Gouthu Latchanna

Sardar Gouthu Latchanna (16 August 1909 – 19 April 2006) was a veteran freedom fighter from India.

Dr. Gouthu Latchanna was born in Baruva village of the Sompeta mandal, Srikakulam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh on 16 August 1909.

He was the eighth child of Chittaiah, a Goud toddy tapper, and Rajamma.

He participated in swaraj movement right from age of 21 with Salt Satyagraha at Palasa, and subsequently was arrested in connection with salt-cotaurs raid at Naupada in April 1930.

He was sent to Tekkali and Narasannapeta sub-jails in Srikakulam.

After conviction, he was sent to Berhampur jail in Ganjam to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one month.

After the Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931, he organized Satyagraha camp at Baruva and conducted picketing of toddy, liquor, and foreign cloth shops in Ichchapuram, Sompeta and Tekkali as permitted by the British Government as part of the Gandhi–Irwin Pact.

In 1932, he participated in the civil disobedience movement by hoisting the Congress flag at Baruva, was beaten for violating prohibitory orders and was imprisoned in Rajahmundry central jail for six months.

In 1932, after getting released from Rajahmundry jail, having been inspired by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's "fast-unto-death" on the issue of untouchability, Latchanna organised "Harijan Seva Sangam" at Baruva.

He started a night school in the harijan-cheri, agitated at the district level against untouchability, and took harijans to a drinking water well at Baruva.

He and his colleagues were socially boycotted in response.

As a secretary of Andhra Rashtra Congree Committee, he organised a reception at Eluru for the soldiers of Azad Hind Fauz, revived by Subhas Chandra Bose.

With imprisonment in Rajahmundry central jail aftermath the civil disobedience in 1932, he came in contact with revolutionists like Vijay Kumar Sinha (Bijoy Kumar Sinha) and Siva Verma who were life imprisoned in Lahore Conspiracy Case in connection with Bhagat Singh who were also imprisoned in the same block in which Latchanna was imprisoned.

Siva Verma and B.J. Sinha were transferred from Cellular Jail to Rajahmundry central prison aftermath the fast-unto-death in demand for separate treatment for political prisoners.

Latchanna along with Andhra colleagues like Anne Anjayya and Alluri Satyanarayanaraju used to have long discussions in prison about "Indian Republic Revolutionary Party" organization.

They decided to start the similar revolutionary party in Andhra after their release.

As Latchanna was released with 6 months conviction before his Andhra colleagues who were convicted for one year, he and his colleagues decided to meet again to start revolutionary party after release too.

In the meantime, Latchanna went to Cuttack, Kharagpur, Tatanagar, and Calcutta to meet the "Indian Republic Revolutionary Party" leaders for joining their movement as promised to Siva Verma and B.K. Sinha.

By the time he went, all the revolutionary party members were either arrested or went underground.

During this time, he fell ill in Tatanagar and was brought back home by his brother from Tatanagar.

Around 1932, after his return from Tatanagar to Baruva, Latchanna participated in the foot-march of Rythu-Rakshana call given by N. G. Ranga from Varanasi of parlakimide estate to Chatrapur.

Latchanna participated in the Quit India Movement in 1942, which ultimately led to violent raids on the Kalingapatnam post office, armoury train derailment in his native village Baruva, no-tax campaign, and raids on srikakulam sub-collector offices.

Then Madras government announced the prize of 10,000 rupees for whereabout information of Latchanna, failing to trace him, government issued orders for shoot-at-sight.

While underground he was invited for the South Indian Congress leaders meeting at Madras.

Latchanna and Killi Appala Naidu started proceeding to Madras.

A message about this was sent by Andhra Congress dictator Sampath Kumar through Jayanthi Dharma Teja, which led to the arrest of Latchanna at Rajahmundry in 1943 while he was on his way to Madras.

Latchanna was sentenced for one year for possessing seditious literature and sent to Alipuram camp jail while Killi Appala Naidu was sent as a detenue to Tanjavur central jail.

Immediately after the release from Alipuram camp jail, he was re-arrested at the gate and sent to Cannanore central jail, Tanjavur central jail and then to Rayavellore jail.

He was finally released from Rayavellore jail in October 1945.

Till Independence of India in 1947, he fought against British.

After the end of British Raj, it was on political and social fronts for the sake of farmers, labourers, and the working class.

He was also the member of Madras Trade Union Board.

He was instrumental in bringing down the government of Prakasham Panthulu on the issues of prohibition.

He married Yashodha Devi, who died in 1996.

He died at the age of 98 in Visakhapatnam on 19 April 2006 and is survived by his son Shyama Sunder Sivaji, who is MLA from Sompeta, and two daughters Jhansi and Sushila.

He was a champion of farmers, backward classes, weaker sections and one of the most prominent leaders of his time.

He was arrested at the age of 21 when he participated in the Salt Satyagraha at Palasa.

Latchanna also participated in the Quit India Movement.

He was conferred the title of sardar for his fearless fight against the British Raj.

He was the born leader of masses, freedom fighter and social reformer.