Desabhakta: The Colossus: A Study of Eminent Freedom Fighter

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. The making of a leader. 3. Father of Andhra movement. 4. Eminent Gandhian non-cooperator. 5. The great Andhra crusader of Indian Independence. 6. Multifaceted personality. 7. Review and conclusions. Glossary. Bibliography.

Konda Venkatappayya, popularly known as Desabhakta, was a unique celebrity in Modern Andhra history. He entered into Indian politics much earlier than Gandhi and gave up his lucrative legal profession even in 1915 to devote himself to the service of the people. The inspirer of this peerless sacrifice was Gopalakrishna Gokhale, whom Venkatappayya looked as his political guru. He became an ardent follower of Gandhi and participated in every movement led by Gandhi to throw away the British rule from India.

He rose to the august office of the President of the Indian National Congress as far back as 1923. Further, Venkatappayya was the earliest to ask for a separate Andhra State visualizing and in a way heralding the administrative divisions of India into linguistic provinces. Though in the initial stages of his political life, he was hesitant to participate in cosmopolitan luncheons, he later took to the eradication of untouchability apart from other social service activities. He was also an early leader of the Telugu Fourth Estate and happened to be one of the founders of Krishna Patrika which instilled nationalistic feeling among the Telugus. (jacket)