125th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju

125th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju

Recently, the President of the country attended the closing ceremony of the 125th birth anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju.

Alluri Sitarama Raju was born on 4 July 1897 in Mogallu village in West Godavari district of Madras Presidency. He is also known as ‘Manyam Veerudu’. Its literal meaning is – ‘the hero of the forests’.

Initially under the influence of Gandhiji’s non-cooperation movement, he inspired tribals to seek justice in local panchayat courts and boycott colonial courts.

In August 1922, he started the Rampa Rebellion or Manyam Rebellion (1922–1924) in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh against the British.

 Reasons for rebellion –

  • The Muttadars were the de facto rulers of the region. Their socio-economic status was challenged by forcibly bringing them under the colonial framework.
  • ‘Poddu farming’ (shifting farming) was declared illegal under the new colonial rule.
  • The colonial rule had also taken away the rights of the local people to collect minor forest produce.
  • To evict these tribals from the forest, the British enacted the Madras Forest Act, 1882. Due to this, there was a restriction on the free movement of tribals.
  • The tribals were forced into Vetti, that is, unpaid labour.
  • Alluri surrendered to stop the atrocities being committed on the tribals by the British, and was hanged in 1924.

Source : PIB 

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