Koratala Satyanarayana

Koratala Satyanarayana (September 24, 1923 – July 1, 2006) was a communist politician from Andhra Pradesh, India. He was a Politbureau member of the Communist Party of India (CPI(M)).

Childhood

Born into the family of Buchaiah and Sheshamma in Pyaparru village of Amartaluru mandal in Guntur district on September 24, 1923, Koratala Satyanarayana had a brother and three sisters. Although born into a feudal family, he stood by the working people and consistently fought for their upliftment. He was one of the key builders of the movement in Guntur district.

Political entry and pathway

Koratala Satyanarayana was one of the experienced leaders of the Party in Andhra Pradesh who had worked with the first generation builders of the communist movement in the state.

His quest for justice was apparent in his childhood when he went to Turimella high school in 1938–39. A statewide agitation was going on in high schools against the detention system in exams and Koratala was the one who launched it in his school. Despite waging the struggle for 11 days, there was no outcome as the school headmaster was adamant. Koratala went and met Makineni Basavapunnaiah, a communist leader who was a student leader in Guntur. That was the beginning of his turn towards communism. His cousin and brother-in-law Paturi Subbaiah were active in the freedom movement.

With the headmaster bowing to the demand after the intervention of Makineni Basavapunnaiah, the strike in the school concluded...
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