Gandhi attached great importance to the act of picketing liquor establishments. He and his followers sought to raise awareness among the people about the detrimental effects of this harmful habit, particularly on the lives of the impoverished, advocating for its removal from India. In this context, the story unfolds about the campaign for alcohol prohibition in Anantapur District.
In 1921, the Anantapur District Alcohol Prohibition Campaign Committee, under the leadership of Kalluri Subbaraogaru, was established as a vital part of this movement. Kalluri Subbaraogaru played a significant role in the Penukonda region, where he actively campaigned against alcohol. However, his unwavering commitment led to his arrest by the police, followed by a one-year rigorous imprisonment sentence, during which he was confined in Allipuram Jail.
The Anantapur District Alcohol Prohibition Campaign Committee continued its efforts in this movement. On January 16, 1930, a meeting chaired by P. Kesava Pillai passed several resolutions related to prohibition. One of these resolutions advocated a donation of one hundred rupees to the local Telugu weekly newspaper "Sree Sadhan," with a dedicated page reserved for the alcohol prohibition campaign. During this time, farmers from Pedadaguru, Pogurooru, and Ramarajupalli, along with 30 villages affected by the ban campaign, collectively imposed a complete alcohol prohibition. They submitted a notification to the District Collector through a formal request letter, ing an official inquiry. This inquiry affirmed the natural inclination of villagers against alcohol consumption, thus elevating the movement to a national level. The London Anglo-Indian Alcohol Prohibition Association closely observed the anti-alcohol campaign in this region with great interest.
Source: Somisetty Sarala, Contributor for CCRT