Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
| Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy | |
|---|---|
| Died | February 22, 1847 |
| Cause of death | Death by hanging |
| Spouse(s) | Three wives. First wife name Siddamma |
| Children | Dora Subbaiah |
| Parent(s) |
|
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy (died 1847) is credited to be one of the first freedom fighters in India. His was the first revolt in India against the British occupation, 10 years earlier than India's First War of Independence (term) of 1857 also known as Indian Rebellion of 1857. Nearly 60 villages were under the control of Reddy, including Uyyalawada, Gulladurti, Harivaram,narsipalle,pampalle, Uppaluru,koilakuntla, Kotthakota. The ruins of the fort at Kotthakota can still be seen. Now these villages are in Prakasam,Kurnool,Kadapa (or Cuddapah), Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh and in the Ballari region of Karnataka.[4]
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy was born to Uyyalawada Peddamalla Reddy in Uyyalawada, located in the present-day Kurnool District which is on the banks of Kundu River. His father Peddamalla Reddy and his grandfather Jayarami Reddy were local chieftains (Polygars) of Koilakuntla.
He built a fort at Kottakota village near Giddalur. The ruins of the fort can still be seen at Kottakota.
Narasimha Reddy, as a polygar of Koilakuntla was in command of 66 villages in Cuddapah (or Kadapa), Anantapur, Bellary and Kurnool districts and controlled an army of 2000. After Rayalaseema was ceded to the British by the Nizam, Narasimha Reddy refused to share the revenue of the region with the British. He was in favour of an armed uprising. On 10 June 1846 he attacked the treasury at Koilakuntla and marched towards Kambham, Andhra Pradesh (Prakasam District). On the way, he created uproar at Rudravaram by killing the forest ranger. The district collector, Thomas Monroe, took a serious view of the rebellion and ordered his capture. Early attempts to capture him under Captain Knot and Watson were unsuccessful. The British government announced Rs 5,000/ for the information and Rs 10,000/ for his head which was a huge amount in those days.
...
Wikipedia