Unsung Heroes Detail

Kalagara Pichamma (1883-1952) resided in the Chataparru village in the Eluru taluka of the West Godavari District. She was born on 10 August 1883 to Maganti Ramineedu and Mahalakshmamma. She became active in the struggle for independence in 1921. Her marriage to Kalagara Ramaswamy took place while she was only 15 years old. The couple decided to pursue a career in social service after hearing about reformers like Kandukuri and Raghupati Venkataratnam Naidu. Pichamma was also crucial in the construction of the Women Prayer Community Hall in Eluru for the progression of women. She served as the secretary of the organization from 1910 until 1927 and as the president of the organization from 1944 to 1949. Maganti Annapurna Devi was born to her in the year 1900. Annapurna Devi was a powerful figure in the struggle for independence. The health of Annapurna Devi began to decline. On the first Tuesday of March in 1927, she gave birth to Jhansi Lakshmi. Her health continued to deteriorate over time, and on 9 March 1927, when she was just 27 years old, Maganti Annapurna Devi passed away. In her memory, Pichamma built the Annapurna Devi Memorial Hall in Eluru. Pichamma served as President of the Eluru Town Congress Committee and Secretary of the Eluru Stree Prarthana Samajj. She gave land to Mohandas Karamchand Khaddhar Industries in Eluru and developed it. She took an active interest in Harijan upliftment and the establishment of Mahila Sanghams. She was involved in the Civil Disobedience movement and was condemned to six months in prison on 14 July 1930. She was imprisoned at the Vellore Prison and finally released on 27 October 1932 owing to terrible sickness. Pichamma, regarded as an ideal woman, died on 21 June 1952 at the age of 69.