April 15th, 1972. It was early morning. The sun peeped through the clouds while birds started their morning exchanges with everything in sight. As the city was asleep, the streets of Vidyanagar echoed with familiar chants and slogans. Jeena hai to marna seekho! Kadam kadam par ladna seekho!, Police- RSS alliance down down! George Reddy amar rahe. (Learn to fight at every step – learn to die if you want to live, Down with the police-RSS alliance, Long live George Reddy). The procession had almost 2000 students. The atmosphere was tense. Students wearing black badges raised slogans, wiping their tears. They were mourning the death of their dear comrade George Reddy, murdered by ABVP in broad daylight in front of a police posse with the help of mercenaries. It was a sombre moment for student movements across the nation. Hordes of students from different colleges and organizations spontaneously joined the procession. Soon they reached Keshav Nilayam-the RSS headquarter at Barkatpura. Despite police protection, a scuffle broke out and several people were arrested. This martyrdom sent ripples in the political and educational discourse in India. It played a significant role in shaping the Radical Students’ Movement in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, leaving a lasting impact on student politics.
Who was George Reddy? A dear comrade, a charismatic leader, an inspiring revolutionary, an exceptional student of science, a skilled boxer, a devoted son, and an incredible person. Born on January 15th, 1947, George Reddy was the fourth child of Raghunath Reddy and Leila Vurghese. He was born in Palakkad, Kerala. His parents contested each other in student elections during their Presidency days in Chennai. Raghu’s family did not approve of their inter-religious marriage. They exemplarily had a simple registry marriage. During his childhood, George and his siblings had to frequently change schools as their parents moved very often. They moved from Chennai, Bangalore, Kotagiri, Warangal, eventually arriving in Hyderabad. George got his BSc from Nizam College and MSc in nuclear physics from Osmania University with a gold medal. Osmania University was a saffron bastion when George began his studies there. They controlled the majority of the hostels, messes, tampered with attendance lists and question papers, and threatened authorities. They were openly casteist and classist with their members usually coming from land-owning castes and rich families. Nobody questioned them as they had the support of MLAs and ministers. Their main opposition, the Youth Congress, was also corrupt. There was no alternative for the students till George stepped in.
He and his group started nominating members from their group who contested ABVP in various colleges notwithstanding the threat of attacks from ABVP. Although George and his group were initially working with the Congress Socialist Forum, they eventually dissociated and formed the Progressive Democratic Students (PDS). George’s group also expanded, supporting and bolstering anti-ABVP panels in GMC, Agricultural University, JNTU, Nizam College, VV College, etc. Most of this was tactical and aimed at buttressing candidates who were being opposed by the ABVP and who were in need of help. George also became a pillar of strength for the fourth class employees, their children, and families, who resided in the bastis of the OU campus. They used to be apprehensive of the RSS, as they held sway over the hostels and aimed to intimidate them. Their allegiance was to the Congress. During elections, they adorned the basti with Congress banners and flags. However, the RSS, led by Narsimha Reddy, orchestrated a Sunday shakha in Tagore Gardens, launching raids on their basti and tearing down their banners and flags. In their time of dire need, George emerged as a mentor. It wasn’t just them; everyone there believed that George would respond if they called upon him. George Reddy rode on a cycle to Warangal town about 150 km from Hyderabad, an event that shaped his later politics. There, he met the students of Kakatiya Medical College and Kakatiya University.
Both the colleges were known as hotbeds of the left. During his stay, he also met with sympathisers of the Naxal movement and held extensive discussions. Though many ML groups urged George to join the agrarian struggle, he felt he had a lot more to do in the field of student politics continuing his overground existence. On the other hand, after his MSc, he applied to a number of premier central research institutions like the TIFR, BARC, IITs, IISc etc. to do research. Prof. R. Raghava Rao, a retired scientist from the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad recalled, “George Reddy came to PRL, Ahmedabad to \ attend the interview selections for PhD scholars. He impressed all of us with his knowledge and quickness of response and he got an A+ from all of us. At the end of his interview, Prof. Pisharoty asked him, ‘If you get a scholarship at OU and here too, which would you prefer?’ The boy instantly replied: ‘Osmania University’.”As a student he initiated discussions on the Telangana, Naxalbari, Srikakulam armed struggles, the Vietnam war, the 1968 French Student revolt etc.- events that marked the 60s and 70s.
He also referred to Che Guevera, Regis Debray, Jean-Paul Sartre, and George Habash. His favourite books were those by Che Guevara on Guerilla Warfare and Bolivian Diary. He also read Friedrich Hegel, Sigmund Freud, and Karl Marx. It was unforgettable how in a seminar organized by the US consulate, George debunked the concept of the ‘Great American Democracy’ at the very root, creating tremors in the US consulate. His speech was so impactful, students changed their hearts from going overseas. After class hours his only topic of discussion was his passion for change and socialism, for which he invested every ounce of his energy. George organized a debate on the topic of armed revolution in India in Science College, encompassing how colonial values still penetrated the mind of the nation, even after British rule.
The Gandhi Medical College elections marked a pivotal moment in early 70s OU politics, igniting a standoff between the ABVP/RSS and left groups. The Red Scare tactic was employed by the ABVP/RSS, fueling fears of an Indian Red Army. George was ever present resisting the threats from the saffron goons. Pratap Reddy and another student from PDS won the elections enraging the goons. Post-election conflicts escalated culminating in an attack on left supporters by uniformed RSS goons. George’s protective stance resonated, symbolizing the intensifying ideological clash between the two groups.
On the fateful evening of April 14, 1972, George visited the Daya Seth canteen, searching for some of his friends. Not finding them, he interacted with fellow students. Amid this casual exchange, he was approached by Rameshchandra Reddy and Gopinath, who had unsettling news. Without hesitation, George joined them on a scooter and headed towards Engineering Hostel 1. Despite being aware of potential dangers, George rode towards the hostel, where armed policemen were stationed. Ignoring the presence of law enforcement, he walked towards the entrance, where a group of assailants, armed with knives, ambushed him. Recognizing the trap too late, he assumed a defensive stance but was attacked from behind. The assailants circled him, stabbing him multiple times. George valiantly fought back, even as he was fatally wounded. The attackers left him bleeding on the steps, his life slipping away. George paid the ultimate price for his unwavering commitment.
As the sun set on that tragic evening, his legacy was cemented, his sacrifice a stark reminder of the struggle for a red dawn.
More such articles are needed❤️