People and Personalities of YSR Kadapa District

The big stories often make the headlines of our historical narratives, but history is not only about the landmark events - it finds shape and character in the myriad events that led up to a flashpoint of change. An attempt to discover and document stories of people, events, and places linked to the freedom struggle of India at the micro level of the district has led to the creation of a Digital District Repository. Stories in this section can be broadly classified under - People & Personalities.

P. R. Sanjeeva Reddy

P.R. Sanjeeva Reddy came into this world in 1920, in the village of Peddapasupula, located in the Jammalamadugu Taluk of YSR Kadapa district. His parents, P.R. Pochi Reddy and Nagamma, played an influential role in shaping his early life. Sanjeeva Reddy received his primary education and found inspiration in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. He also became a devoted follower of Yeddula Eswar Reddy, a fellow farmer and freedom fighter from Peddapasupula village.

From a young age, he actively engaged in the events of the freedom struggle. He was entrusted with the National Flag during his childhood, a responsibility he devotedly upheld until his death. In his pursuit of liberty, he took part in individual acts of Satyagraha. He joined forces with the youth from three neighboring villages to participate in the Salt Satyagraha, a significant nonviolent protest against British salt laws.

P.R. Sanjeeva Reddy, fuelled by a deep sense of purpose, ventured into neighboring villages, proudly carrying flags and spreading the message of freedom. As time went on, he became actively involved in the Quit India movement of 1942. During this P.R. Sanjeeva Reddy and his companions devised a daring plan. Intercepting bags of letters en route from Muddanur railway station to the Jammalamadugu post office, they set ablaze the contents in a secluded area near their Peddapasupula village. However, their audacious act did not go unnoticed, and the British authorities swiftly apprehended P.R. Sanjeeva Reddy. He was subsequently interned in Kamalapuram Jail for a month as a consequence of his actions.

In recognition of his contributions to the Indian freedom struggle, the Government of Andhra Pradesh honoured P.R. Sanjeeva Reddy by granting him a State Freedom Fighters Pension and a piece of land. He breathed his last on May 27, 2003, in his hometown of Peddapasupula.

Kadapa Kotireddy

Koti Reddy, also known as Kadapa Kotireddy, was born in Narayana Cheruvu village in Chittoor district. He was a diligent student who obtained his B.A. degree from the University of Madras and went on to study law in England. However, his interest in education led him to become a barrister and practice law in Madras before eventually settling in Kadapa town and becoming a farmer.

Koti Reddy's focus later shifted towards India's independence struggle, particularly Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of peaceful resistance through Satyagraha. He actively participated in the Home Rule Movement and worked alongside leaders such as Gadicherla Harisarvothama Rao and Gutti Kesavapillai. Even his wife, Ramasubbamma, became involved in the independence movement. Koti Reddy was a strong supporter of the boycott of the Simon Commission and the Dandi Salt Satyagraha, which led to his arrest by the British government. He was imprisoned twice and served a total of eight months in Vellore, Tiruchirapalli and Amravati Jails. However, prison life only strengthened his resolve and fighting spirit.

After India's independence, Koti Reddy was elected as a legislator from Kadapa in 1952 and served as a minister in the Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam cabinet.

He also played an active role in the development of the Khadi campaign in the Rayalaseema region and as the President of the Andhra Mahasabha, he played an important role in the signing of the Sri Bagh agreement. Koti Reddy lived a full life of ninety-five years and left a lasting legacy of service to society and the nation.

Vanam Shankara Sharma

Vanam Shankara Sharma, born on 8th March 1900, in Kamatla village of Pulivendula taluk in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. He was a magazine publisher who wielded letters like weapons to ignite the flames of freedom and cultivate patriotism among the people. He fervently propagated nationalistic sentiments. He was adopted by Sri Vanam Krishnaiah and Chayamma from the Kurnool district and spent the rest of his life in Pattikonda. He received an education in Veda Shastra and Astrology.

Influenced by Kashinathuni Nageshwera Rao, a national leader, journalist, and poet, he embraced nationalistic ideals and joined the National Congress in 1921. As a participant in the freedom movement, he founded Bandravati magazine in 1924, and used it as a platform to publish a series of articles condemning the British rulers. Notably, the magazine featured the last lectures of revolutionary hero Bhagat Singh. The British authorities, enraged by the magazine's content, levied a fine of two thousand rupees on it. The publication was eventually shut down as it could not pay the fine.

He launched a new magazine named 'Sharada,' which was also banned by the British government for a period of nine months. He then played a prominent role in social reform, protesting against societal ills through his magazine 'Hitavadi' for several years, with encouragement from Prakasam Panthulu. He also participated in the Swadeshi Movement by joining the Khaddar Board in Kurnool, established by Gandhi in 1924. He actively engaged in Khaddar production. In 1929, Gandhi invited him to Patikonda in Kurnool to participate in the Khaddar campaign. During this campaign, he collected Rs1,116 for the Khaddar Fund and donated it to Gandhi.

Apart from his activism in the freedom struggle, he also acted in plays that highlighted social issues such as the prohibition of middle-sex marriage, child marriages, dowry, and support for the Harijan community. Even after India gained independence, he continued to write books and publish them through his own press. Vanam Shankara Sharma passed away on 8th March 1976, which is remarkable as his birth and death occurred on the same day.

Kanala Gangi Reddy

Kanala Gangi Reddy was born in 1917 at Agadur, in the Pulivendula taluk of YSR Kadapa district. His parents were Sri Kanala Malla Reddy and Smt. Yallamma. A farmer, he was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He was also a follower of Sareddy Aswartha Reddy who was a fellow farmer and freedom fighter from Agadur.

Kanala was arrested along with other farmers on 11th January 1945 for refusing to buy sorghum from licensed traders. He understood the nature of injustice being propagated by the British colonial government. This incident inspired Kanala Gangi Reddy to participate in the freedom struggle. He started attending Congress meetings and group discussions. He also participated in a Satyagraha to oppose Vetti (unpaid labor). He supported the Civil Disobedience Movement and participated in the Quit India Movement. For his active participation in the freedom struggle, Kanala was imprisoned for one and half years from 1942 to 1944 in the Alipuram Camp Jail, Bellary.

The Government of India felicitated him for his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.   Kanala Gangi Reddy died on 11th December 2001 at Anantapur.

Kadiri Rami Reddy

Kadiri Rami Reddy was born on 15th July 1914 in Bhadrampalli, a village situated in the Pulivendula taluk of the YSR Kadapa district. His parents were Sri Kadiri Obula Reddy and Smt. Ankama. He was a farmer and the village Karanam - responsible for maintaining tax accounts and records of his village.

Kadiri Rami was a social worker who was inspired by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He was also a follower of Sareddy Aswartha Reddy, a fellow farmer and freedom fighter from Agadur. Inspired by his speech, Kadiri Rami Reddy joined hands with him in response to the injustices being propagated by the British colonial government. He participated in Individual Satyagraha and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement. He also participated in the Quit India Movement and suffered from nine months of rigorous imprisonment from 1st February 1941 in the Alipuram Camp Jail. He served another jail term there for complicity in the Muddanur Mail Bags Robbery Case from 20th December 1943.

The Government of India honored Kadiri Rami Reddy with a Tamarapatra on 15th August 1972, upon the occasion of the 25th Independence Day, recognizing his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.

Kadiri Rami Reddy died on 2nd February 2003 in the Yerraballi village of Pulivendula taluk.

Koppala Narayana Reddy

Koppala Narayana Reddy was born in 1924 at Agadur in the Pulivendula taluk of YSR Kadapa district. His parents were Sri Koppaka Bayapu Reddy and Smt. Papulamma. He was a farmer and got married at the young age of 16 years to Smt. Nagamma.

Koppala Narayana Reddy was inspired by the Father of the Nation - Mahatma Gandhi. He was also a follower of Sareddy Aswartha Reddy, who was a fellow farmer and freedom fighter from Agadur. He was arrested for the first time along with other farmers when he refused to buy sorghum from licensed traders. He understood the nature of injustices being propagated by the British colonial government. This incident inspired Koppala Narayana Reddy to participate in the freedom struggle. He started attending Congress meetings and group discussions. He also participated in the Swadeshi Movement and promoted self-sufficiency. He then participated in the Quit India Movement and was imprisoned for a term of one and a half years from 1942 to 1944 in the Alipuram Camp Jail, Bellary. He was also inspired by Jayaprakash Narayana who was his jail mate and a fellow freedom fighter.

The Government of India honored Koppala Narayana Reddy with a Tamrapatra on 15th August 1972 on the 25th Independence Day in recognition of his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle. Koppala Narayana Reddy died in the year 1984.

Nallaballe Gangi Reddy

Nallaballe Gangi Reddy was born on 20th May 1922 at Kovalam Gutta village in the Pulivendula taluk of the YSR Kadapa district. His parents were Sri Narasaiah and Smt. Mangamma. He belonged to an agricultural family. He completed his primary education in his native village. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters from the local taluk such as Penchikala Basi Reddy and Chavva Bali Reddy.

Nallaballe Gangi participated in the Individual Satyagraha. In 1942, upon the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi by the British, the entire country intensified voluntary movements. Many railway stations were burnt. Many such incidents happened in the Kadapa district as well. Defying the British, Nallaballe Gangi Reddy and his friends looted bags containing mail moving from Muddanur railway station to the post office and set them on fire. For this, they were arrested by the British. Nallaballe was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment from 12th December 1942 for participating in the Quit India Movement. He was sent to the Allipuram Central Jail in Bellary and endured torture at the hand of prison authorities.

After independence, Nallaballe Gangi married Smt. Rama Tulsamma of Kasalur village. Upon promotion, he was transferred to another town as a teacher whence he resigned from his job to continue the traditional occupation of agriculture, which he described as the backbone of the country. He was a gentle and soft-spoken man. He had friendly relations with the families of landowners in his village. He inspired many children as a teacher by instilling values of patriotism in them.

Nallaballe Gangi Reddy died on 23rd June 2015 in Kovurunagar, Anantapur. His last wish was to donate his eyes to Dr. Akbar Saab Eye Hospital in Anantapur, as he believed that organ donation is above all other donations. He was the first freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh to donate his eyes. This set an example for a lot of people in the country.

Elluru Kesamma

Elluru Kesamma was born on 1 May 1916 in Illuru village. Her parents were Sri Ayitaraja Narasappa and Smt. Lakshmamma. Her father worked as the Tax Collector of Illuru. Her younger sister was Rajamma, who was the wife of Idukallu Sadashivan, one of the founders of the communist movement in the Anantapur district.

In April 1940, the Indian National Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi started Vyashti (Individual) Satyagraha to oppose and prepare for arrests. At that time, Kesamma was in Madanapally studying for her second year. Accepting Gandhi's call, she left her studies and prepared to join the freedom struggle. The Congress campaigned in 60 villages on its own. On 9 August 1942, Gandhi gave the slogan "Quit India". Elluru Kesamma wrote distributed leaflets against the war, of which carbon copies were taken to the taluka’s center Gooty. There, the Deputy Collector was having a meeting with officials. She rushed into the meeting and distributed those leaflets. The government immediately arrested her and kept her in the Gooty Sub Jail for a month. After a trial, the court sentenced her to nine months of jail time.

From 1944 to 1945, she took charge of a library in an effort to increase the interest in reading among women. After independence, she ran an orphanage in Peddavaduguru for two years. Later, she worked as an organizer for Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust in Hyderabad for two years. She also worked as a teacher in the Nizamabad district and retired there. In 1975, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Jalagam Vengala Rao honoured her on the occasion of International Women's Year in Anantapur. She died on 17 March 1991.

Chavva Bala Reddy

Chavva Bali Reddy was born on 9 October 1920 at Yeddulaiah Gari Kothapalli in Pulivendula taluk of YSR Kadapa district. His parents were Sri Chavva Peddapulla Reddy and Smt. Nagamma. He was married to Annapurnamma.He was a farmer and a social worker. During his school days, he was moved by Mahatma Gandhi’s speeches and gave up his education to take part in the freedom struggle. He participated in Satyagraha and was imprisoned for four months of rigorous imprisonment from 8 January 1941 in the Vellore Central Jail. 

He participated in the Quit India movement at a young age. He was detained again during the Quit India movement from 11 December 1942 to 5 April 1944 in Vellore and Thanjavur jails. There, Andhra Kesari, Prakasam Pantulu and other leaders came into his contact. He was appointed as the secretary of the Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Fund Committee after getting out of jail and worked as a committee member under the leadership of R. Acharya Ranga. In 1947, he was elected as the President of Kadapa District Weaver's Association. He had the rare opportunity to be a member of the Congress Parliamentary Board under the leadership of Prakasham Pantulu. He toured all the villages in the notorious Pulivendula taluka and formed peace groups, while making countless efforts for the development of the lives of rural people. He served as a member of Andhra University senate and President of Land Mortgage Bank twice. In 1962, as an independent candidate, he was elected as a member of the Legislature in the Pulivendula business category. In 1968, he worked as the secretary of the Congress Committee. He died on 30 December, 1998 in his hometown.

The Government of India honoured him with a Tamarapatra on 15 August 1972, during the celebrations of India’s 25th Independence Day in recognition of his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.

G. Doodekula Hussain Saheb

G. Doodekula Hussain Saheb was born in 1924 at the Paidipalem village of Pulivendula taluk in YSR Kadapa district. His parents were Sri G. Fakeer Saheb and Smt. Bavamma. He was married to Rasoolamma. He started off as a coolie in the agricultural sector. However, he got inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, along with personalities such as Chavva Balireddy, Penchikala Basireddy, Eddula Eswarreddy, Koti Reddy and Sareddy Aswartha Reddy, who were farmers and freedom fighters from the same district of Kadapa.

He supported the Videshi Vastra Bhahishkaran (Swadeshi Movement) and participated in Individual Satyagraha. For that, he was arrested and sentenced to two months in the Vellore Jail on 26 February 1941. He faced many problems there, such as having to eat worm-infested food. During his prison term, he was severely beaten by the British police for raising freedom slogans. He met many of his fellow freedom fighters in prison, such as Sareddy Aswarthareddy and Chavva Bali Reddy, who inspired him. With their companionship, his patriotism grew even more.

Even after being released from prison, he believed in Gandhi's theory of non-violence and propagated this cause. He also worked for the abolition of untouchability and united people against the practice. He died on 8 August 1994 in Paidipalem village. After his death, his wife received a pension and some land from the State government in recognition of her husband’s contribution to the freedom struggle.

G. Doodekula Hussain Saheb was born in 1924 in the YSR Kadapa district's Paidipalem village in the Pulivendula taluk. His parents were Smt. Bavamma and Sri G. Fakeer Saheb. He began his career in the agriculture industry as a coolie. However, he was also influenced by freedom fighters from Kadapa, namely Chavva Balireddy, Penchikala Basireddy, Eddula Eswarreddy, Koti Reddy, and Sareddy Aswartha Reddy.

He advocated Individual Satyagraha and the Videshi Vastra Bhahishkaran (Swadeshi Movement). On 26 February  1941, he was detained and given a two-month jail sentence as a result. He suffered harsh beatings from British police while he was imprisoned.  In prison, he met several of his fellow liberation fighters, including Chavva Bali Reddy and Sareddy Aswarthareddy, who motivated him. Their friendship helped him become even more patriotic.

He continued to support Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence even after being freed from prison. Additionally, he organised people against untouchability and fought to abolish it. On 8 August 1994, he passed away in Paidipalem village. In honour of this freedom fighter the State government sanctioned a freedom fighter pension.

Pedaballi Pedda Yella Reddy

On 7 March 1894, Pedaballi Pedda Yella Reddy was born in Chennuru, YSR Kadapa district. His parents were Smt. Subamma and Shri Pedaballi Chappalayya. In Chennuru, he completed his primary education. He was a farmer who drew inspiration from Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. He received his political education from Markapuram Obireddy, RachakondNarasimha reddydy, and Jangireddy Balireddy, who taught at Chennur's Farmers' Summer School. Throughout the training period, where they taught him the principles of democracy, communism, and socialism. They admired Pedaballi and served as inspiration for his movement.

 Pedaballi took part in the fight for freedom and chanted anti-war rhetoric against the British monarchy. On 24 April 1941, he was found guilty of this and givean a Rs. 100 fine in addition to a three-month sentence of solitary confinement. He was sent to additional harsh incarceration for a month. He was detained in Vellore Central Jail after the fine was paid. In 1942, he participated in the Quit India movement. He worked as Director of Chennuru Cooperative Society and Vice-President of Cuddapah Land Mortgage Bank after the country gained its independence. He campaigned to end untouchability.

Pedaballi passed away at Chennur on 10 April  1964.

Sareddy Aswartha Reddy

Sareddy Aswartha Reddy was born on 20 December 1911, at Agadur, Pulivendula (Taluk) in the Y.S.R. Kadapa district. He was the son of Shri Somi Reddy (alias) Somaiah and Smt. Nagamma. He belonged to a farmer background. He was married with Smt. Narayanamma. He was influenced and inspired by the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

In his village, exploitative trading practices in the agricultural produce were taking place during the year 1945. In the protest, he was arrested by the colonial regime along with other farmers on 11 January 1945 as he was reluctant to buy sorghum from licensed traders. Later, he was released within a day due to the formers protest held in front of the police station.  As an activist, Sareddy Aswattha Reddy explained to the people about the injustices being done by the British colonial government in all the bazaars of Pulivendula and the villagers joined hands in response to these injustices. These incidents led him to join the Indian Freedom Movement.

Thereafter, Sareddy took part in the Individual Satyagraha Movement and suffered six months of rigorous imprisonment from 18 February 1941 in the Alipuram Camp Jail, Bellary and was made to paa a fine of Rs. 50/-. He again participated in the Quit India Movement and was imprisoned for almost one and half years from 31 October 1942 to 15 February 1944 in the Alipuram Camp Jail, Bellary. He learnt the Hindi language from Jayaprakash Narayan, who was a freedom fighter and was his jail mate and in turn, he taught Telugu to the latter. He worked for the cause of removal of untouchability and Harijan upliftment. The Government of India, Ministry of Home affairs granted Freedom fighters pension to him (P.P.O.NO.152/P/C). His wife Smt. S.Narayanamma is 96 years old.  

Sareddy Aswattha Reddy breathed his last on 6 December 1970.

Ravula Muni Reddy

Ravula Muni Reddy was born in 1906 at the Velavali village, Raju Palem taluk at the YSR Kadapa district. He was the son of Shri Ravula Pedda Muni Reddy and was married to Smt. Ammanamma. He attained primary education upto fourth standard. He was a farmer inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.

Since his childhood, Ravula Muni developed an interest in the affairs of public life. In 1941, as part of the anti-war Satyagraha, he took part in Karya Krama at Duvvur. He was arrested by the British and was imprisoned for four months. In 1935, he was elected as the Taluka Congress Secretary. In 1938, he was a member of the district working group. Later, he participated in the Individual Satyagraha Movement and a fine of Rs.50 was imposed on him. Ravula Muni also suffered three months rigorous imprisonment from 27 February 1941 in the Vellore Central Jail. During the 1942 Quit India Movement, he was arrested again but let off after three days' lock-up.

Between 1948-50, Ravula Muni worked as an organizer of the Taluk Agricultural Laborers' Union. After that, he founded the Duvvur Seva Sangam and joined ‘Firka’ Development in the capacity of Secretary. He became a member of the Rashtriya Congress Committee and the State Land Donation Assistance Committee in 1956. He also served as the District Congress President from 1953-55.

Ravula Muni Reddy was a leader who received respect from the Congress leaders of the country. He breathed his last in 1982 in his native village.

Settypalli Bala Maddi

Settypalli Bala Maddi was born in 1918 in Penikalapadu, Jammalamadugu (Taluk) of the YSR Kadapa district. He was the son of Smt. Subbamma and Shri Settipalli Ganganna. He attained primary education upto the fourth standard. He was a farmer who was inspired by the persona of Mahatma Gandhi and was a follower of Yeddula Eswar Reddy, another farmer and freedom fighter of the Peddapasupula village.

Settypalli Bala grew up as being associated with the events of the freedom struggle right from the childhood. In his childhood, in 1941, the youth of three nearby villages participated in the Salt Satyagraha. During the Satyagraha period, the leaders ordered some elders and Yeddula Eshwar Reddy from Pedda Pasupula to spread the word about Satyagraha. Their speeches inspired many people in the village. Balamaddi went to the neighbouring villages, carried flags, and spread the word of freedom. Later, he participated in the Quit India Movement. Railway tracks were blown, and telephone cables were cut by the revolutionaries at the Muddanur village railway station.

Taking possession of the bags of letters being brought from Muddanur railway station to the post office, Settypalli Bala and his friends Sitaramaiah, Shambureddy, and Kalluru Obul Reddy burnt the postal bags in the hilly area near their hometown Penikalapadu. For this incident, the British police forced the relatives of revoltuionaries to reveal their whereabouts and tortured them all at the Muddanur police station without any consideration whatsoever, whether they were women, men, children, or the elderly. Two months later, cases were filed against all of them, and they were trialled for nine months. Finally, they were sentenced on 20 December 1943 for two years’ rigorous imprisonment. They were kept at the Alipuram Camp Jail, Bellary.

The Government of India honoured Settypalli Bala Maddi with a Tamrapatra on 15 August 1972, celebrating the 25th Independence Day, in recognition of his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle. Settypalli Bala breathed his last on 13 August 1993 at Prodduturu.

Singam Siva Reddy

Singam Siva Reddy was born in the year 1911 in the village of Musal Reddy, Pulivendula taluka, YSR Kadapa district. He was the son of Smt. Chinna Narayanamma and Shri Singam Bala Swami Reddy. He belonged to a farmer’s family. He was married to Smt. Venkata Lakshumamma.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Siva Reddy got attracted to Sareddy Aswartha Reddy, Chavva Bali Reddy, and Penchikala Basi Reddy, who were all farmers and freedom fighters from the same district, i.e. Kadapa. Siva Reddy participated in the Individual Satyagraha and supported the Videshi Vastra Bhahishkaran. However, during that time, he got arrested and was sentenced on 30 January 1941 to six months of rigorous imprisonment to the Alipuram Camp Jail, Bellary. A fine of Rs.200/- was also imposed on him.

Siva Reddy met the popular freedom fighter Sareddy Aswartha Reddy who inspired him. Kashinath's Nageswara Rao Panthulu was also introduced to Singam Siva Reddy. Their friendship during his prison life gave him some amount of relief. He worked for the removal of untouchability and was a committee member of Z.P. High School and served as President of the Simhadri Puram Village Committee.

Singam Siva Reddy breathed his last on 18 December 1996 in his native village. After his death, his wife Venkatalakshumamma received a pension from the Central Government and a railway pass from the Ministry of Railways.

Fighter for Swadesh : Vinayakam Setty

Vinayakam Ramakrishnayya Setty was born in the year 1906 at Gangadevipalle in the Jammalamadugu Taluk. He was the son of Shri Narasayya Setty and Smt. Lakshumamma. He was married to Smt. Narasamma. During his school days, he was moved by Mahatma Gandhi’s speeches and gave up his education to take part in the freedom struggle. He was inspired by Gandhiji and leaders like Chavva Bali Reddy and Eddula Eswar Reddy who participated in the freedom struggle from his district.

Vinayakam was so much interested to participate in the Congress party meetings, People’s Groups’ discussions and participated in the Swadeshi movement and believed in achieving self-sufficiency. He organized the Individual Satyagraha Movement in 1940-41 in the district and participated in Videshi Vastra Bhahishkaram. He suffered six months imprisonment from 1st February 1941 in the Allipuram Camp Jail, Bellary. He exhorted the people throughout the district to organize and fight the British by any means at disposal during the Quit India Movement, as per the famous Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee circular of 1942. Later in his life he worked against the evil of untouchability.

The Government of India honoured Vinayakam Ramakrishnayya with a Tamrapatra on 15 August 1972 on the celebration of 25th Independence Day in recognition of his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.

Vinayakam Ramakrishnayya Setty breathed his last on 5 June 1983 at Kodigandla Palli in the Jammalamadugu Taluk.

Velpula Subbaiah

Velpula Subbaiah was born in 1924 at Otukuru village, C.K. Dinne (M) Kadapa (Taluk), YSR Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh. He was the son of Shri Subbaiah and Smt. Subbamma and was married to Narayanamma. He belonged to a handloom craft family which was primarily engaged in agriculture. He was inspired by Gandhiji and attracted to freedom fighters of same district such as Chavva Bali Reddy and Penchikala Basi Reddy, Eddula Eswarreddy, Koti Reddy and Sareddy Aswartha Reddy. He supported Videshi Vastra Bhahishkaran and participated in the Individual Satyagraha. During that time, he was arrested.

Velpula held meetings and spread awareness amongst the people about the ills of using foreign cloth. On several occasions, he clashed with the British police and was beaten by them. During the freedom struggle, he used to roam outside and spend less time at home and live the life of the movement, secretly collecting information from the British and conveying it to the leaders of the freedom struggle from time to time. In the year 1942, at the call of Gandhiji, the Quit India Movement took a serious form throughout the country. People voluntarily supported the Movement. On his part, with the intention of disrupting the government of British India, Velpula along with his friends at the railway station in Kadapa, did not stop the trains. He remained elusive for a long time without being found by the British police.

After a long time, the British searched for Velpula and later caught him. He suffered rigorous imprisonment for 15 days in the Siddavatam sub-jail. Later, Velpula Subbaiah worked as a Kadapa District Congress Committee Member and was appointed as Handloom Co-Operative Committee Member and worked as the Chairman of Handloom Co-Operative Organization for those committees. Besides, he also worked as a presiding Judge. He took his last breath on 10 September 2002. Presently, his wife Velpula Narayanamma is drawing pension from the state government.

Y. Adinarayana Reddy

Yerrapureddy Adinarayana Reddy was born on October 15, 1916, at Royavaram, Tsundupalle, Rayachoty Taluk. He organized individual satyagraha movement in 1940- 41 in the District as the District Congress Committee (DCC) President.  He paid a fine of Rs. 500/- and suffered three months imprisonment from 28 May 1941 in the Vellore Central Jail. He exhorted the people throughout the District to organize and fight the British by any means at their disposal during the Quit India Movement, as per the famous Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee circular of 1942. He was President of Cuddapah D.C.C. for the period 1940-49, Member of A.I.C.C. He worked as an Editor for a Telugu Weekly magazine ‘Azad Hind’ at Cuddapah during 1947-49.

Source :

• Somisetty Sarala, Scholar, CCRT
• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav