Gaddar

Gummadi Vittal Rao popularly known as Gaddar (born 1949) is a pseudonym of a revolutionary Telugu balladeer and vocal Naxalite activist from the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The name Gaddar was adopted as a tribute to the pre-independence Gadar party which opposed British colonial rule in Punjab during 1910s.

Early years

Gaddar was born to Seshaiah and Lachumamma in the Toopran village of the Medak district in a poor dalit family. His parents worked as labourers to earn a living. He attended his early schooling in Bodhan of the Nizamabad district. After completing Pre University Course (then equivalent of 12th class) from a government junior college in Hyderabad.

Career

1969 Separate Telangana Agitation

In 1969, Vittal Rao (Gaddar) joined the struggle for separate Telangana state. He formed a burrakatha (a kind of folk art in Andhra Pradesh, India) troupe named after Mahatma Gandhi to spread awareness about Telangana issue. He was soon disillusioned. For a while, he gave performances on family planning and other social themes for the Indian government's information and broadcasting ministry.

Popular culture

B. Narsing Rao, film director and founder of a forum called 'Art Lovers Association' noticed Gaddar and was impressed by his performance. He invited him to perform at a program on Bhagat Singh's anniversary. After this program, Gaddar began attending the weekly meetings of Art Lovers Forum on Sundays. B. Narsing Rao also asked him to write and bring something...
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