Gaddar
Indian poet and activist (1949–2023)
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Gummadi Vittal Rao (31 January 1949[1] – 6 August 2023), known as Gaddar, was an Indian poet, singer, and communist revolutionary. Gaddar was active in the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency, as well as the movement for Telangana's statehood.
31 January 1949
Gaddar | |
|---|---|
Rao in 2005 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gummadi Vittal Rao 31 January 1949 |
| Died | 6 August 2023 (aged 74) |
| Party | Telangana Praja Front |
| Spouse | Vimala Gaddar |
| Alma mater | Osmania University |
| Occupation | |
Gaddar began his political and cultural journey as a Naxalite in the 1970s. Arrested during the Emergency in 1975, he later went underground. Despite controversies, he remained a prominent voice against caste oppression and injustices faced by Dalits and Adivasis.[2] He was one of the founding member of the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People’s War.[3] He also founded the Jana Natya Mandali.[4] He played a major role in drawing national attention to the Karamchedu massacre in 1987.[4][2]
He was awarded with a cash award of ₹1 crore posthumously for his contributions to the Telangana movement.[5]
Early life
Gaddar was born as Gummadi Vithal Rao at Toopran in the Medak district of Telangana in 1949.[6] While studying engineering in Hyderabad, he became influenced by the revolutionary ideas of the Dalit Panthers and the Naxalbari movement.[7]
Gaddar went underground in the 1980s and became a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War. He was part of its cultural wing and performed for crowds. A bullet remained in his spine after an assassination attempt in 1997.[8]
Until 2010, Gaddar was active in the Naxal movement, later identifying himself as an Ambedkarite.[9] He adopted the name Gaddar as a tribute to the pre-independence Gadar party, which opposed British colonial rule in Punjab.[10][11]
Telangana movement
With the resurgence of Telangana movement, Gadar expressed his support for the cause of a separate Telangana state,[12] which intended to uplift the lower castes, particularly dalits and backward castes. He said that he was strongly aligned with those who are for a state in favor of social justice where scheduled tribes and scheduled castes have political representation on par with the OCs and BCs of the state.[citation needed] He expressed his solidarity with Devender Goud's NTPP (Nava Telangana Praja Party) despite being shot at by the police during Goud's term as AP home minister.[13][14][15]
Illness and death
Discography
| Year | Movie | Song | Lyricist | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Maa Bhoomi | Bandenaka Bandi Katti | Bandi Yadagiri | [20] | |
| 1983 | Rangula Kala | Jam Jammalmarri | Devi Priya | Also actor | |
| Bhadram Koduko | Guda Anjaiah | ||||
| Madhana Sundari | |||||
| 1995 | Orey Rikshaw | Malle Theegaku | Gaddar | ||
| Aapura Rikshowda | |||||
| Jatharelli Podame | |||||
| Naa Raktham Tho Naduputhanu Rikshawnu | [21] | ||||
| Rajyangam Chattamandu | |||||
| Gana Gana Gana | |||||
| Amma Kanna | |||||
| 2011 | Jai Bolo Telangana | Podustunna Poddumeeda | [22] | ||
| Poru Telangana | Podustunna Poddumeeda | ||||
| 2016 | Dandakaranyam | Bharata Desam | Also actor | ||
| Podduthirugudu Puvva | |||||
| Adavi Thalliki Vandanam |
Awards
- 1995: Nandi Award for Best Lyricist for "Malletheega Ku Pandiri Vole" from Orey Rikshaw (turned down)[23]
- 2011: Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Jai Bolo Telangana[24]