Peasant Uprising in Icchapuram

Located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, is the small town of Icchapuram. In the 1930s, the region was struck by a drought, which brought forth a vehement resistance from the peasants. Pullela Syamasundara Rao, Congressperson and staunch Gandhian, led the uprising in Ichapuram. He organised a peasants protest march in regions struck by the drought, the protest was joined by a large number of peasants and it highlighted the various atrocities such as the frequent crop failure and deaths caused due to starvation. Revenue Board Member, Gopalaswamy Ayyangar visited the protest site, and addressed the grievances of the farmers after which funds were allocated to improve the infrastructural situation of the region. Peasants from the northern part of the state established ‘The State Peasant Organisation of Zamindaries’, and to promote and encourage other districts, Professor N.G. Ranga, a peasant leader visited Srikakulam and showed his support to the peasants in Ichapuram, which led to the peasant protest picking up momentum. To strengthen the peasant movement, a weekly journal called “Prajavani'' was started. The Icchapuram protest thereby, stands as a prime example of peasant-led resistance in the wake of colonial suppression.