Gouthu Latchanna
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|
Gouthu Latchanna | |
|---|---|
Tarimela Nagi Reddy | |
| Succeeded by | Vacant (Him self 1978-83) |
| Member of Legislative Assembly Andhra Pradesh | |
| In office 1978–1983 | |
| Preceded by | Majji Thulasi Das |
| Succeeded by | Majji Narayana Rao |
| Constituency | Sompeta |
| In office 1956–1972 | |
| Preceded by | Andhra Pradesh Assembly Created |
| Succeeded by | Majji Thulasi Das |
| Constituency | Sompeta |
| Member of Legislative Assembly Andhra State | |
| In office 1955–1956 | |
| Preceded by | Andhra State Assembly Created |
| Succeeded by | Andhra Pradesh Assembly Created |
| Constituency | Sompeta |
| Member of Legislative Assembly Madras State | |
| In office 1952–1955 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency Established |
| Succeeded by | Andhra State Assembly Created |
| Constituency | Sompeta |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gouthu Latchanna 16 August 1909 Baruva, Srikakulam, British India |
| Died | 19 April 2006 (aged 96) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh |
| Spouse | Gouthu Yashoda |
| Children | Gouthu Sundar Sivaji, Jhansi Lakshmi Ravala, Susila Devi Kasimkota |
Sardar Gouthu Latchanna (16 August 1909 – 19 April 2006) was a veteran
Personal life
Dr. Gouthu Latchanna was born in Baruva village of the Sompeta mandal, Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh on 16 August 1909. He was the eighth child of Chittaiah, a Goud toddy tapper, and Rajamma. He married Yashodha Devi, who died in 1996.
He died at the age of 98 in Visakhapatnam on 19 April 2006 and is survived by his son Shyama Sunder Sivaji, who is MLA from Sompeta, and two daughters Jhansi and Sushila.[1]
Freedom fighter and people's leader
He was a champion of farmers, backward classes, weaker sections and one of the most prominent leaders of his time. He was arrested at the age of 21 when he participated in the
He was the born leader of masses, freedom fighter and social reformer. Till Independence of India in 1947, he fought against British. After the end of British Raj, it was on political and social fronts for the sake of farmers, labourers, and the working class. He was also the member of Madras Trade Union Board.[2] He was instrumental in bringing down the government of Prakasham Panthulu on the issues of prohibition.
Freedom fighter
He participated in
In 1932, after getting released from Rajahmundry jail, having been inspired by
As a secretary of Andhra Rashtra Congree Committee, he organised a reception at
Revolutionary influence
With imprisonment in
Leader for Kisans
Around 1932, after his return from Tatanagar to Baruva, Latchanna participated in the foot-march of Rythu-Rakshana call given by
In 1940, he organised
Leader for weaker sections
In 1941 when
He was the founder and president of the Andhra State Unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress, which he continued till 1955. He was the president of Shipyard Labor Union at Visakhapatnam and was instrumental in organizing strikes, getting pay scale hikes and introduction of service grades for the workers.[22]
On the third day after his marriage, he was obliged to proceed to Rangoon to get the Indian labourers released who were in the concentration camps aftermath the assassination of Aung San.[23]
Leader for backward castes
In 1948, he presided over first Andhra
After
From 1984, disgusted with opportunistic politics of different political parties, Latchanna mostly concentrated in raising awareness among oppressed classes using his monthly publication "Bahujana".
Political life
He was member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for 35 years from
He initially got elected as president of then Ganjam district Congress Committee. He became member of Andhra Rashtra Congress Committee and All India Congress Committee from 1934 to 1951. From 1946 to 1951, he was elected as joint secretary of Andhra Rashtra Congress Committee. As secretary of Andhra Congress Sevadal, he conducted Congress Sevadal Officer's Training Camp for both men and women at Palasa in Srikakulam.
During 1946 Madras assembly elections, he was denied congress ticket against the wishes of congress workers on the pretext of being violent when underground. Instead, Latchanna made Rokkam Rammurthy Naidu get the nomination and played a decisive role in getting him elected.[32] When Latchanna was in
In 1951, he along with
Agitation for Andhra statehood
Gouthu Latchanna was actively involved in the separate statehood for Andhra through separation from composite Madras from 1953. When government of India constituted a partition committee under
Agitation for Toddy Tapper Cooperative Societies
In 1954, with the enactment of Prohibition Act, the excise department harassed lakhs of
After mid-term elections, "United Congress Front" defeated communists successfully. Latchanna joined the cabinet of Bezawada Gopala Reddy.[41]
Formation of Andhra Pradesh state
After
Agitation for Telangana statehood
Latchanna took an active part in the agitation for the separate statehood of Telangana for which intensive
Later, Latchanna took active part in the creation of "Andhra Pradesh Democratic Front" along with Congress dissident Marri Chenna Reddy and socialist leader P.V.G.Raju. In 1958, when C. Rajagopalachari, president of Swatantra Party visited Hyderabad, Latchanna joined Swatantra Party by dissolving "Andhra Pradesh Democratic Front". Latchanna was taken into executive committee and parliamentary board of the Swatantra Party as vice-president in 1959.[43] In 1962, Latchanna started state wise agitation against enactment of 100% enhancement of land revenue and filed a writ petition in high court of Andhra Pradesh leading to the declaration as null and void by the high court.[44]
Swatantra Party and Democratic Front
In 1967 general elections,
- Land Ceiling Bill.
- Additional Land Revenue Assessment Bill.
- Agricultural Marketing Bill which makes selling of agriculture commodities by peasants as crime.
- Imposition of compulsory levy of food grains
- Controls on food grains
- Banning of movement of food grains to and from Belt areas on the borders of neighboring states
- Compulsory Levies on peasants for repairing water sources.
- Collection of contributions and loans from poor peasants for the so-called plan schemes like defence funds and national savings schemes.
- Inclusion of dry lands receiving water since 10 years under irrigation sources in their ayacut permanently and succeeded in making the government accept the proposal.
- In regard to demand for the splitting up of Joint Pattas as and when peasants set up separate family units. They made the Government to come with a bill for the purpose and got it passed.
- They fought for the distribution of non-arable lands to the landless poor.
- They forced the government to agree to let Sugar crop factories elect their directors instead of nominating them.
- They achieved the abolition of "Tol Gates" in Telangana.
- They made the government agree to the payment of arrears to the Pattadars in Telangana for tapping toddy trees.
- They pleaded for continuation of educational concessions to all the backward classes and also for their classification as per their caste.
Agitation for Jai Andhra Movement
In 1972, Latchanna took a leading role in the Jai Andhra movement started by students of Andhra University demanding the division of Andhra Pradesh into old Andhra state and Telangana state on the issue of "Mulkhi" rules. He was imprisoned in Mushirabad central jail and released in 1973.[48]
Emergency in India
In 1975, following the
In 1977 general elections, Latchanna was elected to the Andhra Pradesh assembly from Janata Party ticket and was recognised officially, as the opposition leader, as Janata Legislature Party was the main opposition party in the Andhra Pradesh assembly.[50] After the demise of C. Rajagopalachari, Swatantra Party was merged into Bharatiya Lok Dal headed by Charan Singh. Latchanna was elected as the president of Andhra Pradesh state Lok Dal.[51] Lok Dal candidates including Latchanna suffered with film actor N. T. Rama Rao wave of Telugu Desam Party in 1983 general elections. Latchanna lost the elections for the first time strangely not to Telugu Desam Party candidate, but instead to Congress candidate[52]
Latchanna was elected to assembly continuously from 1952 till 1983 by losing once in 1983. During this time, he was elected to Legislative Council of Andhra Pradesh. During mid-term elections for Sompeta, Telugu Desam Party gave the ticket to Latchanna son, Gouthu Shyam Sunder Shivaji.[53] Latchanna too filed the nomination as independent candidate, but withdrew in last with major differences between son and Latchanna. When Telugu Desam Party denied ticket to Gouthu Shivaji in 1989 elections, Latchanna supported his son as independent and got him elected successfully.[54]
Honour
- Thotapalli Barrage has been named after him by the Andhra Pradesh Government.
- Gouthu Latchanna Cultural Complex will be constructed by the Andhra Pradesh Government.
- Sardar Gouthu Latchanna Pratibha Puraskaramulu, an award on his name to be given every year to bright and intelligent students by Sree Koundinya Seva Samiti
- Sardar Gowthu Latchanna Kala Peetham, an award on his name to honour and recognise the arts.
- In 1997, Andhra University of Visakhapatnam honoured him Doctorate.[55]
- In 1999,
- Statues for Sardar Gouthu Latchana.[57]
Autobiography
- Naa Jeevitam (Autobiography) in Telugu written by Gouthu Latchanna, 2001.
References
- ^ The Hindu
- ^ Post-independence India: Indian National Congress, Volumes 33–50 By Om Prakash Ralhan – G. Latchanna
- ^ The word "Cotaur" is the Anglicised version of the Telugu word "Cotauru" meaning "godown".
- ^ At the age of 21, Sri. Latchanna was arrested in connection with the salt-cotaurs raid Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Consequent on the 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Sri Latchanna organized the Congress Satyagraha camp Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ lathi-charged during the 1932 civil disobedience movement for hoisting the Congress flag at Baruva Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Latchanna was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s fast-unto-death at Yeravada Central jail on the issue of untouchability Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Gandhi began a fast-unto-death while imprisoned in the Yeravada Central Jail of Pune in 1932 to eliminate discrimination and untouchability". Archived from the original on 7 April 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ Latchanna organised reception at Eluru to the soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauz founded by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Quit India Movement of 1942 Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gandhi refused to condemn the violence of the people because he saw it as a reaction to the much bigger violence being perpetrated on the state. It is held[by whom?] that Gandhi's major objection to violence was that its use prevented mass participation in a movement. For in 1942, Gandhi had come round to the view that mass participation would not be restricted as a result of isolated violence. Gandhi had come to realise that the kind of non-violence he had wanted his country men to inculcate and practise could not be achieved and so towards the end of his career he had kept some amount of space for the participants to follow their own line of action. His patience had been dragged to such extremes that he felt that even at the cost of some risks, he should ask his people to resist slavery. Although Gandhi was now in an unusually militant mood, at no stage was he prepared to forsake his faith in non-violence. He would have liked the movement to be non-violent but was prepared to run the risk of unrestricted mass action even if that meant civil war. He thus said, 'Let them entrust India to God or, in modem parlance, to anarchy'.
- ^ Latchanna and his colleague Killi Appala Naidu were arrested and imprisoned Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "HSRA leaders and revolutionary also became Communist, such as Batukeshwar Dutt, Bhagat Singh, Dr Gaya Prasad, Vijay Kumar Sinha, Shiv Verma". Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ Latchanna was lodged in the same block where Sri. Vijaya Kumar Sinha and Sri. Siva Varma, life prisoners in the Bhagat Singh Case Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Latchanna went to Cuttack (Orissa), Kharagpur and Calcutta (Bengal) and Tatanagar (Bihar) to contact the then Indian Republic Revolutionary Party leaders for joining their movement Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bhagat Singh and the Revolutionary Movement Siva Verma, B.K. Sinha Archived 1 October 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Latchanna started agitations for the abolition of the Zamindari system Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ All India Kissan Sabha at Palasa in 1940 Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Police firing killing Smt. Veeragunnamma, four Kisans and one police constable in Mandasa Ryots Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Yerran Naidu said, Sardar Latchanna was credited with leading the Mandasa peasants' struggle and maintaining a regular rapport with all the villagers of Srikakulam district
- ^ In 1941, Sri Latchanna organised “Burma refugee’s conference” at Narasannapeta Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Latchanna, founder-president of the Andhra State Unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Latchanna to Rangoon get the release of thousands of Indian labourers who were then in concentration camps Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sri Latchanna started a State Level agitation for the restoration of the list of other Backward Classes, a statutory obligation under the Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Indian Constitution Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ P.Siva Sankar, then a senior advocate of the High-court, argued the case successfully in the Supreme Court and got a favourable judgement stating that the government of Andhra Pradesh could publish the list of Backward classes caste wise establishing their social and educational backwardness. On behalf of the A.P.B.C. Association. Sri Latchanna also appointed an advocate to argue the case. In consequence, the Government of Andhra Pradesh appointed the Ananta Raman Commission which recommended the list of Backward Classes by dividing them into 4 groups as A, B, C & D. Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ During his statewide agitation Sri Latchanna was arrested 14 times during Sri. N.T. Rama Rao's regime Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ N. Bhaskara Rao, who suddenly became the Chief Minister of the Telugu Desam Government by overthrowing Sri. N.T.Rama Rao, when the later had been abroad, accepted the demands of Sri. Latchanna Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Newspaper Bahujana Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Post-independence India:Indian National Congress, Volumes 33–50 By Om Prakash Ralhan – G. Latchanna – Bahujana, a monthly devoted to the upliftment of backward classes, published in English and Telugu
- ^ Sri Latchanna declared that the joined BSP at a public meeting at Hyderabad in 1994 Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Yerran Naidu said, “Sardar Latchanna, who hailed from Sompeta in Srikakulam had become undisputed leader of the backward classes. He had such a devotion towards his guru N.G. Ranga that he gave up his Srikakulam Lok Sabha seat without taking oath just to enable his guru to enter the Lower House after his failure to win from the Chittoor constituency.
- ^ Kala Venkata Rao who was then the secretary of All India Congress Committee against ticket for Latchanna for violent during underground Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ In 1951, Sri Latchanna resigned from the Congress Party along with Andhra Kesari Prakasam and Prof. N.G. Ranga Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ In 1952 the first General elections of independent India took place, Sri Latchanna got elected to the Madras Assembly with 11 more members in the composite Visakhapatnam district Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ In 1953, Sri Latchanna took active part in the agitation demanding separate Andhra State Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Latchanna subsequently into the cabinet on 07.11.1953 to get a working majority in the Andhra Assembly at Kurnool Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Prakasm Coalition – Violent controversy between the coastal districts(circars) and arid southern districts(rayalseema) over the location of state capital – Resignation of G. Latchanna, member of the cabinet representing the Krishkar Lok Party (KLP) – The Andhra Election by Marshall Windmiller
- ^ Latchanna organised and led the Tappers Satyagraha to secure rehabilitation for the unemployed Tappers Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Smt. Yasodadevi, wife of Sri. Latchanna offered Satyagraha at Guntur and courted arrest, when more than 25,000 tappers attended the Public meeting addressed by Sri. Latchanna Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pandit Nehru alternatively agreed to form a United Congress front with the KLP and the Praja Party.The demand of Sri Latchanna to rehabilitate tapers with their conventional profession of tapping on co-operative basis was acceded to. He was also permitted to oppose the Congress in Visakhapatnam district alone as per the prior written agreement with Sri. P.V.G. Raju, leader of Andhra Socialist Party Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The United Congress front fought the election successfully, defeating the Communist Front Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sri Latchanna took an active part for a separate Telangana State for which intensive vigilance of the CID was kept on him Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Post-independence India:Indian National Congress, Volumes 33–50 By Om Prakash Ralhan – Page 161 – G. Latchanna(Vice-President)
- ^ In 1962, Sri Latchanna started state wise agitation against the high-handed enactment of 100 per cent enhancement of land revenue Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sri Latchanna resigned his Lok-sabha seat and got N.G. Ranga, his political guru, elected to the Lok-Sabha from the Srikakulam Parliamentary Constituency. Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Post-independence India:Indian National Congress, Volumes 33–50 By Om Prakash Ralhan – Page 293 – STATES UNITS-BRIEF SURVEY – Andhra Pradesh
- ^ Post-independence India:Indian National Congress, Volumes 33–50 By Om Prakash Ralhan – Page 138 – Appendix – Andhra Swatantra group of legislatures led by Latchanna to protect and promote the cause of agriculturists
- ^ In 1972, Sri Latchanna took a leading role in the Jai-Andhra movement launched by the students of the Andhra University Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ In 1975, consequent on the declaration of “State Emergency” by the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi, Sri Latchanna was arrested Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ In the General elections held in 1977, Sri Latchanna was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on the Janata Party Ticket Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sri Latchanna was elected as the President of Andhra Pradesh Branch of the Lok-Dal. Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [In the A.P. Assembly-Elections of 1983, Sri Latchanna withdrew the Lok-Dal candidates wherever they were weak. But Sri. N.T.Rama Rao silently managed to set up a lady candidate from a landlord’s family from Sri Latchanna’s village Baruva against Sri.Latchanna knowing full well that the TDP would certainly be defeated and thus paved the way for the success of congress candidate defeating Sri. Latchanna. The Telugu Desam lady candidate could, however, manage to get her deposit.]
- ^ SYAM SUNDER SIVAJI, SRI GOUTHU – Father's Name Sardar Dr. Gouthu Latchanna
- ^ When N.T.Rama Rao refused Telugu Desam Ticket to Sivaji for the 1989 Assembly Elections. Sri Latchanna then got his son to contest independently from the Sompeta Assembly Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ In 1997, The Andhra University, Visakhapatnam honoured him with a Doctorate Degree of law Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ In 5 Feb 1999, the Nagarjuna University, Guntur honoured him with a Doctorate Degree of letters Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Bronze statue of the legendary leader Latchanna fought for upholding high values in society in Visakhapatnam". Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2011.