Gottipati Brahmayya (3 December 1889 – 1984) was a

freedom fighter A resistance movement is an organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to withstand the legally established government or an occupying power and to disrupt civil order and stability. It may seek to achieve its objectives ...

, popularly known as ''Ryotu Pedda'' (Leader of Farmers). He was awarded the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

in 1982.

Early life

Brahmayya was born in 1889 in a Kamma family in Ghantasala (Divi Taluka of Krishna district) in

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

; he was educated at Noble High School,

Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar, is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the mandal headquarte ...

, he organized the library movement and the adult education movement in 1917. He was also the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

of District Congress Committee during 1922-1923. He was the founder of the Khadi Consumers' and Producers' Society at Ghantasala and became President of Krishna Khadi Board during 1923-1929.

Freedom fighter

Brahmayya was one of the pioneers of the Zamindari Ryot Movement. He participated in the boycott of the Simon Commission in 1927. He was sentenced to imprisonment for one year and six months in 1930 for participating in the black flag demonstration against the then Governor’s visit to

. He was imprisoned in

Rajahmundry Rajahmundry, officially known as Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and District headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the sixth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the District of Rajah ...

, Berhampore and

Vellore Vellore (English: ), also spelt as Velur (), is a city and the administrative headquarters of Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Palar River in the northeastern part of Tamil Nadu and is separ ...

jails. He again took part in the civil disobedience movement and was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in

Bellary Bellary, officially Ballari, in the eponymous Bellary district, is a city in the state of Karnataka, India. History Bellary was a part of Rayalaseema (Ceded Districts) which was part of Madras Presidency till 1 November 1956. The Ballari ...

, Madras and

Cuddalore Cuddalore, also spelt as Kadalur (), is the city and headquarters of the Cuddalore District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Situated south of Chennai, Cuddalore was an important port during the British Raj. While the early history of Cudda ...

jails. He was responsible for the temple entry of

dalits Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming ...

at Ghantasala in 1933. He was General Secretary of Andhra Provincial Congress Committee during 1937-1940. He was again detained for participating in the Quit India movement in 1942 and placed in

and

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

prisons.

Politician in independent India

After independence, Brahmayya became President of

Congress Committee in 1962. He served as Chairman of

Legislative Council from 1964 to 1968. He was conferred with a doctorate "Kalaprapoorna" by

Andhra University Andhra University ( IAST: ''Āndhra Vișvakalāpariṣhat'') is a public university located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established in 1926. History King Vikram Deo Verma, the Maharaja of Jeypore was one of the biggest d ...

. Brahmayya 's autobiography ''Naa Jeevana Nauka'' was published in the Telugu daily newspaper ''Andhra Jyothi'' in the late 1970s.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brahmaiah, Gottipati Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in social work People from Krishna district 1889 births 1984 deaths Members of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Indian independence activists from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian politicians