(Tribute - Prose)
"
{c.1924 CE, Manyam Agency areas (Now Part of Northern
Coastal Andhra Pradesh), Madras Presidency, British India.}
His battle-cry was heard. It echoed village after village, raising
a glimmer of hope among the native tribes. From across the teak trees of
Srikakulam to the coast of the Godavari River there was a sudden surge of optimism
and zeal. Legends told in his name & folks of men, women and children
rallied to his call, cherished his words. To them, he was a hero, always called
as ‘Raju’ (Literally – a King).
But to the empire on which the Sun never sets, he was just a
popular fugitive and a minor headache. They always had a way with the people. The
brilliance of imperialism lays in the fact that tyranny could be concealed by
legislature and their commercial interests clothed in the name of welfare. They
needed the forests of Manyam in Andhra. The animals and birds for hunting
sport, the large trees for timber, and the land for commercial farming – long live
the empire at the cost of its colony! A few tribal communities stood in their way;
they could neither be reasoned with nor browbeaten into submission.
So, the empire responds – The passing of the Madras Forests
Act, 1882 – a brilliant law which had simply illegalized the very existence of
Forest based-tribal communities of the entire Madras Presidency region. Their traditional
cultivation (Shifting Cultivation – Podu System) was now an illegal activity,
and people of all tribes were completely prohibited from free moment among
forests. Conquer, Crush and let them crumble seemed the motto. But then, this
popular fugitive comes along and he educates those who need not be educated.
And for two years, the forest-lands of Manyam burned. With Guerrilla-warfare
techniques and inspired by Bengal revolutionaries, People revolted, ably led by
Raju. The newly laid lines of communication were cut, Police stations were
raided, munitions depots were looted and the panic that had begun inside these
forests had traveled through the Saint George fort of Madras and reached the Durbars
of Delhi.
The empire did respond again – On the one hand, a new
humanitarian collector assigned, who wooed the people with the talk of co-operation
(Rutherford). On the other hand, a company of troops (Assam Rifles) deployed; a
ruthless Major was given the task of settling Raju’s question forever. (Major
Goodall).
The rebels lost. There was no doubt in that, it was going to
happen. How can bows and Arrows fight Muskets and Cannons? How can the scantily
clad tribes withstand the assault of perhaps the world’s most ruthless army of
that time? All his sub-commanders were swiftly executed on sight, or arrested
for life (Gam Mallu Dora, Gantam Dora, Aggiraju). Their beloved leader Raju,
Caught, tied to a tree and shot.
The empire, as always won. But the lessons were learnt. They
could never risk another rebellion. To their credit, they did focus on a more
humanitarian and development oriented approach. Alluri Sita Ramaraju became a martyr, sacrificing a
better life, for the sake of his fellow countrymen. He knew he had no chance
against the empire and yet never betrayed his follower’s confidence. He had something.
A surge of fervor crept in among the people, and they now had that same thing,
a thought – something called ‘COURAGE’.
"
References (If any)
1. Place and Date -
@ - Home Sweet Home, # 16-7-16, Sree Bhramara, Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh - 534 260
On -4th of July, 2016
2. Subject - Alluri Sita RamaRaju - "Something called 'COURAGE' (Tribute - Prose)"
( Alluri Sita RamaRaju [c. 1897 - 1924 CE] was a Revolutionary, Freedom Fighter and a Tribal Leader. He organized the 'Rampa Rebellion' against the then British Government's Oppression of native forest based tribals.His name and fame are well celebrated across Andhra Pradesh, especially in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari. Today i.e, 4th of July, 2016 is his 119th birth anniversary.
