally, the
Congress met at Wardha on 14th July, 1942 A.D. and adopted the well known
Quit lndia Resolution.
In Andhra, the provincial Congress Committee had issued a c~rcular
popularly known as Kurnool circuiar, before the commencement of an All lndia
Congress Committee Sess~on, at Bcmbay. Rayalaseema played an important
role in the Quit India Movemert. The Rayalaseema people took a violent part
in the movement in rhe first ohase of Quit lndia Movement. The people went
on hartais, demonstrations, processionsandconducted rneeungs. Kallur! Subba
Rao and M.Sanjiva Reddy were arrested at Anantapur, M.Ananthasayanam
lyengar was at Chittoor. Swam: Nityananda at Kurnool, Gurram Venkata Reddy
was at Nandyal. At Tirupat!, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam High School
pupils boycotted classes and arranged a meeting near Govindarajaswamy
Pushkaran~. Tanguturi Prakasam, a member of the All lndia Congress Committee
was arrested at the railway station in Cuddapah. Sri Sadhana Patrika played a
key role in creatirg political awakening among the people of Rayalaseema. it
helped not only in the growth of the political awareness but also of social
justice had been emphasised. The peasants and artisans actively part~cipated
in the movement. The movement was organised in every nook and corner of
Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool and Cuddapah, and local leaders were arrested.
Secret meetings at Maddur were thwarted and the participants were arrested
for cutting of Telegiaph wires and other subversive-activities. The destruction
of Communication system took place in Rayalaseema.
The Raya1aseem.a students played a very commendable role in the Quit
lndia Movement by trying to bring about an effective boycott of educational
~nst i tut~ons as a mark of protest against the Government's repressive pol~cies.
The women from Rayaiaseema also participated in distributing the pamphlets,
joining processions, and demonstrations. Amaravatamma from Kurnool,
iLKasamma from Gooty, participated and were arrested later.
EIGHTH CHAPTER : Chapter Eight deals with the study of participation of
Muslims in National movement with e special reference t o Rayalaseema. On
30th December, 1906 A.D. the Muslim League was formed st Dhaka. They
conducted two successive conferences held in 1909 A.D. and 1910A.D. Many
foresighted Muslim leaders like Mau~ana Abul Kaiam Azad and Sadik Aiikhan
denounced the aim of the League and appealed for Hindu-Muslim unity. The
League was compelled to modify its constitution and brought certaln changes
in the aims and objectives. Besides it, Msulana Mohammad-UI-Uiems-Hindu
which was league's rival in the polit~cai field was formed. The National
organisation vigorously opposed the communalism of the League and did
yeoman service to bring the Musl~m into Congress fold. In the first world war,
the Indian Muslims accepted the Emperor of Turkey as their Khalifa made ind~an
Muslims thought that the Britishers were their enemies. Thus, the Muslim
League came nearer to Indian National Congress. Both the Congress and Muslim
League heldtheir annual sessions at Lucknow. The differences had disappeared.
As a result, Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu and Pt.Malaviya even attended the
Muslim League sessions and delivered speeches. The Congress accepted
Khilafa? agitation and the League agreed the Non Co-operation Movement. Both
were incorporated as one movement in the year 1920 A.D. and a conference
was held by Hindu arid Muslims at Allahaljad in June 1920 A.D. Especially
Hyderabad became prominent forthe propagation of Khilafar Movement among
Muslims and Hindus. Barrister Asgar. Askari Hasan, Khaliuzzaman, Mohammad
Murtoza and Humayun Mirza took part ir. the movement. Among Hlndus
Pt.Kesava Rao, Vaman Naik, and Raghavendra Rao supported the Khilafat
agitation. In Chittoor district both Hindus and Muslims gave up drinking toddy
and arrack. Madar Saheb from Tirupati, Syed Mohiddin Biyabani from Kurnool
were pioneers of the Khilafat agitation in Rayalaseema. Shaik Imam Sahebfrom
Chitroor, participated in Salt Satyagraha, M.Shamsheer Baig from Kurnool gave
up his studies and participated in Civil Disobedience Movement and lnd~vidual
Satyagraha. Mullah Akbar Ali resident of Namakal, Mahaboob Saheb native of
Togerchedu in Nandyal Taluk of Kurnool district, K.Mahaboob Saheb native of
Kasaram village of Anantapur district, actively participated in Quit India
Movement.
NINTH CHAPTER : chapter Nine discusses in detail one of the important facts
revealed in the study about the freedom fighters of Rayalaseema who rendered
the~r services for the country's cause of Independence. Ayybdevara Kaleswara
Rao from Coastal Andhra and Gadicherla Harisarvothama Rao, who born in
Rayalaseema rendered significant services for Coastal Andhra dur~ng the
Vandemataram Movement till independence. G.Harisarvothama Rao fought for
the Welfare of the society which was evident by his efforts as a leader of the
Bharat Hindustan Sevadal Samithi and people called him Andhra Tilak. Kallur~
Subba Rao was :he father of tbe Rayalaseema freedom struggle. He rendered
yeoman service forthe removal of untouchabiiity and the uplift of the depressed
classes. He was a member in Harijan Sevak Samaj from 1935 A.D. and
assumed Presidentship in the entire Andhra Province for Harijan Sevak Samaj.
In 1942 A.C. he established a Sevamandir, a rural development centre at
Hindupur, which was inaug~rated by C.Rajagopalachari. In this ~nstitute, he
introduced Khadi industry, paper making, bottle making and carpentry. As a
lover o f Art, he started Rayalakala Parishat in 1928 and continued his services
till 1466 A.D. Pappuri Ramacharyulu one of the leaders among prominent
personaii:ies !n Rayalaseema ireedom struggle. As an editor, he propagated
Gandhiji's ideais through Pinakini and Srisadhana. He was a staunch orthodox
as well as social worker. He encouraged Swadeshi and propagated to abandon
foreign goods. He was not only active participant in the freedom struggle of
Rayalaseema but also fought for the well being of the society. He worked for
the development of Co-operative Movement. Through his speeches, local
handicrafts gained momentum. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was a well known
freedom fighter in Andhra particularly in Rayalaseema who fought for the
country's freedom. As a patriot, he propagated Congress ideals like eradication
of untouchability, production of Khadi, and National Education among the
masses. Since Civil Disobedience, he played a vital role in the freedom struggle
till india achieved Independence. Madabhusi Anantasayanam lyengar, was a
Veteran Freedom fighter of Andhra from Rayalaseema. He was influenced by
Gandhi and plunged into Rayalaseema freedom struggle at the time of Home
Rule Movement. He dedicated his life for the propagation of Gandhijl's deals
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