Katti Padma Rao
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| Katti Padma Rao | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 July 1953 Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Occupation | Dalit activist; publicist and leader of the Dalit Mahasabha in Telugu-speaking land. |
| Language | Telugu |
| Nationality | Indian |
Katti Padma Rao (born 27 July 1953) is a prominent Dalit poet, scholar and activist from Andhra Pradesh, India. He is the founding general secretary of Dalit Mahasabha, a people´s organisation that spearheaded the Dalit movement in Andhra Pradesh in the aftermath of the 1985 Karamchedu massacre in the coastal region of that state. A scholar in both Telugu and Sanskrit, he has published several volumes of poetry, and books on sociology, religion, philosophy, history, and women's studies. He is a regular columnist in major Telugu newspapers and magazines.
Contents
Early life
Katti Padma Rao was born on 27 July 1953, in Etheru, Ponnur mandal, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. His parents, Katti Subba Rao and Manikyamma, belong to the Mala community of Dalits.
Academic career
Rao began his academic career in 1975, working as a Telugu lecturer in Pamulapati Butchi Naidu College, Ponnur. He went on to serve as lecturer in Sanskrit and Telugu, and as vice-principal of Bhavan Narayana Sanskrit College, Ponnur.
Poetry and scholarship
Rao gained recognition as a poet and scholar, publishing several volumes of poetry and books on literature, sociology, religion, philosophy, history, and women's studies. Prolific in Telugu, he also authored some of his works in English.
Social and political activism
Following the Karamchedu massacre of Madiga Dalits in 1985, Rao emerged as a significant socio-political activist. He was the founder General Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Dalit Mahasabha[1] organisation, which mobilised not only the Dalits, but also the Adivasis and the Backward Classes against caste-based atrocities and oppression. The Dalit Mahasabha believed that the oppressive caste culture can be changed by "replacing it with an alternative Dalit culture, a culture that draws from Charvaka’s materialism, Buddhist Sangha philosophy and humanism, and thus, recognising fundamental human 'equality, fraternity and dignity'".[2]
Electoral politics
Rao launched the Peda Prajala Party (Poor People's Party) in the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, he was part of the Bahujan Samaj Party. In the late 2000s, he joined the Praja Rajyam Party. His forays into electoral politics were largely unsuccessful.
Awards and honours
Rao is recognised as a Dalit ideologue,[3] intellectual,[4] writer and socio-political activist.[5]
A list of awards and honors received by Rao:
- Honorary Doctorate from Acharya Nagarjuna University in recognition of his contribution to Dalit literature and social justice for the downtrodden in August 2007
- Boyi Bhimanna Trust Award for literature from Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy in 2007
- Pratibha Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh for poetry in 2006
- Sri Ramulu Telugu University Award for Poetry in 2006
- Sahitya Puraskaram by Andhra Saraswatha Parishat by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Sushil Kumar Shinde, 2006
- Avantsa Soma Sunder Sahiti trust Award in 2005
- Dr. C. Narayana Reddy Sahiti Award, Sri Narayana Reddy Kalapeetam, Hyderabad, 2003
- Ambedkar Award, 1992, Hyderabad
Books published
Titles in English
- Women and Caste in India (1983)
- Social and Philosophical Movements in India (1991)
- Dalit Women (1991)
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar: The Visionary
- Caste and Alternative Culture (1995)
- Charvaka Darshan (1998)
- Woman in Indian Culture (1999)
- Journey towards Dalit Dignity (1999)
- Buddhist Philosophy (2007)
Anthologies
- Jana Geetham (1979)
- Hethuvada Satyalu (1980)
- Jailu Gantalu (1986)
- Vimukthi Geetham (1987)
- Desam Diary (1987)
- Raktha Kshetram (1992)
- Nalla Kaluva (1996)
- Neelikeka
- Mullakireetam poetry (2002)
- Bhoomi Basha poetry (2004)
- Kattela Moppu poetry (2007)
- Aatma gaurava swaram (2010)
- Ambedkar
- Samghika Viplavamoorthy: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (1990)
- Ambedkar-Gandhi (2001)
- Ambedkar-Marx-Phule (2001)
- Ambedkar-Buddha (2002)
- Ambedkar Thatvasastram (2007)
Sociology
- Kula Samgharshanalu (1983)
- Kulam Punadulu (1981)
- Reservations: Hindu Mathonmadam (1991)
- Kulam — Prathyamnaya Samskrithi (1993)
Dalit history
- Dalithula Charitra (1st Part)
- Dalithula Charitra (2nd Part, 1997)
- Dalithula Charitra (3rd Part, 1998)
- Dalithula Charitra (4th Part, 1999)
Alternative Dalit philosophy
- Charvaka Darshan (1991)
- Buddha Darshan (1997)
- Dalita Darshanam (2008)
- Mahatma Phule (2008)
Women's studies
- Bharatheeya Samskruthilo Sthree (1993)
- PitruSwamya Vyavasthalo Sthree (2002)
Dalit literature
- Samghika Viplava Rachayithalu (1983)
- Dalitha Sahitya Vudyamam — Joshua (1995)
- Joshua Samajika Thatvam (1995)
- Mahakavi Jasuva Samajika viplavam (2007)
- Santh Ravidas Bhakti kavitodhyamam (2008)
References
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