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	'''Pendyala Varavara Rao''' (born 3 November 1940) is an Indian activist, poet, teacher, and writer from [[Telangana]], India. He is an accused in the [[2018 Bhima Koregaon violence]] and has been arrested under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]].<ref>{{cite web \|title=Bhima Koregaon violence probe: Police claim conclusive proof against activists, seize 'letters' planning 'big action' \|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/bhima-koregaon-violence-probe-police-claim-conclusive-proof-against-activists-seize-letters-planning-big-action-5088531.html \|website=First Post \|access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref>		'''Pendyala Varavara Rao''' (born 3 November 1940) is an Indian activist, poet, teacher, and writer from [[Telangana]], India. He is an accused in the [[2018 Bhima Koregaon violence]] and has been arrested under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]].<ref>{{cite web \|title=Bhima Koregaon violence probe: Police claim conclusive proof against activists, seize 'letters' planning 'big action' \|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/bhima-koregaon-violence-probe-police-claim-conclusive-proof-against-activists-seize-letters-planning-big-action-5088531.html \|website=First Post \|access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref> Rao was arrested on the charge of plotting to assassinate [[Narendra Modi\|Indian prime minister]].<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Rao \|first1=Srinivas \|title=Modi assassination plot: Maoist ideologue P Vara Vara Rao arrested from Hyderabad, say family members \|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-assassination-plot-maoist-ideologue-p-vara-vara-rao-arrested-from-hyderabad-say-family-members/story-8gxOtJMqgXSuQUybImpCrL.html \|website=HT \|publisher=HT \|access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref>

	== Personal life and education ==		== Personal life and education ==
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	[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]		[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
			[[Category:Osmania University alumni]]
			[[Category:People from Warangal]]
			[[Category:Telangana movement]]

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{{short description|Indian writer (born 1940)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
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| occupation = Activist, poet, journalist, literary critic, and public speaker
| language = Telugu
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| alma_mater = [[Osmania University]]
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'''Pendyala Varavara Rao''' (born 3 November 1940) is an Indian activist, poet, teacher, and writer from [[Telangana]], India. He is an accused in the [[2018 Bhima Koregaon violence]] and has been arrested under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bhima Koregaon violence probe: Police claim conclusive proof against activists, seize 'letters' planning 'big action' |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/bhima-koregaon-violence-probe-police-claim-conclusive-proof-against-activists-seize-letters-planning-big-action-5088531.html |website=First Post |access-date=21 November 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life and education ==

Pendyala Varavara Rao was born on 3 November 1940 in Chinna Pendyala, [[Warangal]] district into a Telugu Brahmin family.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-07-17|title=Varavara Rao: Understanding his politics, literary work, and the Elgar Parishad case|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/varavara-rao-politics-jail-coronavirus-6510434/|access-date=2020-07-17|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> He studied at Chinna Pendyala, [[Warangal]] and [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]. In 1960, he completed a post-graduate degree in Telugu literature from [[Osmania University]].<ref name=":0" />

== Career and teaching ==
Rao initially taught Telugu literature at two different private colleges in Telangana, before joining the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] of the [[Government of India]] as a publication assistant.<ref name=":0" /> He retired from teaching in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Venugopal|first=N.|title=Charges against activist VV Rao echo cases he's faced for 45 years – but never been found guilty of|url=https://scroll.in/article/895697/new-charges-against-varavara-rao-echo-cases-hes-faced-for-45-years-but-never-been-found-guilty-of|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref>

But later he left research to join a private college at Siddipet, Medak district as a lecturer. From there he switched over to DAVP, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, New Delhi to work as a Publication Assistant. Again he left the job to join as a lecturer in another private college at Jadcherla, [[Mahabubnagar]] district. He moved to Warangal to join Chanda Kanthaiah Memorial College (CKM College) where he worked as Telugu lecturer and later became its principal.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

== Writing ==
Rao is considered as one of the best critics in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] literature and taught Telugu literature to graduate and undergraduate students for about 40 years. He is known as an orator and had addressed thousands of public gatherings.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

=== Publications and editorial work ===
In 1966, Rao founded a group called ''Saahithee Mithrulu'' (Friends of Literature), which started producing a literary journal called ''Srujana''.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|date=29 Aug 2018|title=Sub-Heading -'A Maoist Ideologue' in 'Urban Naxal' Varavara Rao No Stranger to Political Imprisonments|publisher=The Quint|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/varavara-rao-profile-no-stranger-to-political-imprisonment-bhima-koregaon}}</ref> The journal was initially published on a quarterly basis, but following wide popularity, it became a monthly journal in 1970.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Writing as Righting: The Politics and Poetics of Varavara Rao|url=https://thewire.in/rights/varavara-rao-poet-rights-activist-elgar-parishad|access-date=2020-07-23|website=The Wire}}</ref> ''Srujana'' was published from 1966 to 1992, and focused on publishing the works of young, local poets.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2016-07-01|title=The poet as the revolutionary - Talking with Varavara Rao » RAIOT|url=https://www.raiot.in/the-poet-as-the-revolutionary-talking-with-varavara-rao/|access-date=2020-07-18|website=RAIOT|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Srujana'' was later replaced with a new journal named ''Arunatara''.<ref name=":2" /> Rao, along with a group of Telugu writers, periodically self-published stories, poems, and other literature, and sold them directly to book sellers.<ref name=":2" />

=== Poetry ===
Rao began publishing poetry in the late 1950s in journals and magazines, and his first poetry collection ''Chali Negallu'' (Camp Fires) was published in 1968.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Varavara Rao (poet) - India - Poetry International|url=https://www.poetryinternational.org/pi/poet/15346/Varavara-Rao/en/tile|access-date=2020-07-18|website=www.poetryinternational.org}}</ref>

Varavara Rao has published fifteen poetry collections of his own besides editing a number of poetry anthologies.<ref name=":1" /> His poetry collections are: ''Chali Negallu'' (Camp Fires, 1968), ''Jeevanaadi'' (Pulse, 1970), ''Ooregimpu'' (Procession, 1973), ''Swechcha'' (Freedom, 1978), ''Samudram'' (Sea, 1983), ''Bhavishyathu Chitrapatam'' (Portrait of the Future, 1986), ''Muktakantam'' (Free Throat, 1990), ''Aa Rojulu'' (Those Days, 1998), ''Unnadedo Unnattu'' (As it is, 2000), ''Dagdhamauthunna Bagdad'' (Burning Bagdad, 2003), ''Mounam Oka Yuddhaneram'' (Silence is a War Crime, 2003), ''Antassootram'' (Undercurrent, 2006), ''Telangana Veeragatha'' (Legend of Telangana, 2007), ''Palapitta Paata'' (Song of Palapitta, 2007) and ''Beejabhoomi'' (Field of Seeds, 2014). In 2008, an anthology of selected poetry by Rao, titled ''Varavara Rao Kavitvam (1957-2007), (Varavara Rao's Poetry'') was published.<ref name=":3" />

Rao's work has been translated into English by Dr. D Venkat Rao (professor at the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad.<ref name=":3" />

His poetry has been translated into almost all Indian languages. His poetry collections appeared in [[Malayalam]], [[Kannada]] and [[Hindi]] and a few [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Hindi]] literary journals brought out special numbers of his poetry and writings.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

n 1986, one of his poetry anthologies ''Bhavishyathu Chitrapatam'' (Portrait of the Future) was banned by the state government. {{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

=== Criticism ===
Rao's book, '[[Telangana]] Liberation Struggle and Telugu Novel – A Study into Interconnection between Society and Literature' (1983) is considered to be landmark in [[Marxist literary criticism]] in Telugu.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He published half-a-dozen volumes of literary criticism and a volume of his editorials in ''Srujana''.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

=== Prison diaries ===
During his periods of incarceration, Rao maintained and published a personal journal, ''Sahacharulu'' (1990), which was translated into English and published in 2010 as 'Captive Imagination'.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":5" /> He also translated [[Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o]]'s prison diary, ''Detained'' and novel, ''[[Devil on the Cross]]'' into Telugu.<ref name=":0" />

== Political activism ==

=== 1960s: Founding of Virasam ===
In 1967, Rao formed part of a generation of writers and poets that criticized the Telugu literary community's disengagement with politics. He was instrumental in founding two writer's associations that actively engaged in politics; the Tirugubatu Kavulu (Association of Rebel Poets) in [[Warangal]], and the Viplava Rachayitala Sangham (Revolutionary Writers’ Association), popularly known as Virasam, in 1970.<ref name=":0" /> The group was inspired by the [[Naxalbari uprising|Naxalbari]] uprising<ref name=":5" /> and the Other members of Virasam included author [[Kodavatiganti Kutumbarao|Kutumba Rao]], dramatist [[Rachakonda Viswanatha Sastry|Rachakonda Viswanatha Sastri]], poet and historian K.V. Ramana Reddy, [[Jwalamukhi (poet)|Jwalamukhi]], [[:te:నిఖిలేశ్వర్|Nikhileswar]], Nagna Muni and [[Cherabanda Raju]].<ref name=":5" /> Virasam was closely associated with Dalit politics.<ref name=":5" /> As a member of Virasam, Rao participated in educational campaigns and contributed to several anthologies of writing published by authors connected with Virasam.<ref name=":0" /> He has been part of the executive committee of Virasam since its inception.<ref name=":1" /> Virasam was subsequently banned by the Andhra Pradesh State Government in 2005, for one year, under the Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act, 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cherian|first=Saji|date=23 August 2005|title=The States Of Denial|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-states-of-denial/228369|access-date=2020-07-24|website=Outlook India}}</ref> It was banned again in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bureau|first=Our Regional|date=2005-08-18|title=Government re-imposes ban on Maoists|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/government-re-imposes-ban-on-maoists-105081801054_1.html|access-date=2020-07-24}}</ref>

=== 1973–75: Imprisonment during the Emergency ===
Rao was initially arrested in 1973 by the Andhra Pradesh State Government, under the [[Maintenance of Internal Security Act]], on charges of inciting violence through his writing.<ref name=":0" /> Although he was released by a order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which rebuked the State Government for failing to show that his writings had resulted in actual violence, he was rearrested in 1975, during the [[The Emergency (India)|Emergency]], under the same law.<ref name=":0" /> He was released after this second arrest, as well.<ref name=":0" />

The High Court of [[Andhra Pradesh]] struck down the order and released him after a month and a half. The High Court judgment asked the government not to resort to such actions against writers unless their writings have an immediate and direct bearing in a physical action. After a few months, the government charged a conspiracy case wherein all the actions of revolutionaries were shown as the direct consequences of a poem or a speech or a writing of revolutionary writers. Prominent [[Virasam]] leaders [[Cherabanda Raju]], [[K. V. Ramana Reddy]], [[T. Madhusudana Rao]], [[M. T. Khan (India)|M. T. Khan]], Varavara Rao and [[M Ranganatham]] were implicated in the case along with 41 revolutionary activists.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} This conspiracy case, known as Secunderabad Conspiracy Case, was filed in May 1974 and ended in acquittal in February 1989, after 15 years of prolonged and tiresome trial. In connection with the Conspiracy Case, Varavara Rao was arrested in May 1974. He was denied bail several times and finally released on conditional bail in April 1975.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}[[File:Vv writing.jpg|thumb]]Varavara Rao was arrested again on 26 June 1975, on the eve of proclamation of [[Indian Emergency]]. During Emergency, he was a detainee under the MISA. He was one of the few prisoners whose interviews with their relatives were restricted and their mail was subjected to stringent scrutiny. Though all the prisoners were released on the day when Emergency was lifted, Varavara Rao was arrested again at the entrance of the jail and was kept behind the bars for a week more on a fresh MISA warrant. He was released only when the new [[Janata Party]] government repealed the Act itself.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Varavara Rao was at the forefront in mobilising popular and democratic support to the widespread mass movements in northern Telangana during post-emergency days. As a consequence, he had to face mental harassment and physical assaults. He survived several attempts on his life by mercenaries of landlords as well as anti-social elements. A police official at Mandamarri, [[Adilabad]] district in April 1979, beat him on a public platform.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

=== 1980s: Labour Movement and Arrests ===
In 1985, Rao was one of 46 persons accused of attempting to overthrow the Andhra Pradesh Government in the Secunderabad Conspiracy Case. He was arrested in connection with this case, but subsequently released. Rao was also one of those arrested in the Ramnagar conspiracy case, and accused of attending a meeting in which there was a plan made to assassinate two police officials. Seventeen years later, in 2003, he was completely acquitted of all charges in relation to this case.<ref name=":0" />

After Varavara Rao went to jail, his interviews were restricted and under severe surveillance. His mail, including registered newspapers, was censored for months together. He was implicated in two more cases while he was in jail. After a stifling repression period between 1985–89 under the [[Telugu Desam Party]] rule, the newly-elected [[Indian National Congress]] government allowed a little relaxation for a short period after December 1989.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

In May 1990, Rao spoke at an event organised by the [[Raitu Coolie Sangham (Andhra Pradesh)|Andhra Pradesh Raitu Coolie Sangham]]<nowiki/>a labourers' political party which holds an annual conference for laborers and peasants in Hyderabad. 1.2. million people attended the event, in which Rao spoke about providing land rights to farm laborers and workers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gandikota-Nellutla|first=Varsha|date=2020-07-15|title=When the State Fears a Poet|url=http://bostonreview.net/arts-society/varsha-gandikota-nellutla-when-state-fears-poet|access-date=2020-07-20|website=Boston Review|language=en}}</ref>

=== 2004: Peace Emissary to Naxals ===
In 2001, the [[Telugu Desam Party|Telugu Desam]] government in Andhra Pradesh accepted a proposal to have peace negotiations with members of two banned organisations, [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] and [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War|People's War]]. Varavara Rao, Kalyana Rao and [[Gaddar]] were accepted by both sides as peace emissaries, to establish the conditions under which the peace agreement would be negotiated.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=TNN|date=2 June 2002|title=PW emissaries to prepare ground for talks|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/PW-emissaries-to-prepare-ground-for-talks/articleshow/11703596.cms|access-date=2020-07-24|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Rao called for a partial lifting of the ban on these organisations in order to facilitate peace talks, and advocated a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict.<ref name=":6" /> Three meetings to negotiate a resolution to the conflict were held; however, Rao and the other emissaries resigned from their positions before the fourth scheduled meeting, citing the fact that the [[Naxalite|Naxal]] parties had pulled out of negotiations and that the State government had not, in their view, participated in good faith.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Bureau|first=Our Political|date=2005-04-05|title=Andhra peace talks hit block|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/andhra-peace-talks-hit-block-105040501014_1.html|access-date=2020-07-24}}</ref> Rao also noted that there were five police encounters during the negotiations, in which members of the banned parties were killed despite a temporary cease-fire.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PWG BLASTS GOVT ON PEACE PROCESS|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/pwg-blasts-govt-on-peace-process/cid/888707|access-date=2020-07-24|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> His efforts were subsequently lauded by the then-Home Minister for the State of Andhra Pradesh, K Jana Reddy who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020 asking him to grant bail to an unwell, imprisoned Rao and, noting that, "As the then Home Minister I carried the responsibility of holding peace talks between the then AP government and Naxal parties in the year 2004 October. Mr Rao played a significant role in creating cordial climate in conducting these peace talks and was genuinely interested in bringing peace in the state.”<ref>{{Cite web|last=TNM Staff|date=24 July 2020|title=Ex Andhra Home Minister recalls Varavara Rao's role as peace emissary, appeals to PM|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ex-andhra-home-minister-recalls-varavara-rao-s-role-peace-emissary-appeals-pm-129336|access-date=2020-07-24|website=The News Minute}}</ref>

The peace process ended with the imposition of ban on [[CPI (Maoist)]], Virasam and some other people's organisations on 18 August 2005.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

=== 1990s{{En dash}}2010s: Telangana Movement ===

Varavara Rao, along with a number of organisations stood in the forefront in exposing and resisting the pro-[[globalisation]] and [[liberalisation]] policies of [[Chandrababu Naidu]] who came to power in 1994. During [[Chandrababu Naidu]]'s government, three Central Committee members of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Peoples War]] were arrested in [[Bangalore]] and killed. Some private criminal gangs killed [[T. Purushotham]] and [[Md Azam Ali]], leaders of APCLC and life-threat to Varavara Rao turned imminent.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} [[File:VV Rao behind bars.JPG|thumb|Varavara Rao behind bars]]

Within 24 hours of imposition of ban on [[Virasam]], Varavara Rao and [[Kalyana Rao]], were arrested on 19 August 2005 under AP Public Security Act and sent to [[Chanchalguda Central Prison]] in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]. Since his arrest, 7 new cases were charged against him. Apart from an earlier case of 1999 (pertaining to a protest meeting against the killings of three top leaders of Peoples War), and the case regarding the ban on [[Virasam]], the remaining six cases pertain to the period of talks between the government and the Naxalites. When the government revoked the AP Public Security Act against [[Virasam]] through GO Ms No. 503 of 11 November 2005, the cases against Varavara Rao and [[Kalyana Rao]] should have become redundant. In the normal course, Public Prosecutor should have informed the court about the redundancy of the cases. However, that order has not reached the court and Varavara Rao and [[Kalyana Rao]] had to undergo a number of adjournments of the case after the lifting of the ban. Finally, the court struck down the case on Varavara Rao under the Public Security Act on 31 March 2006 and he obtained bails for all other cases by the time. He was released from jail under bail on 31 March 2006 after a period of about eight months.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

In 2010, police ordered the arrest of Rao on the basis of a speech that he made at a convention in Delhi, concerning the state of Kashmir. A First Information Report was registered against Rao, along with writer [[Arundhati Roy]], professor [[S.A.R. Geelani]], who was acquitted in the [[2001 Indian Parliament attack|Parliament attack case]], and several [[University of Kashmir|Kashmir University]] professors.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kattakayam|first=Jiby|date=2010-11-27|title=Court orders FIR against Roy, Geelani|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Court-orders-FIR-against-Roy-Geelani/article15718425.ece|access-date=2020-07-20|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In 2011, Maoist leader [[Kishenji]] was killed in an encounter with police. Rao criticised the police for the encounter, claiming that he had seen the body and that it showed distinct signs of torture.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-11-27|title=Distinct signs of torture on Kishenjis body: Varavara|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/distinct-signs-of-torture-on-kishenjis-body-varavara/|access-date=2020-07-20|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

In 2011, Rao was one of several persons accused in a case concerning a bomb placed near the car of a police superintendent in Ongole.<ref>{{Cite web|last=TNN|date=18 March 2011|title=Ongole blast trial begins|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ongole-blast-trial-begins/articleshow/7731481.cms|access-date=2020-07-23|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

Rao was an active participant in the [[Telangana movement]], which aimed for the creation the separate state of [[Telangana]], by bifurcating the existing state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. Although the state of Telangana was formed in 2014, Rao was arrested in 2018 while paying homage, along with others, at a memorial for those killed during the movement.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Poet Vara Vara Rao, others arrested for trying to pay homage to Telangana martyrs|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2018/jan/22/poet-vara-vara-rao-others-arrested-for-trying-to-pay-homage-to-telangana-martyrs-1760860.html|access-date=2020-07-18|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>

During that time there was a widespread popular movement for the creation of a separate state of Telangana bifurcating the existing Andhra Pradesh. Varavara Rao has been a votary of this demand and stood with people since 1969 and this time round also he lent his support to the movement. He also became the President of Revolutionary Democratic Front, an all-India organisation that supports all peoples movement in the country. During the Telangana movement, as part of general repression and particular repression on revolutionary movement, Varavara Rao was also subjected to restrictions on his movement and expression. RDF was banned by the government. In 2014 June, Telangana state was formed. He was arrested four times during the two-year rule of new Telangana state, along with restrictions on meetings, widespread arrests, continuation of ban on RDF. {{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

=== 2018: Elgaar Parishad case ===
On 28 August 2018, Rao was arrested in his home in Hyderabad for his alleged involvement in the [[2018 Bhima Koregaon violence|Bhima-Koregaon violence]] that occurred on 1 January 2018.<ref name=":0" /> A First Information Report filed concerning that event alleged that on the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon, a program called the Elgaar Parishad had been organised in which leftist groups and [[Naxalite]]s had participated. The police alleged that the speeches made at this event, including those by Rao and others, were responsible for inciting violence that occurred the next day.<ref name=":0" /> Some reports also suggest that there was an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed at this event.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Left Activist Varavara Rao Arrested Over Alleged Plot To Assassinate PM Modi|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/maoist-ideologue-varavara-rao-arrested-for-alleged-plot-to-assassinate-pm-modi/315671|access-date=2020-07-18|website=Outlook India}}</ref> These appear to be based a letter obtained by the police which refers to a person only identified as 'R'. Rao has denied any involvement in the alleged plot.<ref name=":4" /> Rao and others currently face charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and attempts to bail Rao out, on grounds of his failing health, finally came to fruition as the [[Bombay High Court]] granted him a six month bail on medical grounds and disapproved the stand of the [[National Investigation Agency|National Investigation Agency (NIA)]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=2021-02-22|title=Varavara Rao granted six-month bail on medical grounds|url=https://www.theleaflet.in/varavara-rao-granted-six-month-bail-on-medical-grounds-court-wouldve-abdicated-its-duty-of-protecting-poets-rights-if-bail-not-granted-says-bombay-hc/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-07|website=TheLeaflet|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==== Covid-19 and NHRC Intervention ====
During Rao's detention in Taloja Jail in Maharashtra, he was hospitalised and admitted to J.J. Hospital in Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vadlamudi|first=Swathi|date=2020-07-12|title=Varavara Rao's health a concern, says family|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/varavara-raos-family-seeks-immediate-medical-treatment-for-poet/article32056898.ece|access-date=2020-07-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Following this, a special court ordered a report on his health while detained.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Saigal|first=Sonam|date=2020-05-30|title=Court seeks report on Varavara Rao's health|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/court-seeks-report-on-vara-vara-raos-health/article31708919.ece|access-date=2020-07-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In June 2020, Rao applied again for bail, on the grounds that he was highly vulnerable to Covid-19, and following a government recommendation that elderly inmates and those with co-morbidities should be released from jail in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, but were unsuccessful.<ref name="Poet Varavara Rao seeks bail">{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2020-06-19|title=Poet Varavara Rao seeks bail|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/poet-varavara-rao-seeks-bail/article31873293.ece|access-date=2020-07-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> His application for bail was supported by fourteen Members of Parliament, who wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, raising concerns about his health as well as jail conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic in India.<ref name="Poet Varavara Rao seeks bail"/> It was also supported by two former Chief Election Commissioners of India, who raised doubts about the alleged conspiracy case, and called on the NIA to share information with the Mumbai Police regarding the case.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2020-05-31|title=Release Varavara Rao: ex-info commissioners|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/release-varavara-rao-ex-info-commissioners/article31716995.ece|access-date=2020-07-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On 16 July, Rao was once again admitted to J.J. Hospital in Mumbai, where he tested positive for Covid-19.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=2020-07-16|title=Varavara Rao tests positive for COVID-19|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/varavara-rao-tests-positive-for-covid-19/article32103559.ece|access-date=2020-07-18|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Following reports that Rao had been injured again while in the care of the hospital, resulting in a head injury,<ref>{{Cite web|last=TNN|date=20 July 2020|title=Mumbai: P Varavara Rao hit head on JJ Hospital bed and required stitches, says documents|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-p-varavara-rao-hit-head-on-jj-hospital-bed-and-required-stitches-says-documents/articleshow/77057322.cms|access-date=2020-07-20|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]] ordered that he be moved to a private facility for medical treatment.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-07-17|title=Outrage as jailed Indian poet contracts Covid-19|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53441846|access-date=2020-07-20}}</ref> Rao was then shifted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ghoshal|first=Somak|date=2020-07-20|title=What Telugu poet Varavara Rao's prison diaries tell us about his politics|url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/what-telugu-poet-varavara-rao-s-prison-diaries-tell-us-about-his-politics-11595221102764.html|access-date=2020-07-26|website=Livemint|language=en}}</ref> The NIA opposed Rao's plea for bail in court, arguing that he was trying to "take undue advantage" of the Covid-19 pandemic, although the hospital confirmed that Rao had tested positive for Covid-19 and was undergoing treatment. Bombay High Court disapproved of the stance taken by the NIA and granted him a medical bail.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mirror Online|date=21 July 2020|title=Varavara Rao is trying to take undue benefit of the COVID-19 pandemic and his old age to seek bail, says NIA|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/crime/varavara-rao-is-trying-to-take-undue-benefit-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-and-his-old-age-and-seeking-bail-says-nia/articleshow/77090486.cms|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Mumbai Mirror|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Stan Swamy]]
* [[Vernon Gonsalves]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503170202/http://www.varavararao.org/en/en_index.html|title=Official website|date=3 May 2007}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite news|date=2005-08-19|title=India state in key Maoist arrests|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4165274.stm|access-date=2021-07-08|work=BBC News}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150223180610/http://khabar.ibnlive.in.com/news/136848/1 आईबीएनखबर पर क्रांतिकारी कवि वरवर राव का इंटरव्यू]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Varavara}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male journalists]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist journalists]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist writers]]
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist poets]]
[[Category:Indian Communist poets]]
[[Category:Political repression in India]]
[[Category:Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]]
[[Category:Poets from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Journalists from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]

Varavara Rao - Revision history

Bot at 09:56, 19 October 2022

->Naushervan: Undid revision 1064809948 by 2409:4072:6E8D:5915:D7A2:9664:73D5:65AC (talk) vandalism

imported>KyloRen3: Reverting edit(s) by 223.186.191.217 (talk) to rev. 1032585681 by KyloRen3: Vandalism (RW 16.1)