Category: Popular Personalities

Gouthu Latchanna:

Gouthu Latchana, born on 16th August 1909 in Baruva of Sompeta mandal of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh was not only the pride of the Telugu people but of the entire nation. Latchana was a very determined and resilient freedom fighter who served the people of our land till he could drag himself to walk. Being the eighth son of Toddy Tapper Chittaiah and Rajamma, he had a very humble beginning. 

Gouthu Latchana rose to prominence for his exemplary works for farmers and the backward sections of the society. During the nationalist movement, he actively took part in a number of movements launched by the front line freedom fighters. In 1921, he was imprisoned for being a part of the Salt Satyagraha initiated by Mahatma Gandhi. 

Gouthu Latchanna Biography:

Name	Gouthu Latchana
Real Name	Gouthu Latchana
Gender	Male
Date of Birth	16th August 1909
Age	98 years
Profession	Politician
Zodiac Sign	Capricorn
Personal Life	Wife : Yashodha Devi
Personal Life	Son : Gouthu Shyama Sundar Sivaji
Personal Life	Daughter : Jhansi Lakshmi Ravala
Personal Life	Daughter : Susila Devi Kasimkota
Marital Status	Married
Place of Birth	Baruva, Sompeta, Srikakulam
Date of Death	19 April 2006

Gouthu Latchanna Journey After Independence:

Even after India got independence, he didn’t find the time apt to sit back and rest. He brought together masses of toddy tappers who were rendered unemployed by the prohibition act enforced by Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu and launched a no confidence motion which eventually led to the collapse of the government.

Gothu Lachanna strived to restore the integrity of every section of the society and so there was no end to his endeavours. He took part in the movement that demanded Andhra Pradesh as a separate state to uphold the identity of the Telugu speakers. He was part of the committee formed by the government of India for the purpose and represented the Krishikar Lok Party. The struggle paid off and Andhra Pradesh was declared a separate state on 1st October 1953 .

Gouthu Latchanna Achievements:

All through his life, he dedicatedly served the nation and was even cited as an inspiration for the youth by Atal Vihari Vajpayee. For his determined fight against the British rule, he was conferred the title of ‘Sardar.’ A true patriot and devoted servant of the nation, Sardar left for his heavenly abode on 19 April 2006 at the age of 98 leaving behind his stories to be cherished by generations to come.

Gouthu Latchanna Family:

Gouthu Lachanna married to Yashodha Devi and he is survived by son Gouthu Shyama Sundar Sivaji, who is Ex-MLA from Sompeta, and two daughters Jhansi Lakshmi Ravala and Susila Devi Kasimkota.

Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao:

GMR Group holds a special position in the business fraternity. It is a global infrastructure developer and operator , active in 7 countries. The man behind the most talked about GMR group is Grandhi Mallikarjun Rao who is a mechanical engineer and a billionaire industrialist.

Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao Biography:

Born on 14 July,1950 in Rajam, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, he grew up gathering business knowledge from his family commodities trading. Though he started working as a junior engineer for the Andhra Pradesh government, he was fascinated towards business and stepped his foot into commodities training.

Soon he was able to establish connections with a good number of suppliers and customers. After a few years of successful trading he started a bank named Vysya Bank in partnership with ING.Eventually, Rao sold his stake of 340 crores and invested the same to create the super successful GMR group.

Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao Lifestyle:

What makes Grandhi Mallikarjun Rao stand out is its humility. Despite his bewitching success, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. With Warren Buffet as his inspiration, Rao believes in ‘giving back to society’. He has a CSR wing called GMR Varalakshmi Foundation which serves the underprivileged and works towards their upliftment.

In 2012, he gave away Rs 1540 crores for charitable purposes and became the third most magnanimous owner of corporate India by donating Rs.740 crores.

For his exemplary work in the social work field and entrepreneurship he has been conferred with several awards by the state and the nation, besides being awarded the Honorary Doctors by York University of Toronto, Canada in 2011. Grandhi Mallikarjun Rao, a stalwart in the corporate sector, will forever stand tall as the epitome of humanitarian entrepreneurship.

Kodi Rammurthy Naidu:

A rebel teenager, fickle minded, completely unfocussed in studies, goes ahead to earn the title of ‘Indian Hercules’ for his surprising feats in the field of physical strength. Yes, we are talking about Kodi Rama Murty, the great pehelwan who blessed the land of Veeraghattam, Srikakulam in April 1882. 

Kodi Rammurthy Biography:

Name	Kodi Ram Murti Naidu
Real Name	Ram Murti Naidu
Gender	Male
Date of Birth	12th April 1882
Age	59 years 9 Months
Profession	Weightlifter
Zodiac Sign	Pisces
Martial Status	Married
Place of Birth	Veeraghattam, Srikakulam
Date of Death	2 February 1942

Kodi Rammurthy Journey:

Ramamurthy was asked to shake hands with ‘kusti’ at a local gym in Vizianagaram, his uncle’s place where he was sent to continue his education. His skills were impressive and to polish them he was sent to a professional fitness centre in Madras. That was where he transformed into an undisputed wrestler and took up the job of a fitness instructor in a college. 

His expertise in Vayu Stambhana( air resistance) and Jala Stambhana( water resistance) became the cause of his popularity. In 1911, he started with public shows, leaving people and government officials gaping at his unbelievable feats. His performance at a National Congress Meeting, impressed Madan Mohan Malvya and opened an avenue for him to perform in front of the king of England.

Kodi Rammurthy Achievements:

In England, his brawn and skills mesmerized King George V. When he balanced an elephant for about 5 minutes on his chest, the king was overwhelmed and rewarded him the title of ‘Indian Hercules.’

Kodi Ramamurthy had even undergone extensive knee surgery without anaesthesia. This godly strength could be achieved by him through yoga from which he attained complete control over his mind and body. Though a less talked about name in the family of Indian athletes, India is yet to produce another Kodi Rama Murthy.

Garimella Satyanarayana:

Garimella Satyanarayana was a star from Srikakulam, who shone bright, yet couldn’t be noticed by many. He used his pen as a weapon of high efficacy to slay the subservience of Telugus to the British imperialist. As a pioneer of freedom struggle from Srikakulam, he got extremely revered in the contemporary fighter’s circle, yet couldn’t get his popularity to flow to the subsequent generation of politicians.

Garimella Satyanarayana Biography:

Garimella Satyanarayana was born on 14th July 1893  in Gonepadu village, in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh to a poor Brahmin family. He completed his education across three regions, Vizianagaram, Rajamahendravaram and Machilipatnam. Later, Ganjam became his professional abode where he worked as a teacher and a clerk in the collector’s office.

Garimella Satyanarayana Journey:

The oppression of the British rule infuriated him and he gave up his job to join the civil disobedience movement. But being a learned man, words were his power. Garimella Satyanarayana went on composing poems and songs which seeped through the conscience of the fellow Indians and planted the seed of stringent opposition to the British rule.

One of his most famous songs “ Maakoddee tella doratanamu” which translates to “We do not want this White Man’s rule” suffused in every corner of the country. Fearful of the following instigation, the Britishers pushed him behind the bars in 1922. But the rigorous imprisonment did not enfeeble his spirit. He continued composing songs with fervent messages of nationalism. Despite getting imprisoned for a number of times and losing his entire family, he rose in the eyes of the nation for placing her ahead of all and continuing the struggle.

However, the politicians of free India failed to acknowledge the undeterred struggle and contribution of this great man. Without any support, his financial status plummeted and out of poverty, he left for his heavenly abode on 18th December 1952 in a miserable health condition.

One who moulded an entire generation towards achieving a goal couldn’t unfortunately mould another towards him. Post-Independent India will always remember this unsung hero yet cannot shed the guilt of letting this man have a lamentable end who played a great role in its emancipation.

Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy:

Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy was a linguist, writer and a revolutionary whose vision was way ahead of the times. His knowledge came as a blessing to the common man who could take the pleasure of emotions through literature owing to its simplification. 

Ramamurthy’s childhood was bereft of joy and comfort. Born in Parvatalapeta, Srikakulam, he lost his father at the tender age of 12. Survival was a burden. The emotional and financial baggage was weighing him down.

Amidst all struggles, he continued his education. At his sister’s place, he studied privately and passed matriculation. Following that, he began his professional career as a teacher in Gajapati Maharaja School and continued teaching for 55 years. 

Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy in Telugu:

Gidugu was a pedagogue and historian. His penchant for language made him reach the roots of it and understand the philosophy of language. But he was utterly distressed by the esoteric nature of the Telugu Language. Let alone a common man, even he, as a linguist, couldn’t read the ‘sasanas’ and had to read a number of imported books to comprehend it thoroughly. 

This made him launch a movement to simplify Telugu language and transform it into vyavharik bhasa (medium of communication) in schools and colleges. He even worked dedicatedly towards extending the reach of the language to the Savaras, a tribal community thriving on the borders of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. He prepared lexicons which became extremely popular.

Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy’s unwavering spirit to bring about a revolution in the arena of language, gradually diluted the opposition of the orthodox sanskrit scholars and paved the way for the acceptance of the common spoken language as the medium of education.

Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy’s unflinching determination earned him the nickname of Pidugu(thunderbolt) and a permanent space on the page of Indian history.

Who Is Karnam Malleswari:

Karnam Malleswari, popularly referred to as the Golden Girl of India, is the only Indian woman weightlifter to have won an Olympic medal. On 19 September, 2000, Karnam Malleswari made the entire nation proud by winning a bronze medal in weightlifting in the Sydney Olympics. She was born into a family of reputed weight lifters on 1st June 1975. 

Along with her four sisters she started her training at the tender age of 12. Under the tutelage of Neelamshetty Apanna, she began polishing her skills. Because of her exceptional weightlifting abilities, she got recognised by the Sports Authority of India after she moved to Delhi with her sister.

Karnam Malleswari Biography:

Name	Karnam Malleswari
Real Name	Karnam Malleswari
Gender	Female
Date of Birth	1st June 1975
Age	46 Years
Profession	Weightlifter
Zodiac Sign	Scorpion
Martial Status	Married
Personal Life	Husband : Rajesh Tyagi
Place of Birth	Amadalavalasa, Srikakulam

About Karnam Malleswari Journey:

Karnam Malleswari’s career took a leap in 1991, when she was a 16 year old, won the silver at the senior Nationals in Ambala. This opened the door for hope to shine brighter in the days to come.

Malleswari continued winning medals in National and International events for her spectacular weightlifting feats. Karnam Malleswari has 29 international medals, out of which 11 are gold, Arjuna Award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Padmashri.

Karnam Malleswari Weightlifter:

After her Olympic win in 2000, Malleswari’s appearance in sports events started dwindling. Soon after the birth of her son in 2001, she announced retirement. Though she is not the tip of the tongue athlete and has never really had her name circulating in the sports fraternity, her achievement will always be deeply embedded in the history of India for her win was not only hers but of the nation .