A political row has broken out in Telangana after the Revanth Reddy government’s proposal to confer a Padma award on Gaddar alias Gummadi Vithal Rao — a revolutionary balladeer, renowned folk singer, and also a Maoist sympathiser — was ignored by the Centre.
The Chief Minister was peeved that his government had recommended five names — Gaddar, educationist Chukka Ramaiah, poet Andesri, poet-singer Gorati Venkanna, and poet-historian Jayadheer Tirumala Rao — for various Padma awards and not one of them made it to the final list. He termed it an insult to the “four crore people of Telangana”.
The issue escalated when the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay, commented on the State government’s decision to recommend Gaddar. He said, “Giving a Padma award to those who championed Naxalism is like spitting on the graves of martyred police officers and BJP karyakartas who fell victim to [the violence propagated by those who follow] this ideology. It is a betrayal of the families of these brave officers. How can the State even consider honouring a person investigated by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) for fuelling violence?”
The State government argued that the names were sent after careful consideration of the contributions of the five individuals in the fields of art, culture, education, people’s movements, and protection of tribal culture. It said that their roles in the movement for Statehood could not be ignored. An angry Chief Minister said that he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue.
Since the creation of Telangana in 2014, one Bharat Ratna (to former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao), three Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan, and 41 Padma Shri awards have been presented to people from the State. But the Telangana government has alleged that there is discrimination against the State. While some States have managed to secure more than 10 Padma awards, it argued that Telangana received only two this time — a Padma Vibhushan for gastroenterologist Dr. Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy and a Padma Shri for Manda Krishna, the founder-president of the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti.
While Gaddar, who died in 2023, was a Maoist sympathiser, he is a popular figure in Telangana. Gaddar, a Dalit, was an engineering dropout. He was attracted to the Maoist movement in the 1970s and spent over a decade underground working as its cultural ambassador. Often referred to as ‘Praja Yuddha Nauka’ (war ship of the people’s movement), Gaddar’s role in the Telangana movement between 2009 and 2014 is acknowledged not just by the people, but also by political parties.
In fact, Mr. Modi paid Gaddar glowing tributes in his condolence message to the poet’s family on August 21, 2023. Mr. Modi’s letter read: “The themes of his poems and folk songs in Telugu reflected the challenges faced by the disadvantaged sections of the society. His creative works also provided encouragement to the people. He always remained passionate about the progress of Telangana. His contribution towards revitalising a traditional art form will be remembered by the people.”
This is why Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s comments have not only angered the Congress, but also divided the State BJP unit and put them in a spot. While some party cadres support his stand, others point out that the Prime Minister, too, has acknowledged the activist’s contribution. They also worry that by openly claiming that the Centre decides who should get the awards, Mr. Bandi Sanjay has created the impression that favouritism takes precedence over merit.
There is a clear political angle to the decisions too. The Centre reportedly felt that by recommending certain people who were active during the Statehood movement, the Revanth Reddy government was trying to woo the cadres of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti. Gaddar’s daughter, Vennela, was given a Congress ticket in the Assembly elections. She lost the election and is now chairperson of the Telangana Samskruthika Saradhi, a cultural wing of the State government.
While the Centre may have a point, Mr. Bandi Sanjay’s remarks have not only provided ammunition for the Telangana government, but also divided the BJP. More crucially, they seek to undermine the contributions of a man who fought relentlessly for the rights of the marginalised.
ravi.reddy@thehindu.co.in
Published – February 03, 2025 01:47 am IST
