Alluri Sitarama Raju’s sacrifice is a glorious chapter in India’s freedom struggle: President Murmu

HYDERABAD: Alluri Sitarama Raju's fight against injustice and exploitation besides his sacrifice at the age of 27 is a glorious chapter in the Indian freedom struggle, said President Draupadi Murmu on the occasion of the iconic revolutionary’s 125th birth anniversary in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

"On the birth anniversary of ‘manyam veerudu’ Alluri Sitarama Raju, the heroic son of Mother India, I consider it my great privilege to join all my countrymen in paying homage to him," Murmu said in her address at the closing ceremony of the celebrations held at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.

She said that Alluri Sitaram Raju, forced by circumstances, staged a rebellion in the interest of tribal identity, rights and lifestyle, the legacy of which would always inspire future generations. She felt that his life-character was an example of unity for the entire country in ensuring a society that is free of caste and class discrimination. “The tribal community entirely embraced him and he owned the tribal society's joys and sadness his own,” she said.

"On this auspicious occasion, I request the intellectuals, especially the sociologists and historians, to make the countrymen, especially the younger generation, aware of the contribution of freedom fighters like Alluri Sitarama Raju," Draupadi Murmu said. The primary message of Alluri Sitarama Raju's life was to fight selflessly for the underprivileged and needy."

The President also virtually inaugurated a 30-foot bronze statue and a memorial forest dedicated to Alluri Sitaramaraju in Bhimavaram of West Godavari district, from Hyderabad.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that the sacrifice of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju, who fought against British rule for the country's Independence and self-governance, was commendable.

The Chief Minister said that it was a privilege to participate in the historic closing ceremony of Alluri Sitarama Raju's 125th birth anniversary celebrations in Hyderabad, in which the President was also present.

KCR said that Alluri sparked a magnificent spirit in the independence movement for self-rule while breathing the air of freedom. He said that listening to songs that conveyed the spirit of Alluri gave him a lot of inspiration throughout the Telangana struggle. The Chief Minister said unequivocally that Alluri's name from the Telugu soil would go down in history along with great heroes such as Bhagat Singh who fought in the country's independence movement.

He said that Alluri's unparalleled bravery and fighting spirit against the then-British colonial rule for tribal rights were indelible. He said that many individuals participated in the liberation struggle after getting inspired by Sitarama Raju.

The Chief Minister felicitated the representatives of Kshatriya Seva Samiti, the organisers of the 125th anniversary celebrations of Alluri Sitaramaraju, at the end of the event.

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Kishan Reddy, who also attended the event, described Alluri as a symbol of India's culture, tribal identity, valour, principles and values. “Alluri devoted his life to tribal society's rights, happiness and upliftment and his sacrifice and life journey were an inspiration to all of us,” said the Union minister.