Hyderabad: Former Maoist leader and folk singer, People’s warship Gaddar (77) passed away on Sunday at Apollo Hospital in Ameerpet, Hyderabad due to heart-related ailments. His mortal remains have been kept at LB Stadium for the public to pay their last respects will be performed at Bodhi School in Alwal beside house and his last rites would be held on Monday with police honours.

He played a key role in the Telangana movement with his songs, spanning several decades. He was born in Toopran Village of the erstwhile Medak district in a Dalit family. His original name is Gummadi Vittal Rao and became popular through his first revolutionary album Gaddar.

He was radicalised during his engineering days and took an active part in the banned Naxalite movement. He was also a founder member of CPIMLPW’s cultural wing Jana Natya Mandali. In 1975, Gaddar left his bank job to join the revolutionary movement. The Maoist ideologue eventually severed ties with the banned outfit for the cause of Telangana statehood.

In Telangana movement, he played a significant role, contributing to both its initial (1969) and final phases (2009). It is not an exaggeration to say that there were literally no gatherings without Gaddar’s song. Podusthunna Podhu Meeda, which was featured in Jai Bolo Telangana movie, became a symbol of resistance. He also appeared in the much-acclaimed movie Maa Bhoomi and sang a  revolutionary song Bandenaka Bandi Katti.

Gaddar was one of the most prominent faces of the Naxalite movement in the country and a founding member of the cultural wing of the CPI (ML) People’s War. He spent several years underground until the Marri Chenna Reddy Government lifted the ban on the Naxalite outfit. After severing ties with the banned outfit, Gaddar embarked on a path conjoining Marxist principles with Ambedkarite ideas in the fight for social justice.

He actively participated in the cultural platform “Telangana Dhoom Dham,” collaborating with revolutionary writers, singers, and artistes bringing all of them under one roof to raise awareness about the need for a separate Telangana State. From opposing the electoral process, Gaddar changed his mind in 2018 and cast his vote. In 2018, it was speculated that Gaddar would join the Congress as he met the then-AICC president Rahul Gandhi. However, Gaddar rejected the invitation extended by the grand old party.

Leaders poured condolences on the demise of Gaddar are Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu. Telangana Legislative Assembly, which was in session when the news of his death came, also expressed condolences.

Rahul, in a tweet, remembered Gaddar as an iconic poet and fiery activist whose love for the people of Telangana inspired him to tirelessly fight for the marginalised. Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy praised Gaddar for his role in raising public awareness on various issues and giving impetus to the Telangana statehood agitation.