- By Asnala Srinivas Doddi Komuraiah Foundation – 9652275560
BIKKI NEWS (JULY 4) : As the heart pulsates in the hero’s body, as pure blood surges through the veins of the immortal soul, as breath flows through the nostrils of the warrior, O humble village figure, resonate, blaze, and spread across the pages of history! This is a poem written by Harindranath Chattopadhyay on the immortality of Komuraiah.
Kadavendi – Doddi Komuraiah’s Martyrdom Anniversary
Revolutions are noble. They usher in a new era. In Telangana, the dawn of a new era was brought about by the Telangana Peasants’ Armed Struggle (1940-1951). The revolutionary goals of this movement continue to advance without faltering or retreating, marking an unparalleled journey in Telangana. This struggle, in both armed and other democratic forms, continues to keep the flame of the movement alive. The people’s movement, which began against the feudal system and gained strength among the peasantry, evolved into an armed struggle. Gradually, it took on the character of a guerrilla war against the Indian government.
In the Nizam’s Bourdieu’s regime, 70% of the cultivable land was owned by just 500 jagirdars and deshmukhs. A single landlord could own anywhere from 10,000 to 150,000 acres. Alongside the landlords, rural officials committed unchecked atrocities. The areas under the control of jagirdars and deshmukhs faced higher taxes, greater inequalities, and more exploitation than regions directly governed by the government. Taxes were imposed on everything, from cattle grazing to toddy tapping. The exploitation by usurers and brokers was a daily occurrence. Forced labor and debt bondage became an integral part of every laborer’s life. The privileged classes were untouched by taxes. While the Nizam’s capital and surrounding areas saw relatively better governance, the needs and sufferings of rural people were largely ignored.
The oppression of the feudal system, coupled with the crises of the First and Second World Wars, intensified the problems. During the economic depression, the government announced special subsidies for commercial crops and attempted to bring fallow lands into cultivation. However, small farmers, already burdened with debt, could not take advantage of these subsidies. Landlords, on the other hand, exploited these opportunities by displacing small farmers and tenants, seizing their ancestral lands. Rural areas became ripe for revolution. Telangana society was yearning for a great revolution to rise from these dire circumstances.
In the Nizam’s state, ruled by princely rulers, jagirdars, and deshmukhs, one such region was Visnoor, under the control of Deshmukh Rapaka Ramachandra Reddy, who governed 60 villages, including Kadavendi. In Kadavendi, the Deshmukh’s mother, Janamma, carried out her oppressive acts. She expanded her agricultural land from 40 acres to 400 acres. Like other villages, Kadavendi suffered the ill effects of feudal and royal rule. Farmers were forced to sell their meager harvests at low prices or surrender them as levies. They were compelled to take loans for land taxes, purchasing oxen, and other necessities. Before the entry of the Andhra Mahasabha and the Communist Party, Kadavendi began criticizing and resisting the Deshmukh’s atrocities and feudal culture. Driven by self-awareness, the village united against injustice.
In 1944, inspired by Ravi Narayana Reddy’s call through the Andhra Mahasabha, Kadavendi transformed into a blazing torch of rebellion. Bolstered by the belief in their collective strength and inspired by Communist slogans such as “Land to the tiller” and “Abolition of illegal taxes,” the villagers, led by figures like Doddi Komuraiah, Mallayya, Nalla Narasimha, Kondal Reddy, Kondayya, Asnala Narsoji, Mohan Reddy, and David Reddy, formed a village defense committee. A women’s squad was also formed, led by Nalla Vajramma and Sheramma.
Under the leadership of brothers Doddi Komuraiah and Mallayya, Kadavendi became a hub of rebellion, declaring, like unripe fruits, “The more we are oppressed, the redder we become.” The village responded to the atrocities of the Deshmukh’s goons with equal force. It stood as a backbone to Palakurthi Ailamma’s tenancy struggle, achieving victory. In his youthful vigor, Komuraiah excelled in Communist training camps, mastering weapons like sticks and spears and gaining ideological clarity. He actively participated in forming guerrilla squads that expanded to Palakurthi and surrounding areas.
Komuraiah propagated among the people, saying, “Our blood and sweat irrigate the fields, we toil to produce abundant harvests, yet we don’t get a single grain to eat. We cannot live on air, we cannot bear the hunger. So let us fight with determination!” On July 4, 1946, Nizam’s revenue officials arrived in Kadavendi to collect levy grains. The farmers and laborers firmly stated they had no grains to eat, let alone for levies, and pointed out that Deshmukh Janamma’s house held 800 sacks of grain, urging the officials to collect from there. The village committee organized a massive procession against the Deshmukh’s goons guarding the granaries. The goons, led by Miskin Ali, opened fire on the procession. Komuraiah, leading the march, stood fearless and unwavering despite bullets piercing his body, shouting “Victory to Andhra Mahasabha! Victory to the Communist Party!” as he sacrificed his life. Many others were injured. This heroic martyrdom ushered Telangana’s history into a new era.
Thousands attended Doddi Komuraiah’s funeral, and he became the first martyr. Kadavendi transformed into a heroic land, inspiring lakhs of people. Singing of Komuraiah’s immortality, carrying red flags of revolution, and pledging to continue the struggle and achieve victory, hundreds of armed squads formed to protect their villages. For a world without chains, the working masses waged guerrilla warfare. Under the Communist Party’s leadership, the movement aimed to overthrow monarchy and establish people’s rule. It reclaimed occupied lands for farmers, raided granaries through “Baren Bastin” tactics, and distributed grains to peasants. It liberated 3,000 villages, distributed 10 lakh acres of land, and established people’s governance through village committees. The intensified struggle confined the Nizam’s rule to Hyderabad alone. It shattered Osman Ali Khan’s dreams of an independent monarchy under a free India’s constitution and ended the fanatic Razakars.
Bringing numerous political, social, and economic changes, it merged Hyderabad into India.
The Mulki movement, the first and second phases, and the Naxalite struggles continued the goals of the armed struggle. During the second phase, Congress MLAs chose July 4 for their resignations. The Revolutionary Writers’ Association was formed on July 4, 1972. Telangana’s first government officially declared Komuraiah’s martyrdom and birth anniversaries as commemorative events.
Doddi Komuraiah’s immortality has propelled Telangana society forward with revolutionary zeal. However, fascist and fanatic forces are attempting to reverse these advancements. Narrow-minded, hateful ideologies and regressive forces that reject progress and unity in diversity are gaining strength. In this era, as attempts are made to rob people’s rights over resources, Doddi Komuraiah stands as a guiding light for the inevitable unity of democratic forces. The slogan that echoed during the movement—“Telangana’s path is India’s path”—positions Komuraiah as a beacon for the nation.
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