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Source: Swarajya

Context

At the 128th birth anniversary celebrations for Alluri Sitarama Raju, Union Defence Minister hailed his efforts to India's freedom struggle and underlined the government's goal of eradicating the Maoist insurgency by August 2026.

About Alluri Sitarama Raju

• Alluri Sitarama Raju was a daring rebel and freedom warrior who led a tribal uprising against British colonial power.
• Despite not being a native person, he is venerated for preserving indigenous rights and life.
• He was born on July 4, 1897, in Mogallu village, near Bhimavaram in modern-day Andhra Pradesh, and worked primarily in the Eastern Ghats Agency portions of the state.

Historical Significance

• Raju acquired his early education in his village before moving to Visakhapatnam.
• By the age of 18, he had given up worldly life to become a sanyasi, traveling through forests and hills and bonding deeply with indigenous groups.
• He was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement and pushed tribals to shun British institutions.
• When peaceful measures failed to produce results, he resorted to military resistance.

• After a major effort over nearly two years, the British ultimately captured Alluri in the forests of Chintapalle; he was subsequently chained to a tree and shot on May 7, 1924, in the village of Koyyuru.
• His grave is currently located in the village of Krishnadevipeta, near Visakhapatnam.
• Everyone recognises young Alluri's extraordinary efforts in fighting an all-out battle against one of the most powerful empires without the use of governmental authority.
• The British government reluctantly acknowledged him as a powerful tactician of guerrilla warfare that lasted over two years, despite the fact that they had to spend over 40 lakhs in those days to defeat him.

Source: The Hindu