Question

Who was Alluri Sitaraman Raju? Explain his role in inspiring the rebels with Gandhi's ideas.

Answer 1

Hint: Alluri Sitaraman Raju was an Indian tribal revolutionary who is credited for leading the famous Rampa Revolt along with his tribal clan members in Andhra Pradesh. He was a great follower of Mahatma Gandhi but had a contrasting opinion on achieving Swaraj.

Complete answer:
Alluri Sitaraman Raju was born on July 4th, 1897 in Mogallu village, Andhra Pradesh. He was known as the tribal chieftain of the Gudem Hills in Andhra Pradesh. People believed that he was unique and possessed special powers. He was able to make accurate astrological predictions, heal people, and also was said to survive the bullet shots. He had a lot of support from the rural base. He is associated with the famous Rampa Revolt (1922-24), where he organized the tribal people from Visakhapatnam and parts of the Eastern Godavari region against the British. They attempted to kill many British officials, attacked the Gudem police station, and hoarded ammunition through guerrilla revolt. They were inspired by the Bengal revolutionaries and believed that Swaraj could only come by the use of force. Alluri was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. He believed in the movement of Non-cooperation and persuaded his followers to wear Khadi and give up drinking. He also adopted other Gandhian ideas, like the boycott of colonial courts and favored local courts. However, Gandhi’s stance on the attainment of Swaraj differed from that of Alluri. While he favored nonviolence, Alluri supported violence for people’s liberation.

Note: He is known as the ‘ Hero of the jungles’ and remembered for the great sacrifices he made. He is also associated with the opposing 1882 Madras Forest Act, which put the lives of tribals in danger due to restrictions, which led to the Rampa Rebellion.