Ravi Narayan Reddy

 

Questions: Ravi Narayan Reddy

Early Life and Revolutionary Zeal

Ravi Narayan Reddy, born in 1908 in Bollepalle village of Nalgonda district, came from a wealthy jagirdar family. Despite his feudal origins, he emerged as a committed freedom fighter and a passionate advocate for social change. His life journey took a dramatic turn from privilege to public service. As a young student living in the Reddy Hostel at Hanuman Tekdi, Hyderabad, he actively participated in sports, scouting, and acting. During a game of football, he suffered a spinal injury which left a lifelong impact, but it never deterred his spirit or activism.

While he was still an intermediate student in 1930, he left his studies midway and joined Mahatma Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement, marking the beginning of his political journey. This act of selflessness reflected his strong ideological commitment from an early age. Personal tragedy struck him even earlier, when his wife passed away in 1929, but it only strengthened his resolve. Deeply moved by Gandhi’s work for the upliftment of Harijans, he traveled to Wardha and donated all his late wife’s jewellery to the Mahatma’s cause.

Work with Harijan Sevak Sangh and Entry into Politics

In 1932, Thakkar Bapa established a Hyderabad branch of the All India Harijan Sevak Sangh, a Gandhian organization dedicated to the welfare of Harijans. Padmaja Naidu was initially appointed its president, and Ravi Narayan Reddy its secretary. When she stepped down due to ill health the following year, Ravi took over as president and continued in that role for six years, reflecting the immense trust and respect he commanded in the social reform space.

By 1938, he was one of the founding members of the Hyderabad State Congress. When the government refused to lift the ban on the organization, Ravi Narayan Reddy was part of the first batch of satyagrahis who courted arrest on 24 October 1938. This act of defiance landed him in prison, but it also cemented his reputation as a courageous and principled leader.

Role as Social Reformer.              www.osmanian.com

Ravi Narayan Reddy’s activism was not confined to politics. He was also a central figure in the Andhra Mahasabha, which had been formed in 1928 as a cultural organization for Telugu-speaking people in the Hyderabad State. Under his leadership, especially during his terms as president in 1941, 1944, and 1945, the Mahasabha evolved into a dynamic political organization. He believed that culture, economics, and politics were intertwined and must be addressed together for meaningful progress.

He took up progressive social causes such as widow remarriage and literacy, working to remove entrenched social stigmas and backwardness. In alignment with the Communist Party’s agrarian policy, which limited individual land ownership to 20 acres, Ravi voluntarily gave up 500 acres of his own land to the farmers, retaining only the allowed portion for himself. In 1934, when Mahatma Gandhi passed through Secunderabad, Ravi made a significant donation of fifty tolas of gold to support Gandhian initiatives.

Although deeply influenced by Gandhi’s social ideals, Ravi’s political philosophy resonated more closely with Jawaharlal Nehru. Frustrated by the soft approach of the Congress leadership in Hyderabad, he formally joined the Communist Party in 1939, a decision that would define the trajectory of his political life.

Leadership in the Telangana Armed Struggle

Once in the Communist fold, Ravi Narayan Reddy became one of the foremost leaders of the Telangana Armed Struggle, which sought to overthrow the oppressive feudal and autocratic system under the Nizam. He became a key strategist and ideological guide for the agrarian revolution in Telangana, helping mobilize the peasantry in the fight against bonded labor, exploitation, and political suppression.

Following the Police Action in 1948 that ended the Nizam’s rule, there were internal disagreements within the Communist Party. Ravi and others believed that the armed struggle had fulfilled its purpose and should be ended. However, the Ranadive Doctrine, which emerged during the Communist Party’s Second Congress in Calcutta in February 1948, argued for the continuation of the armed revolution. This divergence created confusion within the party regarding the next steps.

Meanwhile, the Indian government imposed a ban on the Communist Party, just three days after the Police Action. Leaders like Ravi, who had been preparing to function openly, were forced to go underground again. This led to a prolonged period of living in hiding, frequently moving, or being jailed. .              www.osmanian.com

Triumph in the First General Elections

After being released shortly before the 1952 General Elections, Ravi Narayan Reddy decided to contest for both the Parliament and the State Assembly. His popularity was phenomenal. He won both elections, and his victory in the parliamentary constituency was historic—he polled the highest number of votes in the country, surpassing even Jawaharlal Nehru. Incredibly, his opponents did not receive even a single vote in that election. In Nalgonda district, his influence was so strong that his party swept all 14 Assembly seats, despite Ravi addressing only two campaign meetings.

This overwhelming success demonstrated the respect and admiration he enjoyed among the people, particularly in Telangana, where he was seen not just as a leader but as a symbol of resistance and social justice.

Political Conflict and Continued Legacy

In the 1957 General Elections, Ravi was urged by the Communist Party to contest once again for the State Assembly, especially after the Congress mocked the defeat of the People's Democratic Front, a coalition of Left parties. This time, he was pitted against his own brother-in-law, V. Ramachandra Reddy, a popular figure in his own right who had been the first donor of 100 acres to the Vinoba Bhave Bhoodan Movement. Although both men were widely respected, Ravi won by a margin of 8,000 votes, reinforcing his enduring political strength.

Ravi Narayan Reddy was also a staunch atheist, a typical trait among Communist leaders of his time. He never visited temples, yet he never imposed his beliefs on others in his family, allowing them to follow their faith freely. His liberal, democratic spirit pervaded both his public and private life.

He was one of the strongest advocates for the formation of a unified Telugu-speaking state, which eventually became Andhra Pradesh. Much of the credit for the idea and momentum behind linguistic unification goes to leaders like him who tirelessly championed the cause of Telugu identity. .              www.osmanian.com

Final Days and Personal Legacy

Ravi Narayan Reddy remained deeply engaged in public service until his last breath. On 7 September 1991, he passed away, leaving behind a legacy of sacrifice, courage, and relentless activism. His final words, spoken to Ch. Rajeshwara Rao, were a query about the pending pension cases of some freedom fighters whose cause he had taken up. Even in his last moments, his thoughts were with his fellow comrades and their welfare.

In his will and testament, Ravi displayed his progressive values. He specifically instructed that his wife should not remove her bangles or the vermilion mark on her forehead after his death, which was the traditional custom for widows. However, he later amended this to say that she was free to do as she pleased, underscoring his respect for individual freedom and women’s autonomy.

He also made an unusual request regarding his final rites. He asked that his ashes not be immersed in the Ganga or any other river, as per religious custom, but instead be scattered over the crops in his fields. Additionally, he expressed a wish that a samadhi (memorial) could be constructed on one of the family farms. This symbolic act represented his enduring bond with the land, the farmers, and the cause he had dedicated his entire life to.