K.E. Madanna

Kambalapadu Ediga Madanna (May 28, 1902 – May 5, 1994), well known as K.E. Madanna, was a social activist and political leader who fought against the Rayalaseema factionists and forward castes dominations in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in India to bring social change and political awareness among the oppressed and weaker sections of the Rayalaseema people, particularly among Backward Castes, Muslims, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes during both pre-independence and post-independence period of India.

Biography

He participated in Indian independence freedom struggle and hoisted Indian freedom struggle flag in 1940 at Kurnool when Mahatma Gandhi visited Kurnool to express support for freedom struggle along with fellow freedom fighters Medham Venkaiah, and Jutooru Ramaiah.

When India attained independence in 1947 preceded by partition of India and Pakistan which resulted in mass massacre of both Hindus and Muslims created a broad division among Hindus and Muslims (who decided to remain in India in spite of Pakistan created for Muslims). K.E. Madanna tried to reduce the differences and bring harmony among the Indian Muslims and Hindus through community meetings in Kurnool district.

He is also well remembered for his attempts to reduce the untouchability social issue in Hindu communities by arranging the communities to have food together in Harijan regions dominated by people segregated through untouchable stigma in Kurnool district.

Personal Details

K.E. Madanna, a Goud by caste born in a Toddy Tapper family to Sri.K.E. Krishtanna and Smt.Krishtamma on May 28, 1902 at Kidumur village of Dhone mandal in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. [ [http://www.goudsinfo.com/famous-Madanna.htm K.E. Madanna Profile in Telugu language] ] .

He, born before Indian independence where there were no schools at villages got educated only in reading and writing Telugu language and was given narration of famous Indian epics Mahabharata and Ramayana by village level priests.

He later married Smt.Maddamma and is blessed with four sons. One among them is a well known former member of Parliament of India K. E. Krishnamurthy [ [http://164.100.24.209/newls/bioprofilearchive.aspx?mpsno=203 K.E. Krishnamurthy] ] and other well known is K.E. Prabhakar Goud who is a former MLA(Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)) from Dhone assembly constituency and worked as a cabinet minister in TDP government [ [http://www.stormpages.com/h/hanu007/cabinet.htm K.E. Prabhakar] ] .

He died on May 5, 1994.

Political career

K.E. Madanna built his leadership qualities by rebelling and fighting against the dominations and atrocities commited by factionists and forward castes who were ruling the village level politics through the zamindar system and positions nominated during British Raj to collect taxes on behalf of British Raj. This naturally attracted and won the loyalty of weaker sections of the society.

He, at the age of 28 years won as a president for district co-operative central bank with forward castes as opponents before India attained independence from British Raj in 1930. This obviously raised the confidence among the weaker sections that through unity and democratic elections they can face and prevent the domination of factionist and forward castes politics in oppressing the weaker sections.

In 1938, he got elected as District Board member(After indian independence, this is equivalent to Zilla Parishad Director). After this, to spread his political domain and reach the wider section of oppressed and weaker people, he shifted his residence from Dhone to Kurnool. When he moved to Kurnool city, people from the entire Kurnool district started reaching his residence to use his services in utilizing the administrative, bureaucratic and political rights which weaker sections were denied by factionists and forward castes. His residence used to be always busy with frequent visitors from weaker sections for whom he used to provide food as the people used to reach him on bullock carts or on foot before India attained independence. This obviously brought enmity and resistance from factionists and forward castes who tried to prevent him reaching the weaker sections through all means to an extent of killing his supporters and scaring him with the same fatality [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3049983.cms K.E. Madanna rescuing Factionism Victims] ] . K.E. Madanna, however did surpass all these obstacles and ontinued to serve the weaker sections till he died.

After india attained independence, he contested legislative assembly elections for Andhra Pradesh held in 1967 from Kurnool assembly constituency and won in spite of opponent supported by factionists and forward castes. He thus became MLA(Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)) from Kurnool assembly on Indian National Congress political party. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S01/partycomp181.htm] ] [ [http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:WU2l1SIfxtUJ:www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1967/Statistical_Report_Andhra_Pradesh_1967.pdf+K.E.Madanna&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=in K.E. Madanna winner from Kurnool in 1967 elections] ]

In 1972 he got elected to Legislative Council of Andhra Pradesh. He also worked as president for Kurnool district Indian National Congress polity party president till he retired from active politics in 1978.

He stood behind and supported Damodaram Sanjivayya to become chief minister of Andhra Pradesh who belongs to scheduled castes and is the first and only scheduled castes chief minister from andhra pradesh till today. Damodaram Sanjivayya was a close political associate and friend of K.E. Madanna along with fellow contemporary friends and associates were Pendekanti Venkata Subbaiah, Narsappa, and B.V. Subbareddy. [ [http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/04/21/stories/2005042106200200.htm Damodaram Sanjeevaiah and K.E. Madanna] ]

Factionanism in Rayalaseema region comprising Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, and Chittoor districts is one of the major obstancle preventing the development of Rayalaseema region which was once ruled by Sri Krishna Devaraya known to be a Ratanala Seema(region rich with diamonds and its trading). Factionism and factionist leaders are also preventing the social , political , and economical benefits reaching the downtrodden and weaker sections of the Rayalaseema region till today killing hundreds of people every year mostly belonging to backward castes, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes in Rayalaseema region. Factionism was reduced to some extent when Telugu Desam Party came to power under the leadership of N.T. Rama Rao in 1983. Lately, it regained its strength when factionist leaders have become cabinet ministers and occupied the highest position in andhra pradesh where by controlling the total political, administrative and bureaucratic system killing hundreds of people every year who are not supporting them or their political parties. According to a commission constituted to study the factionism headed by Gouthu Shyam Sundar Sivaji (son of Gouthu Latchanna and current MLA from Sompeta and former cabinet minister of andhra pradesh), factionism has regained due to Telugu film industry elevating and depicting factionist leaders as heroes combined with illiteracy and poverty. The day, factionism ends and when the weaker sections oppressed from several centuries receives social , economical, and political development and benefits will be a true tribute day for K.E. Madanna.

The legacy which K.E. Madanna built for weaker sections is still visible in Kurnool district where the people see him through his sons K. E. Krishnamurthy and K.E. Prabhakar Goud and making them represent weaker and oppressed sections of the society in both Parliament of India and Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.

Notes

References

* http://www.goudsinfo.com/famous-Madanna.htm
* http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/04/21/stories/2005042106200200.htm
* http://www.eci.gov.in/electionanalysis/AE/S01/partycomp181.htm
* http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/20/stories/2007112054970500.htm
* http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3049983.cms
* http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:WU2l1SIfxtUJ:www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1967/Statistical_Report_Andhra_Pradesh_1967.pdf+K.E.Madanna&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=in