International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Making Peoples History in Telangana Movement: Remembering Voyya Raja Ram

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Department of History, Assam University (Central University), Diphu Campus, Assam, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 3, Issue (6), Pages 37-43, June,14 (2014)

Abstract

The present paper produces a counter-cultural discourse that aims at making peoples history in the Telangana People’s Movement during 1946-51. In the context of recent ‘Telangana’ state formation the political parties and other Joint Action Committees who participated in the separate state movement popularised the term ‘reconstruction’ of Telangana state. In this scenario the paper emphasizes the reconstruction of cultural history of Telangana and their cultural figures who really contributed to the subaltern literature for the movement. Voyya Rajaram is one of the finest subaltern poets in Telangana Peoples Movement. His songs had played as weapon of the weak and resistance in the mobilisation of the people to fight against ‘Deshmuks’ and Nizam’s repressive rule in Hyderabad State. The martyrs of Telangana and their struggles can been seen in the songs of Raja Ram. Many studies exist which have looked at the life and work of the peoples poet. However, no critical historical analysis of Raja Ram has so far been undertaken. Apart from the fact this study can thus add to our knowledge of the cultural struggle in Telangana, by focusing on his songs on the movement. By locating his contribution in the social and cultural contexts of the region of Telangana the present paper argues how the weak people resisted with their songs and sacrificed their life for the cause of the movement.

References

  1. Vulli Dhanaraju, The Telangana Movement (1946-1951): Folklore Perspective, International Journal of Social Science Tomorrow, I(8), 1-7 (2012)
  2. Devender D., Verreageyalu Telangana Sayuda Poratam, (Unpublished PhD Thesis in Telugu) (University of Hyderabad, 5 (1983)
  3. Linga Reddy, G, Telangana Sramika Geyalu: Parisodhana Vyasam(Telugu), (Karimnagar) 2-3, (1982)
  4. Gopi N and Praja Kavi Vemana, (PhD Thesis in Telugu), (Osmania University, Hyderabad), (1979)
  5. Richard M. Dorson, Folklore and Folk Life an Introduction, (Chicago), 251 (1972)
  6. John Fiske, Understanding Popular Culture, (London), 170 (1989)
  7. Sivanarayan Kabiraj, Popular Tradition and Folk Tradition, Folklore, (Calcutta), 46,(1986)
  8. Jayadheer Tirumala Rao, Janapadual Bhava Prakatana Roopam Pata, Andhra Bhoomi, Sunday Special, (Hyderabad), 5, (1979)
  9. Mala and Madiga caste are the untouchable castes in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (2014)
  10. Literally ‘sangam’ means organization however this word was popularized by Communist Party which was played a crucial role in the Telanagna People’s Movement. The cultural wing of Communist party was Praja Natya Mandali. The Nizam State callously banned the sangamactivities (2014)
  11. The Andhar Maha Sabha played seminal role in the Telangana Movement People’s Movement (1946-51). It grew out of meeting held in 1921 at Hyderabad to discuss the Nizam’s oppression and ill-treatment towards activists of the Andhra Maha Sabha. For this meeting people from all the places of Nizam’s state attended. After the Telangana Movement started, the Andhra Maha Sabha joined hands with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and both came to be identified as the “Sangham”. Thus, this began as an educational and cultural organization turned into a powerful political organization (2014)
  12. Jayadheer Tirumala Rao (ed), Telangana Porata Patalu (Telugu), (Hyderabad), 34, (1990)
  13. Vuyyala Patalu (Songs)arethe familiar to the women of Telangana state for centuries. The village girls hung cradles on trees and sang the Vuyyala Patalu revealing the devotional stories of Goddess Lakshmi and Gowri. These songs were adapted by the Rythu Cooly Sangham(powerful organization during Telangana People’s Movement (1946-51) volunteers who brilliantly used them for the spreading the message of the struggle, (2014)
  14. The Kolattam is a combination of rhythmic movements, songs and music. Itis an ancient village art which is performed by people, with two sticks held in each hand, beaten to make a rhythmic sound. The stick provides the main rhythm and this dance is performed during village festivals. Traditionally, the Kolattam festival is associated with the harvesting season (October/November), (2014)
  15. The Golla Suddalu is very famous art form than Burrakatha in Telangana region. One reason for this could be the fact that the Burrakathas were not truly indigenous, and came from the outside of the region, while Golla Suddulu are a part of the Telangana folk tradition. Secondly, Burrakathas, despite the simplicity of language and idiom, were perhaps too formalized and never as simple and direct as Golla Suddulu(2014)
  16. Vakateswra Rao D., Telangana Prajala Sayudha Porta Charitra (1948-51), (Hyderabad), 130 (1988)
  17. Doddi Komaraiah landless poor in a village called Kadivendi in the Jangaon taluk of Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh (at the time Telangana under the erstwhile Hyderabad state) against the landlords (Deshmukhs) of Visnoor Ramchandra Reddy.While the procession was taking place, the agents of the landlords fired upon him haphazardly and Doddi Komaraiah died on the spot. The martyrdom of Doddi Komaraiah was the beginning of the armed struggle of Telangana people against feudalism, Nizam autocracy (2014)
  18. Vakateswra Rao D., Telangana Prajala Sayudha Porta Charitra (1948-51), (Hyderabad), 336, (1988)
  19. 19.A certain share of rice collected from peasants by the Government (2014)
  20. Prajashakti is a Telugu newspaper and it is publish in Andhra Pradesh under Communist Party of India (Marxist), (2014)
  21. Padamaja Naidu is a daughter of Sarojini Naidu. Sarojini Naidu was honoured with Nightingale of India (Bharata Kokila), (2014)
  22. It is a type of smoke bomb winch is filled with chilli powder, (2014)
  23. The Razakars were a private military organized by Qasim Razvi to support the rule of Nizam in Hyderabad State To counter the Razakars, people of Telangana under the leadership of Swami Ramanand Tirtha formed the Andhra Hindu Mahasabha which sought integration of the state with rest of India, Razakars were responsible for the killing, rape, and brutal murder of many people in the Telangana.(2014)
  24. Suddala Hanmanthu was a dynamic poet in the Telangana People Movement.(2014)
  25. The Lambadi or Sugalis are tribal community in Andhra Pradesh. They are also called Banjaras.(2014)
  26. The people who speak Turkish are called turakollu. Even though the Muslims of Telangana region speak Urdu, they are called turakolklu(2014)
  27. The land lord’s wife is called ‘Dorasani’ (land lady) in Telangana region, (2014)
  28. ‘Operation Polo’ was the code name of the Hyderabad Police Action on Nizam’s government. It was started in September 1948. Finally the Indian Army annexed the Hyderabad state into the Indian Union.(2014)
  29. Burra katha is a oral storytelling technique in the Katha tradition and popularly performed in villages of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It played an effective role in conveying message to people and awakening them during Telangana Peoples Movement. It was the medium to enlighten the people of the political situation in political meetings in Nizam Sate, (2014)
  30. James C. Scott, Weapon of the Weak: Every Day Forms of Peasant Resistance, (Yale University Press, Yale) (1987)