Gaddar, the iconic folk singer and poet who inspired generations of activists and revolutionaries in India, died on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at a private hospital in Hyderabad. He was 77.
Gaddar, whose real name was Gummadi Vittal Rao, had been suffering from severe heart disease and had been admitted to Apollo Hospital for treatment. He underwent a bypass surgery on August 3 and recovered from it, but his lung and urinary problems, along with advanced age, aggravated and led to his demise.
He is survived by his wife Vimala Rao, his daughter Suvarna Rao, who is also a singer and activist, and his son Surya Kiran Rao.
| Name | Gummadi Vittal Rao |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | Gaddar |
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1949 |
| Place of Birth | Tupran village, Medak district, Telangana |
| Date of Death | August 6, 2023 |
| Place of Death | Hyderabad |
| Cause of Death | Lung and urinary problems |
| Occupation | Folk singer, poet, activist |
| Spouse | Vimala Rao |
| Children | Suvarna Rao (daughter), Surya Kiran Rao (son) |
| Affiliation | People’s War Group (PWG), Telangana movement |
A Life of Struggle and Resistance
Gaddar was born in 1949 in Tupran village of Medak district in Telangana, then part of the erstwhile Hyderabad state. He belonged to a poor Dalit family and faced discrimination and oppression from an early age. He was drawn to the communist movement as a teenager and joined the Radical Students Union (RSU) at Osmania University. He later became a founding member of the People’s War Group (PWG), a Maoist guerrilla outfit that waged an armed struggle against the Indian state.
Gaddar was not only a fighter but also a poet and a singer. He used his powerful words and voice to express the pain and anger of the oppressed masses. He composed and sang hundreds of songs on various themes such as land rights, caste oppression, women’s liberation, national liberation, anti-imperialism, and social justice. He performed in villages, towns, cities, and forests across India, often wearing a red scarf and carrying a dappu (a percussion instrument). He became known as the “balladeer of the people” and the “voice of Telangana”.
Gaddar was also a staunch supporter of the Telangana movement, which demanded a separate state for the region that had been neglected and exploited by the Andhra rulers. He used his music to mobilize the masses for the cause and to expose the atrocities committed by the state forces. He also faced several attacks on his life by the police and the paramilitary forces. In 1997, he survived a bullet injury to his chest when he was shot at by unidentified assailants near his home in Hyderabad.
A Legacy of Inspiration and Revolution
Gaddar’s death has left a void in the hearts of millions of his fans and admirers across India and beyond. He was hailed as a hero and a legend by various political leaders, social activists, cultural personalities, and media outlets. Thousands of people joined to attend his funeral and paid their respects and tributes.
Gaddar’s legacy lives on through his songs, which have been translated into several languages and have inspired many other artists and movements. His songs have also been used as evidence in court cases against him and his comrades. His life story has been documented in several books and films, such as “Ballad of Resistance: The Story of Gaddar” by Varavara Rao and “Gaddar: The Revolutionary Singer” by B. Narsing Rao.
Gaddar was not only a singer and a poet but also a philosopher and a visionary. He believed in the power of art to transform society and to create a new world order based on equality, justice, and freedom. He once said:
Art is not for entertainment. It is for enlightenment. It is for revolution. It is for liberation.
Some Unique Facts
- Gaddar was a legendary folk singer and poet who inspired generations of activists and revolutionaries in India.
- He was a founding member of the People’s War Group (PWG), a Maoist guerrilla outfit that waged an armed struggle against the Indian state.
- Gaddar composed and sang hundreds of songs on various themes such as land rights, caste oppression, women’s liberation, national liberation, anti-imperialism, and social justice.
- He performed in villages, towns, cities, and forests across India, often wearing a red scarf and carrying a dappu (a percussion instrument).
- He was a staunch supporter of the Telangana movement, which demanded a separate state for the region that had been neglected and exploited by the Andhra rulers.
- Gaddar survived a bullet injury to his chest in 1997 when he was shot at by unidentified assailants near his home in Hyderabad.
- He died on August 6, 2023, at a private hospital in Hyderabad due to lung and urinary problems. He was 77.
- Gaddar is survived by his wife Vimala Rao, his daughter Suvarna Rao, who is also a singer and activist, and his son Surya Kiran Rao.
- His songs have been translated into several languages and have inspired many other artists and movements.
- His life story has been documented in several books and films, such as “Ballad of Resistance: The Story of Gaddar” by Varavara Rao and “Gaddar: The Revolutionary Singer” by B. Narsing Rao.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What was Gaddar’s real name?
Gaddar’s real name was Gummadi Vittal Rao. He adopted the stage name Gaddar after the 1857 revolt against British colonial rule, which is also known as the First War of Indian Independence or the Gadar Movement.
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What was Gaddar’s role in the Telangana movement?
Gaddar was a vocal advocate of the Telangana movement, which sought a separate state for the region that had been merged with Andhra Pradesh in 1956. He used his music to mobilize the masses for the cause and to expose the atrocities committed by the state forces. He also participated in several rallies and protests for the demand. He welcomed the formation of Telangana as India’s 29th state in 2014.
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How did Gaddar die?
Gaddar died on August 6, 2023, at a private hospital in Hyderabad due to lung and urinary problems. He had been suffering from severe heart disease and had been admitted to Apollo Hospital for treatment. He underwent a bypass surgery on August 3 and recovered from it, but his condition deteriorated later. He was 77.
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Who are Gaddar’s family members?
Gaddar is survived by his wife Vimala Rao, his daughter Suvarna Rao, who is also a singer and activist, and his son Surya Kiran Rao. His wife is a retired teacher and his daughter is a lawyer and a leader of the Telangana Praja Front (TPF), a political party founded by Gaddar. His son is an engineer and works in the US.
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Where can I listen to Gaddar’s songs?
You can listen to some of Gaddar’s songs on YouTube, Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, and other music streaming platforms. You can also buy his CDs or DVDs from online or offline stores. Some of his popular songs are “Podusthunna Poddumeeda”, “Emi Pilusthondi Ra”, “Nenu Saitham”, “Amma Telanganama”, and “Jai Bolo Telangana”.
