Potti Sreeramulu - Independence Movement and Dalit Upliftment

Independence Movement and Dalit Upliftment

Sreeramulu took part in the Indian Independence Movement and was imprisoned for participating in the 1930 Salt Satyagraha. Between 1941-1942, he participated in the individual satyagraha and the Quit India movement and was imprisoned on three occasions. He was involved in the village reconstruction programmes at Rajkot in Gujarat and Komaravolu in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. He joined the Gandhi ashram established by Yerneni Subrahmanyam in Komaravolu.

Between 1943 and 1944 he worked for the widespread adoption of charkha textile-spinning in Nellore district. He was known for taking food provided by all households, regardless of caste or creed. He undertook three fasts during 1946-1948 in support of Dalit (then called Harijan by supporters) rights to enter holy places, such as the temples of Nellore. He fasted in support of Dalit entry rights to the Venugopalaswamy temple in Moolapeta, Nellore, which were successfully gained. He again fasted to get favourable orders on Dalit upliftment passed by the Madras government.

As a result, the government instructed District Collectors to attend to measures of Dalit upliftment at least one day per week. During the last stages of his life, Sreeramulu stayed in Nellore and worked for Dalit upliftment, walking the city with slogan placards calling for Dalit upliftment barefoot and with no umbrella against the sun. Some locals thought him insane, and he was chastised by the upper castes and his own for his support of the Dalit cause.