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.