Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao

Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao

Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao (Telugu: గాడిచెర్ల హరిసర్వోత్తమారావు; 14 September 1883 – 29 February 1960) was a freedom fighter from Andhra during the Indian independence movement.He was inspired by the ideologies of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal and joined the freedom movement at a very young age. He is the person who named the region as Rayalaseema when everybody taunted the region as Ceded because Nizam ceded the region to the British.

Early life and education

Rao was born in Kurnool in 1883. After finishing school and college education in Kurnool, Nandyal and Gutti, Rao finished his M.A. from Madras Christian College in 1906. While at the Teachers Training College of Rajahmundry, he joined the Indian Independence movement.^[1]

Rao and his fellow students attended a lecture by Bipin Chandra Pal at Rajahmundry. Inspired by Pal's speech, the students wore badges inscribed with 'Vande Mataram' to the college the next day. Mark Hunter, the college principal, objected and refused to admit the students until they removed the badges. The students refused. The principal dismissed Rao, who was the student leader, from the college. This was a critical moment in Rao's life.

American Rocket Scientist and the inventor of Optimum Rocket Nozzle (Bell nozzle) called Rao's Nozzle or Rao Nozzle), Dr. Gadicherla V.R. Rao (G.V.R.Rao) is related to Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao.

Role in the Freedom Movement

In 1908, Rao started a Telugu weekly newspaper publication called 'Swarajya' with the help of Bodi Narayana Rao. He wrote numerous essays in this newspaper criticizing the many unfair policies adopted by the British government. The British declared that his article 'Viparita Buddhi', which adopted a very severe tone in criticizing violence against the Indians, was an act of sedition and sentenced Rao to three years in prison.

In 1914, Gadicharla was made the secretary for the Andhra division of the Home Rule League formed by Tilak and Annie Besant.^[2] In this position, he played a pivotal role in inspiring the people by traveling widely to lecture. In 1923, he joined the Swarajya Party formed by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru. He was elected to the Madras Legislative Council as a candidate for the Andhra Congress from the Nandyala constituency.

Literary and social career

Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao is considered one of the Trinity (along with Iyyanki Venkata Ramaiah and Paturi Nagabhushanam) of Library movement in Andhra Pradesh ("Granthalayodyama Trimurthulu"). He also served as its President ^[3]

The Library Movement started by Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao when he along with his friend and neighbour Kaderbad Narasinga Rao established the Edward Corporation Library (currently called Victoria Reading Room) in Nandyal. He also started and/or edited several publications and newspapers. Some of them are Andhra Kesari (Lion of Andhra), Navayugam (New Dawn), Andhra Patrika, Matru Seva (In service of Mother), Andhra Vartha (Andhra News), Panchayati Rajyam (local administration).^[4]

Gadicherla Foundation

Gadicherla foundation is headquartered at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India. Every year it presents "Gadicherla Foundation award" to people who made significant contributions in the areas championed by Sri Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao. Some of the awardees are Prof. Katragadda Venkateswarlu of Andhra University (2012)^[5] and Sri Kaderbad Ravindranath for Social service (2014)

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