A civil rights leader who prepared several reports on human rights violations

By Harsh Thakor*

Renowned civil rights leader, senior lawyer, and former president of the Human Rights Forum, Gorrepati Madhava Rao (67), passed away recently in Nizamabad while undergoing medical treatment. Until his final breath, he fought relentlessly against oppression, embodying the spirit of the civil rights movement and its enduring legacy.

Madhava Rao, an accomplished lawyer and a fearless advocate for justice, suffered a stroke on Friday and was admitted to a private hospital in Nizamabad, where he passed away the following morning. His mortal remains will be donated to the Government Medical College, Nizamabad, on Sunday, while his eyes have been donated to the Lions Club.

Early Life and Education

Born on March 4, 1957, Madhava Rao's family moved from Repalle in Guntur district to Baswapur in Kotagiri mandal of Nizamabad district in 1957, shortly after his birth. Influenced by Jampala Chandrasekhar Prasad, founder of the Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU), Madhava Rao was drawn to the Leftist movement during his college days.

He graduated from City College, Hyderabad, and later earned a law degree from Osmania University. While at university, he became an active participant in the PDSU movement, marking the beginning of his political and social activism.

Legal Career and Advocacy

In 1992, Madhava Rao returned to Nizamabad and began practicing law at the Nizamabad District Court. Known for his bold and principled stance, he exposed alleged encounters involving Naxalites and their sympathizers. He worked closely with civil liberties leaders, including the late Balagopal, and fought tirelessly for the rights of marginalized communities.

Madhava Rao represented families of victims in numerous cases of alleged police encounters, securing compensation in several instances. He was also noted for his role in the Aurangabad Conspiracy Case and defended hundreds of revolutionary activists, securing bail, case dismissals, and the release of many innocent individuals.

In 2005, he argued on behalf of five members of the Revolutionary Writers Association (Virasam) and a former CPI (Maoist) State Committee member who were arrested on fabricated charges under Sections 120(B), 121(A), and 122 of the IPC. Madhava Rao demonstrated that there was no evidence against the accused, leading to their acquittal in 2010.

Contributions and Legacy

Madhava Rao was also a translator, rendering articles on the Chinese Communist Party into Telugu. His contributions to human rights advocacy were lauded by the Coordination Committee of the Human Rights Forum (AP and Telangana), led by S. Jeevan Kumar, Vasanth Lakshmi, V. S. Krishna, and A. Chandrashekhar.

The committee praised his relentless dedication to the civil rights movement and his role in preparing reports on human rights violations. Revolutionary writer N. Venugopal saluted Madhava Rao’s lifelong commitment to liberation, while many Virasam activists mourned his loss.

Madhava Rao’s life and work remain an inspiration, reminding us of the enduring fight for justice and equality.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

Kerala government data implicates the Covid vaccines for excess deaths

By Bhaskaran Raman* On 03 Dec 2024, Mr Unnikrishnan of the Indian Express had written an article titled: “Kerala govt data busts vaccine death myth; no rise in mortality post-Covid”. It claims “no significant change in the death rate in the 35-44 age group between 2019 and 2023”. However, the claim is obviously wrong, even to a casual observer, as per the same data which the article presents, as explained below.

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

PM-JUGA: Support to states and gram sabhas for the FRA implementation and preparation and execution of CFR management plan

By Dr. Manohar Chauhan* (Over the period, under 275(1), Ministry of Tribal Affairs has provided fund to the states for FRA implementation. Besides, some states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra allocated special fund for FRA implementation. Now PM-JUDA under “Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan(DAJGUA) lunched by Prime Minister on 2nd October 2024 will not only be the major source of funding from MoTA to the States/UTs, but also will be the major support to the Gram sabha for the preparation and execution of CFR management Plan).

Operation Kagar represents Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism: Resistance continues

By Harsh Thakor Operation Kagar represents the Indian state's intensified attempt to extinguish Maoism, which claims to embody the struggles and aspirations of Adivasis. Criminalized by the state, the Maoists have been portrayed as a threat, with Operation Kagar deploying strategies that jeopardize their activities. This operation weaves together economic, cultural, and political motives, allegedly with drone attacks on Adivasi homes.

This book examines dialectics of complex caste and class relationship

By Harsh Thakor* In Caste and Revolution by N. Ravi, the author addresses questions raised by Dalit and Bahujan intellectuals inspired by revolutionary parties. These questions center on caste issues and seek to formulate a profound diagnosis to chart a path toward the annihilation of caste. The book explains how caste-based feudalism and comprador bureaucratic capitalism intertwine to perpetuate the caste system. It asserts that only the path of a New Democratic Revolution can eradicate caste. The book delves into the need for an equal position for oppressed castes in all layers of society to abolish caste discrimination and oppression. It offers an analytical diagnosis, a penetrating navigation, and a detailed account of the dialectics of caste and class across diverse spheres. Annihilation of Caste and the New Democratic Revolution A revolutionary party develops a perspective document on the caste question, integrating its understanding of caste and the program for caste annih...

How Amit Shah's statement on Ambedkar reflects frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion, empowerment

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Dr. B.R. Ambedkar remains the liberator and emancipator of India’s oppressed communities. However, attempts to box him between two Brahmanical political parties betray a superficial and self-serving understanding of his legacy. The statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha was highly objectionable, reflecting the frustration of those uncomfortable with Dalit assertion and empowerment.

Balod tech fest tests students’ interest in innovative ideas in the fields of science, engineering, start-ups

By A Representative A techno fest scheduled on December 20 and 21 in Balod district of Chhattisgarh will test the innovative ideas of school students in the fields of science, engineering and start-ups. For this two-day fest organised at Maheswari Bhawan of the district, a total of 824 models made by students were initially registered. Out of those, a selection committee chose 200 models from several schools spread over five blocks of Balod. These will be on display on these two days from 10am to 4.30pm. Out of many ideas, one of the most interesting models is a smart glove which can be used by children with impairments and disabilities. For those who cannot speak at all or have speech difficulty, they can ask for help from caregivers by pressing their fingers on the glove after wearing it. This will attract attention.

Local businessman subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse: Demand for accountability, justice

By Kirity Roy* On October 9, 2024, a disturbing incident of harassment and abuse took place in the Swarupnagar Block of North 24 Parganas district, involving a local businessman, Hasanur Gazi, who was subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse, and religious discrimination by a Border Security Force (BSF) constable. The incident, which occurred at the Hakimpur Checkpost, has raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of citizens living in border areas, especially those belonging to religious minorities.

Gordon Greenidge: A cricketing legend and symbol of racial pride

By Harsh Thakor* November 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of Gordon Greenidge’s debut in Test cricket at Bangalore in 1974. A cornerstone of West Indian cricket, Greenidge was among the most complete opening batsmen of his era, seamlessly blending rock-solid defense with explosive aggression. He wielded his bat with the force of a sledgehammer, striking with the precision of a technician. His powerful square cuts, ferocious drives, and authoritative pulls showcased his unmatched ability to dominate bowlers, evoking comparisons to legends like Viv Richards.

Search This Blog