Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy

Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is credited to be one of the first freedom fighters in India. His was the first revolts in India against British occupation, 10 years earlier than the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857.Nearly 60 villages are under the control of reddy.some of them are uyyalawada,gulladurti,harivaram,uppaluru,kotthakota.Now these villages are in Prakasam,kurnool,kadapa,Ananthapur districts of AP and Ballari region of Karnataka

Early life

Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy was born to Uyyalawada Peddamalla Reddy in Uyyalawada, located in present day Kurnool District which is on the banks of Kundu River. His father Peddamalla Reddy and his grand father Jayarami Reddy were local chieftains (Polygars) of Koilkuntla.

Background and uprising

Narasimha Reddy, as a polygar of Koilkuntla was in command of 66 villages in Kadapa, Anantapur, Bellary and Kurnool districts and controlled an army of 2000. After Rayalaseema was ceded to the British by the Nizam, Narasimha Reddy refused to share the revenue of the region with the British. He was in favor of an armed uprising. On 10 June 1846 he attacked the treasury at Koilkuntla and marched towards Cumbum (Prakasam District). On the way, he created uproar at Rudravaram by killing the forest ranger. The district collector, Thomas Monroe, took a serious view of the rebellion and ordered his capture. Early attempts to capture him under Captain Knot and Watson were unsuccessful.The British government announced Rs 5000/ for the information and Rs 10000/ for his head which was a huge amount in those days.

Capture and death

Narasimha Reddy with his army attacked the British forces camped at Giddaluru on 23 July 1846 and defeated them. Unable to capture him, the British imprisoned his family at Kadapa. In an attempt to free his family Narasimha Reddy moved to nallamal in village Parusomula.someone in the village inform this to collector. then the British tightened his movements in Nallamala, Narasimha Reddy came back to Koilkuntla area and hid in Jagannatha Konda near the village of Ramabhadrunipalle. An informant brought to the notice of British authorities of his whereabouts and his followers. The area was surrounded by armed forces at night. He was caught at midnight of 6 October 1846. Reddy was humiliated before being brought to Koilkuntla. He was tied with heavy chains and with blood stained clothes paraded in the streets of Koilkuntla so that no other person should dare to revolt against the British.[1] He was charged with murder and treason and sentenced to death. On 22 February, Reddy was hanged publicly by the British in Koilkuntla on the banks of a nearby river.[2] His head was hanged to the fort of koilakuntla about 30 years after his death (that is from 1847 to 1877)

Monuments

Forts built by Narasimha Reddy still exist at places like Nossam,Uyyalawada, Rupanagudi, Gulladurthi, Uppaluru and Giddaluru. His story is live in Rayalaseema particularly Kurnool and Kadapa.

Memorial committee

A committee was formed to develop Jagannatha Konda as a memorial monument of Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. The committee consists of eminent political personalities. Silpa Chakrapani Reddy is honorary president to the committee. Kaipa Prathap Reddy, Kasipuram Prabhakara Reddy, Gangula Janardhan Reddy, Palukuru Gopal Reddy and many local leaders were founding members. There are plans to erect a statue of Narasimha Reddy and to publish the historical importance of the site.[3]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Taming the wild written by Janaki Ram in pages 133 to 135
  2. ↑ Paalegadu, by SDV. Azeez.
  3. ↑ Sakshi Telugu Daily Kurnool district tabloid.
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