Politicos Pay Tribute to Gaddar, The Cumulative Consciousness of Society'
Hyderabad: Top Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra, as well as TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy, offered their condolences over the demise of balladeer Gaddar on Sunday, CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka and senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao recalled their close association with him.
Revanth Reddy visited LB Stadium, where the mortal remains of the balladeer have been placed, and enquired about the arrangements. “Gaddar stood by the poor and enthused them to fight oppression, for decades, together. He was very dear to the Gandhi family and had participated in the Khammam meeting (of Rahul Gandhi),” Revanth Reddy said. “His role in the formation of Telangana was commendable.”
Bhatti said, “Gaddar was with me throughout my People’s March padayatra and guided me like a brother on how to solve the problems of people. His song, penned on the occasion, influenced the people a lot.”
Bhatti said that carrying forward Gaddar’s thoughts and his lessons would be the real tribute to him.
Hanumantha Rao said, “Whenever there was any meeting on Dr B.R. Ambedkar or at such events, we would meet. I met him three days back when he was admitted to hospital.”
Congress leader K. Jana Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy condoled the death of Gaddar, along with Danasari Anasuya (Dr Seethakka), Ponnam Prabhakar, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and G. Niranjan.
Congress leaders Konda Suresh, former MP S. Rajaiah, BRS leaders Balka Suman, K. Vivekanand, Pidamarthi Ravi, Guvvala Balaraju and Gadari Kishore paid their respects to the Gaddar's mortal remains at the LB Stadium. Energy minister G, Jagadish Reddy and BRS leader Kusukuntla Prabakar Reddy were also among the visitors.
Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan also visited the LB Stadium and paid his respects.
Rights activist Prof. G. Haragopal said, “Gaddar was a wonderful instrument that society made and he was a product of the cumulative consciousness of society. He influenced and inspired lakhs of people. The speciality and uniqueness of Gaddar was that he picked up the folk song and put revolutionary content in the form understood by the people.”
He said Gaddar’s background, the discrimination he suffered and the revolutionary party that he was a part of made him a revolutionary and credited him for revolutionising the art form. “His influence on the history of art forms and literature will be lasting. His songs have become a part of the folklore of the people. Telugu society made a unique experiment through the person called Gaddar,” Prof. Haragopal said.
