Gouthu Latchanna
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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 born leader of masses, freedom fighter 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 and was also the member of Madras Trade Union Board. He was instrumental in bringing down the government of Prakasham Panthulu on the issues of prohibition.
movement right from age of 21 with Salt Satyagraha
at Palasa, and subsequently was arrested in connection with salt-cotaurs raid at Naupada in 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. 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 permitted by British Government as part of Gandhi–Irwin Pact. 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 six months.
In 1932, after getting released from Rajahmundry jail, having inspired from Mohandas Karamchand 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 harijan
s to a drinking water well at Baruva for which he and his colleagues were socially boycotted.
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. 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. While underground he was invited for the South Indian Congress leaders meeting at Madras. Latchanna and 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. 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.
central jail aftermath the civil disobedience
in 1932, he came in contact with revolutionists like 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. 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. 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.
s were unable to pay the heavy land revenue levied.
In 1940, he organised All India Kisan Sabha
at Palasa which were attented by Pullela Syama Sundara Rao, N. G. Ranga, Sahajanand Saraswati, and Indulal Yagnik. The committee took the long reception of tens and thousands of hill tribals and kisan
s with an effigy of Zamindari system and got it burnt publicly. It was followed by public meeting of the All India Kisan Sabha
violating the prohibitory orders of then Composite Madras government. Immediately, after the All India Kisan Sabha at Palasa, the "Mandasa Ryots" under the leadership of lady "Veeragunnamma" of Gudari Rajamanipuram, took out a procession with their bullock carts into the forest of the Mandasa
Zamindari, cut trees and took them to their villages openly by driving away the estate forest guards. This led to the arrest of kisans by police under subcollector of Srikakulam
. Veeragunnamma died in aftermath police firing when she surrounded sub collector office for the release of kisans. Latchanna along with Syama Sundara Rao visited Mandasa village to talk with sub collector, but were denied interview. Latchanna visited the village and opened a defense camp at Haripuram to prevent police harassment of kisans. When police were finding it difficult in preparing charge sheet against kisans, Latchanna was interned at his native village, Baruva. In spite of intensive vigilance, Latchanna toured the villages during nights and exhorted public. This secret assistance forced district collector in ordering the detention of Latchanna, which he escaped by going underground. While underground, he fought the case and got the case struck down from sessions court
.
, Latchanna in spite of being underground, arranged “Burma refugee’s conference” at Narasannapeta
, presided by N.G. Ranga
to assist the Indian labourers in Burma who fled to their native land, India. As a result of this conference, the then Madras government was obliged to provide relief to the evacuees by constituting “Burma evacuees relief committee”.
He was the founder and president of the Andhra State Unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress
, which he continued till 1955. He was the president of Shipyard Labour Union at Visakhapatnam
and was instrumental in organising strikes, getting pay scale hikes and introduction of service grades for the workers.
On the third day after his marriage, he was obliged to proceed to Rangoon to get the Indian labourers released who were in the concentration camps aftermath the assassination of Aung San
.
and decided to achieve legitimate rights and privileges embodied in the Constitution of India
covering reservations and directives for their social, economical, and education development. Consequently, he took statewide tours and organised district backward classes associations, which made him designated as champion of backward classes and was considered one of the prominent leaders of his time. In 1957 after the formation of united Andhra Pradesh, chief justice
of Andhra Pradesh high court
struck down the list of Other Backward Class
es approved by government of Andhra Pradesh acting on a private complaint. Latchanna started a state wide agitation for the restoration of list of Other Backward Classes, a statutory obligation under the Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution of India. List of Other Backward Classes were restored when Damodaram Sanjivayya
became chief minister
of Andhra Pradesh. High Court again struck down the list of Other Backward Classes for including Kapu
community in the Other Backward Classes. Latchanna again, started state wide agitation and demanded the government of Andhra Pradesh to renew the publication of backward classes list by omitting Kapu
. The case finally went to Supreme Court of India
to be represented by advocate P. Shiv Shankar
on behalf of government along with an advocate appointed by Latchanna on behalf of Andhra Pradesh backward classes association. Supreme Court of India
gave a favourable judgement asking the government of Andhra Pradesh to publish the list of backward classes caste wise establishing their social and economical backwardness. In consequence, the Government of Andhra Pradesh appointed the "Ananta Raman Commission" which recommended the list of Backward Classes by dividing them into 4 groups as A, B,C & D.
After N. T. Rama Rao
came to power in Andhra Pradesh, when he cancelled Backward Classes scholarship grants against his election manifesto including cancellations of licenses of the toddy tappers co-operative societies for public auctions, Latchanna took serious objection and did satyagraha on behalf of the backward classes students and toddy tappers co-operative societies for cancelling public auctions. During N. T. Rama Rao regime with statewide agitations, Latchanna was arrested more than 14 times forcing him to take fast-unto-death to accomplish the demands. After Nadendla Bhaskara Rao
overthrown N. T. Rama Rao regime through coupe, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao fulfilled the demands of Latchanna.
From 1984, disgusted with opportunistic politics of different political parties, Latchanna mostly concentrated in raising awareness among oppressed classes using his monthly publication "Bahujana". He tried to join Bahujan Samaj Party
under the leadership of Kanshiram for the upliftment to Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. He announced his joining in Bahujan Samaj Party in 1994 at Hyderabad, but couldn't join the Bahujan Samaj Party due to certain ideological differences which were against backward classes of Andhra Pradesh, as he felt, Kanshiram was trying to exploit backward classes for only votes.
for 35 years from Sompeta
constituency between 1948–83 and once member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council
. 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.
He initially got elected as president of then Ganjam
district Congress Committee. He became member of Andhra Rashtra Congress Committee and All India Congress Committee from 1934 to 1951. From 1946 to 1951, he was elected as joint secretary of Andhra Rashtra Congress Committee. As secretary of Andhra Congress Sevadal, he conducted Congress Sevadal Officer's Training Camp for both men and women at Palasa in Srikakulam
.
During 1946 Madras assembly elections, he was denied congress ticket against the wishes of congress workers on the pretext of being violent when underground. Instead, Latchanna made Rokkam Rammurthy Naidu get the nomination and played a decisive role in getting him elected. When
Latchanna was in Rangoon, Babu Rajendra Prasad
sent a telegram to Latchanna to file nomination for Visakhapatnam
by-election from Indian National Congress
in 1948. He was elected to Madras assembly defeating both communist and socialist candidates.
In 1951, he along with Tanguturi Prakasam
and N.G. Ranga
resigned Congress and organised Hyderabad State Praja Party
which was further split into Krishikar Lok Party
for peasants with N.G. Ranga
as the president and Latchanna as the secretary. In 1952 first General elections of independent India, Latchanna got elected to Madras assembly along with 11 more members in the composite Visakhapatnam
district on Krishikar Lok Party ticket by defeating congress candidate. He then became, the leader of Krishikar Lok Party in Madras assembly.
, he represented from Krishikar Lok Party
, T. Viswanadham from Praja Party and Sanjeeva Reddy from Congress ultimately reached its climax with fast-unto-death sacrifice of Potti Sriramulu. On October 1, 1953 Andhra state was formed with Tanguturi Prakasam
as chief minister
who rejoined Congress from Praja Party. Latchanna from Krishikar Lok Party
joined the cabinet of Tanguturi Prakasam in November 11, 1953 to get the working majority in assembly with Kurnool
as capital. Latchanna resigned from Tanguturi Prakasam on issue of state capital in 1954.
Latchanna did satyagraha in Guntur
with 25,000 tappers. Finally, when Latchanna passed no-confidence motion against Tanguturi Prakasam government, the government fell leading to mid-term elections. Tanguturi Prakasam
, however had offered a ministerial berth with full power, was categorically rejected by Latchanna. With mid-term elections on hand, prime minister
and president of Congress, Jawaharlal Nehru
convinced N. G. Ranga, president of Krishikar Lok Party
to merge with Congress to fight Combined Communist party. That merger was categorically rejected by Latchanna. Finally when Jawaharlal Nehru
agreed to rehabilitate toddy tappers with their conventional tapping on co-operative basis and written agreement offer to oppose Congress in Visakhapatnam district, merger of Krishikar Lok Party in Congress to create "United Congress Front" had materialized.
After mid-term elections, "United Congress Front" defeated communists successfully. Latchanna joined the cabinet of Bezawada Gopala Reddy
.
was annexed into the Indian union of states, Telugu
speaking districts of Telangana
were merged into Andhra state to be called Andhra Pradesh
on November 1, 1956. Latchanna as the minister of former Andhra state, was the signatory of Gentlemen's agreement to safeguard the interests and prevent discrimination against Telangana
in 1956. Owing to the personal differences with Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
, he was not taken into cabinet in the newly formed Andhra Pradesh
state.
team monitoring was initiated on him by the state along with Marri Chenna Reddy
and Mallikarjun Goud
. When the agitaiton took serious and violent turn, prime minister of India
, Indira Gandhi
visited Hyderabad and succeeded in making Marri Chenna Reddy
call off the agitation.
Later, Latchanna took active part in the creation of "Andhra Pradesh Democratic Front" along with Congress dissident Marri Chenna Reddy
and socialist leader P.V.G.Raju. In 1958, when C. Rajagopalachari
, president of Swatantra Party
visited Hyderabad, Latchanna joined Swatantra Party
by dissolving "Andhra Pradesh Democratic Front". Latchanna was taken into executive committee and parliamentary board of the Swatantra Party
as vice-president in 1959. In 1962, Latchanna started state wise agitation against enactment of 100% enhancement of land revenue and filed a writ petition in high court of Andhra Pradesh leading to the declaration as null and void by the high court.
won 27 MLAs and 3 Lok Sabha
seats. 3 MLAs defected and 1 joined in as an associate member. Swatantra Party forged an alliance with "Jana Congress Party" to form "Democratic Front". This "Democratic Front" was recognised as official opposition party in state assembly led by, Latchanna. Latchanna got elected from both Sompeta
assembly and Srikakulam
parliamentary constituency on Swatantra Party ticket. As N.G. Ranga
lost his election from Chittoor
, Latchanna resigned Srikakulam parliamentary seat to make N.G. Ranga elected to Lok Sabha while Latchanna became the opposition leader in assembly of Andhra
Pradesh, as well as state president of Swatantra Party.
Latchanna, as opposition leader in assembly, launched state-wide agitation for the withdrawal of
"Land Revenue Enhancement Act 1967" and for abolition of "Land Revenue" altogether. Swatantra party led by G. Latchanna along with P. Rajagopal Naidu and Bharati Devi in Andhra Pradesh state assembly opposed
demanding the division of Andhra Pradesh into old Andhra state and Telangana state on the issue of "Mulkhi" rules. He was imprisoned in Mushirabad central jail and released in 1973.
, Latchanna was arrested on the same night in Srikalahasti
where he was attending a relatives marriage and sent to Visakhapatnam
central jail and was released in 1977 after the withdrawal of Emergency. Upon release, he went to New Delhi
to attend all opposition parties conference convened and presided by Jaya Prakash Narayan, the founder of Janata Party
.
In 1977 general elections, Latchanna was elected to the Andhra Pradesh assembly from Janata Party
ticket and was recognised officially, as the opposition leader, as Janata Legislature Party was the main opposition party in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. After the demise of C. Rajagopalachari
, Swatantra Party
was merged into Lok Dal headed by Charan Singh. Latchanna was elected as the president of Andhra Pradesh state Lok Dal. Lok Dal candidates including Latchanna suffered with film actor N. T. Rama Rao
wave of Telugu Desam Party
in 1983 general elections. Latchanna lost the elections for the first time strangely not to Telugu Desam Party candidate, but instead to Congress candidate
Latchanna was elected to assembly continuously from 1952 till 1983 by losing once in 1983. During this time, he was elected to Legislative Council
of Andhra Pradesh. During mid-term elections for Sompeta
, Telugu Desam Party gave the ticket to Latchanna son, Gouthu Shyam Sunder Shivaji. Latchanna too filed the nomination as independent candidate, but withdrew in last with major differences between son and Latchanna. When Telugu Desam Party denied ticket to Gouthu Shivaji in 1989 elections, Latchanna supported his son as independent and got him elected
successfully.
Goud
The Goud are caste found mostly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Maharastra. Gouds were involved in soma development in ancient days.-Origin:...
(16 August 1909 – April 19, 2006) was a veteran freedom fighter from south India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
"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
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee is an Indian statesman who served as the tenth Prime Minister of India three times – first for a brief term of 13 days in 1996, and then for two terms from 1998 to 2004. After his first brief period as Prime Minister in 1996, Vajpayee headed a coalition government from...
, Former Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, 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
P. V. Narasimha Rao
Pamulaparti Venkata "Narasimha Rao" was the ninth Prime Minister of India . He led an important administration, overseeing a major economic transformation and several home incidents affecting national security of India. Rao accelerated the dismantling of the Licence Raj. He is often referred to as...
, Former Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, 1992.
Personal details
Dr. Gouthu Latchanna, a GoudGoud
The Goud are caste found mostly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Maharastra. Gouds were involved in soma development in ancient days.-Origin:...
by caste was born in Baruva
Baruva
Baruva is a village and a beach resort located near Sompeta in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at 18.53N 84.35E., at an average elevation of 10 meters . The Mahendra Tanaya River merges into the Bay of Bengal at this place.Baruva was used as a seaport in the era of...
village of the Sompeta
Sompeta
Sompeta ' is a census town and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Sompeta is located at . It has an average elevation of 8 metres ....
mandal, Srikakulam district
Srikakulam district
Srikakulam District , formerly known as Chicacole, is the extreme northeastern District of Andhra Pradesh, situated within the geographic co-ordinates of 18°-20’ and 19°-10’ N and 83°-50’ and 84°-50’ E...
in the state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
on August 16, 1909. He was the eighth child of Sri
Sri
Sri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...
. Chittaiah, a Toddy tapper and Smt
Smt
Shrimati or Srimati , abbreviated Smt., is the standard Indian honorific used when referring to an adult, married female in various Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Bengali, Hindi, and Malayalam, Telugu and sometimes in English as well . The equivalent title for men is Shri or Sri....
. Rajamma. He married Smt. Yashodha Devi, who died in 1996.
He died at the age of 98 in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
on April 19, 2006 and is survived by son Shyama Sunder Sivaji, who is MLA from Sompeta
Sompeta
Sompeta ' is a census town and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Sompeta is located at . It has an average elevation of 8 metres ....
, and two daughters Jhansi and Sushila.
Freedom fighter and people's leader
He was a champion of kisans, backward classes, weaker sections 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 SatyagrahaSalt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
at Palasa. Latchanna also participated in the Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
. He was conferred the tile of sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
for his fearless fight against the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
.
He was the born leader of masses, freedom fighter and social reformer. Till Independence, he fought against British. After the end of British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, it was on political and social fronts for the sake of farmers, laborers,and the working class. He founded Indian National Trade Union Congress
Indian National Trade Union Congress
Indian National Trade Union Congress is the trade union wing of the Indian National Congress. It was founded May 3, 1947, and is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, INTUC had a membership of 3892011 in...
(INTUC) - a trade union to represent the industrial class as a founding president and was also the member of Madras Trade Union Board. He was instrumental in bringing down the government of Prakasham Panthulu on the issues of prohibition.
Freedom fighter
He participated in swarajSwaraj
Swaraj can mean generally self-governance or "self-rule", and was used synonymously with "home-rule" by Gandhi but the word usually refers to Gandhi's concept for Indian independence from foreign domination. Swaraj lays stress on governance not by a hierarchical government, but self governance...
movement right from age of 21 with Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
at Palasa, and subsequently was arrested in connection with salt-cotaurs raid at Naupada in April 1930. As an undertrail, he was sent to Tekkali
Tekkali
Tekkali is a Town, Revenue Division and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Tekkali is also called Raghunathapuram in memory of Raghunath Deo, an ancient proprietor of the Tekkali estate.- Geography :...
and Narasannapeta
Narasannapeta
Narasannapeta or Narsannapeta is a town and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Narasannapeta mandal is bordered by Jalumuru, Sarubujjili, Srikakulam and Polaki mandals of Srikakulam district.- Geography :...
sub-jails in Srikakulam
Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a town, municipality and headquarters of Srikakulam district in the north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. It is part of Srikakulam Assembly constituency and Srikakulam Parliament Constituency. Srikakulam was formerly called as Gulshanabad during Muslim rule and was headquarter of...
. After conviction, he was sent to Berhampur
Berhampur
Brahmapur , nicknamed "The Silk City", is a city located in the eastern coastline of Ganjam district of the Indian state of Orissa, about south to state capital, Bhubaneswar.It is also dubbed as "The Dance City" of Orissa after Prince Dance Group and Harihar Das made the state famous in India's...
jail in Ganjam
Ganjam
Ganjam is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Ganjam is located at . It has an average elevation of 3 metres .-Demographics:...
to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month. After Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931, he organised Satyagraha
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
camp at Baruva
Baruva
Baruva is a village and a beach resort located near Sompeta in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at 18.53N 84.35E., at an average elevation of 10 meters . The Mahendra Tanaya River merges into the Bay of Bengal at this place.Baruva was used as a seaport in the era of...
and conducted picketing of toddy
Toddy
Toddy may be:* Hot toddy, a mixed drink served hot* Palm wine, also known as palm toddy, an alcoholic beverage.* The toddy palm...
, liquor, and foreign cloth shops in Ichchapuram
Ichchapuram
Ichchapuram is a Municipality and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.Ichapuram mandal is bordered by Orissa state on the North and West and Kaviti mandal on the South and Bay of Bengal on the East.-Geography:...
, Sompeta
Sompeta
Sompeta ' is a census town and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Sompeta is located at . It has an average elevation of 8 metres ....
and Tekkali
Tekkali
Tekkali is a Town, Revenue Division and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Tekkali is also called Raghunathapuram in memory of Raghunath Deo, an ancient proprietor of the Tekkali estate.- Geography :...
as permitted by British Government as part of Gandhi–Irwin Pact. In 1932, he participated in civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
movement by hoisting the Congress flag at Baruva
Baruva
Baruva is a village and a beach resort located near Sompeta in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at 18.53N 84.35E., at an average elevation of 10 meters . The Mahendra Tanaya River merges into the Bay of Bengal at this place.Baruva was used as a seaport in the era of...
, was lathi-charged for violating prohibitory orders and was imprisoned in Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
central jail for six months.
In 1932, after getting released from Rajahmundry jail, having inspired from Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi "fast-unto-death" on issue of untouchability
Untouchability
Untouchability is the social practice of ostracizing a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by social custom or legal mandate. The excluded group could be one that did not accept the norms of the excluding group and historically included foreigners, nomadic tribes, law-breakers...
, Latchanna organised "Harijan Seva Sangam" at Baruva. He started a night school in the harijan
Harijan
Harijan was a term used by Gandhi for Dalits. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable', and called them Harijans, which means children of God...
-cheri, agitated at district level against untouchability, and took harijan
Harijan
Harijan was a term used by Gandhi for Dalits. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable', and called them Harijans, which means children of God...
s to a drinking water well at Baruva for which he and his colleagues were socially boycotted.
As a secretary of Andhra Rashtra Congree Committee, he organised a reception at Eluru
Eluru
Eluru is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of West Godavari district and has a population of 5,15,343 approximately. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and about east of state...
for the soldiers of Azad Hind Fauz, revived by Subhas Chandra Bose. Latchanna participated in the Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
in 1942, which ultimately led to violent raids on Kalingapatnam
Kalingapatnam
-History:Kalingapatnam is a panchayat and mandal headquarters located in Srikakulam district, where the River Vamsadhara meets the Bay of Bengal and It is one of the safe and clean beach resorts in North Andhra....
post office, armoury train derailment in his native village Baruva, no-tax campaign, and raids on srikakulam
Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a town, municipality and headquarters of Srikakulam district in the north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. It is part of Srikakulam Assembly constituency and Srikakulam Parliament Constituency. Srikakulam was formerly called as Gulshanabad during Muslim rule and was headquarter of...
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. While underground he was invited for the South Indian Congress leaders meeting at Madras. Latchanna and 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
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
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. 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 RajahmundryRajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
central jail aftermath the civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
in 1932, he came in contact with revolutionists like Vijay Kumar Sinha (Bijoy Kumar Sinha) and Siva Verma who were life imprisoned in Lahore Conspiracy Case
Lahore Conspiracy Case
This can refer to :* The First Lahore Conspiracy, also known as the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial in the aftermath of the Ghadar conspiracy in 1915* The Second Lahore Conspiracy Case, the trial of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev in 1931...
in connection with Bhagat Singh who were also imprisoned in the same block in which Latchanna was imprisoned. Siva Verma and B.J. Sinha were transferred from Cellular Jail
Cellular Jail
The Cellular Jail, also known as Kālā Pānī , was a colonial prison situated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The prison was used by the British especially to exile political prisoners to the remote archipelago...
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. In the meantime, Latchanna went to Cuttack
Cuttack
Cuttack is the former capital of the state of Orissa, India. It is the headquarters of Cuttack district and is located about 20 km to the north east of Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa. The name of the city is an anglicised form of Kataka that literally means The Fort, a reference to the...
, Kharagpur
Kharagpur
Kharagpur is an industrial city in India. It is located in the Midnapore West district of the state of West Bengal.Kharagpur was chosen as the location of the first campus of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology . The IITs are the premier technical education institutes in India and...
, 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.
Leader for Kisans
Around 1932, after his return from Tatanagar to Baruva, Latchanna participated in the foot-march of Rythu-Rakshana call given by N. G. Ranga from Varanasi of parlakimide estate to Chatrapur. He organised estate wise "Zamindari Rythu" associations, organised indirect no-tax campaign, fought for the abolition of Zamindari system on the plea that KisanKisan
Kisan may refer to:* Kisan Tribe, an ethnic group in India* kisan, an Indian word that can be translated as peasant or farmer* Kisan , a Malayalam film from 2006* KISAN, Kus Indian Sut Asla Nicaragua ra...
s were unable to pay the heavy land revenue levied.
In 1940, he organised All India Kisan Sabha
All India Kisan Sabha
All India Kisan Sabha , was the name of the peasants front of the undivided Communist Party of India , an important peasant movement formed by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in 1936, and which later split into two organizations, by the same name.-History:...
at Palasa which were attented by Pullela Syama Sundara Rao, N. G. Ranga, Sahajanand Saraswati, and Indulal Yagnik. The committee took the long reception of tens and thousands of hill tribals and kisan
Kisan
Kisan may refer to:* Kisan Tribe, an ethnic group in India* kisan, an Indian word that can be translated as peasant or farmer* Kisan , a Malayalam film from 2006* KISAN, Kus Indian Sut Asla Nicaragua ra...
s with an effigy of Zamindari system and got it burnt publicly. It was followed by public meeting of the All India Kisan Sabha
All India Kisan Sabha
All India Kisan Sabha , was the name of the peasants front of the undivided Communist Party of India , an important peasant movement formed by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in 1936, and which later split into two organizations, by the same name.-History:...
violating the prohibitory orders of then Composite Madras government. Immediately, after the All India Kisan Sabha at Palasa, the "Mandasa Ryots" under the leadership of lady "Veeragunnamma" of Gudari Rajamanipuram, took out a procession with their bullock carts into the forest of the Mandasa
Mandasa
Mandasa is a village and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Mandasa mandal is bordered by Sompeta mandal on the North, Palasa mandal on the South, Orissa state on the West and Bay of Bengal on the East.-Geography:...
Zamindari, cut trees and took them to their villages openly by driving away the estate forest guards. This led to the arrest of kisans by police under subcollector of Srikakulam
Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a town, municipality and headquarters of Srikakulam district in the north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. It is part of Srikakulam Assembly constituency and Srikakulam Parliament Constituency. Srikakulam was formerly called as Gulshanabad during Muslim rule and was headquarter of...
. Veeragunnamma died in aftermath police firing when she surrounded sub collector office for the release of kisans. Latchanna along with Syama Sundara Rao visited Mandasa village to talk with sub collector, but were denied interview. Latchanna visited the village and opened a defense camp at Haripuram to prevent police harassment of kisans. When police were finding it difficult in preparing charge sheet against kisans, Latchanna was interned at his native village, Baruva. In spite of intensive vigilance, Latchanna toured the villages during nights and exhorted public. This secret assistance forced district collector in ordering the detention of Latchanna, which he escaped by going underground. While underground, he fought the case and got the case struck down from sessions court
Sessions Court
A Sessions Court is a court of law which exists in several Commonwealth countries.-India:In Indian cities, the Sessions Court is responsible for adjudicating matters related to criminal cases. The court is responsible for cases relating to murders, theft, dacoity, pick-pocketing and other such cases...
.
Leader for weaker sections
In 1941 when Rangoon was bombarded during Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Latchanna in spite of being underground, arranged “Burma refugee’s conference” at Narasannapeta
Narasannapeta
Narasannapeta or Narsannapeta is a town and a Mandal in Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.Narasannapeta mandal is bordered by Jalumuru, Sarubujjili, Srikakulam and Polaki mandals of Srikakulam district.- Geography :...
, presided by N.G. Ranga
N.G. Ranga
Gogineni Ranga nayukulu , better known as N. G. Ranga , was an Indian freedom fighter, parliamentarian, and kisan leader...
to assist the Indian labourers in Burma who fled to their native land, India. As a result of this conference, the then Madras government was obliged to provide relief to the evacuees by constituting “Burma evacuees relief committee”.
He was the founder and president of the Andhra State Unit of the Indian National Trade Union Congress
Indian National Trade Union Congress
Indian National Trade Union Congress is the trade union wing of the Indian National Congress. It was founded May 3, 1947, and is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation. According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, INTUC had a membership of 3892011 in...
, which he continued till 1955. He was the president of Shipyard Labour Union at Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
and was instrumental in organising strikes, getting pay scale hikes and introduction of service grades for the workers.
On the third day after his marriage, he was obliged to proceed to Rangoon to get the Indian labourers released who were in the concentration camps aftermath the assassination of Aung San
Aung San
Bogyoke Aung San ; 13 February 1915 – 19 July 1947) was a Burmese revolutionary, nationalist, and founder of the modern Burmese army, the Tatmadaw....
.
Leader for backward castes
In 1948, he presided over first Andhra backward classes conference at GunturGuntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
and decided to achieve legitimate rights and privileges embodied in the Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
covering reservations and directives for their social, economical, and education development. Consequently, he took statewide tours and organised district backward classes associations, which made him designated as champion of backward classes and was considered one of the prominent leaders of his time. In 1957 after the formation of united Andhra Pradesh, chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of Andhra Pradesh high court
High Court
The term High Court usually refers to the superior court of a country or state. In some countries, it is the highest court . In others, it is positioned lower in the hierarchy of courts The term High Court usually refers to the superior court (or supreme court) of a country or state. In some...
struck down the list of Other Backward Class
Other Backward Class
The Central Government of India classifies some of its citizens based on their social and economic condition as Scheduled Caste , Scheduled Tribe , and Other Backward Class . The OBC list presented by the commission is dynamic and will change from time to time depending on social, educational and...
es approved by government of Andhra Pradesh acting on a private complaint. Latchanna started a state wide agitation for the restoration of list of Other Backward Classes, a statutory obligation under the Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution of India. List of Other Backward Classes were restored when Damodaram Sanjivayya
Damodaram Sanjivayya
Damodaram Sanjivayya was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, India from 11 January 1960 to 12 March 1962.-Early life:...
became chief minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Andhra Pradesh. High Court again struck down the list of Other Backward Classes for including Kapu
Kapu (caste)
Kapu refers to a social grouping of the sub-castes Telaga, Balija found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching"...
community in the Other Backward Classes. Latchanna again, started state wide agitation and demanded the government of Andhra Pradesh to renew the publication of backward classes list by omitting Kapu
Kapu (caste)
Kapu refers to a social grouping of the sub-castes Telaga, Balija found primarily in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The etymology of the name is variously given as "to protect",, "agricultor" , "watchman", or "watching"...
. The case finally went to Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
to be represented by advocate P. Shiv Shankar
P. Shiv Shankar
Punjala Shiv Shankar is an Indian politician. He served as the Minister of External Affairs, Law, and Petroleum. He was a very influential minister in Indira Gandhi's and Rajiv Gandhi's cabinets and is one of the most senior politicians in India. He has also served as the governor of Sikkim and...
on behalf of government along with an advocate appointed by Latchanna on behalf of Andhra Pradesh backward classes association. Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
gave a favourable judgement asking the government of Andhra Pradesh to publish the list of backward classes caste wise establishing their social and economical backwardness. In consequence, the Government of Andhra Pradesh appointed the "Ananta Raman Commission" which recommended the list of Backward Classes by dividing them into 4 groups as A, B,C & D.
After N. T. Rama Rao
N. T. Rama Rao
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician...
came to power in Andhra Pradesh, when he cancelled Backward Classes scholarship grants against his election manifesto including cancellations of licenses of the toddy tappers co-operative societies for public auctions, Latchanna took serious objection and did satyagraha on behalf of the backward classes students and toddy tappers co-operative societies for cancelling public auctions. During N. T. Rama Rao regime with statewide agitations, Latchanna was arrested more than 14 times forcing him to take fast-unto-death to accomplish the demands. After Nadendla Bhaskara Rao
Nadendla Bhaskara Rao
Nadendla Bhaskara Rao was the chief minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh for a brief period in 1983. He holds the dubious distinction of serving the shortest term as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh – 31 days...
overthrown N. T. Rama Rao regime through coupe, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao fulfilled the demands of Latchanna.
From 1984, disgusted with opportunistic politics of different political parties, Latchanna mostly concentrated in raising awareness among oppressed classes using his monthly publication "Bahujana". He tried to join Bahujan Samaj Party
Bahujan Samaj Party
The Bahujan Samaj Party is a centrist national political party in India with socialist leanings. It was formed to chiefly represent Bahujans , referring to people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes as well as Buddhists. The party claims to be inspired by the...
under the leadership of Kanshiram for the upliftment to Schedule Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes. He announced his joining in Bahujan Samaj Party in 1994 at Hyderabad, but couldn't join the Bahujan Samaj Party due to certain ideological differences which were against backward classes of Andhra Pradesh, as he felt, Kanshiram was trying to exploit backward classes for only votes.
Political life
He was member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
for 35 years from Sompeta
Sompeta
Sompeta ' is a census town and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Sompeta is located at . It has an average elevation of 8 metres ....
constituency between 1948–83 and once member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
. Latchanna had won both the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
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
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
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
Smt
Shrimati or Srimati , abbreviated Smt., is the standard Indian honorific used when referring to an adult, married female in various Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Bengali, Hindi, and Malayalam, Telugu and sometimes in English as well . The equivalent title for men is Shri or Sri....
. Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
. He later joined Lok Dal party and then to Janata Dal
Janata Dal
Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger of Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal, Congress, and the Jan Morcha led by V. P...
party under the leadership of former prime ministers Charan Singh and Vishwanath Pratap Singh respectively.
He initially got elected as president of then Ganjam
Ganjam
Ganjam is a town and a notified area committee in Ganjam district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Ganjam is located at . It has an average elevation of 3 metres .-Demographics:...
district Congress Committee. He became member of Andhra Rashtra Congress Committee and All India Congress Committee from 1934 to 1951. From 1946 to 1951, he was elected as joint secretary of Andhra Rashtra Congress Committee. As secretary of Andhra Congress Sevadal, he conducted Congress Sevadal Officer's Training Camp for both men and women at Palasa in Srikakulam
Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a town, municipality and headquarters of Srikakulam district in the north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. It is part of Srikakulam Assembly constituency and Srikakulam Parliament Constituency. Srikakulam was formerly called as Gulshanabad during Muslim rule and was headquarter of...
.
During 1946 Madras assembly elections, he was denied congress ticket against the wishes of congress workers on the pretext of being violent when underground. Instead, Latchanna made Rokkam Rammurthy Naidu get the nomination and played a decisive role in getting him elected. When
Latchanna was in Rangoon, Babu Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
sent a telegram to Latchanna to file nomination for Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
by-election from Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
in 1948. He was elected to Madras assembly defeating both communist and socialist candidates.
In 1951, he along with Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was an Indian politician and Freedom Fighter and the first Chief Minister of the Indian province Andhra state...
and N.G. Ranga
N.G. Ranga
Gogineni Ranga nayukulu , better known as N. G. Ranga , was an Indian freedom fighter, parliamentarian, and kisan leader...
resigned Congress and organised Hyderabad State Praja Party
Hyderabad State Praja Party
Hyderabad State Praja Party, a political party in the Hyderabad State. HSPP was formed in 1951 when Tanguturi Prakasam and Acharya N. G. Ranga broke away from the Indian National Congress....
which was further split into Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party , a political party in the Hyderad State, India, existing April-June 1951. KLP was formed when Acharya N. G. Ranga broke away from the Hyderabad State Praja Party....
for peasants with N.G. Ranga
N.G. Ranga
Gogineni Ranga nayukulu , better known as N. G. Ranga , was an Indian freedom fighter, parliamentarian, and kisan leader...
as the president and Latchanna as the secretary. In 1952 first General elections of independent India, Latchanna got elected to Madras assembly along with 11 more members in the composite Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
district on Krishikar Lok Party ticket by defeating congress candidate. He then became, the leader of Krishikar Lok Party in Madras assembly.
Agitation for Andhra statehood
Gouthu Latchanna was actively involved in the separate statehood for Andhra through separation from composite Madras from 1953. When government of India constituted a partition committee under C.M. TrivediChandulal Madhavlal Trivedi
Padma Vibhushan Sir Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi, KCSI, Kt., CIE, OBE, ICS was an Indian administrator and civil servant who served as the President of the Bharat Scouts and Guides from February 1967 to October 1973. He was born and raised in Kapadwanj, Dist...
, he represented from Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party , a political party in the Hyderad State, India, existing April-June 1951. KLP was formed when Acharya N. G. Ranga broke away from the Hyderabad State Praja Party....
, T. Viswanadham from Praja Party and Sanjeeva Reddy from Congress ultimately reached its climax with fast-unto-death sacrifice of Potti Sriramulu. On October 1, 1953 Andhra state was formed with Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was an Indian politician and Freedom Fighter and the first Chief Minister of the Indian province Andhra state...
as chief minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
who rejoined Congress from Praja Party. Latchanna from Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party , a political party in the Hyderad State, India, existing April-June 1951. KLP was formed when Acharya N. G. Ranga broke away from the Hyderabad State Praja Party....
joined the cabinet of Tanguturi Prakasam in November 11, 1953 to get the working majority in assembly with Kurnool
Kurnool
Kurnool is located at . It has an average elevation of 273 metres .Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Handry and Neeva rivers also flow through the city. The K.C...
as capital. Latchanna resigned from Tanguturi Prakasam on issue of state capital in 1954.
Agitation for Toddy Tapper Cooperative Societies
In 1954, with the enactment of Prohibition Act, the excise department harassed lakhs of toddy tappers who were thrown out of employment. Latchanna organised and led the tappers satyagraha to secure rehabilitation for the unemployed tappers. More than 6000 toddy tappers court arrested and sent to jail. Yashodadevi, wife ofLatchanna did satyagraha in Guntur
Guntur
Guntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
with 25,000 tappers. Finally, when Latchanna passed no-confidence motion against Tanguturi Prakasam government, the government fell leading to mid-term elections. Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam
Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu was an Indian politician and Freedom Fighter and the first Chief Minister of the Indian province Andhra state...
, however had offered a ministerial berth with full power, was categorically rejected by Latchanna. With mid-term elections on hand, prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and president of Congress, Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
convinced N. G. Ranga, president of Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party
Krishikar Lok Party , a political party in the Hyderad State, India, existing April-June 1951. KLP was formed when Acharya N. G. Ranga broke away from the Hyderabad State Praja Party....
to merge with Congress to fight Combined Communist party. That merger was categorically rejected by Latchanna. Finally when Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
agreed to rehabilitate toddy tappers with their conventional tapping on co-operative basis and written agreement offer to oppose Congress in Visakhapatnam district, merger of Krishikar Lok Party in Congress to create "United Congress Front" had materialized.
After mid-term elections, "United Congress Front" defeated communists successfully. Latchanna joined the cabinet of Bezawada Gopala Reddy
Bezawada Gopala Reddy
Bezawada Gopala Reddy was an Indian politician. He was Chief Minister of Andhra State and Governor of Uttar Pradesh .-See also:*List of Chief Ministers of Andhra PradeshMember A.I.C.C., since 1931 ; M.L.A., Madras, 1937–46 ; was...
.
Formation of Andhra Pradesh state
After Hyderabad StateHyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
was annexed into the Indian union of states, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
speaking districts of Telangana
Telangana
Telangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
were merged into Andhra state to be called Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
on November 1, 1956. Latchanna as the minister of former Andhra state, was the signatory of Gentlemen's agreement to safeguard the interests and prevent discrimination against Telangana
Telangana
Telangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
in 1956. Owing to the personal differences with Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the sixth President of India, serving from 1977 to 1982 and was the only person to be elected President of India unopposed....
, he was not taken into cabinet in the newly formed Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
state.
Agitation for Telangana statehood
Latchanna took an active part in the agitation for the separate statehood of Telangana for which intensive Criminal Investigation DepartmentCriminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
team monitoring was initiated on him by the state along with Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Channa Reddy was an Indian politician active in several states. He was the governor of Uttar Pradesh , governor of Punjab , governor of Rajasthan from February 1992 to May 1993, and governor of Tamil Nadu from 1993 until his death. He was a leader of Indian National Congress Party...
and Mallikarjun Goud
Mallikarjun Goud
Dr. Mallikarjun Goud was a Union Minster, President of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, and six-term member of the Parliament of India...
. When the agitaiton took serious and violent turn, prime minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
visited Hyderabad and succeeded in making Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Channa Reddy was an Indian politician active in several states. He was the governor of Uttar Pradesh , governor of Punjab , governor of Rajasthan from February 1992 to May 1993, and governor of Tamil Nadu from 1993 until his death. He was a leader of Indian National Congress Party...
call off the agitation.
Later, Latchanna took active part in the creation of "Andhra Pradesh Democratic Front" along with Congress dissident Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Chenna Reddy
Marri Channa Reddy was an Indian politician active in several states. He was the governor of Uttar Pradesh , governor of Punjab , governor of Rajasthan from February 1992 to May 1993, and governor of Tamil Nadu from 1993 until his death. He was a leader of Indian National Congress Party...
and socialist leader P.V.G.Raju. In 1958, when C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
, president of Swatantra Party
Swatantra Party
The Swatantra Party was a classical liberal political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and N. G. Ranga in August 1959. The party opposed the Nehruvian socialist outlook of the Congress Party by advocating free enterprise and free trade, and opposing the licence-permit Raj...
visited Hyderabad, Latchanna joined Swatantra Party
Swatantra Party
The Swatantra Party was a classical liberal political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and N. G. Ranga in August 1959. The party opposed the Nehruvian socialist outlook of the Congress Party by advocating free enterprise and free trade, and opposing the licence-permit Raj...
by dissolving "Andhra Pradesh Democratic Front". Latchanna was taken into executive committee and parliamentary board of the Swatantra Party
Swatantra Party
The Swatantra Party was a classical liberal political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and N. G. Ranga in August 1959. The party opposed the Nehruvian socialist outlook of the Congress Party by advocating free enterprise and free trade, and opposing the licence-permit Raj...
as vice-president in 1959. In 1962, Latchanna started state wise agitation against enactment of 100% enhancement of land revenue and filed a writ petition in high court of Andhra Pradesh leading to the declaration as null and void by the high court.
Swatantra Party and Democratic Front
In 1967 general elections, Swatantra PartySwatantra Party
The Swatantra Party was a classical liberal political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and N. G. Ranga in August 1959. The party opposed the Nehruvian socialist outlook of the Congress Party by advocating free enterprise and free trade, and opposing the licence-permit Raj...
won 27 MLAs and 3 Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
seats. 3 MLAs defected and 1 joined in as an associate member. Swatantra Party forged an alliance with "Jana Congress Party" to form "Democratic Front". This "Democratic Front" was recognised as official opposition party in state assembly led by, Latchanna. Latchanna got elected from both Sompeta
Sompeta
Sompeta ' is a census town and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Sompeta is located at . It has an average elevation of 8 metres ....
assembly and Srikakulam
Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a town, municipality and headquarters of Srikakulam district in the north-eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. It is part of Srikakulam Assembly constituency and Srikakulam Parliament Constituency. Srikakulam was formerly called as Gulshanabad during Muslim rule and was headquarter of...
parliamentary constituency on Swatantra Party ticket. As N.G. Ranga
N.G. Ranga
Gogineni Ranga nayukulu , better known as N. G. Ranga , was an Indian freedom fighter, parliamentarian, and kisan leader...
lost his election from Chittoor
Chittoor
Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a City and municipal corporation located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is conveniently located on major highways linking the cities of Bangalore and Chennai....
, Latchanna resigned Srikakulam parliamentary seat to make N.G. Ranga elected to Lok Sabha while Latchanna became the opposition leader in assembly of Andhra
Pradesh, as well as state president of Swatantra Party.
Latchanna, as opposition leader in assembly, launched state-wide agitation for the withdrawal of
"Land Revenue Enhancement Act 1967" and for abolition of "Land Revenue" altogether. Swatantra party led by G. Latchanna along with P. Rajagopal Naidu and Bharati Devi in Andhra Pradesh state assembly opposed
- Land Ceiling Bill.
- Additional Land Revenue Assessment Bill.
- Agricultural Marketing Bill which makes selling of agriculture commodities by peasants as crime.
- Imposition of compulsory levy of foodgrains
- Controls on foodgrains
- Banning of movement of foodgrains to and from Belt areas on the borders of neighbouring states
- Compulsory Levies on peasants for repairing water sources.
- Collection of contributions and loans from poor peasants for the so called plan schemes like defence funds and national savings schemes.
- Inclusion of dry lands receiving water since 10 years under irrigation sources in their ayacut permanently and succeeded in making the government accept the proposal.
- In regard to demand for the splitting up of Joint Pattas as and when peasants set up separate family units. They made the Government to come with a bill for the purpose and got it passed.
- They fought for the distribution of banjar lands to the landless poor.
- They forced the government to agree to let Sugar crop factories elect their directors instead of nominating them.
- They achieved the abolition of "Tol Gates" in TelanganaTelanganaTelangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
. - They made the government agree to the payment of arrears to the Pattadars in TelanganaTelanganaTelangana is a region in the present state of Andhra Pradesh, India and formerly was part of Hyderabad state which was ruled by Nizam. It is bordered with the states of Maharashtra on the north and north-west, Karnataka on the west, Chattisgarh on the north-east and Orissa to the east...
for tapping toddy trees. - They pleaded for continuation of educational concessions to all the backward classes and also for their classification as per their caste.
Agitation for Jai Andhra Movement
In 1972, Latchanna took a leading role in the "Jai Andhra" movement started by students of Andhra UniversityAndhra University
Andhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
demanding the division of Andhra Pradesh into old Andhra state and Telangana state on the issue of "Mulkhi" rules. He was imprisoned in Mushirabad central jail and released in 1973.
Emergency in India
In 1975, following the State Emergency declared by Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
, Latchanna was arrested on the same night in Srikalahasti
Srikalahasti
Srikalahasti , is a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. It is also informally and wrongly referred to as Kalahasti...
where he was attending a relatives marriage and sent to Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
central jail and was released in 1977 after the withdrawal of Emergency. Upon release, he went to New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
to attend all opposition parties conference convened and presided by Jaya Prakash Narayan, the founder of Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
.
In 1977 general elections, Latchanna was elected to the Andhra Pradesh assembly from Janata Party
Janata Party
The Janata Party was an amalgam of Indian political parties opposed to the state of emergency imposed by the government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and her Indian National Congress...
ticket and was recognised officially, as the opposition leader, as Janata Legislature Party was the main opposition party in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. After the demise of C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
, Swatantra Party
Swatantra Party
The Swatantra Party was a classical liberal political party in India founded by Chakravarti Rajagopalachari and N. G. Ranga in August 1959. The party opposed the Nehruvian socialist outlook of the Congress Party by advocating free enterprise and free trade, and opposing the licence-permit Raj...
was merged into Lok Dal headed by Charan Singh. Latchanna was elected as the president of Andhra Pradesh state Lok Dal. Lok Dal candidates including Latchanna suffered with film actor N. T. Rama Rao
N. T. Rama Rao
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician...
wave of Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party
Telugu Desam Party or TDP is a regional political party in India's Andhra Pradesh state. It was founded by former Telugu film star N. T...
in 1983 general elections. Latchanna lost the elections for the first time strangely not to Telugu Desam Party candidate, but instead to Congress candidate
Latchanna was elected to assembly continuously from 1952 till 1983 by losing once in 1983. During this time, he was elected to Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
of Andhra Pradesh. During mid-term elections for Sompeta
Sompeta
Sompeta ' is a census town and Mandal headquarters in Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Sompeta is located at . It has an average elevation of 8 metres ....
, Telugu Desam Party gave the ticket to Latchanna son, Gouthu Shyam Sunder Shivaji. Latchanna too filed the nomination as independent candidate, but withdrew in last with major differences between son and Latchanna. When Telugu Desam Party denied ticket to Gouthu Shivaji in 1989 elections, Latchanna supported his son as independent and got him elected
successfully.
Honors
- ThotapalliThotapalliThotapalli or Thota Palli is a village in Nagaram mandal, Guntur District, Andra Pradesh, India.Thotapalli is located in the coastal area of Andra Pradesh. Agriculture is its main source of occupation. There are many educated people serving the country in many fields.It is very small village....
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.
- In 1997, Andhra UniversityAndhra UniversityAndhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
of VisakhapatnamVisakhapatnamVisakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
honoured him DoctorateDoctorateA doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
. - In 1999, Nagarjuna University of GunturGunturGuntur , is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located to the north and west of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately to the south of the national capital, New Delhi and south east of state capital, Hyderabad. Guntur is the fourth largest city in Andhra...
honoured him with a Doctorate. - Statues for Sardar Gouthu Latchana.
Autobiography
- Naa Jeevitam (Autobiography) in TeluguTelugu languageTelugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
written by Gouthu Latchanna, 2001.