Kaneganti Hanumanthu

Kanneganti Hanumanthu (also spelled as Kaneganti Hanumanthu; 1870–1922) was an Indian freedom fighter and farmer leader who rebelled against British rule and spearheaded the Palnadu Rebellion. Under his leadership, people organised a social boycott of Revenue and Forest department officials.

Hanumanthu was arrested multiple times by the police. British colonial administrator T. G. Rutherford tried bribing Hanumanthu. Hanumanthu shouted the Vande Mataram slogan for nearly six hours and died. in 1870 in Minchalapadu village (Kolagatla), in Durgi Mandal of Palnadu district of present-day Andhra Pradesh. Growing up, he was enraged by the conditions and humiliation suffered by Indians under British rule. People denied all goods and services to the officials including food, laundry, barbering.

The following rebellion cry is attributed to Hanumanthu:Neeru pettava, Naatu vesava? Kotha kosava, Kuppa nurchava? Endhuku kattali ra sisthu?

Hanumanthu rushed to his village and pleaded with the British to stop harassing the residents. The village karanam betrayed Hanumanthu. The British treated him with cruelty by shooting him 24 to 26 times and preventing the villagers from even offering him water. He shouted the Vandemataram slogan for nearly six hours and died. After four days, Hanumanthu’s last rites were performed by his wife and relatives at Minchalapadu.

In popular culture

Gurram Jashuva penned a poem about the valour of Hanumanthu. Hanumanthu was referred to in a song from the 1974 biographical action film Alluri Seetarama Raju.