Guntur: Sacrifice of the seven martyrs remembered

GUNTUR: Minister for social welfare N. Ananda Babu and minster for excise K.S. Jawahar called upon the students to take freedom fighters as their role model and serve the country. They were speaking at the memorial meet of Tenali Quit India movement held at  Ranarang Chowk in Tenali on Saturday. Elected representatives, leaders and students also took part in the programme.

Addressing the gathering, Mr Ananda Babu said Tenali's seven martyrs - M. Subba Rao, Giri Lingam, B. Lakshminaryana, T. Subba Reddy, G. Ramakotaiah, P. Raghavaiah and J. Appaiah inspired the Indians by sacrificing their lives and that the incident led to the strengthening of the Quit India movement. Speaking about the swift development of India after Independence, he called upon the students and youth to serve the countryfollowing footsteps of the Tenali martyrs.

Mr Jawahar said people were living happily in the country in a democratic system due to the sacrifices of freedom fighters. He asked the public to stick to the principles of truth and morals as it gave India an inversal recognition. He recalled that the then chairman of Tenali municipality A. Venkatramaiah was instrumental in the construction of the memorial for the seven martyrs and that the then CM of united AP Neelam Sanjiva Reddy inaugurated it at Ranarang Chowk in 1959.

He asserted the need make the younger generation know about the sacrifices made for the country by the freedom fighters and instill the spirit of patriotism in them. Tenali MLA A. Rajendra Prasad explained about the martyrdom of the seven freedom fighters. A big rally was taken out in the town from Gandhi Chowk in which ministers, officials, students of all educational institutions, NCC cadets, scouts and guides took part in large numbers. The rally culminated in a meet at the Ranarang Chowk where tributes were paid to the martyrs.

Quit India day celebrated in Bapatla

Quit India  Day was celebrated in Bapatla under the auspices of Forum For Better Bapatla on Saturday. Tributes are paid to the great leaders who participated in the movement on Aug. 12, 1942. Forum Secretary P.C. Sai Babu, recalled that people in Tenali attacked the railway station and sub-court there on that day, which were under the supervision of the Britishers, demanding ending the foreign rule.

In Bapatla, N. Ramachadra Rao, an advocate, sat in the Sub-Judge's chair and declared Bapatla as a free town on that same day. Several freedom fighters like V.L. Sundara Rao, M.B. Sarma, V. Vasudeva Rao, L.B. Manohara Rao and A. Ranganayakulu participated in the agitation on that day in the town.