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{{Short description|Diplomat and anti-apartheid activist (1924–2020)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Family name hatnote|Enuga|lang=Telugu}}{{Infobox person
| name = Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy
| image = Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|7|1|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Pallapalli, [[Nellore District]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|11|1|1924|7|1|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], US
| occupation = Diplomat at the [[United Nations]]
| known_for = Anti-apartheid work
| awards = [[Padma Shri|Padma Shri (Government of India)]]; [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo| Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo (Government of South Africa)]]
}}

'''Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy''', also known as '''E. S. Reddy''' (1 July 1924 – 1 November 2020), was an Indian-born [[diplomat]] at the [[United Nations]] who led the [[Anti-Apartheid Movement|anti-apartheid]] efforts at the UN's Special Committee Against Apartheid (where he was the secretary from 1963 to 1965) and its Centre Against Apartheid (where he was the director from 1976 to 1983). He also served as director of the UN Trust Fund for South Africa and the Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa. During his time in these roles, he campaigned for economic boycott of the then Government of South Africa, advancing anti-apartheid actions including a combination of economic and social measures. He also lobbied for the release of the imprisoned leader [[Nelson Mandela]].

He was a recipient of the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth highest civilian honor, in 2000, and the [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]] from the Government of South Africa in 2013.

== Early life ==
Reddy was born on 1 July 1924 in [[Pallapatti, Virudhunagar|Pallapatti]], in southern India. His father, E. V. Narasa Reddy, was a mining company executive and [[Freedom fighter (India)|Indian freedom fighter]]. He was noted to have participated in campaigns along with Indian anti-colonial nationalist, [[Mahatma Gandhi]], for betterment of treatment meted out to [[Harijans]], considered untouchables in India until then.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Sam|date=5 November 2020|title=E.S. Reddy, Who Led U.N.'s Efforts Against Apartheid, Dies at 96|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/world/africa/es-reddy-dead.html|url-status=live|access-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106021245/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/05/world/africa/es-reddy-dead.html|archive-date=6 November 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His father was jailed for participating in Gandhi's protests, while his mother used money from selling her jewelry to support Gandhi's campaigns.<ref name=":0" />

Reddy finished his graduation from the [[University of Madras]] in 1943, and went on to complete his master's degree in political science from [[New York University]] in 1948. While he initially had an offer from the [[University of Illinois system|University of Illinois]] to pursue a degree in [[chemical engineering]], a shortage of ships sailing from [[Madras]] post [[World War II]] resulted in a delayed landing in the United States, and subsequently led to him pursuing a degree at New York University.<ref name=":0" />

== Career ==
===United Nations===
After an [[internship]] at the [[United Nations]], Reddy started his career with the United Nations in 1949 as a political affairs officer. During this period he was also associated with the [[Council on African Affairs]], a volunteer-led organization which was a voice of [[Anti-Colonialism|anti-colonialism]] and [[Pan-Africanism]], working along with political activists [[Paul Robeson]] and [[W. E. B. Du Bois]].<ref name="Duberman284-285">Duberman, Martin, "[[iarchive:paulrobeson00dube/page/284/mode/2up|The Apex of Fame]]", ''Paul Robeson'', 1989, pp. 284–285.</ref> His interest in the South African struggle was sparked by a chance encounter with the then president of the [[African National Congress]], [[Alfred Bitini Xuma|A. B. Xuma]], who had come to New York to lobby for the movement at the United Nations.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gandhi|first=Gopalkrishna|date=4 November 2020|title=A lifetime of anti-apartheid struggle|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-lifetime-of-anti-apartheid-struggle/article33016641.ece|access-date=7 November 2020|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106192324/https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-lifetime-of-anti-apartheid-struggle/article33016641.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

He led the United Nations' efforts against apartheid between 1963 and 1984, in his role as a principal secretary within the Special Committee Against Apartheid, and later as a director at the Center Against Apartheid.<ref name=":2" /> During his time in these roles, he campaigned for economic boycott of the then Government of South Africa, with its racially discriminatory practices.<ref name=":0" /> During this period he worked with [[Oliver Tambo]], African National Congress leader in exile, in advancing anti-apartheid actions including a combination of economic and social measures.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|date=4 November 2020|title=E S Reddy, historian and anti-apartheid campaigner, 1924–2020|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a311951c-4688-4f20-a130-5826f245ecbd|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104203054/https://www.ft.com/content/a311951c-4688-4f20-a130-5826f245ecbd|archive-date=4 November 2020|access-date=7 November 2020|website=www.ft.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oliver Tambo, 1 October 1987 – Reproduced in Oliver Tambo and the Struggle against Apartheid, edited by E. S. Reddy {{!}} South African History Online|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/oliver-tambo-1-october-1987-reproduced-oliver-tambo-and-struggle-against-apartheid-edited-e|access-date=7 November 2020|website=www.sahistory.org.za|archive-date=13 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113004033/https://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/oliver-tambo-1-october-1987-reproduced-oliver-tambo-and-struggle-against-apartheid-edited-e|url-status=live}}</ref> He lobbied for the release of the imprisoned leader [[Nelson Mandela]].<ref name=":0" />

He served as the [[Assistant Secretary-General]] of the United Nations between 1983 and 1985. Speaking about his role at the United Nations, Reddy recounted that some of his work was motivated, "by a feeling that I had not made enough sacrifice for India's freedom, so I should compensate by doing what I can for the rest of the colonies."<ref name=":0" /> During this time, he further generated awareness against apartheid by convening seminars and international conferences as well as driving campaigns for action against the government. He also instituted scholarships for families of political prisoners in South Africa.<ref name=":3" />

==== Positions ====
Reddy's positions at the United Nations included:<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy {{!}} Anti-apartheid|url=http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/aama/entry/enuga_sreenivasulu_reddy/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706002040/http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/aama/entry/enuga_sreenivasulu_reddy/|archive-date=6 July 2011|access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref>
*Principal Secretary, United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid, 1963–1967.
*Chief of Section for African Questions, 1967–1975.
* Director, United Nations Centre against Apartheid, 1976–1984.
* Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1983–1985.
*Senior fellow, United Nations Institute for Training and Research, 1985–1993.
*Member, Council of Trustees of the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa, 1986–1992.

===Post-1985===
After his retirement in 1985, he wrote about the early history of the anti-apartheid movements, black liberation, and the linkages between Indian and South African social justice movements.<ref name=":0" /> He was a scholar of Mahatma Gandhi's works and edited anthologies of Gandhi's influence on South Africa<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gandhi and South Africa: 1914–1948 by E. S. Reddy and Gopalkrishna Gandhi {{!}} South African History Online|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/gandhi-and-south-africa-1914-1948-es-reddy-and-gopalkrishna-gandhi|access-date=7 November 2020|website=www.sahistory.org.za|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020152438/https://www.sahistory.org.za/archive/gandhi-and-south-africa-1914-1948-es-reddy-and-gopalkrishna-gandhi|url-status=live}}</ref> and America.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Gandhi, Mahatma, 1869–1948.|title=Mahatma Gandhi, letters to Americans|date=1998|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|others=Reddy, E. S.|isbn=81-7276-120-1|edition=1st|location=Mumbai|oclc=43720720}}</ref> He helped find letters from Gandhi to anti-apartheid activists and leaders of the South African Indian community, [[Yusuf Dadoo]] and [[Monty Naicker]], which helped further identify links between social justice movements in both countries.<ref name=":2" /> Some of his works including papers and private collection was donated to [[Yale University Library]], [[Nehru Memorial Museum & Library]], [[University of the Witwatersrand]] and [[University of Durban-Westville]].<ref name=":3" /> He also served as a consultant to the [[African National Congress]] led efforts at the Department of Information to develop its Historical Documents and United Nations collections.<ref name=":3" />

== Awards and recognition ==
Reddy received the [[World Peace Council prizes|Joliot-Curie medal of the World Peace Council]] in 1982 for his anti-apartheid activities.<ref name=":0" /> The Indian government awarded him the [[Padma Shri]], the nation's fourth highest civilian honor in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy {{!}} Padma Shri 2000|url=http://www.organiser.org/16apr2000/cyclone.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717035044/http://www.organiser.org/16apr2000/cyclone.html|archive-date=17 July 2009|access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Government of India – Padma Awards|url=https://padmaawards.gov.in/AboutAwards.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=16 March 2021|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117124803/https://padmaawards.gov.in/AboutAwards.aspx}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Mary Kom Among 141 Padma Awards Recipients|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/padma-awards-arun-jaitley-sushma-swaraj-george-fernandes-posthumously-awarded-padma-vibhushan-indias-2169730|access-date=2021-03-18|website=NDTV.com|archive-date=25 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525101435/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/padma-awards-arun-jaitley-sushma-swaraj-george-fernandes-posthumously-awarded-padma-vibhushan-indias-2169730|url-status=live}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]] by the Government of South Africa in 2013.<ref name=":0" /> He received an honorary [[Doctor of Philosophy]] from the [[University of Durban-Westville]] in 1995 for his work against apartheid in South Africa.<ref name=":3" />

Speaking about Reddy's work, [[Nobel Peace Prize]] awardee and former [[UN Commissioner for Namibia]], [[Seán MacBride]] said, "There is no one at the United Nations who has done more to expose the injustices of apartheid and the illegality of the South African regime than he has."<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy {{!}} South African History Online|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/enuga-sreenivasulu-reddy|access-date=6 November 2020|website=www.sahistory.org.za|archive-date=2 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102173720/https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/enuga-sreenivasulu-reddy|url-status=live}}</ref> Indian historian, [[Ramachandra Guha]], dedicated his book ''[[Gandhi Before India]]'' to Reddy, and noted of him in his dedication, "Indian patriot, South African democrat, friend and mentor to Gandhian scholars of all nationalities."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6WfCAQAAQBAJ&q=Indian+patriot,+South+African+democrat,+friend+and+mentor+to+Gandhian+scholars+of+all+nationalities|title=Gandhi Before India|date=15 April 2014|publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-385-53230-3|language=en|access-date=7 November 2020|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129173426/https://books.google.com/books?id=6WfCAQAAQBAJ&q=Indian+patriot%2C+South+African+democrat%2C+friend+and+mentor+to+Gandhian+scholars+of+all+nationalities|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Reddy was married to Nilufer Mizanoglu, a writer and translator of [[Turkish literature]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>Twenty Stories by Turkish Women Writers (Indiana University Turkish Studies joint series with the Ministry of Culture of the Turkish Republic, v. 8.), trans. Nilufer Reddy Mizanoglu (Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana Univ. Turkish Studies, 1988). 14.</ref> They had two daughters, Mina Reddy and Leyla Tegmo-Reddy.<ref name=":0" /> He died on 1 November 2020 in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], at the age of 96.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Nair|first=Nivashni|title=ES Reddy, who led the UN campaign against apartheid, dies at 96|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2020-11-02-es-reddy-who-led-the-un-campaign-against-apartheid-dies-at-96/|access-date=6 November 2020|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA|archive-date=2 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102093705/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/world/2020-11-02-es-reddy-who-led-the-un-campaign-against-apartheid-dies-at-96/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Books ==
* {{Cite book|last=Gandhi|first=Mahatma|url= |title=Mahatma Gandhi, Letters to Americans: Compiled and Edited by E.S. Reddy|date=1998|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|language=en |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book|last=Reddy|first=E. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SRAiAAAAMAAJ|title=Struggle for Freedom in Southern Africa: Its International Significance|date=1987|publisher=Mainstream|language=en |ref=none}}
* {{Cite book|last=Reddy|first=E. S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2t1BAAAAYAAJ&q=E.S.+Reddy|title=International Action Against Apartheid: The Nordic States and Nigeria|date=1986|publisher=Nigerian Institute of International Affairs|language=en |ref=none}}
* Reddy, E. S., ed.(2006): [http://www.fredsakademiet.dk/library/nordic/friends.pdf Friends of Gandhi]: Correspondence of Mahatma Gandhi with Esther Faering (Menon), Anne Marie Petersen and Ellen Hørup, by Mahatma Gandhi, Ellen Hørup, Esther Faering Menon, and Anne Marie Petersen, also ed. by Holger Terp. National Gandhi Museum.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1499 E. S. Reddy Papers (MS 1499).] Record details of papers held at [[Yale University]]
* [https://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/archive-files/india_and_south_africa_by_e.s._reddy.pdf India and South Africa: A collection of papers by E.S. Reddy] (PDF) South African History Online

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Public Affairs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reddy, Enuga Sreenivasulu}}
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:New York University alumni]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in public affairs]]
[[Category:Anti-apartheid activists]]
[[Category:Indian officials of the United Nations]]
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:American politicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Politicians from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Nellore district]]
[[Category:Gandhians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]]
[[Category:American people of Telugu descent]]

Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy - Revision history

WillisHeiman326 at 21:48, 13 September 2025