Gummadi Vittal Rao, popularly known as Gaddar, the 67-year old, the founder of Jana Natya Mandali, has turned spiritual.
The Jana Natya Mandali, is a cultural wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Marxist–Leninist (ML) People’s War Group.
The leader is in the news, as he is participating in religious rituals, and started visiting various temples in Telangana.
Gaddar, last week visited, Yadadri temple in Bhongir district and offered prayers to Lord Lakshminarasimha Swamy.
The priests at the temple, took him to the Sanctorum and offered blessings.
The Maoist leader further said, “He prayed to the Lord to present the new State of Telangana with good rains, and the strength to people, to fight against justice.
Earlier, In January, Gaddar offered prayers and performed “abhisekham” of Lord Siva at the famous Somanath temple at Palakurthi in Janagam district.
Before this, he along with his wife Vimala and daughter -in-law Saritha, visited the famous Komuravelli Mallanna temple of Siddipet district.
The family participated in “Laksha Bilwarchana,” (worshipping with one Lakh Bilva leaves). Gaddar attracted the people with his songs, on Lord Shiva.
He also visited Veda Patashala, and shared his experiences with the students.
Gaddar advised the students to learn, Vedas and also English, so that the students should become, a great scholar like Swami Vivekananda.
“Everybody who loves nature is a devotee of the god,” he further added.
Gaddar’s songs were once seen as an inspiration to many across the country, to join the armed Maoist rebellion.
His songs implied a war against the State’s exploitation of the downtrodden and marginalized communities.
A Maoist sympathizer, said, “Though Gaddar is not very active in the Maoist movement right now, he is still a hardcore follower of Marxism and Maoism.”
“Naturally, it is a shock to us,” he added.
Gaddar, who hails from Toopran in Medak district, is an engineering student, turned bank employee. He later turned into a revolutionary singer.
The name, “Gaddar” was adopted as a tribute to the Pre-independance Gadar Party. He played a major role in the Maoist movement for over four decades.
He raised his voice, against police repression, whenever there was an alleged fake encounter. Gaddar was one of the key negotiators, when Late YS Rajasekhar Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh held talks with Maoists for the first time in October 2004.
Besides area in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Bengal, the border areas of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are among the Maoist areas in India.
Gaddar, told a reporter, that, “This is exactly not a transformation.”
“A true Marxist is one who respects the spiritual democracy of the people,” he added.
Gaddar said, “When people face difficulties, religious faith certainly provides temporary relief to them. This is real Marxism.”
Marxism could replace religion only if it met people’s spiritual needs. He further added that the Bhakti movement, had brought a lot of cultural renaissance and reformed the people.
By Supraja
