Nellore: Dubagunta Rosamma, the crusader of the 1992 anti-arrack movement in Andhra Pradesh, passed away on Sunday at Dubagunta in Kaligiri mandal of SPSR Nellore district.
She was 93 years old. She has been suffering from kidney- related problems and undergoing dialysis since the last three years. Rosamma was born as the third child to Jakkampudi Pichhaiah and Subbamma couple in 1923.
The fearless Rosamma had spearheaded the stir against arrack in 1992-1993. The outcry of the hapless women against the sale of arrack, which was ruining their families, transformed into a statewide agitation after Rosamma raised a tirade against the sale of arrack in her village in 1991.
Inspired by an inspirational story Seethamma Kadha (the story of Seethamma) taught as part of adult education in the nigh school in her village, the women of the habitation led by Rosamma had destroyed the pots containing toddy after assuring to take care of the family depending on the trade in July 1991. They ransacked the arrack shop in the village on the same day unmindful of the inevitable police action.
The agitation had spread like a wildfire in the entire state after noted freedom fighter late Vavilala Gopalakrishnaiah and activists of Jana Vignana Vedika led by Dr Vijayakumar, who passed away recently, extended their support to Rosamma.
Telugu Desam founder president late N.T. Rama Rao also took part in the campaign. Rosamma shot to fame across the country after NTR introduced prohibition as promised to her during the agitation after he came to power in 1995.
