Famous Personalities | APPSC State Specific Preparation Course - APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) PDF Download

Famous Personalities of Andhra Pradesh

G. Ranga

• Gogineni Ranga Nayukulu, also known as N. G. Ranga, was an eminent figure in Indian history. He played significant roles as a freedom fighter, parliamentarian, and farmer leader. Ranga was a strong advocate for peasant rights and is often hailed as the father of the Indian Peasant Movement, following in the footsteps of Swami Sahajanand Saraswati.
• Ranga's involvement in the freedom movement began in 1930, influenced by Gandhi's call to action. Notably, he spearheaded the ryot agitation in 1933 and later established the Kisan Congress party. His discussions with Gandhi on the rythu-coolie state demand were pivotal, leading to the publication of the book 'Bapu Blesses' recounting their interactions. Additionally, Ranga co-founded the International Federation of Agricultural Producers and represented India in various international forums, emphasizing agricultural issues and rural welfare.
• Over the course of his political career, Ranga made significant contributions. He co-founded the Bharat Krushikar Lok Party and the Swatantra Party, serving as the founder-president of the latter for a decade. Notably, the Swatantra Party emerged as a robust Opposition force in the 1962 general elections, securing 25 seats. Despite his divergence from the Congress Party, Ranga later rejoined it in 1972.
• Ranga's parliamentary service spanned an impressive six decades, from 1930 to 1991, making him one of the longest-serving parliamentarians in Indian history. His demise in 1995 was met with national mourning, with Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao acknowledging Ranga's exceptional contributions to public causes and rural empowerment. Notably, Ranga's parliamentary tenure earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, reflecting his enduring impact on Indian politics.
• The Andhra Pradesh government paid tribute to Ranga's legacy by declaring a three-day state mourning, underscoring his enduring influence on the state's socio-political landscape.

Sarojini Naidu

• Sarojini Naidu (February 13, 1879 – March 2, 1949) was a prominent freedom fighter and poet of modern India.
• She was born into a Bengali family in Hyderabad on February 13, 1879, and received her education in Chennai, London, and Cambridge.
• After marrying Dr. Govindarajulu Naidu, she settled in Hyderabad and actively participated in the National Movement.
• She became a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and played a significant role in the struggle for Swaraj.
• Being elected as the President of the Indian National Congress, she later held the position of Governor of the United Provinces, now known as Uttar Pradesh.
• Recognized as the 'Nightingale of India,' Naidu was renowned for her poetry, which encompassed various themes such as children's poems, nature, patriotism, and love.

Early Life and Activism

• Naidu entered the Indian national movement during the partition of Bengal in 1905.
• She engaged with prominent figures like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Rabindranath Tagore, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and Annie Besant.
• Travelling across India from 1915 to 1918, she delivered speeches on social welfare, women's empowerment, and nationalism.
• She played a key role in establishing the Women's Indian Association (WIA) in 1917.

International Engagements

• Naidu, accompanied by Annie Besant, advocated for women's suffrage before the Joint Select Committee in London.
• She participated in the Asian Relations Conference in Delhi in April 1947, where her contributions were acknowledged alongside Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Potti Sreeramulu

• Background: Potti Sreeramulu (16 March 1901 – 15 December 1952) was an Indian revolutionary known for his self-sacrifice and dedication.
• Key Contributions: Sreeramulu played a significant role in the Indian Independence Movement and various satyagrahas.
• Hunger Strikes for Causes: He undertook multiple hunger strikes, including those for Dalit rights and the formation of an Indian state for Telugu-speaking people.
• Impact and Legacy: His actions led to significant social and political changes, such as the formation of Andhra State.

Efforts for Andhra State Formation

• In an attempt to safeguard the interests of the Telugu people in the Madras Presidency and uphold the culture of the Andhra region, a movement was initiated to advocate for the separation of Andhra based on linguistic boundaries, with Madras proposed as its capital.
• A prolonged hunger strike was undertaken by the leader, demanding the creation of Andhra State, which garnered attention after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru pledged his support. However, the issue faced obstacles as the Telugu community insisted on keeping Madras as the capital.

Struggles and Sacrifice

• Despite initial promises, the formation of Andhra State was delayed, prompting the leader to resume his hunger strike. Despite warnings from supporters that retaining Madras as the capital was impractical, the leader persisted.
• The leader's fast captured public interest, leading to strikes and demonstrations by the Andhra people. Unfortunately, the government remained non-committal about the new state's establishment, and the leader, Sreeramulu, passed away in December 1952.

Venugopal Reddy

• Dr. Yaga Venugopal Reddy, popularly known as Y. V. Reddy, a respected member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), hailing from the Andhra Pradesh cadre, served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from 2003 to 2008.
• In recognition of his contributions, Reddy was honored with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 2010.
• Venugopal Reddy became the twenty-first Governor of the Reserve Bank of India on 6 September 2003, serving for five years.
• In 1996, he was appointed as the deputy governor of RBI.
• Prior to his tenure at RBI, Reddy worked as a lecturer starting from 1961.
• He also served as the Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund in 2002.

Alluri Sitarama Raju - Indian Revolutionary

• Alluri Sitarama Raju was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement, known for his involvement in the Rampa Rebellion of 1922–24. This uprising was sparked by the implementation of the 1882 Madras Forest Act, which restricted the traditional podu agricultural system of tribal communities by limiting their movement in the forests. 
• Raju, often hailed as the "Hero of the Jungles," led a protest movement against British rule in the border regions of East Godavari and Visakhapatnam, present-day Andhra Pradesh. Inspired by revolutionary activities in Bengal, Raju and his followers raided multiple police stations, including those in Chintapalle, Rampachodavaram, Dammanapalli, Krishna Devi Peta, Rajavommangi, Addateegala, Narsipatnam, and Annavaram. 
• They seized weapons and ammunition and engaged in armed confrontations, resulting in the deaths of several British army officers, including Scott Coward near Dammanapalli. Eventually, Raju was captured by the British in the forests of Chintapalli, where he was tied to a tree and executed by gunfire in Kayyuru village. His tomb is located in Krishna Devi Peta village.