Sri Alluri Sitaram Raju

- Pratik Karmarkar
 Early Life and Education
Born on 4th July 1897
Place - Mogallu village located near Bhimavaram in the
West Godavari district
He is also famous as Aluri Rampa Rama Raju, Alluri
Seetha Rama Raju and Rama Chandra Raju.
Known as Subhash Chandra Bose of South India. Manyam
Veerudu (hero of the jungle)
Faced many problems in his chilhood after the death of
his father. He became the bread earner for his family.
He attained his primary eduaction at Mogallu, Kovvada,
Bhimavaram and Narsapur of West Godavari District,
Andhra Pradesh.
He completed his high school studies and college
education at a Mission high school in Visakapatnam.
Several Accounts claim he had special powers.
He could make correct astrological predictions and heal
people.
He could survive even bullet shots.
Vanvasis proclaimed that he was an incarnation of God.
Became a Sannyasin at the age of 18.
Inspired by revolutionaries of India – Mahatma, Subhash
Chandra Bose, Balgangadhar Tilak etc.
Secretly attended the movement of Bengal against its
division.
Led the one of the most famous tribal revolt – Rampa
Feturi(rebellion) of 1922.
 Colonialism and Tribal life
Enactment of Indian Forests Act 1865, Scheduled Tracts
Act 1874, Backward Tracts Act 1919 and Excluded Area
Act 1935.
Forests divided into 3 categories – Reserved, protected
and village forest.
Villagers could not take anything from these forests,
even for their own use.
Rise of ‘Scientific Forestry’.
Depletion of Forest resources in Britain.
Shortage of supply for the royal navy.
Expansion of railways in India – Wooden sleepers and
fuel.
Rapid deforestation – export of timber
 Seeds of Revolution

The poor and illiterate tribal people were exploited

and oppressed blatantly by the Britishers.
Treated Vanvasis as animals.
They obstructed traditional ‘podu’ system.
They imposed ‘abcari’ on forest product. (toddy and
arrack)
Regulation of Zamindari Act.
Muttadari rule – a large number of immigration from
plains, cruel, barbarous and savage rule of
bureaucratic suppression, slavery, bonded labour, etc.
 The Rampa Revolt (1922-24)
22nd August 1922 – attacked Chintapalli police station in
broad daylight.
Decamped – 11 rifles, 1300 bullets, 5 swords, 14 bonnets.
Attacked Krishna Dev Pet police station.
23rd August – Rajavommangi Police station
24th August – Narsipatnam police station
It was a used practice of Alluri Sitaram Raju to deliver the
message prior to attack in advance through chilly powder
post.
Mainly 4 leader – Alluri Sitaram Raju, Aggi Raju (man of
fire), Malludora (Wrestler hero), Gautam Dora (brave
warrior)
British army failed before the patriotism of Sri Alluri
Sitaram Raju and his men.
 British Response
British sent a police team to stop Alluri Sitaram Raju at
Darnanwalli ghat.
But Alluri got information about it.
On 18th April 1923, Forces of Vanvasis trapped the British
police team at Darnanwalli ghat.
Attacked with 200 skilled Vanvasis – 300 rifles, bow &
arrow – Many Britishmen killed.
Killed General Scott Coward and General Haytes.
The revolt caused panic to the colonial rulers in Manyam
region.
British Govt. arranged the army of 2000 soldiers which
include Malabar spl. Police, Assam rifles, Ballari rifles,
Coromondal rifles, East coast rifles, Koraput reserve
police and local police.
 Suppression of Revolt

British surprise attacked Peddagaddapalem.

Alluri Sitaram Raju somehow escaped.
Ambushes and Guerilla attacks continued.
Sept 1923 – Malludora captured at Nadimpalle.
Govt acted smart – not keeping ammunitions at
police stations.
Operation started to capture Alluri Sitaram Raju –
Operation head Rutherford.
Reward for capturing him – Rs. 10,000
No one betrayed Raju.
British could not suppress the revolt with military
strength.
 Martyrdom of Alluri

Now British wanted to catch hold of Raju through

treachery. They hatched a cynical plan.
They burnt entire Gudem residential areas of Vanvasis.
Elderly and children were beaten, women molested.
On 6th May 1924, Aggi Raju was captured.
Raju was shattered. He changed his heart and decided
to yield to the British in order to save the innocent.
On7th May, he surrendered on the banks of Godavari.
Major Gudel tied him with a tree and shot him till
death.
 Statue of Sri
Alluri
Sitaram Raju,
Tank-bund
road,
Hyderabad
 The only
original photo
 Postal
Stamp
issued in
1986
 Alluri Sitaram Raju Movie, 1974
Siva Rama Krishna Murthi as Raju
RRR (2021), Ram Charan as Alluri
Sitaram Raju
 Thank You…
• Reference – Alluri Sitaram Raju, Sribharti Publication,
Mahal, Nagpur
• India and Contemporary world - I