A Versatile Leader and Braveheart Freedom Fighter
The unsung freedom fighter – one with a strong character and resolute, fervent supporter of revolution and social reforms – who sedulously contributed to the struggle for Independence with dedication. Her first steps into the history of freedom struggle began when she actively started leading campaigns against the high revenue collections by the colonial authorities. Her efforts led to a major drop in the revenue collection, thereby, posing the authorities a severe challenge. This is the story of our nation's braveheart, unsung hero "OrugantiMahalakshmamma". Her husband and family, known for their patriotic zeal and charitable activities, were support pillars to her. This resulted in her active involvement in the Salt Satyagraha and Swaraj Movement.
Watching the Swadeshi Movement grow, she soon boycotted British good sandinitiateda Khadi market in Kavali, providing employment to the number of Indians. Her works came to the notice of British Raj when she actively started organizing committees and mandalis (Sangeeta Samajam, Bhajan Mandali) to take the struggle of Swaraj to new heights. Her fiery speeches invoked a sense of responsibility in other women, increasing their participation. Her works were not limited to the periphery of political struggle but were also social struggles and empowered the vulnerable section of society. She, along with PatruriBalasaraswathmma, inspired the youth.
In contemporary times, she was a strong lady with progressive ideology and shattered many prevalent conservative norms of society. She married one of her sons to a child widow. She vigorously publicized the cause of Home Rule and was instrumental in founding the Congress Women's Wingin Nellore (1921). She established several schools for girls and promoted the iractive participation.
She was sent to jail, for six months, for her participation in the Salt Satyagraha. But, this did not dampenher spirit sandshestoodundeterred through rough circumstances. In the second wave of the Civil Disobedience Movement, her electrifying speeches slayed the enemy and invaders, which resulted in her yet another one-year-long imprisonment. This time around her health was severely impacted and her body found it difficult to deal with the situation. This story, of a compassionate social worker and a great youth woman leader, is worth commemorence.