Nagalla Krishnaiah was born on 26 January 1880, to Janakamma and Kotaiah in Ananthavaram village, Tenali taluk, Guntur district, into a peasant family. Influenced deeply by Gandhi, he championed the unity of India, practising Hindi and Sanskrit. Alongside his wife Krishnamma, he joined India's freedom movement.
In 1922, Krishnaiah actively participated in the tax abolition movement in PeddaNandipadu. Government crackdowns led to his arrest and a harsh one-year sentence in Rajamandri jail. In 1929, he collaborated with Acharya Ranga to successfully organize the Guntur district Farmers Association in Tenali.
During the Salt Satyagraha Movement of 1930, Krishnaiah played a crucial role in producing and selling salt at Yadavalli Rice Satram in Guntur. Police brutality ensued during a raid on their camp, where cries of "Gandhiji ki jai" rang out with every blow. Subsequently arrested, he endured another year-long sentence in Rayaveloor and Ballari prisons.
Following Gandhi's call for non-cooperation after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Krishnaiah was sentenced to another year in Rajamandri Central Jail starting 19 January 1932. He actively led the Quit India Movement in 1942, campaigning tirelessly across the district. His dedication led to a five-month imprisonment in Vellore Jail in 1943. Nagalla selflessly devoted his life to the country's service, even without witnessing its independence.
Details mentioned in the book, “Swatantrame ma Janmehakkani“ (History of Guntur District Freedom Struggle), written by T. Venkatanarayana, published by Guntur District Freedom Fighters Committee, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Details mentioned in the book, “Swatantrame ma Janmehakkani“ (History of Guntur District Freedom Struggle), written by T. Venkatanarayana, published by Guntur District Freedom Fighters Committee, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Source: Somisetty Sarala, Contributor for CCRT.