CPI leaders pay tributes to land rights crusader Dasari Nagabhushana Rao

The Communist Party of India (CPI) leaders paid rich tributes to veteran leader and former Rajya Sabha member Dasari Nagabhushana Rao on Sunday, describing him as a tireless champion of the poor and a guiding force behind the landmark land struggles that led to the redistribution of thousands of acres to the landless.

The CPI organised a meeting marking the launch of centenary celebrations in honour of the late leader. Senior CPI leaders of various mass organisations garlanded Dasari’s portrait before recalling his decades-long commitment to the cause of the underprivileged.

Addressing the gathering, CPI State Assistant Secretary J.V. Satyanarayana Murthy said that in united Andhra Pradesh, Dasari’s name became synonymous with struggles against injustice. “Wherever the poor were wronged, he was there to fight for them,” he said, recalling Dasari’s relentless battles against landlords and feudal forces, and his role in distributing land under their control to the poor, especially in districts such as Srikakulam and Vizianagaram. Murthy announced that the CPI State Committee has decided to conduct centenary celebrations across the Telugu States for a year.

Former MLC and CPI State Secretariat member Jalli Wilson noted that Dasari began his political journey as an AISF leader in the erstwhile Krishna district before holding several positions in the party, eventually serving as CPI National Secretary. He cited Dasari’s leadership in organising land struggles in Nuzvid against zamindari oppression as an example that inspired movements across the country.

CPI National Executive member Akkineni Vanaja praised the Nuzvid land struggles led by Dasari as “nationally exemplary” and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to marking his centenary through statewide events.

Former MLA and Visakha Cooperative Bank chairman Manam Anjaneyulu said Dasari always gave priority to strengthening the party’s organisational principles. Retired professor C. Narasimha Rao narrated incidents from Dasari’s life that reflected his commitment to people’s movements.

NTR district CPI secretary Donepudi Shankar announced that the CPI will hold a memorial lecture in Vijayawada in honour of Dasari during an upcoming State Committee meeting.

Several senior leaders, including KVV Prasad, AITUC State President Ravulapalli Ravindranath, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Workers Union State President Ch. Koteshwar Rao, AP Mahila Sangham State General Secretary P. Durgabhavani, Progressive Forum leader Akkineni Chandrarao, CPI Krishna district secretary Narla Venkateswar Rao, Y. Chenchayya, Yadla Krishna Kishore, AP Rythu Sangham Vice-President Malneedu Yellamandar Rao, AP Tenant Farmers Association General Secretary P. Jamalayya, Prajanatya Mandali treasurer R. Pitchaiah, DHPAS organising secretary Butti Rayappa, AP Mahila Sangham Vijayawada city secretary Panchadarla Durgamba, AIYF city secretary Lanka Govindarajulu, and Prajanatya Mandali city secretary SK Nazeer, also paid floral tributes to the leader.