Gaddar

Gummadi Vittal Rao is a poet and a Naxalite activist from Telangana, India. He took the name from Gadar Party, a pre-independence Association which fought against British rule in Punjab. He was born 1949 in Toopran, Hyderabad. His parents are Lachumamma and Seshaiah who are labourer's. He was born in poor “Dalit Mala” family. He did his schooling in Nizamabad district. He did his Pre-University Course from Government Junior College, Hyderabad. He entered RECW to earn a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is married to Vimala, and the couple has a son and a daughter. In 1969, he fought for a separate state, Telangana. He formed a Burra Katha, an oral story-telling technique, a group which got its name after Mahatma Gandhi. He also performed to give information on social themes for the information and broadcasting ministry of Government of India. B.

NarsingRao invited him to do a performance on the anniversary of Bhagat Singh. He attended weekly meetings at Art Lovers Forum. Rao asked him to write something. He wrote famous “Rickshaw-walla” song in 1971, which became a hit among Rickshaw Wallas. He attended all the Sunday meetings and wrote numerous songs with other members. Their book got published with their songs. They named it “GADDAR.” They became famous and were called by the name Gaddar people and he got his name. B. NarsingRao’s closeness to Communist Party of India brought him close to it. He again voiced his thought on a separate state, Telangana. His views were to get social justice and equal political representation as OCs and BCs. His song "AmmaT elangana Akali Kerala gaanama" was selected as the state song of Telangana.

In 1972, Art Lovers Association was renamed as “Jana NatyaMandali.” In 1975, he gave a Banking Recruitment Exam and got selected at Canara Bank for the post of clerk. In 1984, he quit the job and focused on Jana Natya Mandali. In 1985, police raided his house after he raised his voice against landlords of an upper caste who had killed Dalits. He went underground after this incident. While in exile, he travelled through Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Telangana. He spread the agenda through his art form. His group adopted various art forms such as Veedhi Bhagotham, Oggu Katha, and Yellamma Katha to depict the plight of people.His songs and ideology caught hold on people, and that led to the sale of thousands of copies of his compositions. He became a legend. The attire that the group carries comprises of gochis, gongali, anklet, damru and a loaded gun on the shoulder. He came out of exile after four and a half years.

The reason was the liberal attitude adopted by Congress government towards Naxalites. In 1990, he came in front of media. In the same year, they celebrated the 19th anniversary of Jana NatyaMandali at Nizam College Grounds in Hyderabad with a crowd comprising two lakh people. In 1997, he got shot with three bullets. Two of the three were removed and his life got saved. In 2001, the Telugu Desam Government got ready to have peace talks with the Naxalites and chose Gaddar and Varavara Rao as the ambassadors of the peace conversations. The Government also chose two of its ministers as representatives from its side. During 2002, they had three meeting amidst encounter killings. After this Gaddar and Rao withdrew out of talks. In 2004, during the regime of Indian National Congress Naxalites had peace talks with the Government but later they backed out because of the killings. After this, a ban got imposed on CPI and other such organisations. Police arrested Virasam and VaravaraRao.They didn’t arrest him though they said that they had evidence against him for inciting violence. Since the day he came out of exile he has done numerous protests against the killing of Naxalites. In 2010, he formed “TelanganaPraja Front,” political party.