Alluri Sitarama Raju

Alluri Sitarama Raju

News: PM Modi to launch the year-long celebrations on the 125th birth anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju, enabling a new generation to be aware of the heroics of Alluri and the sacrifices he made for the tribal community.

About:
• Alluri Sitarama Raju (1897 – 1924) was an Indian revolutionary who waged an armed campaign against British colonial rule in India. He was nicknamed “Manyam Veerudu” (Hero of the Jungle) by local villagers for his heroic exploits.
• He became involved in anti-British activities in response to Madras Forest Act of 1882. The act restricted free movement of Adivasis in their habitats and also put a ban on practice of traditional form of agriculture known as Podu.
• Initially, Sitarama Raju, under the influence of Gandhi’s Non- cooperation movement, inspired the tribals to seek justice in the local panchayat courts and boycott the colonial courts.
• Despite being a staunch Gandhian, he broke just one rule of that philosophy: non-violence. He trained an entire tribal force in guerrilla warfare to bring about a full-scale rebellion in the Madras presidency. Notably, he was not a tribal himself.
• He led the Rampa Rebellion/Manyam Rebellion of 1922.
• In 1924, Raju was taken into police custody, tied to a tree, and shot by public execution, effectively ending the armed rebellion.

What can we learn from Alluri Sitarama Raju?
• At young age of 27, Sitarama Raju sacrificed his life for the cause of his community and nation as a whole.
• Along with many other freedom fighters he was a true patriot who kept the larger interest of the society ahead of his life. He was truly an ‘unsung hero’. As individuals we must celebrate and remember life of courageous fighter as him.
• The government of Andhra Pradesh commemorates his birthdate, the 4 th of July, as a state festival.
• He has left behind an inspiring legacy of anti-imperialist rebellion. 
• Another Lesser known fact – The character of Ramaraju played by Ram Charan in the blockbuster RRR movie is based on the character of Alluri Sitarama Raju.