KingsCharts at 10:34, 9 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian freedom fighter (1870–1922)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kanneganti Hanumanthu
| image = కన్నెగంటి హనుమంతు.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name = కన్నెగంటి హనుమంతు
| birth_date = 1870
| birth_place = Minchalapadu, Krishna district, [[Madras Presidency]] (present-day [[Palnadu district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]])
| death_date = 22 February 1922 (aged {{c.|lk=no|51}})
| death_place = Minchalapadu, Guntur district, [[Madras Presidency]] (present-day [[Palnadu district]], [[Andhra Pradesh]])
| death_cause = [[Execution by firing squad]]
| occupation = [[Indian Freedom Struggle|Freedom fighter]]
| organization =
| known_for =
| movement = [[Indian independence movement]]
}}
'''Kanneganti Hanumanthu''' (also spelled as '''Kaneganti Hanumanthu'''; 1870–1922) was an Indian [[freedom fighter]] and farmer leader who rebelled against [[British Raj|British rule]] and spearheaded the Palnadu Rebellion.<ref name=":0" />

The British imposed a tax called 'Pullari' on farmers for using the forest produce and grazing their cattle in the forest. As a part of the [[Non-cooperation movement (1919–22)|non-cooperation movement]], Pullari Satyagraha was organized in the [[Palnadu|Palnadu region]] and Hanumanthu mobilised people to not pay the tax.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=డా॥అడబాల అప్పారావు |date=2015-02-22 |title=అబ్బురం కన్నెగంటి సమరం |url=https://www.sakshi.com/news/opinion/history-on-kanneganti-hanumanthu-214923 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |language=te}}</ref> Under his leadership, people organised a [[Boycott|social boycott]] of Revenue and Forest department officials.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" /> All goods and services were denied to the officials including food, laundry, barbering.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=7 April 2022 |title=పుల్లరిపై పల్నాటి బహిష్కరణ బాణం నీళ్లు కూడా దొరకకుండా చేసి |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/telugu/telangana/bharat/the-story-of-kanneganti-hanumanthu-in-indian-independence/na20220407050941814 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=[[ETV Network|ETV Bharat]] |language=te}}</ref>

Hanumanthu was arrested multiple times by the police. British colonial administrator T. G. Rutherford tried bribing Hanumanthu.<ref name=":4" /> Rutherford offered to make Hanumanthu a [[zamindar]] for 45 villages in the [[Durgi, Palnadu district|Durgi]] region, but he refused.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> The village [[Karanam]] betrayed Hanumanthu.<ref name=":6" /> On 22 February 1922, the police besieged the village and shot him 24 to 26 times and even prevented the villagers from offering him water.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /> Hanumanthu shouted the [[Vande Mataram]] slogan for nearly six hours and died.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" />

== Life ==
Kanneganti Hanumanthu was born in a [[Kapu (caste)|Kapu]] family<ref name="The Times of India-2016">{{Cite news |date=2016-05-22 |title=Kapu community says no to 'Chandranna' samkshema bhavan |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/kapu-community-says-no-to-chandranna-samkshema-bhavan/articleshow/52383519.cms |access-date=2023-04-08 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Kumari |first=A. Vijaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r-ffeWmj2JUC&q=Hanumanthu&pg=PA89 |title=Social Change Among Balijas: Majority Community of Andhra Pradesh |date=1998 |publisher=M.D. Publications |isbn=978-81-7533-072-6 |pages=14 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Devi |first=T. Sui |title=Kanneganti Hanumanthu |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/district-reopsitory-detail.htm?11298 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=[[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture, Government of India]] |language=English}}</ref> in 1870 in Minchalapadu village (Kolagatla), in Durgi Mandal of [[Palnadu district]] of present-day [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Kanneganti Hanumanthu |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?2843 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website= |publisher=[[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture, Government of India]] |language=English}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> He was the second son of Achamma, and Venkatappayya.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=దుర్గరాజు |first=శాయి ప్రమోద్‌ |date=2022-08-05 |title=జైహింద్‌ స్పెషల్‌: వీళ్లంతటివాడు పుల్లరి హనుమంతుడు |url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/andhra-pradesh/azadi-ka-amrit-mahotsav-freedom-fighter-kanneganti-hanumanthu-1476201 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=[[Sakshi (newspaper)|Sakshi]] |language=te}}</ref> Growing up, he was enraged by the conditions and humiliation suffered by Indians under British rule.<ref name=":1" />

Pullari was a tax imposed by the British on farmers of the forest villages for using the forest produce. Tax was imposed on gathering wood and even for grazing cattle in the forests.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> As a part of the [[Non-cooperation movement (1919–22)|non-cooperation movement]], Pullari Satyagraha was organized in the [[Palnadu]] region. Hanumanthu mobilised the people to not pay the tax.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=I. Mallikarjuna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tx1uAAAAMAAJ&q=Kanneganti+hanumanthu |title=In Retrospect: Part. 1. Andhra Pradesh: Heroes and Heroines of Telangana Armed Struggle |date=2003 |publisher=Ravi Sasi Enterprises |isbn=978-81-88151-01-1 |pages=206, 329 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Hanumanthu was supported by local leaders such as [[Konda Venkatappayya]] during the no-tax movement. Under the leadership of Hanumanthu, people organised a [[Boycott|social boycott]] of Revenue and Forest department officials.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Regani |first=Sarojini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W58sAAAAMAAJ&q=Kanneganti+hanumanthu |title=Highlights of the Freedom Movement in Andhra Pradesh |date=1972 |publisher=Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh |pages=20 |language=en}}</ref> People denied all goods and services to the officials including food, laundry, barbering.<ref name=":1" />

Hanumanthu was arrested multiple times by the British. Under the leadership of Hanumanthu, the [[Chenchu people|Chenchus]] of [[Nallamala Hills|Nallamalla Hills]] fought against the British as a part of Palnadu forest satyagraha in 1921-22.<ref name=":6" /> The people came out in full support of Hanumanthu. All the strategies planned by the British against the people, were defended by him. The support of these masses was too strong to cause any impact. So, British colonial administrator T. G. Rutherford tried bribing Hanumanthu.<ref name=":4" /> Rutherford offered to make Hanumanthu a [[zamindar]] for 45 villages in the [[Durgi, Palnadu district|Durgi]] region, but he refused.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Nagaraju |first=Amaroju |date=2022-08-09 |title=మా జీవగడ్డపై మీ పెత్తనమేంటి: తెల్లదొరలపై కన్నెగంటి కన్నెర్ర |url=https://telugu.oneindia.com/news/andhra-pradesh/unsung-hero-kanneganti-hanumanthu-who-revolted-against-the-british-what-happened-323855.html |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=[[Oneindia]] |language=te}}</ref>

The following rebellion cry is attributed to Hanumanthu:<blockquote>Neeru pettava, Naatu vesava? Kotha kosava, Kuppa nurchava? Endhuku kattali ra sisthu? ({{Translation|Have you ever irrigated any land, or planted a seedling? Ever harvested or trashed any field? Why would I pay you any tax for what is mine?}})<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /></blockquote>

== Death ==
On 22 February 1922, some British officials came to Minchalapadu village, and warned Hanumanthu of severe consequences if the Pullari tax was not paid. As [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]] had called-off the non-cooperation movement already, Hanumanthu agreed to pay the tax. He planned to continue the struggle later in other ways.<ref name=":6" /> On the day of [[Maha Shivaratri|Maha Sivaratri]] at [[Kotappakonda]], Hanumanthu and his followers left to take part in the procession, leaving only women and children.<ref name=":0" /> Taking advantage of his absence, district collector Warner gave some police troops to Inspector Raghavayya.<ref name=":2" /> The police surrounded the village and began to take away the cattle, forcibly beating up the elder and women with their rifle butts when they tried to protest.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7GnVAAAAMAAJ&q=Kanneganti+hanumanthu |title=The Contemporary |date=1974 |publisher=R.N. Guha Thakurta |volume=18 |pages=34 |language=en}}</ref>

Hanumanthu rushed to his village and pleaded with the British to stop harassing the residents. The village [[karanam]] betrayed Hanumanthu.<ref name=":6" /> The British treated him with cruelty by shooting him 24 to 26 times and preventing the villagers from even offering him water.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2018-03-24 |title=బ్రిటీషర్ల పుల్లరిని ఎదిరించిన తెలుగోడు..! |url=https://zeenews.india.com/telugu/ap/the-first-freedom-fighter-from-telugu-to-fight-against-britshers-to-eradicate-the-pullari-tax-system-5893 |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=[[Zee Media Corporation|Zee News Telugu]] |language=te}}</ref> He shouted the [[Vande Mataram|Vandemataram]] slogan for nearly six hours and died.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /> After four days, Hanumanthu’s last rites were performed by his wife and relatives at Minchalapadu.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== In popular culture ==

* [[Gurram Jashuva]] penned a poem about the valour of Hanumanthu.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />
* Hanumanthu was referred to in a song from the 1974 [[Biographical film|biographical]] [[action film]] [[Alluri Seetarama Raju (film)|''Alluri Seetarama Raju'']].<ref name=":2" />

==References==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanumanthu, Kanneganti}}
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Guntur district]]
[[Category:Indian revolutionaries]]

<references />
[[Category:1922 deaths]]

Kanneganti Hanumanthu - Revision history

KingsCharts at 10:34, 9 February 2026