Legacy Of Sarpanches Who Put Their Village and People First

KARIMNAGAR / WARANGAL: With local body elections going on in erstwhile Warangal and Karimnagar districts, it is time the contesting candidates recalled their predecessors who put villages and people first and worked for overall development.

Some of the sarpanches have been immortalised for dedicating their lives to community’s development, with even mandals named after them. The greatest honour goes to two leaders who made the ultimate sacrifice – Bellamkonda Malhar Rao, former sarpanch of Mallaram, who brought in irrigation, roads and electricity from 1983 until his assassination in 1989 by the banned People’s War Group. In tribute, the then Telugu Desam Party government named the area as Malhar Rao mandal, which is now in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district.

Likewise, Shankarapatnam mandal in Karimnagar district has been named after Gajula Shankaraiah by the then Congress government, after the sarpanch had been killed by the People’s War Group in 1991. Shankaraiah’s tenure is an example of how the then Keshavapatnam, later named Shankarapatnam, transcended into development due to the public service rendered by its sarpanch.

Another sarpanch is Dharavath Golya Naik, a tribal leader of Ashok Nagar in Khanapuram who served as sarpanch from 2001–2006. He remained beloved for his impartial service and village development till his untimely death due to illness in 2007. The area is now called Golya Naik Thanda, which has his statue in his honour.

Other leaders demonstrated their commitment through personal sacrifices. For example, Sarampally Raji Reddy of Thimmapet village served as sarpanch for 11 years from 1970. He is famous for selling three acres of his own land to fund an electricity line from four kilometres away, bringing light to every house. After his death in 2008, the community erected his statue in front of the Gram Panchayat office.

Kongu Bhadraiah of Yellanda in Wardhannapet mandal is remembered for his dedicated service as sarpanch from 1964 to 1970, who emphasised on children’s education. Bhadraiah himself encouraged parents to send their children to school, instead of engaging them in farm labour. He also played a key role in developing the village economy by establishing a handloom weaver’s cooperative society. In recognition of his significant contributions, the village put up a statue in his honour in 2011.

Vemula Kotaiah, sarpanch of Anantharam in Geesukonda mandal not only developed roads and drainages but had been an exemplary farmer who constantly educated his community on modern farming techniques to get better yields. Following his passing, villagers installed a 12-foot statue in his memory in Anantharam.