Bapineedu

Mr. Bapineedu stands in the pageant of Indian patriots as a figure which tower aloft illuminating with his courage, ability and sacrifice the events of his age. He combines in his own realism of the man of action and the imaginative warmth of the creative dreamer. He was born at Chattaparu, August 14th, 1895. He sprang form a leading agriculturist family, who form the back one of Andhra. He came under the spell of social reformers like Sir. K. Venkataratnam Reddi. His thought was much influenced by the writings of Dr. Pattabhi who is unsurpassed in his stable and profound vision.

It was with wisdom that his family arranged for his education at Calcutta. Then he came into contact with men of letters of the highest rank. He was a constant visitor to Shantiniketan and came under the ennobling influence of Dr. Tagore. He joined the Indian Defense Corps and was the first Andhra to receive such military training.

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

Bapineedu

At Calcutta he worked for the cultural progress of Andhras. He was elected the Secretary of the Andhra Association of Bengal. This provided him the opportunity to cultivate his oratorical, social and literary gifts. He became the rising light in the firmament of the Andhra fraternity. He married Sri Annapurna Devi, a lady renowned for her strength of conviction and high courage. She was a brilliant Telugu authoress, well versed in English and Bengali.

He proceeded to America for higher studies in Agriculture as Malladi Satyalingam Scholar. He took his B.Sc. degree of the New York State College of Agriculture and M.Sc. of the California University. He worked under the guidance of the famous fruit expert Prof. Webber. The Cornwell University awarded him the state scholarship for two years. He was the founder and the first President of the International Agricultural Society of the Cornwell University. At California he was the President of the Hindustan Association and the Nalanda College of Berkley. He widely traveled over the whole world and addressed many meetings.

He returned to India visiting Japan on his way. He was very lucky in escaping the great earthquake of 1923. In 1923 he joined the Congress. Thereupon he started the Kisan Movement and became the first Secretary of the Andra Ryots Association. He took an active part in the Settlement Central Committee for the Godavari and Krishna. He was imprisoned for six months for leading the campaign.

In 1926 he lost his illustrious wife who was his faithful helper throughout his life. The glowing tribute of Gandhiji reveals her greatness. "It was in 1921 at Bezwada at the great Ladies' meeting I saw the only khaddar clad girl pressing through, being in charge of the meeting, keeping order, moving about with energy and decision. She was the first to give up so far as I can remember all her rich ornaments, bangles and heavy gold chain. It is true indeed that I have lost more than a devoted follower. I feel like having lost one of my own daughters whom I have the good fortune to own throughout India and she was among the very best of these. She never wavered in her faith and worked without expectation of reward. I wish many wives will acquire by their purity and single-minded devotion the gentle but commanding influence that Annapurna Devi acquired over her husband".

Mr. Bapineedu was a member of the Syndicate and the Academic council of the Andhra University. He worked for vernacularisation scheme. As the secretary of the Andhra Harijan Sevak Sangh he has to his credit a brilliant record of work.

As a political worker Mr. Bapineedu has combined shrewdness with intellect, practical wisdom with lofty ideology. He is willing and eager to sacrifice his life to win freedom. In the Civil Disobedience Movement he was imprisoned for one year. He was the President of the District Congress Committee and is a member of the A.I.C.C. In 1937 he was elected to the Madras Assembly and is the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Information.

Source: Haripura Congress Souvenir, 1938