Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy
| Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Early 19th century Uyyalawada |
| Died | 22 February 1847 |
| Cause of death | Hanging |
| Spouse(s) | Subbama |
| Parent(s) |
|
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy was an Indian who fought against the British East India Company and also a member of a chieftain (Polygar) family. He was born in Uyyalawada, in the present-day Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, in the early 1800s.
Early life
Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy was born to Uyyalawada Peddamalla Reddy in Uyyalawada, located in the present-day Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. His father and also his grandfather, Jayarami Reddy, were local chieftains (Polygars) in Koilkuntla.
Forts built
Reddy built many forts listed below to protect his region from British attacks:
- Nossam
- Uyyalawada
- Rupanagudi
- Gulladurthi
- Uppaluru
- Giddaluru
Capture and death
Reddy with his army attacked the British forces camped at Giddaluru on 23 July 1846 and defeated them. Unable to capture him, the British imprisoned his family at Kadapa. In an attempt to free his family, Narasimha Reddy moved to Nallamala Forest. Someone in the village informed this to the Collector of Koilkuntla. When the British tightened his movements in the Nallamala region, Narasimha Reddy came back to Koilkuntla area and hid in Jagannatha Konda near the village of Ramabhadrunipalle. An informant brought to the notice of British authorities of his whereabouts and his followers. The area was surrounded by armed forces at night. He was caught at midnight of 6 October 1846. Narasimha Reddy was humiliated before being brought to Koilkuntla. He was tied with heavy chains and paraded in the streets of Koilkuntla with blood-stained clothes so that no one should dare to revolt against the British.
As many as 903 people were charged along with Narasimha Reddy for this uprising. Later 412 of them were acquitted and 273 were released on bail. As many as 112 were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 5 to 14 years. Some were sent to a prison in the Andaman Islands. The younger brother of the rulers of Owk was one of them. The special commissioner of Cuddapah conducted the trial. Narasimha Reddy was charged with revolt, murder and dacoity and convicted on all charges. He was sentenced to death by hanging. On 22 February 1847, Reddy was hanged publicly by the British in Koilkuntla on the banks of a nearby river in the presence of the Collector of Kokcrane.[1]
British kept his head on the fort wall in public view until 1877. The East India Company reported in their district manual of 1886 that
Since 1839 nothing of political importance has occurred, unless we mention the disturbance in 1847 caused by Narasimha Reddy, a pensioned Poligar of Uyyalavada in Koilkuntla Taluk, then part of Cuddapah district. He was a poor man in receipt of a pension of Rs.11 a month. As a grandson of Jayaram Reddy, the last powerful Zamindar of Nossam, he was sorely disappointed when the Government refused to pay him any portion of the lapsed pension of that family. Just before this time the question of resuming Kattubadi Inams has been brought under the consideration of Government, which made the Kattubadis discontented. Narasimha Reddy collected these men and attacked the Koilkuntla treasury, which, however, was well defended. He moved from place to place and sheltered himself in the hill forts of the Erramalas and Nallamalas, and though pursued by troops from Cuddapah and Kurnool, he continued to commit his ravages in Koilkuntla and Cumbum. At Giddalur he gave battle to Lieutenant Watson and killed the Tahsildar of Cumbum. He then escaped into the Nallamalas, and after roving about the hills for several months was caught near perusomala on a hill in Koilkuntla taluk and hanged. His head kept hung in the fort on the gibbet till 1877, when the scaffold falling into decay, it was not thought necessary to repair it.[2]
Legacy
The Renati Surya Chandrula Smaraka Samithi was formed to preserve the memory of Reddy and the philanthropist Budda Vengal Reddy, both of whom were born in Uyyalawada village. The committee published a book in both Telugu and English, titled Renati Surya Chandrulu (The Sun and Moon of Renadu), in 2015. It contains excerpts from research papers by historians.