Kondapalli Seetharamaiah

Kondapalli Seetharamaiah was an India communist leader. He was born into a middle-class family in Jonnapadu village, Andhra Pradesh. At a young age, he joined the communists. He went on to become the Krishna District Secretary of the Communist Party of India. His CPI unit was active during the Telengana rebellion. When the CPI was divided in 1964, Seetharamaiah withdrew from political life. He began working as a Hindi teacher at Fatima School in Warangal. In Warangal he befriended K.G. Sathyamurthy. Both men joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Seetharamaiah became a member of the Andhra Pradesh State Committee of CPI(ML).The Hindu: [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/04/13/stories/2002041303380600.htm "Kondapalli Seetharamaiah dead"] ] When the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) was torn by internal strife, Seetharamaiah joined the Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) in 1972. [Singh, Prakash, "The Naxalite Movement in India". New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 1999, ISBN 81-7167-294-9, p. 105.] In August 1974, the Andhra Pradesh State Committee of COC, CPI(ML) was organised, with Seetharamaiah as one of its three members. [Hindustan Times: [http://www.hindustantimes.com/Redir.aspx?ID=0b41af48-1ca9-49a1-b064-24843790d6e4 "History of Naxalism"] ]

On April 26, 1977 Seetharamaiah was arrested in Nagpur, when police caught him with weapons in a vehicle. He was released on bail, but absconded and went underground.Singh, Prakash, "The Naxalite Movement in India". New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 1999, ISBN 81-7167-294-9, p. 106.]

In 1977 he broke away from COC, CPI(ML). [Frontline: [http://www.flonnet.com/fl2221/stories/20051021008801000.htm "The Road from Naxalbari"] ] On April 22 1980 he founded the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People's War.

On January 2 1982 he was arrested in Hyderabad at Begampet railway station, when waiting to board a train to Bombay. On January 4 1984 he managed to escape from the prisoners wing of the Osmania Hospital. [Singh, Prakash, "The Naxalite Movement in India". New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 1999, ISBN 81-7167-294-9, p. 107.]

Following an internal dispute, which ended with the expulsion of K.G. Sathyamurthy (number 2 in the party ranks) and Byreddy Sathyanarayana Reddy (militia commander in Khamman District), Seetharamaiah's hold over the party strengthened. Sathyamurthy had begun questioning Maoist character of the party, on the lines of Deng Xiaoping. Reddy had opposed Sathyamurthy's ouster. [Singh, Prakash, "The Naxalite Movement in India". New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 1999, ISBN 81-7167-294-9, p. 108.]

In 1991, Seetharamaiah was ousted from the party. [Singh, Prakash, "The Naxalite Movement in India". New Delhi: Rupa & Co., 1999, ISBN 81-7167-294-9, p. 115.] In 1993, he was caught by police in his home village. [ [http://www.unhcr.org/home/RSDCOI/3ae6aca33c.html UNHCR] ] After few years in prison, he was acquitted and released on humantarian grounds. During his final years, he abstained from political activity. He suffered from Parkinsons disease. Kondapalli Seetharamaiah died in his granddaughter's house in Vijayawada on April 12, 2002. He was 87 years old. He was survived by his wife Koteswaramma and two granddaughters, V. Anuradha and G. Sudha. [ [http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/apr/12jafri.htm Rediff.com] ] Funeral services were arranged the next day. According to press reports, only a handful of people turned up. [The Hindu: [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/04/14/stories/2002041404380400.htm " A few admirers attend Kondapalli's funeral"] ]

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