Budda Vengal Reddy (30 May 1822 – 31 December 1900) was an Indian philanthropist during British rule, who saved thousands of people from death due to starvation.ABN Andhra Jyothi TV. The details start at 1:45 in the video cli
History of India and world , Budda Vengal Reddy , Time Capsule
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Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

of the

British empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...

recognized his philanthropy and presented a gold medal to him.

Early life

Budda Vengal Reddy was born on 30 May 1822 at Uyyalawada village, located in present day

Kurnool District Kurnool district is one of the eight districts in the Rayalaseema region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located in the North western part of the state and is bounded by Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana in the north, Raich ...

which is on the banks of

Kundu River The Kundu River also known as ''Kunderu'', ''Kumudvathi'' is a tributary of the Penna River in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Originating as a spring near the village of Uppalapadu in Orvakal Mandal of Kurnool District, it go ...

Philanthropy

Vengal Reddy was known for his generosity. During the great famine of 1866, called "Kshaya famine" because it occurred during the year called "Kshaya" (as per the Telugu calendar), donated all his grain, 140,000 kilograms, to prepare food and feed the poor and hungry. When he ran out of his grain stock, he borrowed from other wealthy landlords and continued the feeding. Every day, he provided gruel for more than 16,000 people.

Recognition from Queen Victoria

recognized his philanthropy and presented a gold medal to Vengal Reddy. This medal is still in the family of Vengal Reddy. He was also made a Member of Provincial Jury and Honorary Member of Madras Governor's Council.

Sun and Moon of Renadu

Both Budda Vengal Reddy and

Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy was an Indian freedom fighter leader. The son of a former Telugu Palegaadu Mallareddy and Seethamma, Narasimha Reddy was born in Rupanagudi village, on 24 November 1806. He belonged to the Motati Clan of Reddy's. He ...

hailed from the same village, Uyyalawada. They are popularly known as "Sun and Moon of Renadu". Narasimha Reddy is considered the sun and Vengal Reddy the moon.

Memorial Committee for The Sun and Moon of Renadu

A committee (Renati Surya Chandrula Smaraka Samithi) was formed to preserve the memory of two great leaders of that time (

and the Philanthropist Budda Vengal Reddy, both were born in Uyyalawada village). Sri Pocha Brahmananda Reddy is the founding president of this committee. A book (both in Telugu and English languages) titled "Renati Surya Chandrulu" (The Sun and Moon of Renadu) was published by this committee in 2015 (5th Edition of Telugu version was published on 22-Feb-2016). It contains the excerpts from research papers by eminent historiansProf. Tangirala Venkta subbarao, "Telugu Veera Gadha Kavitvam (Ballard Poetry in Telugu)" PhD Thesis (submitted in 1968 and published as a book in 2013 by 'Sri Rasa' Sri Krishna Devaraya Rasagya Samaskya, Benguluru, 2013 Budda Vengala Reddy died on 31 December 1900.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Budda Vengala Reddy Telugu people People from Rayalaseema People from Kurnool district 1822 births 1900 deaths