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Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao

(1883 – 1960) – (Andhra Pradesh)

Gadicherla-Harisarvottama-Rao

Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao (Aged 76) was born on 14 September 1883, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was a freedom fighter who actively participated in the Indian independence movement. Inspired by the ideologies of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, Rao joined the freedom movement at a young age. He named the region Rayalaseema, which was previously taunted as Ceded because Nizam ceded the region to the British.

Rao was born in Kurnool in 1883 and completed his school education in Kurnool, Nandyal, and Gutti. He later finished his M.A. from Madras Christian College in 1906. While studying at the Teachers Training College of Rajahmundry, he joined the Indian independence movement.

In 1908, Rao started a Telugu weekly newspaper called ‘Swarajya’ with the help of Bodi Narayana Rao. He wrote numerous essays in the newspaper criticizing the unfair policies adopted by the British government. His article ‘Viparita Buddhi,’ which strongly condemned violence against Indians, was declared an act of sedition by the British, and Rao was sentenced to three years in prison.

In 1914, Gadicherla became the secretary for the Andhra division of the Home Rule League formed by Tilak and Annie Besant. He played a vital role in inspiring people by traveling widely to give lectures. 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.

The Gadicherla Foundation, headquartered in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India, presents the “Gadicherla Foundation Award” every year to individuals who have made significant contributions in the areas championed by Sri Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao. Some of the awardees are Prof. Katragadda Venkateswarlu of Andhra University (2012) and Sri Kaderbad Ravindranath for social service (2014). He passed away by 29 February 1960, Andhra Pradesh, India.