Baru Alivelamma, a resident of Rajahmundry of East Godavari district was a distinguished freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh. Born in 1894, she was married to Raja Rao Baru who served as the secretary of the All India Congress Committee for nearly two decades from 1917 to 1935. Inspired and accompanied by her husband, she joined the Indian freedom struggle and resided at Sevagram in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi for two years.
Influenced by the personality and ideals of Gandhi, she participated in all the movements from Allahabad, present-day Prayagraj. In 1930, she came to the forefront and actively took part in the mass picketing of foreign clothes and liquor alongside the nationalist female leader Kamala Nehru and other women participants in the city of Allahabad. Her active involvement in the Civil Disobedience Movement and close association with important political personalities inspired her son Govinda Rao Baru into the freedom struggle as well. At the age of nine, he participated in the Venara Sena or the youth’s wings of national struggle along with Indira Gandhi.
With a rich legacy and a patriotic family to her credit, she remained a striking and inspiring public figure of national importance.
Source: Indian Culture Portal