Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao

Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao
Raghuveer Rao (seated, second from left) among student Sathyagrahis of the Hyderabad Students Union, arrested 8 March 1948
Born	Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao (1932-11-16)16 November 1932 Kunoor Village, Nalgonda District, Hyderabad State
Died	5 February 2015(2015-02-05) (aged 82) DRDO Apollo Hospital, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Other names	Anveshanam (literary pen name)
Occupation	Freedom fighter, journalist, poet, political activist
Known for	Co-founder of Telangana Praja Samithi (1969); founding member of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (2001); "Bommala Katha" front page at Eenadu
Spouse(s)	Ramadevi
Children	S. Vamshi Krishna
Parent(s)	S. Tirumala Rao (father) Yashodamma (mother)

Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao (16 November 1932 – 5 February 2015) was an Indian freedom fighter, journalist, poet, and political activist who played a significant role in the Hyderabad liberation struggle (1947–1948) and in both the 1969 and 2001–2014 phases of the Telangana statehood movement. He was one of the journalist co-founders of the Telangana Praja Samithi (TPS) in 1969 alongside Pratap Kishore, PN Swamy and Ananthula Madan Mohan, and a founding participant and General Secretary (2002–2004) of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). As News Editor of the Telugu daily Eenadu, he is credited with orchestrating the 1982 "Bommala Katha" front page — a pivotal editorial decision widely cited in the formation of the Telugu Desam Party.

Early life and education

Raghuveer Rao was born on 16 November 1932 in Kunoor Village, Warangal District — at his maternal grandmother's home, then part of Hyderabad State under the rule of the Nizam. His paternal village was Narsampalli, Mulug Mandal, Gajwel Taluk, Medak District. He was the eldest of seven children of S. Tirumala Rao and Yashodamma.

His mother died of tuberculosis when he was fourteen. Following her death, he relocated to Hyderabad and pursued his education under the care of his paternal uncle, Purushottam Rao, educating himself to the 12th standard.

Freedom struggle (1946–1948)

While studying in Sangareddy, Raghuveer Rao attended the 13th Andhra Mahasabha held at Kandi, Medak District, serving as a boy scout volunteer alongside P. Ramachandra Reddy (later Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly) and C. Jagannath Rao (later Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh).

Motivated by opposition to the Nizam's rule and the atrocities of the Razakars, he boycotted high school and joined the student movement on the advice of B.S. Mahadev Singh, President of the Provincial Congress Committee B (Hyderabad City). He became a member of the action committee of the All Hyderabad Students Union and helped organise student satyagraha campaigns under the leadership of Sri B. Satyanarayana Reddy.

He subsequently joined the Jayanthi border camps in Krishna District, training facilities organised by the Indian National Army to prepare Telangana youth for confrontation with the Nizam's paramilitary forces. He trained under Captain Ramachandran of the INA.

On 8 March 1948, he was arrested for his activism and imprisoned in Chanchalguda Central Jail, Hyderabad. During his imprisonment he edited a handwritten Urdu magazine, Payame Nou ("New Message"), for his fellow inmates — his first editorial work, intended to sustain the morale and political awareness of those imprisoned alongside him. He was released on 19 October 1948, following the completion of Operation Polo and the integration of Hyderabad State into the Indian Union.

Group photograph of Student Satyagrahis of the Hyderabad Students Union, arrested 8 March 1948. Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao is seated second from left. Source: In Jail Beyond Police Action (1948). CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career in journalism

After his release, Raghuveer Rao supported himself through private tuitions while living in modest accommodation near Secunderabad, driven throughout by his deep commitment to education and learning. He subsequently held several positions before establishing his journalism career: teacher at Mufeedul Anam High School, translator in the Information Department, and clerk at the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad. He worked at Janashakti and Prajavani before becoming Chief Sub-Editor of Andhra Bhoomi. He then joined Eenadu as News Editor, where he worked closely with the newspaper's founder Ramoji Rao. He was instrumental in Eenadu's campaigns on issues including the abolition of zamindari rules.

The "Bommala Katha" incident (c. 1982)

As News Editor of Eenadu, Raghuveer Rao made an editorial decision that had significant political consequences. When then-AICC General Secretary Rajiv Gandhi arrived at Hyderabad airport and publicly slighted sitting Chief Minister T. Anjaiah — refusing to accompany him on the onward helicopter — Raghuveer Rao recognised the political significance of the event. He arranged a sequence of photographs documenting the incident into an eight-column front-page story titled "Bommala Katha" ("Picture Story").

The story is widely cited as catalysing the sentiment of Atma Gauravam (Telugu self-respect) across Andhra Pradesh, and as a factor in N.T. Rama Rao's decision to enter politics and found the Telugu Desam Party in 1982. TDP subsequently won the 1983 Andhra Pradesh state elections by a substantial majority, ending nearly two decades of uninterrupted Congress governance in the state.

Sanathana Sarathi and later journalism (1974–1986)

In the mid-1970s, Raghuveer Rao accepted the position of Editor of Sanathana Sarathi, the monthly spiritual magazine of the Sri Sathya Sai organisation, published from Puttaparthi. He had been a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba since 1953. He served in Puttaparthi until 1986, during which period he also edited the magazine Vedamatha and completed his poetry compilation Anveshana. He subsequently contributed to Navashakti, Andhra Prabha, and other publications.

Political activism

Bhoodan movement and socialist activism

Raghuveer Rao participated in Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan Movement, donating his own land and assets to the cause. He also offered Jeevan Dan (dedication of life) at the call of Jayaprakash Narayan. He actively worked for the Socialist Party of India in various capacities.

Co-founding of Telangana Praja Samithi (1969)

Raghuveer Rao was one of the founding members of the Telangana Praja Samithi (TPS) in 1969, which he co-founded alongside Pratap Kishore and other journalists including PN Swamy and Ananthula Madan Mohan. In his own bio-data, he recorded: "Founded 'Telangana Praja Samithi' along with Pratap Kishore and other fellow Journalists in 1969."

The TPS was the first organised political body to demand a separate Telangana state and rapidly gained mass support. According to a tribute by retired journalist Potthuri Venkateswarrao, student leaders held nightly strategy sessions with Raghuveer Rao, Pratap Kishore and PN Swamy at the Deccan Chronicle–Andhra Bhoomi offices; these discussions influenced key decisions of the movement, including the publication of Telangana bandh calls on Andhra Bhoomi's front page. When Marri Chenna Reddy negotiated the merger of TPS into the Indian National Congress under Indira Gandhi, Raghuveer Rao opposed the merger publicly. He declined an offer of a Cabinet Minister position in exchange for his acquiescence.

He was subsequently arrested, taken to Musheerabad, and imprisoned in Rajahmundry Jail — recorded in his bio-data as: "Imprisoned in Musheerabad and Rajamundry Jail in 1969 for participating in Separate Telangana Movement."

Post-1969 political activity

Following his release, Raghuveer Rao co-founded the Telangana Praja Party (TPP), serving as Founder Co-Chairman, and was a member of the presidium of the Telangana Aikya Vedika.

He contested the 1971 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections from the Yakutpura constituency on a Jan Sangh ticket. During this campaign he continued his night shifts at Andhra Bhoomi to protect his income, declining to solicit financial support from anyone. He later contested on a Janata Party ticket. In 1972, he contested the Charminar constituency as a Sampoorna Telangana Praja Samithi (STS) candidate, receiving 5,591 votes (15.48%) and finishing second; the seat was won by independent candidate Syed Hassan with 15,341 votes.

In 1991–92, he contested the Andhra Pradesh state elections as an independent candidate, self-financing his campaign, with the stated purpose of maintaining the visibility of the Telangana statehood demand during a period of political inactivity on the issue.

On 27 October 1996, a meeting of Telangana movement leaders was convened at Nizamabad. Raghuveer Rao attended alongside Kaloji Narayana Rao, Professor Jayashankar, Konda Laxman Bapuji, Bhupathi Krishna Murthy, and Gaddar, among others. The assembled leaders unanimously concluded that the push for a separate Telangana state must continue.

Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao being felicitated by senior Congress leaders and freedom fighters Sri Konda Laxman Bapuji and Katam Laxmi Narayana.

Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao at a press meeting with the Director General of Andhra Pradesh, Sri H.J. Dora, 4 May 1997.

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1994–c. 2000)

Raghuveer Rao served in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly's translation department, appointed by Speaker G. Narayana Rao, rendering Urdu speeches in Telugu and vice versa during live Assembly sessions. By the late 1990s he was the sole officer managing simultaneous translation across Telugu, Urdu, English, and Hindi. When he became associated with K. Chandrashekar Rao's preparations to launch what would become the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, he was directed by senior Assembly officers to cease his political activities or face dismissal. He resigned from his position.

Gaddar addressing a Telangana movement gathering, with Prof. Kothapalli Jayashankar and Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao seated on the dais, 7 March 1999.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (2001–2004)

Raghuveer Rao was a founding participant in the formation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on 27 April 2001. In September 2000, he met K. Chandrashekar Rao and personally invited him to champion the Telangana statehood cause — a meeting documented in Telangana State Public Service Commission examination material as the first invitation extended to KCR to join the movement. A published account records: "Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao, a veteran of the 1969 Telangana movement, encouraged KCR to join the cause in 2000."

He served as General Secretary of TRS from 2002 to 2004.

Telangana achieved statehood in June 2014. Raghuveer Rao had frequently expressed his singular aspiration in his later years: "I want to see Telangana become a separate state before dying." He lived to see it fulfilled.

Literary works

Raghuveer Rao wrote under the literary pen name Anveshanam (అన్వేషణం, meaning "inquiry" or "search"). His published works include:

• Swatantrodyamam lo Socialistula Patra (స్వాతంత్ర్యోద్యమంలో సోషలిస్టుల పాత్ర) — a scholarly work on the role of socialist thought in the Indian independence movement
• Socialismaa Stalinismaa (సోషలిజమా స్టాలినిజమా) — a translated work examining the distinction between socialism and Stalinism
• Sarvodaya Samaloochana (సర్వోదయ సమాలోచన) — a work on the Sarvodaya movement
• Pavitra Sanniveshalu (పవిత్ర సన్నివేశాలు) — published writings
• Anveshana — a collection of poetry
• Payame Nou — a handwritten Urdu magazine edited during his imprisonment in Chanchalguda Central Jail in 1948

His poetry was published posthumously on his dedicated blog. He also served as editor of Sanathana Sarathi, Vedamatha, and Naa Telangana (2002–2006), a Telangana movement periodical printed and published by Late Sri Kachiraju Madhusudhan Rao — concurrent with his tenure as TRS General Secretary. His journalism contributions ran through Janashakti, Prajavani, Andhra Bhoomi, Eenadu, Andhra Prabha, Navashakti, and Naa Telangana.

Personal life

Raghuveer Rao was a lifelong devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba from 1953. He was active in community service and established the Saidabad Ramalayam temple in Hyderabad. He donated his own land to the Bhoodan Movement.

His first wife suffered from severe illness; the couple lost several children. He financed the education of numerous extended family members and adopted a younger relative. In 1986 he married Ramadevi and had a son, S. Vamshi Krishna. The family residence was at 232/2RT, Saidabad Colony, Hyderabad.

Death

Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao died on 5 February 2015 at DRDO Apollo Hospital, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad, at the age of 82. He died less than a year after Telangana achieved statehood in June 2014.

A condolence meeting was held on 8 February 2015 at Amaraveeryla Sthoopam (Martyrs' Memorial), Gun Park, Hyderabad. Bandaru Dattatreya, then serving as Union Minister of Labour and Employment in the Government of India, attended and publicly expressed condolences, acknowledging Raghuveer Rao as a Freedom Fighter.

• 
  Leaders, activists, and family members gather at the Amaraveerula Stoopam (Martyrs' Memorial), Gun Park, Hyderabad, 8 February 2015. Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya was among those present.
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  Second view of the condolence gathering at the Amaraveerula Stoopam, Gun Park, Hyderabad, 8 February 2015.

Legacy

A 2020 Eenadu article documenting the history of the Telangana movement names him alongside Kaloji Narayana Rao and Professor Jayashankar among those who "kindled awareness among the people" during the long campaign for statehood.

On 14 February 2015, nine days after his death, the Telangana Resource Centre (TRC) organised Charcha 161 — a dedicated memorial programme at Chandram Building, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad — in his honour. The event was attended by fellow 1969 Telangana movement veterans including PJ Suri, Chandrashekar, Siddha, Ashok Kumar, Yadagiri, Satya Reddy, Krishna Kumar, and Rakhur Hridayanath Singh, alongside TRC Chairman M. Vedakumar (Manikonda Vedakumar). The memorial was covered by seven major Telugu daily newspapers: Eenadu, Andhra Jyothi, Andhra Prabha, Vartha, Sakshi (Musheerabad Zone), Mana Telangana, and Namaste Telangana.

His son S. Vamshi Krishna maintains his blogspot and Telugu Wikipedia page, and uploaded the 1948 group photograph to Wikimedia Commons in 2022 from the source publication In Jail Beyond Police Action. His documentary materials — diaries, photographs, the signed bio-data form, correspondence, and a video interview — are preserved in the family archive.

Further reading

• Potthuri Venkateswarrao. "కల నిజమైంది.. కన్ను మూసుకుంది — Freedom Fighter Santhapuri Raghuveer Rao" (in తెలుగు). Sakshi.

External links

• Raghuveer Rao — official blogspot (poetry and writings)
• Telugu Wikipedia page
• 1948 photograph — Wikimedia Commons
• Raghuveer Rao passes away — news clip (06-02-2015)
• MVR Sastry interview — Bommala Katha testimony (41:29–48:17)

See also

• Telangana Praja Samithi
• Telangana Rashtra Samithi
• Telugu Desam Party
• Eenadu