V. Raghaviah

Mr. V Raghaviah was born at Nellore in 1896. As a student he devoted himself to political activities. He started the Vande Mataram movement at his place. Inspired by the teachings of Tilak he consecrated all his energies to the cause of the freedom movement. At Madras he organized the boycott of foreign caps.

He visited Sri Aurobindo Ghosh at Pondichery. The message of the mystic irradiated his soul. In 1916 he met Tilak and paid his homage to him. Being an admirer of Sawarkar he sold his proscribed book.

He worked with unabated zeal for the spread of Khadi. He started the first Khadi Depot in Nellore District. He started an association for revolutionizing the mass mind. He successfully organized the library movement.

K.L. Kamat/Kamat's Potpourri

V. Raghaviah

In 1920 he left the Law College and joined the Non Co-operation Movement. He was elected the General Secretary of the Nellore District Congress Committee and organized the prohibition campaign, which was a profound success. The sale toddy fell from Rs 1, 98,000 to Rs 22. Mr. V Raghaviah was arrested and sentenced to one year's imprisonment. In the jail he organized a hunger strike to prevent the beating of convicts.

Mr. V. Raghaviah has won lasting fame by bearing the torch of light to the dens of criminal tribes. At his instance the Faizapur Congress adopted a resolution condemning the Criminal Tribes Act. He has formed a Criminal Tribes Association to train in civic virtues those who live in the underworld of crime.

He is one of the trusted lieutenants of comrade M.N.Roy. In 1934 he organized the first Agricultural Laborer's Association. In 1937 he was elected Secretary of the Provincial Agricultural Laborers Association.

V. Raghaviah is a Marxist to the core. He has organized many labor strikes. He is a virtuous example of single minded devotion. He is very understanding and his urbane nature has made him a successful leader.

Source: Haripura Congress Souvenir, 1938