Kaloji Narayana Rao | |
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Born |
Warangal, Hyderabad state (now Telangana State), India |
9 September 1914
Died | 13 November 2002 Warangal, Telangana, India |
(aged 88)
Other names | Kaloji, Kalanna, Praja Kavi |
Known for | Political activist, poet |
Raghuveer Narayan laxmikanth Srinivasa ram raja kaloji (9 September 1914 – 13 November 2002), popularly known as Kaloji Narayana Rao or Kaloji or Kalanna, was an Indian poet, freedom fighter, anti-fascist and political activist of Telangana. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1992. The Telangana government honored kaloji birthday as Telangana Language Day.
Rao wrote poetry in Telugu, Urdu, Hindi, and Marathi languages. In 1992, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Kakatiya University.
Education:
Kaloji completed his primary education in Madikonda and higher education in Warangal and Hyderabad.
Movements:
During his student days and later, he was deeply influenced by the popular movements of the time like the Arya Samaj Movement, especially the civil rights part of it, the Library Movement and the Andhra Maha Sabha Movement.
Kaloji participated in Andhra Maha Sabha activities since its formation in 1934. He was also associated with the Arya Samaj.
He actively participated in the freedom movement of the erstwhile Hyderabad State and underwent imprisonment under the Nizam. He has also participated in various social, political and literary activities in Andhra Pradesh. His active involvement with the masses and their problems and his tireless struggle for their emancipation have naturally earned him in equal measure the love of the people and the wrath of the powers that be. He is one of those select freedom fighters of our country who were imprisoned by the feudal lords and the alien rulers before the attainment of Indian Independence and by the native leaders thereafter.
Kaloji has been at the forefront of all the significant struggles that make up the history of the erstwhile Hyderabad State.He was part of Satyagraha movement, the Osmania University Student Vandemataram movement, Arya Samaj, State Congress, Andhra Mahasabha(Telenagana) and Anti-Razakar movements.
He has consistently fought for the democratic and responsible government. His commitment to human rights made him an active member of the Tarkunde Committee. Although opposed to power and the trapping of office Kaloji looked upon elections as a democratic exercise. He contested thrice and once got elected as a member of the legislative council. His most significant contest was in 1977 against Vengal Rao then Chief Minister who symbolised the ’emergency’ rule in Andhra Pradesh.