We speak about so many social reformers from our Telugu States. Everybody is aware of Gurajada Venkata Appa Rao, Kandhukuri Veeresalingam and etc. However, not many people are aware of the person who was the “Father of The Dalit Movement” in Andhra Pradesh(United). Here is everything you never knew about Bhagya Reddy Varma, the reformer who fought against untouchability in the Hyderabad State.

Bhagyareddy Varma was born as Madari Bhagaiah to a Dalit, Mala caste family in the princely Hyderabad State to Madare Venkaiah and Madare Ragmamba on 22 May 1888. He was Inspired by Jyotirao Phule, he raised his voice against discrimination by the upper castes. He was employed by, the Brahmo Samaj, where he took the name ‘Bhagyareddy Varma’ to emphasise the rights of Dalits to claim a high social status, ‘Varma’ being Brahmanic and ‘Reddy’ indicating a non-Brahmin of high status.

He established a social organisation called “Adi Hindu”, which was aimed at bringing awareness in the dalit population of the time. He also formed a group called “Jagan Mithra Mandali” which used to educate the Harijans and Malas through Harikathas, a traditional folk theatre art. At the end of each program, Bhagya Reddy Varma used to add a punch line” to motivate the dalits in attendance. Slogans like “dalits are not untouchables”, “they are backbone of this country”, “we are Adi Hindu”, came to be popularised by him.

Those were dark times when Dalit children were grossly neglected in schools. In the year 1910, Bhagya Reddy Varma started to educate dalit children on his own expenses. Bhagya Reddy Varma founded around 26 schools in and around Hyderabad region for Dalits. He even established Dalit panchayat courts to settle disputes among dalits.

Bhagyareddy had launched a movement against the devadasi pratha, forcing the Nizam to declare it a crime. He also campaigned on many social issues like Child Marriage, Black Magic, Women Education, Alcohol prohibition etc. His work was spread to neighbouring states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra, people joined voices and followed the revolution. Even in modern days also the upper communities have never bothered to recognise his work and failed to tell about his gracious history to the coming generations.

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