Fighting the Elite

Story Summary
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Chakali Ilamma | Source: Women's Web

In 1895, a fourth child was born into the household of Soilu and Oruganti Malamma. The family was located in Krishnapuram of Warangal district, in present-day Telangana. Chityala Ilamma was the name granted to the girl child. This little one would go on to spark a fierce movement in her community.

The young child was married off at the age of 11. She was later addressed as Chakali Ilamma. As was customary at the time, she joined the caste-system assigned occupation of her husband’s family. But Chakali had always harboured resentment against the unfair system of feudalism. And she decided it was the right time for her to take matters into her own hands.

Chakali was firmly against the zamindari system that was prevalent in the Visnoor area. She knew that the practice was extremely exploitative and that something had to be done for the people to be able to escape the clutches of these vicious landowners. So she leased out some acres of land and started cultivating her own crop, away from the control of vicious tormentors.

Ilama tried to gain ownership over the land which she and her husband cultivated. This was in direct defiance against the system of monopoly that operated in the region. She chose to not work in the field of the local aristocracy. When she was threatened to give up her land or face the consequences. Ilama refused to back down from the fight. Even in the face of physical atrocities and forceful attempts to snatch away her ownership, she stood tall.

Zamindar Ramachandra Reddy, also known as Visnoor Deshmukh, was a tyrannical zamindar. When he became aware of her succeeding persistent efforts, he tried to misuse his power so he could terrorize her into giving up. He got her husband and sons jailed and even tried to steal the crop from her land to break her spirit. But Ilama was a fierce spirit whose efforts were only strengthened in the face of adversity. She had to make a lot of sacrifices along the way, but her resolve never wavered.

It was after this public stance on her part that she came to be recognized far and wide for her bravery. Ilama joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) in a bid to gain support for her cause. Her house became the hub for political activity against the Nizam of Hyderabad and his regime of brutal exploitation of labourers. She was an instrumental part of the Telangana Armed Struggle. She also worked at freeing her fellow beings from the clutches of their oppressors.

But that was not the only fight she took on. Ilamma actively participated in the cause of perpetuating gender equality as well. She encouraged women of all castes and classes to unite in their fight against oppressive regimes that had been working against the fairer sex for ages. Her bravado inspired several other women to become an active part of the resistance movement.

Chityala passed away in 1985 because of an illness. A statue honouring her memory was erected in Palakurthy, Warangal. Her act of defiance steamrolled into the liberation of the state of Hyderabad from the atrocities of the Nizam. Her story is a testament to the strength that women possess and the change that a headstrong woman can bring about. To this day, she inspires the struggle for liberation from oppressive powers.

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