Gouthu Latchanna
- This article relates to the Indian freedom fighter, patriot,and leader for weaker sections, Dr.Gouthu Latchanna
Dr. Gouthu Latchanna | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gouthu Latchanna August 16, 1909 |
| Died | April 19, 2006 |
| Spouse | Gouthu Yashoda |
| Children | Gouthu Sundar Sivaji, Jhansi Lakshmi Ravala, Sushila |
Sardar Gouthu Latchanna Goud (16 August 1909 – April 19, 2006) was a veteran freedom fighter from south India.
"It is an inspiration for the younger generation to learn about Sardar Gouthu Latchanna's dedication and selfless service to the nation." -- In the words of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Former Prime Minister of India, New Delhi, August 8, 1998.
"Latchanna is essentially a humanist and spokesman of the suffering humanity of India. He is not only a champion of humanism in theory, on platform and in the press, but also a tireless and sincere practitioner of humanism". -- In the words of Prof. N. G. Ranga.
"Sardar Gouthu Latchanna is a revered freedom fighter. His life of self-abnegation and service for the down-trodden is a model for all of us, and in particular the youth to draw inspiration and to emulate". -- In the words of P. V. Narasimha Rao, Former Prime Minister of India, New Delhi, 1992.
Personal Details
Dr. Gouthu Latchanna, a Goud by caste was born in Baruva village of the Sompeta mandal, Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh on August 16, 1909. He was the eighth child of Sri. Chittaiah, a Toddy tapper and Smt. Rajamma. He married Smt. Yashodha Devi, who died in 1996.
He died at the age of 98 in Visakhapatnam on April 19, 2006 and is survived by son Shyama Sunder Sivaji, who is MLA from Sompeta, and two daughters Jhansi and Sushila.[1]
Freedom Fighter and Leader of Weaker Sections
He was a champion of backward classes and one of the most prominent leaders of his time. He was arrested at a very young age of 21 when he participated in the Salt Satyagraha at Palasa. Latchanna also participated in the Quit India Movement. He was conferred the tile of sardar for his fearless fight against the British Raj.
He was the leader of masses and social reformer. Till Independence, he fought against British. After the end of British Raj, it was on political and social fronts for the sake of farmers, laborers,and the working class. He founded Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), a trade union to represent the industrial class as a founding president. He was instrumental in bringing down the government of Prakasham Panthulu on the issues of prohibition.
Freedom Fighter
He participated in swaraj movement right from age of 21 with Salt Satyagraha at Palasa , and subsequently was arrested in connection with salt-cotaurs[2] raid at Naupada on April, 1930. As an undertrail, he was sent to Tekkali and Narasannapeta sub-jails in Srikakulam. After conviction, he was sent to Berhampur jail in Ganjam to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month.[3]. After Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931, he organised Satyagraha camp at Baruva and conducted picketing of toddy, liquor, and foreign cloth shops in Ichchapuram, Sompeta and Tekkali as permited by British Government as part of Gandhi–Irwin Pact.[4]. In 1932, he participated in civil disobedience movement by hoisting the Congress flag at Baruva , was lathi-charged for violating prohibitory orders and was imprisoned in Rajahmundry central jail for 6 months.[5].
In 1932 after getting released from rajahmundry jail, having inspired from Gandhi "fast-unto-death" on issue of untouchability, Latchanna organised "Harijan Seva Sangam" at Baruva. He started a night school in the harijan-cheri, agitated at district level against untouchability, and took harijans to a drinking water well at Baruva for which he and his colleagues were socially boycotted.[6][7]
As a secretary of Andhra Rashtra Congree Committee, he organised a reception at Eluru for the soldiers of Azad Hind Fauz, revived by Subhas Chandra Bose.[8]. Latchanna participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942, which ultimately led to violent raids on Kalingapatnam post office, armoury train derailment in his native village Baruva, no-tax campaign, and raids on srikakulam sub-collector offices. Then Madras government announced the prize of 10,000 rupees for whereabout information of Latchanna , failing to trace him, government issued orders for shoot-at-sight.[9][10]. While underground he was invited for the South Indian Congress leaders meeting at Madras. Latchanna along with Killi Appala Naidu started proceeding to Madras. A message about this was sent by andhra congress dictator Sampath Kumar through Jayanthi Dharma Teja , which led to the arrest of Latchanna at rajahmundry in 1943 while he was on his way to madras. Latchanna was sentenced for one year for possessing seditious literature and sent to Alipuram camp jail while Killi Appala Naidu was sent as a detenue to Tanjavur central jail.[11] Immediately after the release from Alipuram camp jail, he was re-arrested at the gate and sent to Cannanore central jail, Tanjavur central jail and then to Rayavellore jail. He was finally released from Rayavellore jail in October, 1945.
Revolutionary Influence
With imprisonment in Rajahmundry central jail aftermath the civil disobedience in 1932, he came in contact with revolutionists Vijay Kumar Sinha(Bijoy Kumar Sinha) and Siva Verma who were life imprisoned in Lahore Conspiracy Case in connection with Bhagat Singh who were also imprisoned in the same block in which Latchanna was imprisoned.[12] Siva Verma and B.J. Sinha were transferred from Cellular Jail to Rajahmundry central prison aftermath the fast-unto-death in demand for separate treatment for political prisoners. Latchanna along with andhra colleagues like Anne Anjayya and Alluri Satyanarayanaraju used to have long discussions in prison about Indian Republic Revolutionary Party organisation. They decided to start the similar revolutionary party in andhra after their release. As Latchanna was released with 6 months conviction before his andhra colleagues who were convicted for one year, he and his colleagues decided to meet again to start revolutionary party after release too.[13] In the meantime, Latchanna went to Cuttack, Kharagpur, Tatanagar, and [Calcutta]] to meet the "Indian Republic Revolutionary Party" leaders for joining their movement as promised to Siva Verma and B.K.Sinha. By the time he went, all the revolutionary party members were either arrested or went underground. During this time, he fell ill in tatanagar and was brought back home by his brother from tatanagar.[14][15]
Political life
He was member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for 20 years from Sompeta constituency. Latchanna had won both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from Srikakulam district in 1967. But he resigned his Lok Sabha membership to facilitate the election of his political mentor late N.G. Ranga.
He was first elected to Assembly in 1948 from Visakhapatnam on labour ticket and served as Minister for Agriculture and Labour. He left Congress party in 1951 and was arrested during emergency in 1975 imposed by then prime minister Smt. Indira Gandhi. He later joined Lok Dal party and then to Janata Dal party under the leadership of former prime ministers Charan Singh and Vishwanath Pratap Singh respectively.
Honors
- Thotapalli barriage has been named after him by the Andhra Pradesh Government.
- Gouthu Latchanna Cultural Complex will be constructed by the Andhra Pradesh Government.
- Sardar Gouthu Latchanna Pratibha Puraskaramulu, an award on his name to be given every year to bright and intelligent students by Sree Koundinya Seva Samiti
- Sardar Gowthu Latchanna Kala Peetham, an award on his name to honor and recognize the arts.
Autobiography
- Naa Jeevitam (Autobiography) in Telugu written by Gouthu Latchanna, 2001.
References
- ^ The Hindu
- ^ The word "Cotaur" is the Anglicised version of the Telugu word "Cotauru" meaning "godown".
- ^ At the age of 21, Sri. Latchanna was arrested in connection with the salt-cotaurs raid
- ^ Consequent on the 1931 Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Sri Latchanna organized the Congress Satyagraha camp
- ^ lathi-charged during the 1932 civil disobedience movement for hoisting the Congress flag at Baruva
- ^ Latchanna was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s fast-unto-death at Yeravada Central jail on the issue of untouchability
- ^ Gandhi began a fast-unto-death while imprisoned in the Yeravada Central Jail of Pune in 1932 to eliminate discrimination and untouchability
- ^ Latchanna organised reception at Eluru to the soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauz founded by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose
- ^ The Quit India Movement of 1942
- ^ [http://www.indhistory.com/1942-revolutions.html Gandhi refused to condemn the violence of the people because he saw it as a reaction to the much bigger violence being perpetrated on the state. It is held that Gandhi's major objection to violence was that its use prevented mass participation in a movement. For in 1942, Gandhi had come round to the view that mass participation would not be restricted as a result of isolated violence. Gandhi had come to realise that the kind of non-violence he had wanted his country men to inculcate and practise, could not be achieved and so towards the end of his career he had kept some amount of space for the participants to follow their own line of action. His patience had been dragged to such extremes that he felt that even at the cost of some risks, he should ask his people to resist slavery. Although Gandhi was now in an unusually militant mood, at no stage was he prepared to forsake his faith in non-violence. He would have liked the movement to be non-violent but was prepared to run the risk of unrestricted mass action even if that meant civil war. He thus said, 'Let them entrust India to God or, in modem parlance, to anarchy'.]
- ^ Latchanna and his colleague Killi Appala Naidu were arrested and imprisoned
- ^ HSRA leaders and revolutionary also became Communist, such as Batukeshwar Dutt ,Bhagat Singh, Dr Gaya Prasad, Vijay Kumar Sinha, Shiv Verma
- ^ Latchanna was lodged in the same block where Sri. Vijaya Kumar Sinha and Sri. Siva Varma,life prisoners in the Bhagat Singh Case
- ^ Latchanna went to went to Cuttack (Orissa), Kharagpur and Calcutta (Bengal) and Tatanagar (Bihar) to contact the then Indian Republic Revolutionary Party leaders for joining their movement
- ^ Bhagat Singh and the Revolutionary Movement Siva Verma, B.K.Sinha