1

JANARDHAN –

PEOPLES HEART BEAT

FOUNDER, REVOLUTIONARY STUDENTS MOVEMENT

AN ETERNAL PERSONA OF WARANGAL MOVEMENTS

SURAPANENI JANARDHANA RAO LIFE AND INSPIRATION

COMPILED : S P MOHANA RAO

EDITED : N.VENUGOPAL

2

PUBLISHED BY

SURAPANENI JANARDHANA RAO MEMORIAL TRUST

GARIKAPARRU

25th

JULY 2012

CONTACT DETAILS

S.P MOHANA RAO,

151,SITAPURAM COLONY

PORANKI – KRISHNA Dt. (A.P.)

PIN: 521 137

(Mobile) 9908637500.

(Resi) 0866-2581835

3

4

Contents

WHY AFTER 37 YEARS ? ....................................................................................................................... 4

JANARDHAN'S MEMORIES – EVER ON MY MIND ......................................................................... 7

MEMORIES OF JANARDHAN AND OTHER GIRAIPALLI MARTYRS ........................................ 10

CHILDHOOD AND THE YOUNG ACTIVIST ..................................................................................... 20

COMMUNIST MOVEMENT IN A.P VIS-A-VIS NAXALBARI AND SRIKAKULAM

MOVEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................ 33

JANARDHAN AT REGIONAL ENGG. COLLEGE AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO RSU .............. 38

JANARDHAN IN MEDAK ................................................................................................................... 51

INQUIRY COMMITTEES ..................................................................................................................... 57

IN MEMORY OF GIRAIPALLI MARTYRS ....................................................................................... 61

5

WHY AFTER 37 YEARS ?

S P MOHANA RAO

Janardhan's parents

Janardhan and myself were more of friends rather than brothers from the time we

attained maturity. We used to discuss political as well as social issues at length. By 25th

July 2012, it has been 37 long years since Janardhan attained martyrdom. Even though

there were glowing tributes and references on his contribution in Party circles every now

and then, there was no comprehensive writing available about his contribution as a

student leader at Regional Engg. College, Warangal and as an organiser of workers and

peasants in and around Warangal before becoming a full time organiser for agrarian

revolution in 1974.We thought it would be a fitting tribute to bring out his memoirs even

now. It has become a stupendous task to locate & contact his friends of that time to

collect information because of such a long time lapse since his martyrdom.

As the saying goes, flower emanates fragrance as soon as it blossoms. Janardhan had

shown a lot of initiative even at a tender age of 15 years in organising social and

political programmes in working class areas in the village. His involvement grew with

6

age and he put tireless efforts to unite all the sections of working class. With this

background behind him, it is not surprising that he showed remarkable initiative in

various activities at RECW, Warangal town and the rural areas around. One has to

appreciate his determination to undertake these activities in spite of suffering with

asthma. He was inflicted with asthma at the age of 7. Whenever he suffered an asthma

bout, he would become incapacitated even to talk or walk a few steps. Number of people

who were in contact with him recalled how much he suffered due to asthma.

Incidentally, when he informed me of his decision to work full time for revolutionary

activities, the only poser I put to him was whether suffering from asthma was not an

obstacle. Firmly, he replied “In spite of asthma,whatever could be done is a

contribution.”

Another remarkable aspect of him is simplicity and down to earth attitude. He used to

mingle very easily with any segment of people either in the college or outside. He used

to go to any place by bicycle only.

We are from a village, Garikaparru in Krishna Dt, about 25 Km from Vijayawada.

Ours was a middle class agriculturist family. Janardhan Rao was youngest child of Sri

Surapaneni Rama Rao and Smt.Venkata Ratnam. He was born on 24th

August 1950. Our

father was a person of social consciousness and later on became an activist of CPI. He

was a progressive farmer, adopting new methods of farming as well as new type of

crops. Probably he was the first farmer in the district to cultivate cabbage, cauliflower

and beetroot in the late fifties. He was adjudged best farmer for achieving highest yield

in sugar cane crop in our area in 1964. Ironically, due to the faulty contractual policies

adopted by the sugar factory, he could only sell a part of this produce to the factory

resulting in heavy financial loss. He could never recover financially from this loss.

When Janardhan Rao got admission in REC, Warangal in 1970 our financial position

was so bad that Janardhan and I felt it would be difficult to arrange the money for his

fees. I had completed BE by that time but was without a job. We did not even inform our

father about Janardhan's admission assuming that it would be agony for him in case he

was not able to arrange money. I tried on my own to get the money from my friends &

relatives without success. Then both of us decided that Janardhan would continue B.Sc.

That was the time when we met Janardhan's teacher & friend, Sri Sriram, to whom we

narrated the whole episode and requested his advice. He found fault with us in not

informing our father and expressed that he would be in greater pain if he ever came to

know about Janardhan's REC admission. He also advised us that his ability to raise the

funds should not be underestimated. Following his advice, we informed our father about

Janardhan's admission into RECW with just a day left until the deadline to pay the fees.

Ultimately, he was able to arrange the minimum required amount of about Rs1500/- in

7

time. We set out to Warangal and being an ex student, I could get permission to pay the

caution deposits etc at a later date. Paying only the essential fees, Janardhan got

admitted to REC,Warangal.

Rest is history. He electrified the student movement in RECW in every aspect and

contribued his might in full measure in revolutionary activities in Warangal and

surrounding rural areas. A person confined to our village before joining RECW in 1970,

he reached such heights to become the HEART BEAT OF PEOPLE OF WARANGAL

and an inspiration to many even after four decades as recounted in the following pages.

8

JANARDHAN'S MEMORIES – EVER ON MY MIND

N.VENUGOPAL

It is our duty to remember those departed

They lived with our sufferings and responsibilities

Whoever has attempted, only half the job is accomplished

They left walking on blood stained feet expecting us to fulfill the job

(could not translate rest of the poem. This poem was by SIVA REDDY)

Though I had spent a little time on a few occassions with Janardhan nearly 39 years

back, I heard more from Chinnalu and many more persons during Tarkunde

Committee/Bhargava Commission proceedings. I Interacted with the parents of

Janardhan, Murali Mohan Reddy, Ananda Rao & Sudhakar during the Commissions

proceedings and witnessed the pain suffered by them.

I had lot of thoughts and underwent pain for several years before taking up to prepare

this book. Thousands of comrades attained martyrdom and each one of them had

distinct, inspirational and wonderful revolutionary life. The very fact they dedicated

their lives for the emancipation of the downtrodden shows how exemplary and

inspirational they were. They were model men as visualised by the forefathers of

Communist Ideology and each one's life story must be brought out. Unfortunately, the

lives of many a martyr are not known, barring a few heroic incidents brought out in

Party organs. These writings could not bring out martyrs' wholesome personality turning

out the martyr as “one among the many”.It is the responsibility of all concerned to try to

bring out proper life stories of all the martyrs. In this context, we may say ATADU by

Sri Allam Rajaiah is a good example.

It is not an easy task to bring out the complete sketch of a martyr since it involves the

collection of information about his life at different stages, personal traits, emotions,

organisational capabilities etc. This involves contacting one's friends, colleagues,

associates and so on. In fact, a book, “Better to Stand and Die” roused my feelings on

the necessity of comprehensive histories of martyrs. The book depicts the story of Chao

I Man, a Chinese revolutionary. She was in the revolutionary struggle since 1923,

carving out a niche for her heroic acts and attaining maryrdom in 1936. A full life sketch

of her was made by her friends 20 years after her martyrdom. The above english version

came in 1960 which I happened to read in 1985. Overhelmed with the contents of the

book I further realised the necessity of bringing out life stories of all martyrs.

9

I felt instantaneously how befitting it would be to bring out biographies of the

martyrs. Some of those who left an ever lasting impression on me were Surapaneni

Janardhan, Jannu Chinnalu, Sayini Prabhakar, Mamidala Haribhushan. Janardhan was

the first martyr with whom I had personal contact. He used to visit VV's house in 1973. I

was staying there and was in my early teens. Some times he used to take me to public

meetings on his bicycle. Janardhan was instrumental in organising several protests

/events in '73 and '74 in Warangal. I was present in those meetings and thus had an

opporunity to see him from close quarters and I developed a feeling of worship towards

him since then. Very soon, Janardhan was killed in false encounter at Giraipalli during

emergency. Shortly thereafter, a poem eulogising the sacrifice of Giriapally martyrs

penned by VV from jail was smuggled out. This poem became very popular and these

martyrs became household names in Warangal. Janardhan's name used to ring around in

the press and otherwise for two years after lifting of emergency in 1977 because of the

inquiry proceedings of the Tarkunde Committee – instituted by Civil Liberties group –

and the Bhargava commission instituted by Govt. of A.P. Findings of the above two

committees clearly established that these four boys, Janardhan and his three associates,

were deliberately shot dead after being arrested a couple of weeks earlier and that they

were subjected to heinous and inhuman torture. Sri Surapaneni Rama Rao & Sri Lanka

Ananta Reddy, parents of Janardhan Rao and Murali Mohana Reddy, were so

determined to get punishment to the murderers of their children that they spared no

effort in doing whatever was required of them even at their advanced age. I happened to

escort Sri Rama Rao garu during his visits to Warangal and thus had an opportunity to

see him closely and get more information on Janardhan.

Another opportunity I had to know more vividly about Janardhan was when Chinnalu

took me to several villages around Warangal where Janardhan left an impression of his

organisational abilities. Chinnalu, who was a mess worker, came in contact with

Janardhan and became an organiser at district level. He used to talk about Janardhan all

along our journey. All this strengthened my desire to bring out comprehensive

biographies on numerous martyrs, particularly on Janardhan. This way my desire is

getting fulfilled.

It was at this juncture, about an year back, S.P.Mohana Rao, elder brother of

Janardhan, discussed with me the possibility of bringing out Janardhan's biography. I

immediately promised to extend all help. But the major task is to compile information

from Janardhan's friends, associates etc. spread over several places. Sri Mohana Rao

enthusiastically expressed to take up this responsibility. During this activity for the last

one year, he might be enduring lot of physical strain. He visited several places,

specifically Giraipalli, place of Janardhan's martyrdom. He contacted nearly

a hundred people and reconstructed Janardhan's activities thus making it possible to

10

bring out this book. I hope Mohana Rao's efforts shall motivate friends and relatives of

many more martyrs to bring out biographies of several martyrs.

On the day when the goals of Janardhan and of so many other comrades who fought

for the emancipation of the downtrodden is realized, their life stories will be recollected

with due respect. It is said that the first few words uttered by Mao while declaring the

success of Chinese Revolution on 1st October 1949 were about the sacrifices made by

several comrades. He recollected their stories with tears in his eyes.

11

MEMORIES OF JANARDHAN AND OTHER GIRAIPALLI MARTYRS

VARAVARA RAO

The very fact that Surapaneni Janardhan became model for two diligent intellectuals,

shows how truthful and committed he was to the cause of revolution. One of them was

his junior at RECW and later on became theoretician and spokesman of Maoist Party. He

was Azad – Cherukuri Rajkumar – who was also killed in a false encounter on 2nd

July

2010, 35 years after Janardhan's killing. The other one is Balagopal, also a student of

RECW [M.Sc.(Tech) Maths.] during the early '70s, who later became an ardent fighter

for Civil Liberties. Both of them were inspired by Janardhan's revolutionary practices

and dedication and they expressed this in their own words on numerous occassions.

Both Azad and Balagopal were writers in their own right and used to cover a broad

range of subjects. More than that, they were voracious readers of many a subject. They

had very good understanding on wide range of issues on Literature, Political Economy,

History, Philosophy etc. We do not know clearly whether Janardhan wrote any thing by

the time he attained martyrdom at the age of 25. He must have had in depth study of

Marxist philosophy and literature. But what is significant of Janardhan was his

commitment and dedication to the revolutionary practices. That is what he is idolised

for.

Balagopal confessed that while he was at RECW, reading Kosambi and observing

Janardhan's diligent activities in the campus turned him to Marxism. Although, he was a

contemporary of Janardhan at REC, he didn't maintain any personal contact with

Janardhan. On the other hand, Cherukuri Rajkumar (Azad) was a close associate of

Janardhan. We were in jail during the emergency when Janardhan, Murali Mohan,

Sudhakar and Ananda Rao were killed in the encounter on 25th

july 1975. When this sad

news reached us in Warangal jail, there were N.Rama Rao (Virasam), Sambaiah,

Kanakaiah (RSU) along with me in our cell. Earlier on 4th July, Rajkumar was arrested

and lodged in this jail and was put up in our cell. He was the youngest of all of us.He

was very jovial and quite lively. He was very talented too. He used to move around

telling jokes and singing etc. He translated Gaddar songs into English and set them to

the same tunes and used to sing them also. All this continued only for 20 days. When we

heard the news of encounter death of Janardhan, Rajkumar became dead silent and was

not talking to any one.

All of us in our cell, had intimacy with Janardhan and these encounter deaths hurt us

12

deeply. We did not know other comrades except Janardhan .We conducted

a memorial meeting for Giraipalli Martyrs in the Naxalite barracks in the jail. I wrote a

poem “ Jana Hridayam – Janardhan “ in memory of Janardhan. We never saw Rajkumar

shedding tears but there was a deep change in him. He was silent and thoughtful. On 1st

October '75, after 3 months of emergency, Govt. reviewed the cases of detenues and

released a few. Rajkumar was released in the 1st batch. He was received, outsde the jail,

by his father, proprietor of Ratna Hotel, Secunderabad and his brother, senior officer in

the Indian Army and was taken home. We thought his family may dissuade him to

continue in revolutionary path. But,I presume, Rajkumar in the aftermath of Janardhan's

supreme sacrifice resolved to follow in the footsteps of Janardhan. Now,we all know the

role played by Rajkumar in the Maoist party with pseudo name Azad.

Let us look at the practices of Janardhan that inspired Rajkumar and many more.

Revolutionary awareness was cultivated in RECW since 1966. That was the period of

cultural revolution in China. Kondapalli Sitaramaiah and K.G.Satya Murthy, then

working as teachers in St.Gabreil School, Kazipet were instrumental in spreading this

awareness in Warangal, taking REC as Center of activity. Later on, they spread this in

Telangana. The agitation for establishing Steel Plant at Vizag was at its peak at that time

and it helped to mobilise people. It was the students of REC who led it from front. I do

not know the names of everyone who were active in those days. Quite a few, such as

Mukku Subba Reddy, M.Ravindra Nath, Inguva Mallikharjuna Sharma, were among the

initiators who later became full time activists in M–L Party. Subba Reddy rose upto

State Secretary, COC and member of Central Committee. Later on in 1987, he

surrendered and is now leading normal life. Mallikharjuna Sharma who was critically

injured in both the thighs during CRPF firing on Steel Plant agitators later on became

district organiser in Nalgonda. After being acquitted in Secunderabad Conspiracy Case,

he has now settled down as an advocate. Kondapalli Chandrasekhara Reddy,

Sitaramaiah's son, also a student of REC, was arrested in Jannaram in Adilabad dt. for

propagating revolutionary ideology and was later implicated in Parvatipuram

Conspiracy case before being killed in an encounter in mid seventies. Chandrasekhara

Reddy & K.G.Satyamurhy attended a party meeting in Guttikonda Bilam where Charu

Muzumdar was present. Ravindra Nath went to work in Jannaram and translated Charu

Muzumdar's writings to Telugu. He later worked as organiser in Karimnagar dt.

Surapaneni Poorna Mohana Rao was also one of those first generation students believing

in revolutionary ideology. Surapaneni Janardhana Rao was the younger brother of S P

Mohana Rao. They came from a lower middle class agriculturist family of Garikaparru,

a village in Krishna Dt. near Vijayawada. Janardhan was a student of REC during 1970-

74. In 1968 I joined C.K.M. College as lecturer. I came in contact with students having

revolutionary idealogy from REC and KMC (Kakateeya Medical College) through

13

Srijana a literary magazine. Virasam (Revolutionary writers Assn) was formed in1970

and was the only organisation openly propagating the politics of Naxalbari &

Srikakulam. Most of the leaders in Virasam were teachers at various Institutes enabling

us to have continuous contacts with students. Even though, there was no formal

organisation, several students were propagating Naxalbari viewpoint in that period.

Leadership for these groups of students came from REC & KMC. In the later years,

RSS people started nicknaming & publicising REC with phrases such as Radical

Education Center/ Revolutionary Education Center, expecting Govt. to impose ban on

these activities. In reality, REC emerged as a platform for the propagation of radical

views.

During 70-74, REC & KMC campuses became centers of ideological conflicts with

rightist elements. Usually, children of land lord families and of upper castes tend to side

with A.B.V.P.(Student wing of BJP) and those from Krishna &Guntur districts tend to

left thinking. Local students from lower strata of society were with the radicals. In this

context, it is necessary to mention about another person, Jannu Chinnalu, inspired by

Janardhan. He was working as a mess worker in KMC got attracted to radical students

and came in close contact with Janardhan. During emergency, he was arrested and

subjected to severe torture. He grew as a leader in the district and was killed on 19th

Oct.1979 by Y.S.Murthy gang with support from state machinary. Giraipalli martyrs,

specifically Janardhan had enormous influence on Chinnalu. Immediately after lifting

emergency, he planned to install SILPALU (figures) of Giraipalli martyrs at Pydipalli,

Warangal Dt. It was fulfilled and the Stupam with Silpalu was unveiled by Kondapalli

Sitaramaiah, who was on bail in front of thousands of spectators. This exemplfies how

committed and an able organiser Chinnalu was. As if he lived to pay his respects to

Giraipalli martyrs, the very next day, he was murdered. This murder prompted an young

student Puli Anjaiah, his face red with anger and with tears swelling in eyes, dedicated

himself to the cause of revolution. By that time, he was RSU activist. Second

Convention of RSU was held in Warangal in Feb.'78. Puli Anjaiah was a delegate from

Rama Bhadra Commerce college, HYD and he was motivated greatly. Rajkumar was

elected state President, RSU at this convention. The same year, Anjaiah joined M.Com

in Kakatiya University,Warangal. In due course, he gradually developed as a RSU

leader, College Student Union Secretary. After he turned full time for party work, he

became District Secretary and beacme synonymous to Peoples War. By the dint of

commitment & truthfulness, he rose to become State Secretary by 1993. At that juncture,

he was arrested in Bangalore along with his wife in Oct.'93 and was killed in encounter.

14

Stupam at Pydipalli

Truthfullness and commitment were the hallmark of Janardhan's activities thus

making him dear to one and all. Janardhan was relentless in fighting on one hand with

religious fanatics and on the other hand with bourgeois elements in different forms like

pamphlets,meetings and cultural programmes. In addition,the ideological conflicts in

15

REC often lead to physical clashes. Students from all the states of India are admitted to

REC. Those from Bihar belonging to Bhumihars had conflicts with revoutionary groups

back home. With this background, they joined hands with local students from land lord

and upper caste communities. More over, this group found a guide & philosopher in

Hayagreeva Chari, a local congress leader. They made complaints to the Govt. both

State & Central that not only a group of students but a few faculty members as well as

Principal carry communist ideology. This type of ideological conflicts and direct

confrontations on one hand and focus of the Govt. kept the radical students on tenter

hooks. They used to organise debates, Cultural programmes by Jana Natya Mandali.

A.B.V.P. also conducted debates/cultural programmes to propagate their ideology. In

Andhra University, the Students Union used to organise lectures/discussions on social

and political topics by inviting people from all hues including politicians. Janardhan

organised these kind of discussions in REC. In 1974,during Cultural week Celebraions

elaborate programmes were organised for four days inviting eminent persons of diffrent

hues. Detailed information about this programme is given in another chapter,

“Janardhan in REC .”

Janardhan was not confined to ideological propaganda only but more constructive in

creating organisational set up in student community,Working class people like class 4

employees of college & hostels and also in unorganised sectors like rickshaw pullers &

agricultural labourers by visiting surrounding villages periodically, upto Somidi,

Madikonda on Kazipet side and Desaipet, Pydipalli on Warangal side. Organising Cells-

a nucleus group to carry on political and organisational work, taking political classes,

circulating political literature were effectively done by Janardhan. All this he used to do

with elan like a fish in the waters. Jannu Chinnalu was from Pydipalli village, spotted

by Janardhan and became a spirited & commited party cadre. Like wise Bandi Yadagiri,

a mess worker got inspired by Janardhan to become a committed revolutionary. He

carved out a niche in organising Radical Youth League and his team was awarded Mao

Medal at a convention at Anantapur.Later on in 1986,he was killed by police.

When we were forming Revolutionary Writers Assn. (VIRASAM in Telugu) in July

1970, we had to overcome several revisionist tendencies from ARASAM (telugu) and

others. Then Janardhan played a crucial role to condemn revisionist elements and

rallying support to VIRASAM. At that time a few revolutionary writers P.Kishan Rao,

K.G.Satyamurthy published collection of revolutionary poems. These poems were

popularised at gross root level among Azamjahi Mill & RTC workers and other workers

in areas such as Desaipet, Pydipalli, Girmajipet etc. Again all this work was organised

by Janardhan. His deep involvement was there in allmost all the rallies/protests

organised in Warangal during 1973 & 1974,whether it be against price rise in Aug.'73,

10 Km route May Day procession in 1974 from Madikonda to Azamjahi Mills with

16

swelling processionists and the 1974 Railway strike.

All the parties and unions were invited to participate in the rally against price rise

with their flags & banners. Taking lenience of this invitation, 25 congress men under the

leadership of Bandaru Nagabhushana Rao joined rally sporting Congress flags. Every

one, particularly students, objected to the participation of congress as it was congress to

be blamed for price rise. Janardhan advised them to remove congress flags but they were

adamant. Then their flags were removed forcefully by the time the procession reached

Hanamkonda Public Gardens. Then they enacted another drama by infusing some unruly

elements in the procession. They created disturbance by the time rally reached DIG's

office resuting in lathi charge and arrest of A.Ranga Rao & Ravi Bhujanga Rao.

Ultimately procession reached collector's office and submitted memorandom.

The 1974 May Day rally was unique. Along with Azamjahi Mill workers and so many

other workers, peasants and agricultural workers from around villages upto Madikonda

took part in the rally. It was a colourful procession for 10Km from Madikonda to

Azamjahi Mills. This was possible because Janardhan had already developed

organisational network among these people. Highlight of the meeting at the end of the

procession was the enactment of “Plight of the Poor“ by Jana Natya Mandali and a play

VEERA KUNKUMA ( telugu) by a cultural troupe from a village near

Jaggayyapet,Krishna Dt. I still visualise that days events.

Then came 1974 Railway Strike. On the whole that strike was militant. Specifically,

the employees of Kazipet – Dornakal section staged a heroic struggle under guidance of

Janardhan. The employees were subjected to severe repression like midnight raids in

staff quarters, arrests and torture. This went on for a month, many lost job. Janardhan

organised support for the strike among the intellectuals and other sections of the society.

He urged them to realise the need to directly help instead of limiting to issuing

statements expressing solidarity. A poem on the railway strike by Siva Sagar (K.G.Satya

Murthy) visualised the strike and the aftermath vividly.

Sometime in June/July 1974, it seems Janardhan went to Siddipet to organise agrarian

revolution along with Murali Mohana Reddy, Sudhakar and Ananda Rao, all from

Warangal. Within a short time, they developed revolutionary zeal in Medak district

causing ripples in Police and Govt. circles. Soon police managed to arrest all the four

boys in Hyderabad and after subjecting them to heineous torture for two weeks killed

them in a stage managed encounter. Details about these killings and the Inquiry

Commission are given elsewhere in this book. Background work to contact the peasants

and other sympathisers carried out by Janardhan was unique. He could get contact of old

CPI acivists in Medak district through Sri Challa Narasimha Reddy, Advocate, Siddipet.

17

Narasimha reddy, Siva Lingaiah, Lakshmi Narasaiah, all from Medak were in the same

jail, Chanchal Guda, with me in Dec.1975. They shared how meticulous Janardhan was

in conducting his network. An old guard of Telangana Upsurge of 1940s, N.Balsidha

Reddy carried Janardhan to different people on his bicycle to give contacts. I got

emotional, hearing this incident. Without the commitment of the above persons,

Janardhan and his comrades, could not have done so much in Medak district.

After lifting the Emergency in 1977, Principal, Regional Engg. College, had instituted

Janardhan Rao Memorial Gold Medal Debate Competitions. A Memorial Stupam was

built for Giraipalli martyrs in Sept.1977 in Muktyala Palli by Lanka Ananta Reddy. It

was the highest stupam built with bricks. Thousands went in a procession from Mulugu

road to Muktyala Palli on the occasion of unveiling STUPA on 25th Sept.1977.

Memorial meetings were held regularly at several places in Warangal dt. till 1985 with

big gatherings.

I had attended the unveiling of the Memorial Stupam by the mother of Janardhana

Rao in Vuyyuru in 1984. I recollect my first meeting with Janardhan's father, Rama Rao

garu in April'77. In response to my press statement regarding the encounter deaths of

Janardhan and others, early in the morning, I noticed a short statured gentleman, sitting

in the verandah. Showing me the News Paper and bursting into bouts of grief, asked me

whether the news of Janardhan's death is correct. I know the parent wants a negative

reply but how could I conceal the fact. I took him inside and confirmed the news and

tried to console as best as I could. The most atrocious fact is that the parents of

Janardhan came to know the death of their son TWENTY MONTHS after the incident,

that too from News Papers. With missionary zeal, he knocked every door from Principal

to Collector and a couple of peoples' representatives to get justice. Ultimately, a fact

finding committee appointed by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayana proved that Giraipalli

incident was a cold blooded murder. Later, State Govt. appointed Bhargava Commission

established that the encounter theory was false. But on some technical grounds,

Bhargava commission could not submit its report. Sri Rama Rao relentlessly attended

most of the sittings of Bhargava commission. He visited the encounter site at Giraipalli

in Medak Dt.along with Sri Bhargava & fact finding committee advocate Sri

Kannabhiran.

18

Stupam at Vuyyuru

Sometime in 2006, I read a book titled Nanna (father) by Mrs.Vanaja. It's a translation

of a book, A wish of a father, written by the father of Rajan, an Engg. Student who was

killed by Police in Kerala in Emergency in more or less same circumstances as

Janardhan. After reading this book, I strongly wanted to write on Giraipalli martyrs as

well as their parents. When the human rights activist, Dr.Balagopal died and M-L party

spokesman Azad was encountered recently, Janardhan was recollected by many. Both

19

Balagopal and Azad confessed on several occassions that Janardhan was their

inspiration. At such instances also, I used to feel the urge to write on Giraipalli martyrs.

Unfortunately, it never happened. In this context, Janardhan's elder brother S.P.Mohana

Rao thought of bringing out this book on Janardhan. Mohana Rao requested me to write

this part, if not fully.

I have known Mohana Rao since his REC days at Warangal. I visited his house when

he was working in Ghaziabad(U.P.) in late 70s. I found in him a mixed feeling of love

for revolution and helplessness for not being able to do much. The next day,there was an

International Conference on Tribes. Mohana Rao was in the in the first row of audience.

I was on the dais when “International” was sung. I saw Mohana Rao singing the

International with redness in the face, excited. I observed striking similarity in

expressions between Janardhan and Mohana Rao.

A renowned journalist Sri Adiraju Venkateswara Rao trapped an Intelligence SI and

recorded his confession. This was accepted as evidence before Bhargava Commission.

He published a book “Who are the Murderers” with detailed account of the Giraipalli

encounter. Subhash Chandra Bose, SP of Medak at that time hailed from Kamma

community from Krishna Dt. as was Janardhan. The SP tried to play many tricks on

Janardhan and chide him,”How can a Kamma become a naxalite?”It appears Janardhan

retorted very strongly. All this and much more was given in the above book.

Out of the cases inquired by the fact finding committee of Justice Tarkunde,

Giraipalli encounter and three more encounters were thoroughly exposed. Even before

Bhargava Commission, Giraipalli encounter was proved to be false. The courts also

looked into the encounters of Azad & Hemachandra Pandey, M.Sammi Reddy,

Madhusudan Raj etc but they did not produce any logical results. On one occasion, five

judge bench of A.P. High Court in an unanimous judgement ruled that all the encounter

cases be registered as murder cases and further investigations taken up. Later, Supreme

Court ordered stay. Realising that the present set of Govt. and courts do not deliver

justice, people continue to fight the injustices in the society getting inspiration from the

life of martyrs like Janardhan who steadfastly stood for values, truthfulness and

commitment.

Surapaneni Janardhana Rao an epitome of revolutionary inheritance followed the

footprints of great revolutionaries such as Bhagat Singh and Alluri Sitarama Raju and

laid down his life before he was 25. Janardhan's core revoluionary activity was only for

about an year but it was significant. His contribution to student movement in REC and

students in Warangal and building up revolutionary base among other sections, wide and

far, became immortal and inspiration to innumerable number of people. Purpose of

20

bringing out this book is not only to bring out personal details about him but also to

highlight his contribution.

21

CHILDHOOD AND THE YOUNG ACTIVIST

Janardhan with elder brother and sister

Janardhan was born in Garikaparru, a village in Thotlavalluru Mandal in Krishna Dt.

It's at a stone's throw distance from Vuyyuru. A sugar factory has been functioning in

Vuyyuru since 1940s and has helped the farmers around the villages raise commercial

crops. This led to bit modernisation of the surrounding villages to some extent while

retaining village culture.

Some areas in Krishna Dt., specifically Divi Tq, were greatly influenced by Telangana

Armed Struggle of 1940s. Many took part and several people, may be in hundreads were

killed in that upsurge. Two villages, Katuru and Elamarru, were marked for special

treatment by Malabar Police under notorious Palaniappan leadership. Menfolk in both

22

the villages were subjected to severe torture before parading them naked around Gandhi

statue. This terrorised the people in all the villages, but in spite of the above atrocities,

people did not deter from their support to revolutionary ideology. Even under such

environment, a congressman Sri Surapaneni Chalamaiah was the President of village

Panchayat from 1942 to 1959. Most of the upper caste families were Congress

followers. But a handful of people from upper caste, incuding the son of Sri Chalamaiah,

Sri S.Saytanarayana, Sri S.Raja Rao, Sri P.Subba Rao, Sri S.Rama Rao, Sri

P.Raghavendra Rao, Sri N.Lakshmipati and Sri D.Nageswara Rao were influenced by

Communist ideology. They formed a sort of united front comprising of all sections in the

village. This paved the way to elect a B.C. Candidate as Panchayat President in early

60s. Though Sri Rama Rao, Janardhan Rao's father, did not take any post in the

Panchayat, he used to coordinate with Govt. agencies for development works in the

village in consensus with others. There were two more persons with identical name. So

he was nick named Communist Rama Rao. In all probability, he was the first farmer to

raise crops like cabbage, cauliflower in the district in late 50s. So he was given another

nick name, Cabbage Rama Rao. In fact, Sri Rama Rao, was a progressive farmer. He

used to adopt new methods of cultivation for sugar cane under the guidance of

Agricultural Dept. and achieved record yield in 1964. He was awarded “Best Farmer” in

the Vuyyuru sugar factory area. In the same season, apart from his own holding of four

acres, he cultivated sugar cane in another seven acres. Due to a faulty policy adopted by

Vuyyuru Sugars,he could not sell most of the produce to the factory. Ironically, the best

farmer was ruined financially. Probably,these qualities of experimenting,taking risk and

commitment were inherited by Janardhan from his father.

Janardhana Rao was the third child of Sri Rama Rao and Smt.Venkata Ratnam, born

on 24th Aug.1950. His elder siblings are Poorna Mohana Rao and Bharatha Lakshmi.

Maternal grand parents, Sri Makineni Ramabrahmam & Smt. Sitamaha Lakshmi are

from Vallurupalem, Thotlavalluru Mandal. Paternal grand parents were Sri

Venkatanarayana & Smt. Chandravati. Both the families of grandparents, as was the

norm those days, were large joint families. Janardhan, being the youngest in both the

families, used to get attention and affection from everybody.

When Janardhana Rao completed four years, he was initiated into an private School to

learn three Rs. Here, a few words about the school and the teacher are worth mentioning.

.In a sense both were unique. In villages in those days big houses with veranda and wide

raised platform were common. The teacher used to accommodate the school in the

veranda of one such house with the permission of the owner. The school was run by a

single teacher, Sri Pasumarti Venkata Lakshminarasimha Murthy of Vuyyuru, for class

1 to class 5 with a total strength of about fifty pupil. The teacher was a committed

person to his profession and task master as well as a disciplinarian. He ran the school

23

rom his mid forties until his death in 1975. Upto the mid sixties, most of the village

children used to go to this school in preference to Govt. primary school. Pupil from the

private school were admitted to class 6 in the High School through an entrance test in

which pupil from this school performed well. Barring a few exceptions, most of the boys

in the village, who realised their ambition/ goal in their acadamic career were from this

school and owe a lot to the teacher. Later on Convent Schools came up in Vuyyuru and

consequently pupils strength reduced. Apart from academics, the teacher used to

inculcate morals. Another humane aspect of the teacher is worth mentioning. Everday

he used to carry a chest with Homeo medicines and thermometer. If any pupil fell ill, he

would treat them free of cost. Janardhan completed primary education in this School

before joining Z.P.H.School, Vuyyuru and after two years shifted to Z.P.H.School,

Penamakuru.

Stupam at Garikaparru

24

Janardhan started suffering from asthma attacks at the age of seven. In spite of taking

different treatments, it could not be cured completely except for some temporary respite.

It used to strike regularly every month. It was hell for 5 or 6 hours suffering from

breathlessness and intense cough. This was a big obstacle in his studies as well as

normal life. This asthma problem haunted him throughout his life. He showed a lot of

grit and resolve to live a normal life even with asthma. In spite of this health problem,

he used to take part in all social and cultural event in the village since his teenage. He

mingled with any section of the people. Initially, he was more interested in agriculural

activities than studies. He used to go to farm lands with his father from early age and

work shoulder to shoulder with farmhands. When his elder brother joined R.E.C., he

started taking his studies seriously and felt that he should also go for engineering. Then

onwards he put in required efforts with determination. Infact whatever work he took up,

he tried to execute with strong resolve. This aspect was specifically mentioned by his

classmates both at school as well as at REC. His classmates at school , S.Chand,

P.Laksminarayana,P.Venkatramaih etc reminiscence very fondly even after forty five

years. Let us see their feelings.

S.Chand : Classmate at primary & High School. Post Graduate engineer, retired

and presently residing in Mumbai.

We used to walk nearly five km,bare foot to our school at Penamakuru, carrying our

school bags & lunch boxes thro' agricultural fields.In school final,(11th class) all our

classmates from our village except Janardhan took additional tution at Vuyyuru from Sri

Sreeram M.A.(Maths).When he was attacked with asthma,it was a horrific sight to see

him suffering from breathlessness. It is beyond my imagination how he was enduring the

pain. Inspite of this predicament and not taking tuition, he put his target of marks

competing with us. Finally, he did well scoring 2nd

highest among us. That's how strong

his resolve was!!

He was quite witty too. Once Sri Sreeram mastaru came to our village on a hot

summer day. It is very relishing to enjoy palm tree fruits in summer. Janardhan was an

expert climber of palm trees.(30 to 40 ft high) He took us to the nearest fields and started

bringing down the fruits. It is not an aberration to cut palm tree fruits from other's fields.

But the owner came running questioning Janardhan. Janardhan told him coolly that the

fruits are cut and can't be attached back and invited him to enjoy along with us. He did

so.

25

Stupam at Kummamuru

Other classmates P.Venkatramaiah, P.Lakshminarayana and M.Venkateswara

Rao also echoed similar memories about his resolve in whatever he did and particularly

regarding his determination to join engineering after his brother joined REC in 1963.

Lakshminarayana recollects, in the background of political reflections of our families,

they used to discuss the capitalist and socialist systems.In general Janardhan was quite

vocal to defend socialism. He took initiative to conduct any social or cultural events in

26

the village. Once he enacted the role of a ticket collector in a play at school.

Even though Janardhan was never a student of Sri Sreeram mastaru, he maintained

personal contact and helped him in several ways including managing his agriculture.On

the occasion of completing 25 years of our association, I wrote a letter to mastaru,

reminiscing on our friends. I quote my feeling on Janardhan as it is from that letter “He

committed himself to a revolution with a conviction that fighting bourgeois & landlord

coterie will emancipate the downtrodden. Janardhan sacrificed his career & life, no

doubt, he did this with selfless thinking to establish an exploitation free society. The

very thought that he gave up life so easily for a commitment, makes me shiver.”

Janardhan mingled with people of different sections and of different ages to organise

activities. One such group is village youth and another, agricultural labourers. Let us see

what they say on Janardhan.

Old Stupam at Kummamuru

Sri Veeranki Srisailam -a close associate of Janardhan of Gowdapalem in the

village.

A group of half a dozen people,apart from Srisailam,V. Narayana,

27

V.Raju,V.Anjaneyulu,B.Sambaiah were Janardhan's close associates. Their association

was from an early age of sixteen or so. Most of them were land less except one or two

with small holdings. Srisailam narrates “Even at later age, when he tried to explain us

socialism and related politics,we understood a little. He was sincere and

trustworthy.That is why we followed him faithfully. A word from him was sufficient for

us to carry on a programme. He organised youth from other B.C. and dalit basties. He

used to empathize with the poor and was responsive to their personal issues. He was

critical of people who developed family disputes and consequently deserted their wives.

He counselled, cajoled and reunited such people. On one festive occasion, youth from

our basti had a conflict with Vuyyuru youth resulting in a fight. Both the groups were

taken into custody by police. When he pleaded with police, they brushed aside him

saying he was too young for such negotiations. Then he requested a gentleman from the

village to stand guarantee and got us released. We had a practice to worship a “Holy

Tree” It's branches spread far & wide creating obstruction to electric lines. Every one

including Electrical Dept. persons were afraid to cut the branches assuming that the holy

tree might curse them. Then Janardhan explained not to entertain blind beliefs and to

have confidence in one's self. He climbed the tree and cut off the branches himself.

V.Narayana. Another close associate

Apart from corraborating Srisailam's assessment of Janardhan's political and social

activities,Narayana struck a personal note.

“I was working with Janardhan's family from the age of fourteen or so. He was also

of my age and it was more of friendship between us. We worked together in the fields. If

I was late working in the fields, he used to come to me after School hours. A year later,

my father died. Janardhan stayed at my house through out the night and went back home

only after the last rites were completed the next morning. He was also instrumental in

getting me married.”

Anjaneyulu recollects, “During one Panchayat election,a person from his clan was

contesting for President's post. A B.C candidate was put up on behalf of backward

castes & dalits. Janardhan was organising support for B.C. Candidate. I asked him why

he did not support upper caste candidate. He replied that caste or relation was not his

consideration but the principles.”

Sambaiah recollects, “At the time Janardhan was encountered, a struggle for the

allotment of Banjar land to the landless was going on in an area not far from our village.

Due to that, people here also were aware of revolutionary politics. We built a memorial

Stupam in memory of Janardhan at the cross roads of Garikaparru – Kummamuru in

1978. We observed his martyr's day for eight years but could not continue later for fear

of police harassment.”

28

Manchala Prasad, Merugu Pitchaiah and N.Anjaneyulu of Harijanawada also

echoed similar feelings. Prasad recollected that Janardhan used to take a couple of them

to public meetings by CPI(M) at Vijayawada in late sixties.

Janardhan moved with all age groups in the main village also to organize several

activities. Let us see their reflections.

Sri S.Ramakrishna, Agriculturist.

Janardhan used to confide with Late Sri A.Kutumba Rao and me – we were ten year

older to him - on many issues. By nature, he couldn't tolerate any injustice. He was very

intolerant of people misbehaving with girls and did not hesitate to even slap an erring

fellow. There was an interesting episode. Few mischievous fellows of Vuyyuru

misbehaved with a girl student of our village. On one occasion, she was frightened to

come out of the school in the evening and stayed back in the school. On learning this,

Janardhan along with a couple of friends went there and escorted her back safe. Thus he

responded in any situation. He was a large hearted man.

Lingamaneni Krishna Rao, Agriculturist. We were of same age but in different schools for education. He used to persuade me

to participate in the activities he organised. He was in the forefront to organise any

activity and had a knack to get help from others. I was not interested in political

philosophy but drawn to him because of his commitment and simplicity.

Katragadda Murali Krishna, Agriculturist and a close associate. He was five or six years younger to me. He used to take lead role in any social event

or any voluntary work. A considerable number of young men used to follow his lead and

he tried to explain them the communist principles. I doubt very much how much they

understood. But they were sincere to him due to his trustworthiness. He played crucial

role in starting Youth Federation in the village and regular playing of few games. In

1972, we organised state wise Kabbadi competions in our village. It was Janardhan in

every stage, right from the idea to stage the competitions, to collect the funds, motivate

the reputed teams to participate and finally to organise the event properly. When he

visited our village in 1974 for the last time, I noticed more maturity and a sort of

brightness in his face as well as depth in thinking.

Surapaneni Hanumantha Rao, youth. Apart from the initiative he had taken in organising the Kabbadi tournament, he

exhibited typical knack to contact and persuade reputed teams to participate. I had motor

bike and Janardhan & myself set out to contact the good teams. I talked very little during

our interaction. All the talking was done by Janardhan. Taking the names of other

29

prominent teams that had already given consent to participate, he persuaded other teams

to participate.

Thus several villagers remember Janardhan even after forty years in one aspect or the

other.

Potluri Sivaiah, Agriculturist. “I was twenty years older to him. For the simple fact that he tried to involve any one

in social activies, some of us extended cooperation. Another facet of Janardhan was his

frankness and dare devil approach. Once he took up any activity, he didn't rest till

completion. No favours to big / influential persons. All were treated at par.

Gudapati Koteswara Rao, Ex- Village Munsif. Janardhan was a bright student. In spite of modest means, his father, Rama Rao sent

both of his sons for Engg. course at REC. His father was a progressive farmer. Since

young age, Janardhan used to fight on behalf of weaker sections. But he was quite

biased against village revenue officers and rich. He was of the opinion that these were

responsible for all the evils in the society. He was always ready to take up the cause of

dalits and other weaker sections. I feel,after going to Warangal, his opinions hardened

and acquired new dimension in associating with revolutionary activities. It's a pity that

ultimately he was killed in a false encounter by police and his parents were not even

informed of his death by the police.

Recollections of the family members.

The resolve of his brother Poorna Mohan Rao to bring out this book indicates his

devotion towards Janardhan. To collect 37 year old information /incidents is not an easy

task. He met about 70 people in the last one year - in their village, REC, Warangal, more

in Warangal town & surrounding villages, Hyderabad and Siddipet to compile this book.

His father, Rama Rao garu relentlessly pursued the encounter issue with REC

authorities and with the Fact Finding Committee of Justice Tharkunde and later

relegiously attended all the sittings of Bhargava commission. Maybe because of the

mental and physical strain undergone during those two years, he developed a heart

complaint resulting in death on 1st May'83.

Elder sister Bharatha Lakshmi.

“Janardhan was frank & forthright in his conversations & activities, not fearing any

one. We used to have silly quarrels of no consequence in our childhood and even after

my marriage. But he and our elder brother had similar views. He was very helpful to his

friends,particularly those involved in social activities. Even when he was suffering from

asthma attack,if any one comes with any problem, he went out with them. He had strong

resolve to complete a job,once taken up.”

30

Brother-in-law G.Brahmaiah.

“He was hardly ninteen years when I married his sister. Clarity and maturiy was there

in his talks. He had a knack to take up any work. At the time, he was studying in a

college at Vijayawada. When ever he was in the village, he was busy with one or the

other social activity. He was good at agricultural field work and an expert climber of

palm & coconut trees. He used to take me to the fields and enjoy tender coconuts and

palm tree fruits.

We were informed that Janardhan was injured in a group clash. My father in law and I

visited REC. I was surprised to notice good feelings and trust shown by Janardhan's

fellow students on him. As I mentioned earlier,this may be the result of his accumen &

commitment to his activities. We last saw him in mid '74.”

Neeraja, sister's daughter. “ I do not remember much about my uncle but for my grand mother's recollctions as I

was hardly three years old when he left us on his mission in 1974. Apart from the

recollections I heard from our family, I learnt more from Varavara Rao, Gaddar (through

songs) and other leaders at public meetings at Garikaparru in 1977 and Vuyyuru in

1984 when Memorial Stupam was unveiled. I got inspired very much by listening to

different speakers about Janardhan uncle's contribution to the revolutionary struggle and

his grit to fight land lords. The revolutionary songs eulogizing his activities and

contribution by Gaddar were more touching. Instantaneously, I felt like following

revolutionary path but …...everybody cannot become a Janardhan! I understand that he

never discriminated any body by caste or status since childhood. I try to inculcate these

traits in my daughter.

Renouncing parents,family, career and ultimately even laying down his life for the

principles he believed in was an exemplary sacrifice. When ever I recollect these

thoughts, tears roll down my eyes.”

G.V.R.K.Prasad. Sister's son, Advocate.

“I remember very vaguely(I was hardly five years) the memorial meeting held in 1977

at Garikaparru. Kaloji of Warangal, Varavara Rao and a old guard revolutionary leader

N.Rama Rao of Garikaparru came to pay tributes to Janardhan uncle.I still recollect the

song

A star among the million stars

Which of the star you are

How do I spot you

Surapaneni Janardhana !

…....it continues.

31

I used to hear attentively the conversations between Poorna Mohan uncle and

Dr.Karuna and their friends, about Janardhan uncle. I met a person Chandram in my

college, who was associated with Revoluionary Students Union, founded by Janardhan.

He told me I was lucky to belong to the family of Janardhan. Similarly, in a felicitation

function at Vijayawada Bar Assn., a senior lawyer, Karnati Rammohana Rao introduced

me as nephew of Surapaneni Janardhana Rao. After the meeting, a couple of lawyers

met me to convey their reverence to Janardhan. I was overhelmed with the feeling that

people from different walks of life remember him even after 35 years. Due to his close

association with different sections of people in Warangal, he became a house hold

name. It is beyond comprehension how could Janardhan and his comrades raised slogans

LONG LIVE REVOLUTION while being shot dead.I very well remember the opening

of memorial stupas by my grand mother in Vuyyuru and Penjendra in Krishna Dt.

Another curious information is that the memorial STATUES built in Pydipalli near

Warangal in 1978 was razed to the ground by the police in 1985. Did they fear the

Janardhan, dead !!?

Whole heartedly I thank Poorna Mohan Rao uncle for putting in so much efforts to

bring out this book.”

32

COMMUNIST MOVEMENT IN A.P VIS-A-VIS NAXALBARI AND SRIKAKULAM MOVEMENTS

Stupam at Penjendra

More than half of the present day Andhra Pradesh was part of erstwhile Madras State

and the rest was part of Nizam's Kingdom.There were communist movements in

Telangana way back in 1930 against Nizam's aristocratic and oppressive rule. In the

Coastal and Rayalaseema areas Jamindari system prevailed. These Jamindars were the

33

agents of British to collect taxes and excesses were common. This resulted in agrarian

upsurge and these agitations were led by communists.

Putchalapalli Sundaraiah, Chandra Rajeswara Rao, Kambampati Satyanarayana were

among the 1st generation Communist Party leaders in South India. They made

enormous organisational efforts to propagate party principles influencing

youth,students,farmers etc. By 1940, party organisation was well established and had

grown in strength in Coastal districts. Student Federation and Rytu Sangam were

functioning as affliated organisations. Meanwhile, the simmering discontent against

Nizam's rule in Telangana developed into an upsurge around 1940. Nizam and

Deshmukhs (Deshmukhs were the centre of power in the districts and they were the

direct agents of Nizam to implement not only his rule but also his atrocities.) and their

henchmen let loose their terror in retaliation. To add to this, Razakars – muslim fanatics

-with Nizam's blessings created anarchism. It was a heroic and historic struggle by

unarmed commoners of Telangana who fought against many odds. Age old practice of

bonded labour in it's severest/ugly form was prevalent in Telangana. People fought tooth

and nail to get liberated from this practice and were successful to a large extent. Several

intellectuals from Telangana lent support to the peoples struggle. This protracted

struggle continued upto1946. At this juncture, a great leap forward happened.

Communist Party cadre, in several hundreds, mainly from Krishna and Guntur districts

and a few other from other districts directly participated in the above struggle,

transforming it into an armed struggle. The struggle reached a decisive stage by 1948.

Three thousand villages in four disricts were liberated. Ten lakh acres from the

occupancy of Deshmukhs and land lords were taken over by communists. It was

distributed among landless. Sensing that he was bound to loose the Kingdom to the

Communists, Nizam acceded his State to the Indian Union in Sept.1948. Then the Indian

Army descended on Telangana and ruthlessly trampled the popular upsurge with brutal

force. Three thousand revolutionaries and civilians were killed by Indian Army before

the struggle was withdrawn on 20th Oct.1951. But the repressive actions like tracking

down and killing many more communists by the Army continued for more years .The

communists in Coastal districts were targeted for severe torment and killings. Majority

of the leaders and cadre in the Telangana struggle were from Krishna Dt. At the time,

Coastal districts were part of Madras State. Tenneti Prakasam, C.M.of Madras State, let

loose repression on communists and their sympathisers in Krishna district in connivance

with Central Govt. Notorious for its repressive actions, Malabar Police under the

leadership of Palaniappan was deployed. They killed several hundreads of communists,

particularly in Divi taluka of Krishna. Eventhough, the word “encounter” was coined in

1969 to kill Naxalites point blank, a similar practice of chasing, catching and shooting

down the retreating communists was adopted in early 50s by Malabar Police. Another

incident perpetrated by them which evokes shivers down the spine even now was that

34

they encircled people in two supposedly communist strong hold villages, Katuru and

Elamarru, terrorised the villagers, beating them indiscriminately and then parading the

male members naked through the streets and around Gandhi statue and forced them to

take oath condemning communists. But the oppressive and heinous acts of the Police

roused anger among the neutral people in the surrounding villages also. It was no

surprise that in the first General Elections, majority of MLA's elected from these parts

were communists.

In the aftermath of withdrawal of the struggle, Hyderabad State and the Army had

taken back the agriculural land distributed among the landless by Communists during

the revolution and restored it to the Deshmukhs and landlords. Lot of resistance was

offered by peasants and consequently few more thousands peasants were killed.

With the advent of Khruschev's regime in the Soviet Union, they advocated peaceful

transformaion to Socialist State through Parliamentary process instead of armed

revolution. After the set back in Telangana, Communist Party of India veered round to

the view of the Soviet Union.While the leadership was despondent and nurturing the

belief in elections, people never forgot the sacrifices of the cadre in Telangana upsurge

and were ready to strike back. By sixties,the youth started questioning the leadership and

thinking of alternative form of struggle. The decade of sixties was termed as ANGRY

SITXIES. With the growing discontent on the revisionistic policies of C.P.I, the party

was vertically split in 1964. The group, CPI(Marxists), with avowed commitment to

“Armed Revolution “ also dithered in practice. With winning highest number of seats in

'67 elections to West Bengal Assembly and forming a coalition Govt., CPI(M)'s illusions

for Parliamentary process got strengthened.

In sixties,there was upsurge in almost every Latin American county, few countries in

Africa and South East Asia. Even in Capitalist countries, many segments of the people

took to streets on different issues. That was the period “Cultural Revolution” was started

in China with the theme, “right to question/rebel against leadership.” West Bengal Govt.,

in which CPI(M) are partners, opened fire on tribals of Naxalbari who revolted on

agrarian issues killing few tribals including seven women and two children. This proved

to be the proverbial last straw for Charu Muzumdar and his associates who were already

fighting CPI(M) on policies.

Around the same time, local leadership in Srikakulam Dt. in A.P., Vempatapu Satyam,

Adibatla Kailasam and others who were vehemently opposing party leadership since

long revolted. These comrades were pioneers in building the communist moment among

the tribals in Srikakulam Dt. The attack and killing of Girijana Sangham members while

they were on their way to a meeting on 21st Oct.1967 by land lords' goondas strenthened

35

the thinking of Armed Struggle.

Thus polarisation for armed struggle was wide spread. After consultations among

units in various states,CPI(Marxists-Leninists) was formed under the leadership of

Charu Muzumdar on 22nd

April 1969. In this background, Charu Muzumdar visited

Andra Pradesh to have discussions with the revolutionaries here. The meeting took

place at Guttikonda Bilam in Guntur Dt., and was attended by K.G.Satya Murthy and

Kondapalli Chandrasekhar, son of Kondapalli Sitaramaiah. He was a student at REC

and thus REC,Warangal played it's bit in laying seeds for Revolutionay Movement in

A.P.

36

JANARDHAN AT REGIONAL ENGG. COLLEGE AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO RSU

Warangal district had rich legacy of popular movements much before the armed

revolution in Telangana. Guerilla squads were present in many villages and agricultural

land confiscated during the revolution was distributed among the landless in several

villages. Some of the party cadre from Krishna & Guntur districts, after the withdrawal

of armed struggle, settled down in Warangal Dt. in agricultural profession. This enabled

good contacts/rapport with local people.

Warangal was Education Center during Nizam's rule also. More facilities were added

after 1950. Central Govt.established Regional Engg. College (REC) in 1959 in Warangal

and the same year Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) was setup. People of Warangal

with many struggles behind them were conscious politically. Both Engg.College and

Medical College became centers of progressive activities since mid sixties.

Kondapalli Sitaramaiah(KS), who was settled in agriculture in Adilabad Dt. shifted to

Kazipet in early sixties to join as Hindi teacher at St.Gabreil School. Around the same

time, K.G.Satya Murthy(SM) also joined St. Gabreil School as teacher. At that time

different trade unions and other organisations in Warangal were not active as the cadre

was disillusioned with the revisionist leadership. At this stage, KS & SM started

organising Trade Unions, Railway workers, Teachers Associations and Students wings.

All these sections responded enthuisiastically. The first popular agitation was for

demanding Steel Plant at Vizag in 1965. This was followed by the Separate Telangana

movement of 1969. Both these movements were organised by KS & SM. Around 1966,

they initiated organising CELLs (political nucleus groups) in REC and KMC.

Escalation of agrarian struggles in Srikakulam and Naxalbari under the leadership of

revolutionaries led to increasing number of people joining revolutionary politics. The

part played by REC students in this scenario was mentioned earlier. K.Chandrasekhar,

an REC student participated along with others in a meeting with Charu Muzamdar to

assess revolutionary forces in A.P. He was murdered by Police in 1972 and his death was

shown as suspicious death. Before 1971, REC students Muvva Ravindranath, Inguva

Mallikharjuna Sharma, Mukku Subba Reddy and K.Satyanarayana participated in the

revolutionary struggle and contributed their might. Surapaneni Janardhana Rao in 1974,

Cherukuri Raj Kumar, Gajjela Gangaram, Sadhanala Rama Krishna and Shyam Prasad

were the others who took up full time party work in the later years. This is the splendid

history of REC wherein several students dedicated their lives to the revolutionary cause.

Atleast six of them were killed in false encounters. Apart from the above, there were

37

tens of students who worked in RSU (Revolutionary Students Union) or other

Revolutionary activities.

The effect/influence of REC student activists on different categories of employees in

REC as well as people in surrounding places - Battupalli, Waddepalli, Jagir, Darga,

Madikonda and others was enormous. It was mostly due to the commitment and

strategic efforts put in by Janardhan that the above sections of the people, youth in

particular became staunch followers of Janardhan. A few of these youth became

campaigners for party organisations. Notable among them was a mess worker, Bandi

Yadagiri, who became active as a Radical Youth organiser and earned Mao Badge for his

team at Anantapur conference in 1984. He was arrested by Police in Nov.'86 and his

where abouts were not known there after. Another activist of Radical Youth of Battupalli

village, Raji Reddy was inspired to write one of the most popular poem in a fitting

tribute to Janardhan after Giraipalli encounter. It's noteworthy that Raji Reddy was

neither educated nor wrote anything before or after penning this poem.That was the sort

of impression Janardhan left on people.

A star among the million stars

Which of the star you are !

How do I spot you

Surapaneni Janardhana !

A flower among the million flowers,

Which of the flower you are !

Radical Janardhana !

You left your village,

Garikaparru in Krishna district

To be with us in Warangal

Communist Janardhana !

You were in Warangal

To pursue higher studies

Became a leader of radical movement

Here in Warangal, our Janardhana !

You have mingled with

Rikshaw pullers at REC gate

To awaken them of their rights

Comrade Janardhana !

38

Went round the villages

On a bicycle

To know and awaken peoples problems

Marxist Janardhana !

You have made your brothern

Murali Mohan,Sudhakar and Anand

Fighting heros

Leninist Janardhana !

Four of you never wavered

From your Marxist ideology

When all the four of you

Were tied to the trees

In Giraipalli forests

Before shooting down !

You laid down your lives chanting

LONG LIVE REVOLUION !!

The path you tread became RED

We will never forget your sacrifice

We shall follow your footprints

Communist Janardhana !

Among others inspired by Janardhan were Jannu Chinnalu of Pydipalli and Puli

Anjaiah Mcom. Student of Kakatiya University to take up full time party work.Both of

them were killed by Police in the later period.Many more among the REC students like

Sivaji, Visweswara Rao etc followed Janardhan for party work.Such was the trend of

different acivities in REC.That is how,some jealous people nick named REC as Radical

Engg. College. Between 1970 and 1990,there were frequent police raids, arrests and

police cases on REC students.On the other hand,RSS and ABVP activists tried number

of times to attack radical students.The students from Bihar,

specifically,Bhumihars,joined hands with ABVP in attacking radicals. All such attacks

were effectively retaliated by radicals and in one such retaliaion a Bihar student died.

Janardhan's role/involvement was very much present in whatever was happening in

REC students' activities. His involvement was so significant that even after forty

years,the then Principal, Registrar, Professors, contemporary students, mess workers and

39

other employees reminiscence on Janardhan so fondly. Let us see what they remember

of him.

Dr.K.Koteswara Rao, Principal (1972 - 88) (He is now residing in Vizag and readily shared his impressions on Janardhan for this

book)

The Principal appreciated Janardhan's ways of organising students. They rallied

behind him as one entity. Left views prevailed in REC campus since late sixties. ABVP

was also active in the campus. There used to be confrontation on some issues among

them. He used to raise many an acadamic or administrative issues with the college

authorities. Good thing about Janardhan was that he was logical in his approach during

discussions with authorities and had the ability to carry the students with him. Students

had complete trust in Janardhan.

He was instrumental in resolving crisis on a few occasions. A couple of such

incidents relate to organising festive dinner in ladies hostel and the other to payment of

fees by poor students. Not only in college affairs, he played a constructive role and

influenced hostellers in stopping vices like smoking,drinking and gambling.

The Principal assured and comforted Janardhan's father Sri Rama Rao when the latter

met him after coming to know of Janardhan's killing. But there was not much that could

be done by college authorities. The Principal paid rich tributes to Janardhan as a

socially conscious person, awakening not only students in REC but also other sections

of people in Warangal. A gold medal for elocution was instituted by the Principal in the

memory of Janardhan in 1977.

Sri K.V.N.Appa Rao,Registrar(1965 - 83) ( He was with the college since inception in 1959. Initially was

lecturer in Mathematics Dept. and from 1965 was the Registrar. We met him at his

residence in Kazipet. He is 88 and not quite well but spent a couple of hours and fondly

narrated his impressions on Janardhan.)

Janardhan was not a leader of the grind of the mill. He never aspired for any post nor

indulged in gimmicks for popularity. In his second year itself, he organised an effective

campaign to stop ragging of the freshers. He convinced considerable number of seniors

against ragging and then organised effective propaganda cautioning against ragging by

displaying placards in the hostels and college. He had the trust and cooperation from

fellow students. I feel Janardhan could stop ragging menace where management could

not do much. He was not dogmatic but logical. He was truthful and an ideal student

leader. He was able to convince students on a genuine alternative proposal from

authorities.

40

Mr. Venkata Rao,Professor at IIT, Madras was appointed Principal. Knowing the

campus conditions, he was assessing the situation by taking part in the administration

without formally taking charge. Janardhan confronted him and objecting to this. Mr.

Venkata Rao returned back to IIT.

In those days, hostel Manager, Krishna Rao was corrupt and cunning. He became

problematic for the management also. The situation led to a concerted agitation by

Janardhan. Consequently, the Manager was transferred to college administration.

Janardhan took care of the working conditions of mess workers.

Prof.B.V.Subba Rao,Faculty of Civil Engg. (1967 - 95) (Retired, presently residing in Hyderabad. He gave a write up on

Janardhan. Prof. Subba Rao was one of a few left thinking faculty/staff in the college )

Janardhan laid down his life, just like dropping an eye lid, for the principles he

believed in and to emancipate the downtrodden without succumbing to police threats.

He was an embodiment of courage, controlled emotions, truthfulness, upright thinking

and above all empathy. Born and brought up in Garikaparru in Krishna Dt., he made

Warangal his revolutionary home. Not only that he became a true revolutionary but

inspired several others to follow him. I am proud that he was our student. He was good

at studies and scored 94% in Strength of Materials, the subject I taught in his 3rd

year.

Janardhan organised anti ragging squads, displayed placards and more to effectively

stop it and protected freshers from physical and mental harassment.

He used take deep interest in cultural activities. In 1974, Cultural week was celebrated

in the college in a very special way. (Details on cultural week are given at cultural

secretary's reminiscences that follows.)

Janardhan was quite sorry for the people falling prey to vices. There were two 'dhabas'

out side hostel gate.The dhaba owners used to organise 'Chatta' a sort of card game

enticing students and also 4th class employees. Invariably, people lost money. Police

turned a blind eye after collecting bribe. Janardhan threatened the dhaba owners with

serious consequences and further coerced them to close it.

A goonda, henchman of a Warangal politician was harassing a college student,

daughter of retired railway employee, Kazipet. He reported to Police but got no relief.

Instead the trouble increased. The hapless father sought Janardhan's help. Janardhan

warded off the goonda's menace by severely threatening him of serious consequences if

he indulged in any untoward incident.

41

One day I was walking on Jagir Road (near hostels) I heard “Sir, get into the

rickshaw,I shall drop you at your house.” I turned back to see Janardhan pedaling a

rickshaw and was very surprised. But he explained coolly that he was organising a

rickshaw pullers' union and to mingle with them and to understand their lives, he was

pulling it!

The following poem rings all the time in me.

A star among the millions of stars,

Which of the stars you are

............................Full poem is given at P 26.

B.Sarat Gopal, Cultural Secretary (1973 – 74), A close friend. Most of us, Janardhan's co-students and contemporaries, revered him for his sterling

qualities like trustworthiness, commitment, style of working and daring attitude.The

1974 cultural celebrations was a reflection of Janardhan's out look & organisational

ability. I was the Cultural Secretary. All of us discussed on the programmes. Janardhan

convinced us not to stage film based programmes or recording dances etc as was the

practice but to conduct programmes facilitating students awareness on social issues.The

celebrations were spread over four days. We decided to conduct discussions on socially

relevant issues by inviting prominent writers of different hues. Prominent persons

invited were Divakarla Venkatavadhani, a renowned traditional multilingual scholar, Sri

Sri, Varavara Rao,Cherabanda Raju-all revolutionary writers, Vasireddy Sita Devi, a

progressive writer and Justice Chinnapa Reddy was to give a talk on social justice.Jana

Natya Mandali programmes by Gaddar were held on the third day.

Right from chalking out the programmes to conducting, Janardhan was involved at

every stage to make the cultural week celebrations that year unique. The programmes

were attended by other college students and Jana Natya Mandali programmes were

attended by people from near by villages. The then State Govt. of A.P. of Vengala Rao

became panicky and ordered abrupt & undemocratic closure of the celebrations on the

3rd

day.

V.Ankineedu, Batchmate & another close friend. I come from Katuru village in Krishna Dt. where the male population (suspected

communists) was subjected to barbarous torture by notorious Malabar Police in the

aftermath of Telangana Armed Upsurge in1952 or so. Not only the torture, they were all

disrobed, paraded naked in the village streets and around Gandhi statue. Several

enthusiastic youth from Krishna & Guntur Dts. took active part in the Telangana upsurge

of late forties. So the Govt.of India & State Govt. adopted this heinous action to teach

42

the communists a 'lesson.' Ironically followers to communists grew not only in our

village but as a whole in that area after that. Growing up in such environment, I too

developed affinity to communism.

Janardhan and me joined REC in March'70. Those who already had inkling of

Janardhan's leanings suggested that I should meet him. Janardhan's father was also an

activist of C.P.I. Their village is hardly 10 Km away from ours. Finally when I met

Janardhan, I got stunned at the simplistic appearance of him.Down to earth attitude in all

aspects like dressing,conversation etc. I saw much more of him during our stay in REC

in the next four years. He was very much committed to the issues taken up, truthful for

what he says, ability to convince and carry people with him. No vacillation in taking a

decision and in general no going back on the decision taken. All these aspects of his

personality and acumen were much in evidence in organising Cultural Week

Celebrations in a different way in 1974. (Details of these celebrations were given by

Sarat earlier.) He was confident of what ever he did. At the same time he was logical

&flexible in the discussions with authorities. Embodied with such traits, Janardhan

emerged as student leader in the first year itself. He took up the problems of hostel mess

workers also and solved them by and by.

I was dumb found on hearing the encounter death of Janardhan. Eventhough, at

present, the left moment appears to have deviated, I am confident that the sacrifices

made by Janardhan and his teenaged commrades will not go in vain and socialist society

shall be established.

N.C.Sivaji, Contemporary at REC and a close political associate of Janardhan. (Sivaji also dedicated himself and worked full time with revolutionary party for a long

time. In the later period he withdrew.)

Janardhan was in my thoughts all the time and he was my inspiration. It is difficult for

me to separate him from me. He was my senior in the college and remained ahead of

me and moved hand in hand in all activities. From a student leader, he orginised several

labour organisations and in a short time transformed them into formidable trade

unions/peasant outfits.

In the back drop of Naxalbari upsurge of 1967 and the Srikakulam movement in the

late sixties, some erstwhile leaders of CPI/CPM like Kondapalli Sitaramaiah and

K.G.Satya Murthy started activating and mobilizing sympathisers of revolution. Students

of REC & Kakatiya Medical College got influenced in the late sixties. Thus by the time

Janardhan joined REC, there were senior students influenced by revolutionary ideology.

Janardhan was very fast to react to a situation. Ragging was one such event which he

43

put a stop. I will repeat how that was organised as it was detailed earlier. After that, he

earned the reputation as a leader. At that time, there were nine Hostel Blocks and four

Messes. Hostel office was housed in one of the Hostel Blocks. Administrative incharge

was the Manager. The incumbent manager was indulging in all sorts of malpractices in

purchases for messes and other needs. Janardhan took up this issue and exposed the

Manager resulting his transfer. As a sequel to this, College Authorities agreed for self

management of the messes by student representatives. Janardhan took initiative in

getting the services of mess workers regularised. He even conducted 'night school' for

mess workers. Thus Janardhan was guiding spirit and he is remembered by them even

today.

Those opposing the growing popularity of Janardhan, particularly ABVP group

resorted to intimidating tactics on Janardhan's followers resulting in further clashes. On

a couple of instances Janardhan gave them a fitting reply. (Sivaji reminisced on the role

of Janardhan in organising Cultural Week in 1974.To avoid repetition,we are not giving

his full text but one significant remark made by Sivaji. Participation of people from

surrounding villages resulted in good bond between students and villagers.)

Another significant contribution of Janardhan to Academic Curriculum was the

introduction of Semester System. After ascertaining the views from students, a

Memorandum was submitted to JNTU Vice Chancellor. He agreed in principle but

suggested that the proposal come from the College as a consensus of the Principal and

HODs. Some of them being of conservative out look, another agitation was required to

finally get the semester system introduced.

These developments in students' movement in REC had its effect on the student

community of Warangal paving the way to form Revolutionay Student Union. Around

this, 'cells' ie groups of limited number of students to study social and political issues

were formed. These students under the leadership of Janardhan organized Student

Unions in other colleges, workers unions in Azamjahi Mills, Railways, Rickshaw Pullers

and peasants in and around Warangal. Janardhan's organizational acumen was evident

every where. Only limitation he faced was his health. He was an Asthma patient. When

he suffered asthma attack, he was completely incapacitated. Breathing was difficult. In

spite of this predicament, he decided to take up full time Party work in Medak district.

He along with his other comrades galvanised the agrarian movement in the district

within a year. Unforunately, he fell prey to a devious plan of the police and was arrested.

Police killed him in the false encounter under the cover of EMERGENCY.

Govt.and the police wanted to ELIMINATE Janardhan physically but Janardhan

remained an EVER LASTING MEMORY in Warangal and Medak.

44

M.Subba Reddy, A Revolutionary activist

Janardhana Rao hailed from a district where from communist stalwarts like

Kondapalli Sitaramaiah and Chandra Rajeswara Rao hailed. Even his father appears to

be CPI activist and he naturally developed attachment with poor people. Janardhan's

elder brother S.P.Mohana Rao was also a student of REC till 1969. Janardhan joined

REC in 1970. I was a contemporary of Janardhan's brother and we were close friends.

After completion of B.E. in 1967, I worked full time in revolutionary party but due to

bad health, I had returned back. Then, I joined M.E. Course in1970. Janardhan met me

in my room and like wise got acquainted with many of his brother's friends and sought

their cooperation when ever situation arose. This shows his initiative attitude in dealing

with people.He did not have any inhibitions and he was sensitive to the issues.

He stirred the conscience of the students and awakened their social responsibility.

That is how he took up many an issue and solved them. Among them following are

significant achievements during his time at REC.

Anti Ragging movement,

Got the corrupt Hostel Manager removed,

Got the mess workers services regularised,

Got semester system introduced

Organized unique cultural week celebrations etc.

He started 'cells' ie core political groups to spread political message. He along with

'cell' members organised student unions in other colleges, workers unions, youth

organisations and even peasant organisations in and around Warangal. He worked

relentlessly among different sections to create awareness on their rights. In the process

he inspired number of people to work full time for party work. In the same vein, he

decided to work full time, discontinuing final year studies and went to Medak district. In

a short span of one year, he left a great impact in the district, becoming an eye sore to

the police. Janardhan and his associates were arrested by devious ploy. To get the party

secrets, all of them were subjected to severe and heinous torture for 15 days. When they

did not yield, four of them were shot dead.

Marx visualised 'Universal Family' where in every human being lives happily. To

realize this, lakhs of comrades sacrificed their lives in liberation struggles all over the

world. We shall take an oath that we will do our bit to realize the dream of all those

martyrs to create 'Universal Family.'

Samuel, 1979 batch RECW student. Because of commitment and truthfulness in whatever he did, he inspired many people

to join revolutionary movement.

45

Ratnam, Mess Worker and Secretary, Mess Workers Union at that time.

Janardhan garu was instrumental in building several movements in the REC, hostels

and also in Warangal. He worked hard to get our service conditions improved

particularly getting salary in time, increase in salary and getting uniform etc. Due to his

efforts only, we are now enjoying better service conditions. I saw in him the empathy he

felt for the poor. Because of that concern only, he fought for the landless in

revolutionary movement and sacrificed his life.

Sambaiah, Mess Worker I understand Sambaiah was an amateur artist with a cultural troupe in Warangal.

When he came to meet me during my visit to Warangal, he entered the room singing a

few of the popular songs on Janardhan and parts of OGGU Katha (a folklore similar to

Burra Katha). He was full of excitement and enthusiasm. This shows how the people

revered & remembered Janardhan even after 37 years. He also acknowledged the efforts

Janardhan took to improve the working conditions of Mess Workers.

M.Visweswara Rao, A junior to Janardhan and worked full time in

Revolutionary Party. Soon after joining REC in 1972, I came in contact with Janardhan. Within no time, we

developed a bond. I develiped awareness on revolutionary politics through him in my

second year. I was inspired very much with the way Janardhan organised Cultural Week

Celebrations in 1974 and more so with Jana Natya Mandali programmes. During his

four years stay in REC / Warangal, he had motivated several of us in REC with

revolutionary ideology and with the active participaion of many of us, he organised

students in many colleges including Medical College and CKM College besides various

He also organized peasant unions to fight agrarian issues in the surrounding villages

opposing Patel–Patwari duo and coordinated intellectuals in Warangal. He had also

checked the nefarious activities of lumpen elements. We used to wonder how he could

organize so many activities. More over he was asthamatic and suffered periodic bouts.

He was hardly 23 years at that time. Janardhan organised 1974 May Day celebrations in

Warangal in a spectacular way. Coordinated all the workers Unions as well as peasants

organizations, planned colourful processions from different corners of Warangal

converging at the venue of Public Meeting. Cultural programmes enacted by Jana Natya

Mandali were the other highlights of the evening and left every one in high spirits. Thus

Janardhan inculcated solidarity among working class communities.

With the same zeal,he opted for full time revolutionary work. At the same time, he

was instrumental in forming state wide Revolutionary Students Union in the 2nd

half of

1974. As a leader, he led us from the front. He was endowed with logical and

46

convincing abilities. Never feared any one and never hesitated to point out the lapses on

any official however powerful or high ranking he might be. Janardhan had good rapport

with the then Collector, K.Madhava Rao and on number of occasions convinced the

Collector to solve the issues. Janardhan inspired not only me but Gajjela Ganga Ram

and others in REC and many more in Warangal District to take up revolutionary path.

He practiced what he preached. He jumped into the revolutionay fray like a lion. I

compare Janardhan with Great Revolutionary Bhagat Singh.

Edulapuram Bikshapathi, An active associate in Medak District. Our village Vaddepalli is near REC. I came in contact with Janardhan sir in 1973. By

that time, he was popular in REC and around Warangal for rousing conscience of

various segments of people.He was a person who dedicated his life for revolutionary

struggle. He used to visit many hamlets on bicycle to understand their problems.

Later on, I became a member of the squad under Janardhan's leadership along with

Murali Mohana Reddy, Sudhakar and Ananda Rao. We fully got the affection of the

people of Medak District. But it was drought prone and backward area. People readily

shared food with us but at times we faced lot of hardship for food.

Within a short period of one year, we were arrested through a devious plan by Police.

Police kept us at different places and subjected to severe & heinious torture for three

weeks to get organisational secrets. After failing to get any, they blind folded us and took

us to a forest. Each of us was tied to a tree and then the police shot dead. Janardhan and

other three. Surprisingly, I was spared. Janardhan and other comrades raised slogans -

LONG LIVE REVOLUTION & C P I (ML) JINDABAD while being shot.

Later, I was put in Siddipet jail and was subjected to continued torture. I was released

after emergency and continued with Party work. Janardhan was an extraordinary person.

He kept Party's interests supreme and protected his associates. He motivated many

people to work for the Party.

Mallesam, Warangal. Activist in Teachers' Organizations. I was a student a CKM College when Janardhan came in contact with me.He guided

and showed us direction in our fight against donations in educational Institutions. The

contribution he made in Warangal in building up revolutionary activities along with

REC students and others of Warangal was spectacular and Janardhan's role was

specifically instrumental. Janardhan was singularly to be credited for the growth of

revolutionary activities in Warangal.

Dr.K.Chiranjivi, Contemporary from KMC. Worked full time in the Party.

47

We were in a 'CELL' meeting along with 7 or 8 others in 1973.The meeting was for 4

days. Janardhan was an Asthma patient. He suffered an attack on the 2nd

day.It was so

acute that it made him breathless and immobilised him. He opposed a suggestion to

postpone the meeting. He required an intravenous Injection and it was promptly brought.

Being a final year Medico, I experimented my first intra venous injection on Janardhan.

He recovered by next morning. The fact that he wanted to dedicate himself for full time

Party work even when suffering from such severe health issues is a measure of his

commitment to revolution. You cannot imagine the intensity of his suffering from

asthma.

Janardhan believed in Charu Majumdar line as much as he believed in Marxism. He

fought vehemently in favour of Charu Majumdar line when there were differences in

various groups. Apart from REC, he relentlessly worked with various sections of people

in Warangal and surrounding villages. He motivated many to work full time for

revolutionary Party and effectvely checked RSS elements.

Another significant contribution from Janardhan was in the formation of

Revolutionary Students Union. (RSU) He did not attend the inaugural session of

launching RSU, as he had gone under ground by that time. But the complete spade work

was done by him. Janardhan was one of the most committed and truthful comrade. In a

way, Janardhan's history was Party's history in the initial period. I am happy that this

book ' LIFE AND INSPIRATION ' of Janardhan is being brought out now.

At that time, Sri K.Madhava Rao was the Collector of Warangal and he had the image

that he does his best for the welfare of the downtroden.REC campus is a a stone's

through distance from Collectors Office.The Collector was aware of the REC

students',specifically of Janardhan's movement to get the rights of working class.It

appears on a few occasions,Janardhan was called to Collectors Office to get realistic

assessment of field situation. It is said, Janardhan used to get direct audience with the

Collector if such situation arises.

Historically, in the period that Janardhan was in Warangal, several important

developments took place in the Revolutionary Party at national level. With the killing of

Charu Mujumdar in July 1972, contacts between Central Committee members were

snapped. Around the same time, Kanu Sanyal and Satyanarana Singh formed splinter

groups finding fault with Charu Mujumdar's policies. Then under the leadership of

Kondapalli Sitaramaiah, Andhra Pradesh committee took the responsibility to revitalise

erstwhile C.C. and formed Central Organising Committee.(C.O.C.) in 1974. Janardan

worked under C.O.C.

48

JANARDHAN IN MEDAK

Janardhan Murali Mohan Reddy

To build agrarian revolution in Medak district, Janardhan reached Siddipet in

July/August 1974. Murali Mohan Reddy, Sudhakar and Ananda Rao who were in

associaton with Janardhan in revolutionary activities in Warangal decided to work along

with him in Medak. Bikshapati joined them later. At that time revolutionary political

environment in Medak was insipid. Several of the older generation continued in

CPI/CPM even though they were thoroughly disillusioned with their present policies,

particularly with the Parliamentary politics. Some of them participated, directly or

indirectly, in the Telangana Upsurge of 1940s and suffered physical and mental torture at

the hands of State Police, Razakars and from the Indian Army (after the Nizam

surrendered). With this background, it was difficult to motivate them for revolutionary

movements. However there were a few people sympathatic and enthusiastic in

revolutionary politics. Janardhan could find one such old guard and committed

communist in Sri Nandini Bala Sidda Reddy. At the age of fifty five or so, Sri Bala

Sidda Reddy exhibiteded lot of enthusiasm at the idea of spreading revolutionary

program in Medak. Personally he took Janardhan on his bicycle, to introduce him to

49

many like minded erstwhile communists. With the cooperation of all such people,

Janardhan and his associates roused an excellent revolutionary environment in Medak

district within a short time of five / six months. All these comrades used to travel mostly

by bicycle or by foot to meet people from place to place. They had even established

links with sympathizers in dozens of neighboring villages of border districts.

Ananda Rao Sudhakar

In spite of such wide based contacts, Janardhan did not try to form front(open)

organisations.Party policy at that time was not to form frontal organisations. Because of

this constraint as well as the fact that many people were not prepared to participate

directly in revolutionary activities, Janardhan and his comrades adopted Guerrilla

tactics. They carried out first armed attack in Duddeda, near Siddipet, to snatch a

gun/revolver from a land lord, Sudhakar Reddy and another on Dontula Antaiah, a

money lender of Sirisinagandla within a few days on 22nd

June 1975. In the process,

Dontula Antaiah was killed. These two incidents, being the first naxalite actions had

shaken and enraged the State machinary and particularly the Police, acted impatienly

and indiscriminately. To add to this,Emergency was promulgated in the country on 25th

June1975 and then there was no limit or barrier to police atrocities. The Police rounded

up dozens of sympathizers from the surrounding villages of Sirisinagandla as well as

Duddeda. Even the followers of CPI and CPM were rounded up. All of them were

50

implicated in one of the above incidents and kept in the Mulugu Police Station and

Mulugu Forest Dak Bunglow in Medak district. They were subjected to severe torture in

the name of interrogation. Subsequently, Janardhan, Murali Mohana Reddy, Sudhakar,

Ananda Rao and Bikshapahi were arrested from Hyderabad/Medak in the 1st week of

July75. All of them were held separately at Police Station and Dak Bunglow and were

subjected to heineous and third degree torture to extract Party secrets.But the Police

never succeeded in this attempt.

By then, all of them were bleeding from all over the body and limbs and were not

able to speak or stand on their own. In such condition, Janardhan and his

comrades were bundled out to Giraipalli Forests, near Siddipet. They were then

tied to separate trees and shot dead except for Bikshapati, who was spared.

All the four comraded fell to the police shots raising slogans ' Long Live

Revolution.'

All this was conducted by Subhash Chandra Bose, Supdt. of Police, Medak. Inspite

of knowing the identity of the four killed, neither the police nor the Govt. made public

the names of the killed except for a bald press statement 'Four unidentified naxalites

killed in Giraipalli encounter in Medak district.' Strangely, in the FIR filed after a month

of the so called encounter in connection with Dontula Antaiah's murder, police named

Janardhan and the other three as accused and mentioned them as absconding !!!

51

Encounter spot at Giraipalli

In connection with compiling this book, Surapaneni Poorna Mohana Rao visited

Siddipet and Giraipalli to collect information. Due to the lapse of thirty seven years, it

was difficult to locate the people who were in contact with Janardhan and his comrades.

If time gap was one constraint, there was also the fact that people were scared of talking

about revolutionary politics because of police harassment. Police rounded up nearly a

hundred people from Siddipet and around villages after Sirisinagandla incident and

subjected them to brutal torture. Not only this, these people were meted out similar

treatment when revolutionary movement was revived in early eighties in Medak district

and again in nineties. Inspite of the odds, he managed to contact a couple of people who

recollected Janardhan as a committed and truthful activist inspiring people.

Mohan Rao says, “ It was a life time experience to meet one such comrade. When I

was introduced to him as brother of Janardhan, he embraced me with overwhelmed

feelings and both of us were in tears emotionally. He then recollected Janardhan as a

committed and diligent revolutionary with down to earth attitude. Being an asthma

patient, Janardhan used to suffer a lot whenever he had an asthma attack. He summed up

Janardhan as an extraordinary comrade.

52

Stupam at Giraipalli

I have visited the spot where Janardhan and his comrades were shot dead in the

Giraipalli forest. It is the forest adjoining Giraipalli village, about 10 Km from Siddipet

town. Now, the forest is not dense but it was difficult to reach the spot as there were no

roads beyond village but for foot ways treaded by villagers. A journalist friend -we made

friends there only- guided us to reach the spot by enquiring the cattle grazers and locals.

After the emergency was lifted in 1977, sympathizers in the district raised memorial

stupam in 1978 for these martyrs at this spot. Rich tributes were paid by several

hundreds of people at that time. But this stupam was demolished by the police in a year

or two. The people of Medak, with a vengeance, rebuilt the stupam in 1989. Alongside,

another stupam was built in the memory of Ankam Babu Rao who was killed in 1986 in

Medak. Babu Rao was another architect of revolutionary movement here. Martyrs day

was celebrated on 25th

July at these stupams for two or three years. A mela was also a

feature on this occasion. In subsequent years, when police objected, people in large

numbers sneaked to the stupam site during the night and celebrated the event at

midnight. It seems,the midnight celebrations were conducted on two or three occasions

more. A MARTYR NEVER DIES.

The above episode of demolishing martyrs' stupam reminds me of police brutality in

53

demolishing Giraipalli Maryrs' stupams at Takkellapalli,Warangal Dt.(native place of

Murali Mohana Reddy) and Pydipalli,Warangal Dt. built in 1977 and 1978. Both the

stupams were demolished by Police in 1985,using dynamite. DO THEY FEAR

MARTYRS?

It's due to the resolve of the people of Pydipalli and Warangal that the Stupam for

Giraipalli Martyrs was rebuilt in Pydipalli later. I could not ascertain the year it was

rebuilt. The Stupam stands majestically today.

54

INQUIRY COMMITTEES

Janata Party came to power at the Centre in the General Elections held after lifting

emergency in 1977. The information on false encounters, illegal detentions, tortures

meted out to different detenues came to light. People got agitated and held

demonstrations all over the state rather all over India demanding justice to the victims of

emergency. In Warangal, students from Regional Engg. College as well as other colleges

and general public came on streets demanding inquiry into the killings of Janardhan and

his comrades. It is said that apart from Giraipalli encounter, there were SIXTY FIVE

encounter deaths in A.P. during emergency period. It was obvious that the above

atrocities could NOT have been carried out by the Police WITHOUT the tacit approval

from political authority in the State. So,it became an uphill task to get Inquiry

Committee instituted.

In the meanwhile, the Central Govt. appointed a series of Commissions to inquire into

the atrocities /excesses /misappropriations committed during emergency. Law and Order

being State subject, Central Govt. cannot directly intervene. In these circumstances, Jaya

Prakash Narain instituted a Civil Liberties Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice

V.M.Tarkunde of Bombay High Court (Retd.) to bring out the truth in the false

encounters. Other members of the Committee were

Naba Krishna Chowdary, Ex-CM,Orissa

B G Varghese, Editor, Hindustan Times

Arun Shourie, Editor, Indian Express

Dr. (Prof.) Balwanth Reddy, Adm.Staff College, Hyderabad

Peoples Poet Kaloji,Warangal

M V Rama Murthy, Senior Lawyer, Hyderabad

K Pratap Reddy, Senior Lawyer, Hyderabad

K G Kannabhiran, Senior Lawyer, Hyderabad

Kannabhiran was the convener of this committee. He did a yeoman service in

conducting the inquiry. Moreover, he took up the responsibility as counsel for Tarkunde

Committee before Govt. Appointed Bhargava Commission (at a later stage). Committee

started their investigation with Giraipalli encounter, it being the first incident during

emergency. Lot of information came from Challa Narasimha Reddy, a CPM follower

and a senior criminal lawyer of Siddipet. He was Dontula Antaiah's lawyer in some other

cases earlier. But he was implicated as accused in Antaiah murder case and was arrested.

He was put up in the same jail as several other accused in this case. He was aware how

55

Janardhan and his squad were arrested. He deposed before Tarkunde Committee in all

detail. Some of this information was corroborated by others who were in jail at that time

The Committee's findings were

Janardhan was seen in the Mulugu (Siddipet) Police lock up on 16.7.75

Other three, Murali Mohana Reddy,Sudhakar & Ananda Rao were arrested in

Hyderabad from a sympathizer's room and brought to this jail on 20.7.75 & Bikshapati

was arrested later.

All the five were subjected to heinous and inhuman torture during night and were

taken to Dak Bunglow during day time.Police brought Sirisinigandla villagers to Dak

Bungalow and forced them to identify the boys as the offenders in Antaiah killing.

To extract the confession, the villagers also were subjected to severe torture.

The boys after the torture, were not in a position to stand. Their clothes were full

of blood stains.

At the end, on 24th july1975, they were bundled into a police van and taken to

Giraipalli forest, blind folded and tied to separate trees from head to toe.

Initially, SI of APSP, 1st Battalion refused to shoot. Then the Supdt.of Police,

Bose, got them shot by other personnel. In the melee, Bikshapati was saved.

None of these revolutionaries were subdued or frightened even when death was

staring them in their face. They fell raising slogans 'Long Live Revolution'.

There was one interesting episode in exploring the truth about the Giraipalli

encounter. An independent effort by a journalist, Adiraju Venkateswara Rao could get

hold of Siddipet SI, K.Devmani and tricked him to divulge how Janardhan was arrested.

As per him, an RSU activist Srinivasa Rao was arrested first in Siddipet. From the

information given by him, Janardhan was arrested in Siddipet. The police managed to

make Srinivasa Rao divulge the names of Janardhan's comrades, leading to their arrest

from Hyderabad. Devmani further narrated how the police spread dragnet to arrest

others. Adiraju Venkateswara Rao managed to record a 'confession' of another Siddipet

SI, Kameswara Rao who accompanied the arrested Murali Mohan from Hyderabad to

Mulugu. Both the above 'conversations' were skillfully recorded.The journalist did

provide a CD of this record to the inquiry Committees. Later, he wrote and published a

book WHO ARE THE MURDERERS on Giraipalli encounter.

The way Tarkunde committee went about the task was marvellous. In such cases

identifying the witnesses and bringing them round to depose before the Committee is an

herculean task. Thanks to Ch.Raj Kumar of RECW (alias Azad who was killed, again in

56

a false encounter in 2010) who did bulk of the work to mobilise witnesses. Tarkunde

Committee report is quite long and here we cited salient information only.

Tarkunde Committee, after inquiring into three more false encounters stage managed

during emergency, submitted its report on these four encounters to The Prime Minister,

Home Minister (Central) and gave the copies to all News Papers. They pursued up with

the Central Govt. to institute an Inquiry Commission. Taking note of the report, many

more Civil Liberties organisations also mounted pressure on Central Govt. for an

Inquiry.

Ultimately Central Govt. prevailed upon State Govt. to institute the Inquiry

Commission. Central Govt. suggested Justice Vashist Bhargava, retired Supreme Court

Judge as head of the single judge commission. It would function under State Govt.

The first notificaion was issued by Justice Bhargava on 21st july1977 inviting

responses from the aggrieved / interested parties. Proceedings would be held in Open

Court, ie relatives / friends, journalists and general public could attend the proceedings.

State Govt. agreed to this. Apart from Tarkunde Committee, several other Civil Liberties

organisations submited their pleas.

The first case taken up by the Commission was Giraipalli encounter.Twenty five

witnesses were listed by Tarkunde Committee and a few from Police. Challa Narasimha

Reddy was the first witness. Being aware of the incident & a lawyer himself, he was

cool and gave flawless statement. While being cross examined, he put the defence

lawyer on the defence. Eye witness Bikshapati who was in the lock up along with other

boys also deposed. He narrated in detail to the court how the police tortured his

comrades and himself. Not only this, Police severely beat several people rounded up in

this case, forcing them to identify these boys as the murdrers in Antaiah case. He

effectively withstood cross examination.

There after many witnesses who saw the boys in police custody or others from

Siddipet appeared.

Following are a few ineresting incidents during Commission proceedings

An all imporant witness was V.Kondaiah a student at CITD in 1975 & in whose

room three of the boys were arrested. Kondaiah,working in Bajaj Auto, Pune came to

know about the Commission proceedings through News Papers. Being an important

witness he felt it was his duty to appear before the Commission. Voluntarily, he came to

Hyderabad and straight away met Kannabhiran. The defence lawyers claimed

Kannabhiran pressurised Kondaiah. After personally talking to Kondaiah, Justice

57

Bhargava brushed aside the objections.

During the proceedings, Kannabhiran put up an application to Justice Bhargava to

visit the site of encounter at Giraipalli. In their counter affidavit, Police picturised that

area as dense forest with no proper roads to go near the site etc. etc. Justice Bhargava

decided to visit the site. It was visited by Justice Bhargava, Kannabhiran and Police.

Father of Janardhana Rao, Rama Rao also accompanied them. The bullet marks on the

trees where the boys were tied could be noticed.

Most critical part of any inquiry is identifying and locating the witnesses,

convincing them to depose, protect them so that they are not pressurized by police or

defence lawyers .Ch.Raj Kumar played effective role in this respect here as well as in

the earlier stage (of Tarkunde Committee sittings). In this respect, M.Onkar MLA of

CPM, also played important role.

The CDs prepared by the journalist were submitted to the Commission. Special

Branch Inspector T.Kameswara Rao contested the genuinity. This SI accompanied

Murali Mohan to Siddipet after his arrest in Kondaiah's room. After scrutiny by experts,

CD was accepted as evidence.

Thre were many twists and turns during the entire proceedings of the

Commission, like claims & counter claims and trying to exert pressure on witnesses.

Finally, Tarkunde committee proved its contention of false encounter in

Giraipalli incident.

But the final twist came at this juncture. Before the Commission took up the

2nd

encounter, at Chilakala Gutta, the State Govt. took a plea that the proceedings were

being published in detail in all the News Papers, the Police department was getting

demoralized thoroughly due to the exposures in the Commission's public hearings on

their gruesome activities. They urged the Govt. to hold the Commission's sittings for

further heaings IN CAMERA ie neither the public nor any journalists are allowed in the

hearings.

It was not acceptable to Tarkunde Committee as it would be very difficult to

provide safety to witnesses. Even Justice Bhargava was against it. In fact Justice

Bhargava insisted in the beginning itself on public hearing as one of the terms of the

Commission.

Thus Justice Bhargava Commission proceedings were closed abruptly. Giraipalli

encounter remained in the history as the only encounter tried before an Inquiry

Commission and getting proved before the Commission. It may not be out of place to

mention that nearly 300 encounters took place since 1969 to 1977 in A.P. alone.

58

IN MEMORY OF GIRAIPALLI MARTYRS

From the days of their martyrdom in July 1975, several writers like Varavara Rao,

Cherabanda Raju, Gaddar, Raji Reddy, Sudhakar and others wrote number of songs and

poems eulogizing the revolutionary spirit, commitment of Janardhan and his comrades.

More literature came after the emergency. Gaddar wrote a full length OGGU KATHA

(similar to Burra Katha) stretching to one and half hours to perform on stage. Gaddar

gave hundreds of performances all over A.P. The show became so popular that other

artistes also performed Oggu Katha at several places. All these songs are inTelugu.

Unfortunately,we could not incorporate here the english version of these songs except

the one by Raji Reddy(see page xx)

Memorial Stupams were built at several places.

At the site of encounter, in Giraipalli, a stupam was built in 1977 but was

demolished by Police in a couple of years. It was rebuilt in 1989.

At Takkellapalli, native place of Murali Mohan, a huge stupam was buitl in 1977

but was demolished by Police in 1985.

At Pydipalli also an imposing stupam was built in 1978. It was demolished by

police but was rebuilt later.

At the cross roads of Garikaparru-Kummamuru, a stupam was built in 1979.

At Vuyyuru, near Janardhan's natïve place Garikaparru, a stupam was built

in1984.

At Penjendra, Krishna Dt. a stupam was built in 1984.

Two more stupams, one in Garikaparru and another in Kummamuru were built in

2009.

Surapaneni Janardhana Rao Memorial Trust was set up in Garikaparru in 2008 by

Janardhan's family and his friends from REC,Warangal. Helping meritorious & poor

students, promoting acadamic programmes in the village school & helping old age

people are some activities of the Trust.