Paturi Rajagopala Naidu – Famous Kisan leader and politician associated with Indian Peasant Movement

Paturi Rajagopala Naidu (1920 – 1997) was a famous peasant leader, freedom fighter and politician from Andhra Pradesh. As a parliamentarian he represented Chittoor constituency in the 6^th and 7^th Lok Sabha during the period, 1977 – 1984. Known for his contributions towards Indian Peasant Movement his name is taken after Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, and also regarded as the father of the Indian Peasant Movement.  His son Ramachandra Naidu Galla is an industrialist and the founder of the Amara Raja Group of companies, while his daughter-in-law Aruna Kumari Galla and grandson Galla Jayadev are popular politicians associated with Telugu Desam party.

Paturi Rajagopala Naidu hailed from Diguvamagham village in Chittoor District. He completed his graduation from Guntur and also received B.Litt. in Economics from the University of Oxford. Once he returned back, he started his professional career in teaching. During his younger years he was also associated with freedom struggle movement since 1930 as well as peasant movement, which made him an influential leader. As a politician, he was initially associated with Congress Party, and later founded Bharat Krishikar Lok Party and the Swatantra Party, along with N. G. Ranga.

Paturi Rajagopala Naidu – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. While N. G. Ranga served as the founder-president of the Swatantra Party, he became its secretary, and later he served as a parliamentarian twice representing the same.

2. In 1962 general elections Swatantra Party received 25 seats.

3. He was an exponent of peasant philosophy.

4. He authored one book about Mahatma Gandhi titled Bappu Blesses.

5. His grandson Galla Jayadev is married to Telugu actor Krishna’s daughter Padmavathi Galla. Thus his family in linked to a prominent Telugu film family and film actors like Mahesh babu, Ramesh babu, Manjula Ghattamaneni and Vijaya Nirmala.