HYDERABAD: Balladeer and people’s poet Gummadi Vittal Rao, better known to everyone as Gaddar was accorded a state funeral on Tuesday amidst an outpouring of grief over his passing, and celebrations of his life and work by thousands of his supporters, followers and fans.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao visited Gaddar’s residence in Alwal and paid his last respects and consoled the balladeer’s family. Gaddar had passed away on Sunday at a hospital in Hyderabad.
Chandrashekar Rao consoled Gaddar’s wife Vimala, and son Surya Kiran, and recalled his association with Gaddar, especially during the movement for establishment of Telangana state.
Among the many who paid their respects were Finance Minister T Harish Rao, state Congress party president A. Revanth Reddy, BJP state president and Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, music director MM Keeravani, and many others from various walks of life. While some paid their last respects at the Lal Bahadur Stadium where Gaddar’s body was kept for public viewing, several others visited his residence before his body was taken for the funeral at Maha Bodhi Vidyalaya in Bhoodevi Nagar, a school that was run by Gaddar.
The last rites were performed as per Buddhist rites following Gaddar’s last wishes.
Even as leaders from various parties lined up to pay their respects, the Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi in a letter written to Gaddar’s wife Vimala Rao expressed her condolences. Sonia Gandhi said “Gaddar played a pivotal role in using art and culture as a means ofexpression to bring attention to the struggles ofthe marginalized and oppressed in society. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Please accept my heartfelt condolences on this profound loss.”
Gaddar’s popularity among the masses, and the sense ofloss experienced by many was witnessed in a 17 km long procession from LB Stadium to the balladeer family’s residence which took around 7 hours. Hundreds ofpeople shouted slogans, while many others sang songs written and originally sung by Gaddar all along the route. Hundreds of folk artistes who converged at the stadium early in the day, walked with the hearse till Gaddar’s residence.
As part of state funeral, the police band played while the body was shifted from the vehicle on which it was brought to Gaddar’s residence form the stadium and a gun salute was offered.
Among the nearly 5,000 odd people that could be seen thronging the house, Begari Narayana, Bheem sen, Pandari and Raheem were among a 800 strong group that came from Narayankhed.
“He was a great leader and an inspiration for us, we hired some 60 vehicles and came to Hyderabad,” Narayana said. Mutyala Swamy, standing in the nearly half a kilometre long queue to have one last glimpse of Gaddar’s mortal remains, was in tears. “My children studied in this school, I was not in a condition to admit my children in the school, not able to pay the fees. Gaddar anna, gave education to my children. He was always there for the downtrodden.”
Gyanesh, a resided of Erramanzil said he was with Gaddar’s body from the hospital where the singer passed way to the stadium and then till the funeral. He added, “I was with him for several years from 1985 onwards, we worked together in several movements. His life is an inspiration for many.” Poornachender, resident ofChintal basti, an elderly man among the mourners, said “his songs made us take part in many ofthe agitations. His passing is a great loss to this state.”
