: Beyond RRR, the Forest Warrior who propelled the 1922-24 Rampa Rebellion #IndiaNEWS #National By Narendra PuppalaThanks to ace movie director SS Rajamouli and his blockbuster RRR, the name Alluri

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Beyond RRR, the Forest Warrior who propelled the 1922-24 Rampa Rebellion #IndiaNEWS #National
By Narendra PuppalaThanks to ace movie director SS Rajamouli and his blockbuster RRR, the name Alluri Sita Rama Raju, who was the inspiration for the fictional character played by Telugu star Ram Charan, may no longer be an unfamiliar name for a large swathe of Indians across regions and languages.
But for generations of Telugu-speaking people, the name has invoked visions of a brave young man who dared the might of the British Raj and died a martyr. Statues of Alluri Sita Rama Raju at important locations, are a common feature in many Andhra cities and towns.
What sets apart this young freedom fighter in a remote part of present-day Andhra Pradesh is that he rallied tribals for his guerrilla warfare against the British rulers in the Agency areas of Madras Presidency. Much like Chatrapati Shivaji mobilised the Mavalas to strike with impunity at the mighty Mughals.
Known as Manyam Veerudu or Forest Warrior, Alluri Sita Rama Raju was the face and propelling force behind the Rampa Rebellion between 1922-24. Armed with primitive weapons like spears, bows and arrows, Alluri Sita Rama Raju and his band of tribals harried the British authorities in the Visakhapatnam-Godavari Agency area in the erstwhile Madras Presidency.
Giving up the comforts of life in the plains where he was born and brought up, Alluri Sita Rama Raju took up the life of the tribals that he led in the fight against the British rulers. A well-built man, with striking looks and mesmerising personality, he wore the saffron cloth of an ascetic but was armed with a bow and quiver of arrows.
Born on July 4, 1897, Alluri Sita Rama Raju was barely eight years by the time he lost his father. Thereafter, he was brought up by his maternal uncle. Although not very academically inclined, the young lad was attracted to spirituality. He was also very active in sporting activities and was reputed to be an ace horseman. When he was eighteen years old, Sita Rama Raju was attracted towards asceticism and decided to become a sanyasi. To satisfy his spiritual thirst, he undertook a tour of India and visited several places including present-day Bangladesh.
However, his travels across India opened his eyes to the exploitation of Indians by the British rulers. Touched by the deprivations suffered by his countrymen, particularly tribals, Sita Rama Raju decided to do something for them.
Returning home, he began working in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam and Godavari districts of the Madras Presidency. His selfless service and noble demeanour endeared him to the tribals who loved and respected him as their own.
The Madras Forest Act introduced by the British Raj in 1882 was resented by the tribals.

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