Bodepudi Venkateswara Rao

In 1992, Bodepudi was elected as the president of Rastra Raithu Sanga Mahasabhalu in Madhira and in 1995, he was elected as the president of Rastra Raithu Sanga Mahasabhalu in Bhimavaram.

Bodepudi contested from Madhira Constituency as the member of Legislative Assembly and won against Seelam Sidha Reddy continuously in the Legislative Assembly elections of the year 1985, 1989, 1994 AP Elections Commissions. Bodepudi represented / Led Communist Party of India (Marxist)” [CPI(M)] party in the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh from 1989 to 1997. Bodepudi was the CPI(M) State committee member in the State Assembly and President of Rythu Coolie Sangham State committee from 1977 to 1990.

Bodepudi served as CPI(M) State representative (Karyavarga Sabhyudu) from 1985 to 1989.

In 1974 he was arrested in the Railway Strike and imprisoned for 45 days in Warangal central Jail and Musheerabad Prison. Bodepudi Venkateswara Rao was arrested by the Government of India on 26, June 1975 during the emergency period and was held at Warangal central Jail until 1977. During this time he learnt to read, speak and write English.

Bodepudi contested but lost in the elections conducted in 1972, 1977, 1983 from Madhira Constituency as the member of Legislative Assembly.

In 1964, Communist party of India(CPI) split into two as (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M), he chose CPI(M) and joined it as a district level party member.

On 29 December 1964, Bodepudi was arrested by the Government of India accusing him as a secret agent of China. He was imprisoned in Rajahmundry Jail, was later moved to Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad and was released in March 1969.

In 1958, Bodepudi was elected as the district party member and later grew to state level and also was a key activist of Raitu Coolie Sangham.

In 1952, during general elections, he worked relentlessly with Chirravuri Lakshmi Narasaiah, Kesavarao to nurture the Communist party of India (CPI) and made it very strong. He was elected as the member of Wyra Somavaram Panchayat.

From 1952 to 1955, he worked as an active member of Madhira Communist party of India (CPI).

During 1949, he marched with 20 farmers from his village and led hundreds of farmers who joined him on the way to Vijayawada for Akhila Bharata Kisan Maha Sabhaalu. (All India Kisan Sabha) This was mentioned as the biggest successful farmers march across India.

On 15 August 1947, an arrest warrant was issued against Bodepudi Venkateswara Rao. He went into exile and lived in the village Nemali, Krishna District. Here he met the great leader Puchalapalli Sundarayya and was inspired by him. Later Bodepudi became the official political organiser for Madhira Mandalam.

In 1945, he became a member of Madhira Taluka Communist party of India(CPI) and went into exile as the then Government of India had banned the party. He then actively participated in Bhuswamy Vyatireka Udymamam / Telangana Rebellion and Peasant Revolts.

In 1944, he contributed to the major success of the meeting held by Ravi Nararayana Reddy, the founding member of Communist party of India (CPI). Bodepudi was the first person to hoist the Indian national flag in his village Gandagalapadu before independence was declared.

In 1939, Bodepudi was inspired by the then leaders Vasireddy Venkatapathy, Vattigonda Nageswararao and Patibandla Satyanarayana and was greatly attracted to the principles of Communist party of India (CPI). Though he was a peasant, he was motivated by the Movement of Andhra Maha Sabha and worked for the party during the nights. He acted as a courier carrying messages between Seshagiri Rao and other leaders in exile. In 1942, he joined Andhra Mahasabha at an official capacity and contributed to its success.

He led the revolution against the Razakars and Feudal landlords and saw that 1938 acres of fertile land was distributed to the farmers of 24 villages in Andhra Pradesh. Fought against excess tax levied on the Nizam farming lands and got it relaxed.

Bodepudi Venkateswara Rao (bodepudi venkateswara ˈraʊ) born April 2, 1922, was an Indian political leader. A member of the legislative assembly continuously for three terms serving the “Communist Party of India (Marxist)” [CPI(M)], Venkateswara Rao was previously a social reformer from the state of Telangana (erstwhile part of Andhra Pradesh). He gained a lot of prominence in the state and the country for his persistent efforts to improve the lives of the downtrodden. He won the hearts of millions of peasants and farmers from Khammam District, Telangana, India.