Telangana Folk Singer Gaddar Passes Away: On August 6, the acclaimed folk singer Gaddar, known for his revolutionary ballads, breathed his last in Hyderabad at a private hospital, where he was undergoing treatment for a heart-related condition. He was 77.

Gaddar, born as Gummadi Vithal Rao in 1949 in Toopran, Medak district, was a well-known figure in the Telugu states. Renowned for his revolutionary songs, he gained immense popularity and a cult status among the Telugu-speaking population for his active involvement in people's movements during the peak of the Naxal movement in the combined Andhra Pradesh.

His contribution to the Telangana agitation is deeply etched in his fans' memory, especially his iconic song 'Podustunna Poddu Meeda Nadustunna Kaalama Poru Telanganama,' which became a staple in every Telangana agitation meeting. He was ideologically aligned with the aspirations of Telangana and used his music as a powerful tool to connect with the masses and shed light on the injustices faced by the region. Additionally, he ventured into acting, appearing in a few films, including 'Maa Bhoomi,' where he delivered the popular song 'Bandenka Bandi Katti Padahaaru Bandlu Katti.'

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Gaddar dedicated his youth to underground activities, supporting the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People's War in the 1980s. However, he resurfaced when the ban on the People's War group was lifted by the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Marri Chenna Reddy. In 1997, he faced a near-fatal assassination attempt at his residence.

Recently, Gaddar made an appearance at the Telangana Congress meeting in Khammam, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was present. During the event, he warmly embraced Gandhi and conveyed his good wishes. A few months ago, he had announced his plans to launch a new party, but unfortunately, he passed away before that could materialise.

The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president A. Revanth Reddy expressed his condolences on the demise of Gaddar, acknowledging that his music and impact on social movements in Telangana will forever be cherished and remembered.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy called Gaddar a revolutionary man. "He was the voice of the downtrodden and fought for social justice through his inspiring songs," Reddy said in a statement, and conveyed his condolences to the singer's family members.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Saddened to hear about the demise of Shri Gummadi Vittal Rao, Telangana's iconic poet, balladeer and fiery activist. His (Gaddar) love for the people of Telangana drove him to fight tirelessly for the marginalised. May his legacy continue to inspire us all," he said.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted, "A prolific chapter in public movement and human rights campaign has come to an end with the passing away of Gaddar. He moved the masses with his voice."

(With agency inputs)


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