Alluri Sitarama Raju was an Indian revolutionary who waged an armed rebellion against the British colonial rule in India. Born in present-day Andhra Pradesh,he was involved in opposing the British in response to the 1882 Madras Forest Act that effectively restricted the free movement of adivasis in their forest habitats and prevented them from practicing their traditional form of agriculture called 'podu',which threatened their very way of life. Rise in discontent towards the British colonial rule in the backdrop of the non-cooperation movement (1920–1922) led to the Rampa rebellion (1922–1924) in which Alluri Sitarama Raju played the major role as its leader. Mustering combined forces of tribals and other sympathizers to the cause,he engaged in guerilla campaigns against the British forces across the border regions of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states in India. He was given the title "Manyam Veerudu" by the local people for his exploits.
Potti Sreeramulu,was an Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary. Sreeramulu is revered as Amarajeevi in the Andhra region for his self-sacrifice for the Andhra cause. He became famous for undertaking a hunger strike for 56 days in support of having separate state for Andhra Pradesh;he died in the process. His death sparked public rioting and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared the intent by the newly liberated nation to form Andhra State three days following the death of Sreeramulu. He contributed his life for the formation of a separate Telugu-speaking state from the dominant Tamil-speaking Madras presidency. His struggles led to the formation of separate Telugu-speaking state called "Andhra state".
Madiga is a Telugu caste from southern India. They mainly live in the states of Andhra Pradesh,Telangana and Karnataka,with a small minority in Tamil Nadu. Madigas are historically associated with the work of tannery,leatherwork and small handicrafts. Today,most are agricultural labourers. They are categorized as a Scheduled Caste by the Government of India. Within the Madiga community,there are various sub-castes include Bindla,Chindu,Dakkali,Mashti,Sangaris and the priestly class is known as Madiga Dasu.
Bandaru Dattatreya is an Indian politician serving as the current governor of the State of Haryana since 2021. He was also the 20th governor of Himachal Pradesh and was the member of Lok Sabha for Secunderabad from 2014 to 2019. He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bhogaraju Pattabhi Sitaramayya was an Indian independence activist and political leader in the state of Andhra Pradesh. He was also the first governor of Madhya Pradesh. His books include Feathers and Stones,The History of Congress,and Gandhi and Gandhism.
Kapu is a Hindu caste mainly found in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They are classified as a Forward caste. They are a community of land-owning agriculturists. Historically,they have also been warriors and military generals (Nayakas) in Hindu armies. They are a dominant caste of Andhra Pradesh. Kapus commonly carry the title Naidu. They are primarily present in Coastal Andhra with major concentration in the Godavari-Krishna delta region.
Adi-Andhra is a Telugu caste found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,primarily in the Coastal Andhra region. They are categorised as a Scheduled Caste by the Government of India.
Kasinadhuni Nageswararao,better known as Nageswara Rao Pantulu,was an Indian journalist,nationalist,politician,businessman,and a staunch supporter of Khaddar movement. He participated in the Indian independence movement and in the Indian National Congress party,including Mahatma Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement through salt satyagraha. He was conferred with the title Desabandhu by the people of Andhra Pradesh. He was a major financier of Congress activities in Andhra and Chennai and is also known for patenting Amrutanjan. He was conferred with the title Desoddhaaraka by the Andhra Mahasabha. In 1935,the Andhra University honoured him with Kalaprapoorna,an honorary doctorate of Literature.
Puchalapalli Sundarayya(born Sundararami Reddy;1 May 1913 –19 May 1985),popularly known as Comrade PS,was an Indian Communist leader including of the peasant revolt in the former Hyderabad State of India,called the Telangana Rebellion and he was also one of the founding members of Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was so dedicated to the upliftment of the poor that he and his spouse chose not to have children,for the purpose of social service. He directly participated in the Telangana Rebellion against the Nizam of Hyderabad. Sundarayya remained General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) until 1976.
Damodaram Sanjivayya was an Indian politician who served as the second chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 11 January 1960 to 12 March 1962. Sanjivayya was the first Dalit Chief Minister of an Indian state. He was also the first Dalit leader to become All India Congress Committee president.
Gottipati Brahmayya was a freedom fighter,popularly known as Ryotu Pedda. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982.
Manda Krishna Madiga,born as Yellaiah on July 7,1965,is a prominent Indian politician and activist known for his unwavering commitment to the rights of the marginalized Madiga community. His journey from early anti-caste activism in the 1980s to founding the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti in 1994 and adding the Madiga surname has been marked by advocacy efforts spanning issues such as caste discrimination,children's health,and disability rights.
Konda Venkatappayya or Konda Venkatappaiah B.L. (1866–1948) was a noted Indian lawyer,freedom fighter,and politician from what is now Andhra Pradesh. He was one of the founders and the first editor of Krishna Patrika,a leading weekly Telugu magazine during the early 20th century.
Dukkipati Nageswara Rao was an Indian independence movement activist from Krishna District.
B. Shyam Sunder was born in Aurangabad district in Bombay Presidency,British India. His father was B. Manicham,a railway employee,his mother Sudha Bai and Manik bai younger sister. He was a political thinker,jurist,prolific writer,parliamentarian and a revolutionary leader. In 1937,he founded the Dalit-Muslim unity movement at Parbhani in Aurangabad,Maharashtra and urged his people to join hands with Muslims. He was a legislator representing Andhra Pradesh and Mysore State.
Karamchedu massacre refers to an incident that occurred in Karamchedu,Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh on 17 July 1985,where brutality by Kamma landlords against Madigas (Dalits) resulted in the killing of six Madigas and grievous injuries to many others. Three Madiga women were raped. Hundreds of Madigas in the village were displaced from their home &killed after their houses were burnt and looted.
Rohith Chakravarthi Vemula was an Indian PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad. From July 2015 to December 2015,the university stopped paying Rohith his monthly stipend of ₹25,000 till December 2015,with friends alleging that he was targeted for raising issues on campus under the banner of Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA),an Ambedkarite student organisation.
Radhika Vemula is an Indian activist for Dalit rights and against caste based discrimination.
Kotagiri Venkata Krishna Rao,also known as Gampalagudem Raja,was a prominent Zamindar of Gampalagudem estate in the Krishna district of Andhra region. He actively participated in the Indian independence movement during the 1920s,engaging in activities such as salt satyagraha and non-cooperation movements. Due to his involvement in these movements,he was frequently arrested and jailed.
