TawannaIbarra at 21:43, 1 March 2026

2026-03-01T21:43:03Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian poet and activist (1949–2023)}}{{Family name hatnote|Gummadi|lang=Telugu}}{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox Indian politician
| name = Gaddar
| image = Gaddar in 2005.jpg
| caption = Rao in 2005
| birth_name = Gummadi Vittal Rao
| birth_date = {{birth date|1949|01|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Toopran]], [[Hyderabad State (1948–1956)|Hyderabad State]], [[Dominion of India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|8|6|1949|06|06|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India
| residence = Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| alma_mater = [[Osmania University]]
| party = [[Telangana Praja Front]]
| spouse = Vimala Gaddar
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Poet]]|[[Folk singer]]|[[Sentimental ballad|Balladeer]]|[[Politician]]|[[Maoist]]|[[Ambedkarite]]}}
}}

'''Gummadi Vittal Rao''' (31 January 1949<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=31 January 2024 |title=Gaddar's birth anniversary on January 31 to be celebrated as state function |url=https://www.newstap.in/telangana/gaddars-birth-anniversary-on-january-31-to-be-celebrated-as-state-function-1517988 |access-date=17 June 2024 |website=www.newstap.in |language=en}}</ref> – 6 August 2023), known as '''Gaddar''', was an Indian poet, singer, and [[communist]] revolutionary. Gaddar was active in the [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]], as well as the [[Telangana movement|movement for Telangana's statehood]].

Gaddar began his political and cultural journey as a Naxalite in the 1970s. Arrested during the Emergency in 1975, he later went underground. Despite controversies, he remained a prominent voice against caste oppression and injustices faced by Dalits and Adivasis.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Jangam |first=Chinnaiah |date=10 August 2023 |title=Gaddar (1949-2023): His voice inspired resistance to oppression |url=https://scroll.in/article/1053977/gaddar-1949-2023-his-voice-inspired-resistance-to-oppression |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=[[Scroll.in]] |language=en}}</ref> He was one of the founding member of the cultural wing of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War|Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People’s War]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kartheek |first=B. |date=7 August 2023 |title=Gaddar: Revolutionary poet who fought for statehood |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2023/Aug/07/gaddar-revolutionary-poet-who-fought-for-statehood-2602677.html |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He also founded the Jana Natya Mandali.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Apparasu |first=Srinivasa Rao |date=6 August 2023 |title=Popular balladeer and former Maoist ideologue Gaddar passes away |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/renowned-balladeer-and-former-maoist-ideologue-gaddar-passes-away-at-77-leaves-behind-a-legacy-of-revolutionary-music-101691320693677.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920214115/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/renowned-balladeer-and-former-maoist-ideologue-gaddar-passes-away-at-77-leaves-behind-a-legacy-of-revolutionary-music-101691320693677.html |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref> He played a major role in drawing national attention to the [[Karamchedu massacre]] in 1987.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

He was awarded with a cash award of ₹1 crore posthumously for his contributions to the Telangana movement.<ref name="Telangana Formation Day 2025">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |date=2 June 2025 |title=Telangana Formation Day 2025 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telangana-formation-day-2025-cm-revanth-reddy-envisions-state-as-a-3-trillion-economy-by-2047/article69648133.ece |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603071821/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telangana-formation-day-2025-cm-revanth-reddy-envisions-state-as-a-3-trillion-economy-by-2047/article69648133.ece |archivedate=3 June 2025 |accessdate=3 June 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Gaddar was born as Gummadi Vithal Rao at [[Toopran]] in the [[Medak district]] of [[Telangana]] in 1949.<ref name="TheHindu-obit">{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=R. Ravikanth |title=Telangana folk singer Gaddar passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/telangana-folk-singer-gaddar-passes-away/article67164722.ece |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=6 August 2023 |language=en-IN}}</ref> While studying engineering in Hyderabad, he became influenced by the revolutionary ideas of the [[Dalit Panthers]] and the Naxalbari movement.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=7 August 2023 |title=Renowned Telangana folk singer Gaddar passes away at 77 |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/renowned-telangana-folk-singer-gaddar-passes-away-at-77/article67167081.ece |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref>

Gaddar went underground in the 1980s and became a member of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War]]. He was part of its cultural wing and performed for crowds. A bullet remained in his spine after an assassination attempt in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rebel balladeer Gaddar backs Congress|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/rebel-balladeer-gaddar-backs-congress/cid/1671726
|access-date=3 January 2021|website=ap7am.com/}}</ref>

Until 2010, Gaddar was active in the Naxal movement, later identifying himself as an [[Ambedkarite]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swamy |first=Rohini |date=4 December 2018 |title=In Telangana, Naxal poet Gaddar embraces the ballot & old foes to fight 'fundamentalists' |url=https://theprint.in/politics/in-telangana-naxal-poet-gaddar-embraces-the-ballot-old-foes-to-fight-fundamentalists/157909/ |access-date=3 January 2021 |website=[[ThePrint]] |language=en |quote=Gaddar remained active in the Naxal movement until 2010. He officially disassociated with the Maoist party in 2017 and declared himself an Ambedkarite.}}</ref> He adopted the name ''Gaddar'' as a tribute to the pre-independence [[Gadar party]], which opposed [[British Raj|British colonial rule]] in [[Punjab region|Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biluka |first=Nirmala |date=12 August 2023 |title=Gaddar: A lion falls silent |url=https://www.deccanherald.com//specials/gaddar-a-lion-falls-silent-2645051 |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=[[Deccan Herald]] |language=en |quote=...he adopted the stage name of ‘Gaddar’ as a tribute to the Ghadar Party, which fought against British colonial rule in Punjab.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kappal |first=Bhanuj |date=13 August 2023 |title=Gaddar and the end of an era in Indian music |url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/art-and-culture/gaddar-death-music-poet-telangana-communist-111691827259951.html |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Livemint]] |quote=Gaddar—pronounced “Ghadar”, the moniker was inspired by the revolutionary Ghadar party...}}</ref>

== Telangana movement ==


With the resurgence of [[Telangana movement]], Gadar expressed his support for the cause of a separate [[Telangana]] state,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Satyanarayana |first=K. |date=30 August 2023 |title=Gaddar: The radical performer and cultural icon of Telangana |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/telangana/gaddar-radical-performer-cultural-icon-telangana-181719 |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The News Minute |language=en |quote=From the late 1990s, he played an active role in the struggle for a separate Telangana state.}}</ref> which intended to uplift the lower castes, particularly dalits and backward castes. He said that he was strongly aligned with those who are for a state in favor of social justice where scheduled tribes and scheduled castes have political representation on par with the OCs and BCs of the state.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}} He expressed his solidarity with [[Devender Goud]]'s NTPP (Nava Telangana Praja Party) despite being shot at by the police during Goud's term as AP home minister.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/01/18/stories/2008011851710300.htm |title=Fight forces opposing separate Telangana, says Gadar |work=The Hindu |date=18 January 2008 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327140143/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/01/18/stories/2008011851710300.htm |archivedate=27 March 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/20/stories/2008012058190600.htm |title=Telangana minus Hyderabad unimaginable: Gadar |date=20 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123101121/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/20/stories/2008012058190600.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archivedate=23 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020558860400.htm |title=Smaller States viable, say leaders |date=5 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209113137/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/05/stories/2008020558860400.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archivedate=9 February 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Gaddar performs in Kolkata.jpg|thumb|Gaddar performing in [[Kolkata]] in 2010 against [[Operation Green Hunt]] ]]

==Illness and death==
Suffering from severe heart disease, Gaddar was admitted to a Hyderabad hospital on 20 July 2023 where he underwent bypass surgery on 3 August 2023. While recovering from surgery,<ref name="TimesOfIndia-obit">{{cite news |last1=Reddy |first1=U Sudhakar |title=Renowned Telangana folk singer Gummadi Vittal Rao, popularly known as 'Gaddar', passes away |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/102477594.cms |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=6 August 2023}}</ref> he died from lung and urinary problems on 6 August 2023 at age 74.<ref>{{cite news |title=Telangana: Poet activist Gaddar passes away at 77 |url=https://www.siasat.com/telangana-poet-activist-gaddar-passes-away-at-apollo-hospitals-2660638/ |access-date=6 August 2023 |publisher=The Siasat Daily |date=6 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title= Telangana Poet Gaddar, Known For His Revolutionary Songs, Dies At 77 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/telangana-poet-balladeer-gaddar-dies-at-77-4273956|publisher=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Famed Folk Singer Gaddar Passes Away at Apollo Hospital|url=https://www.ap7am.com/lv-377173-live-folk-singer-gaddar-passes-away|website=www.telegraphindia.com|date=6 August 2023 }}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Incomplete list|date=October 2022}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year
!Movie
!Song
!Lyricist
!Notes
!Ref.
|-
|1979
|''[[Maa Bhoomi]]''
|Bandenaka Bandi Katti
|Bandi Yadagiri
|
|<ref>{{cite web |last1=Krishnamoorthy |first1=Suresh |title=Maa Bhoomi will forever be alive in people's minds |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/maa-bhoomi-will-forever-be-alive-in-peoples-minds/article7025857.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=23 March 2015}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |1983
| rowspan="3" |''[[Rangula Kala]]''
|Jam Jammalmarri
|Devi Priya
| rowspan="11" |Also actor
|
|-
|Bhadram Koduko
| rowspan="2" |Guda Anjaiah
|
|-
|Madhana Sundari
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |1995
| rowspan="7" |''[[Orey Rikshaw]]''
|Malle Theegaku
| rowspan="12" |Gaddar
|
|-
|Aapura Rikshowda
|
|-
|Jatharelli Podame
|
|-
|Naa Raktham Tho Naduputhanu Rikshawnu
|<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 November 2020 |title=''Orey Rikshaw'' completes 25 years; Lesser-known facts about the R Narayana Murthy starrer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/orey-rikshaw-completes-25-years-lesser-known-facts-about-the-r-narayana-murthy-starrer/articleshow/79125968.cms |access-date=24 February 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
|-
|Rajyangam Chattamandu
|
|-
|Gana Gana Gana
|
|-
|Amma Kanna
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|2011
|''[[Jai Bolo Telangana]]''
|Podustunna Poddumeeda
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Telangana Formation Day 2021: Folk Songs that Ignited Passion During Statehood Movement |url=https://www.news18.com/news/lifestyle/telangana-formation-day-2021-folk-songs-that-ignited-passion-during-statehood-movement-3801434.html |website=News18 |language=en |date=2 June 2021}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Poru Telangana]]'' || Podustunna Poddumeeda
| ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|2016
| rowspan="3"|''[[Dandakaranyam]]''
| Bharata Desam
| rowspan="3"|Also actor
|
|-
| Podduthirugudu Puvva
|
|-
| Adavi Thalliki Vandanam
|
|}

== Awards ==
'''[[Nandi Awards]]''':
*1995: [[Nandi Award for Best Lyricist]] for "Malletheega Ku Pandiri Vole" from ''[[Orey Rikshaw]]'' (turned down)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=9 November 2020 |title=''Orey Rikshaw'' completes 25 years; Lesser-known facts about the R Narayana Murthy starrer |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/orey-rikshaw-completes-25-years-lesser-known-facts-about-the-r-narayana-murthy-starrer/articleshow/79125968.cms |access-date= |website=The Times of India}}</ref>
* 2011: [[Nandi Award for Best Male Playback Singer]] for ''[[Jai Bolo Telangana]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/2011-Nandi-Awards-winners-list/articleshow/16797289.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627090518/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-13/news-interviews/34430644_1_sri-rama-rajyam-dookudu-jai-bolo-telangana |url-status=live |archive-date=27 June 2013 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |title=2011 Nandi Awards winners list|access-date=12 August 2023}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Telangana Praja Front]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaddar}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Telugu politicians]]
[[Category:Indian male folk singers]]
[[Category:People from Medak]]
[[Category:Telugu poets]]
[[Category:Activists from Telangana]]
[[Category:Naxalites]]
[[Category:Poets from Telangana]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian Marxists]]
[[Category:Deaths from lung disease]]
[[Category:Deaths from urologic disease]]

Gaddar - Revision history

TawannaIbarra at 21:43, 1 March 2026