Gaddar’s later years were marked by a significant ideological pivot from "revolution through the barrel" to "revolution through the ballot."
6.1 The Telangana Movement During the agitation for a separate Telangana state (2009–2014), Gaddar played a crucial role. He argued that a separate state was essential for the self-determination of the region's people.
6.2 Embracing the Constitution In a move that surprised many observers, Gaddar began publicly praising Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the Indian Constitution. He formed the "Gaddar Praja Party" (later renamed and reorganized) to contest elections. He argued that while the system was flawed, change could be achieved through constitutional means if the marginalized masses participated effectively.
6.3 Recent Activities In the years leading up to his death, he attempted to unify various opposition forces against the ruling dispensations, advocating for a "BSP-like" movement to unite Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities.
In 1997, Gaddar’s life nearly ended. He was shot at point-blank range at a public meeting in Hyderabad. The bullets missed his heart by inches. The conspiracy remains murky—suspicion fell on rival Naxal factions, police death squads, or political enemies.
While recovering, Gaddar experienced a political shift. He gradually distanced himself from armed struggle, declaring that “the gun has its limits.” In the early 2000s, he surrendered to the police and entered mainstream politics. He floated his own party, but his true power never lay in elections; it lay in the microphone.
Born in 1949 in Toopran, near Hyderabad, Gaddar did not start his life as a revolutionary. He was an engineer—a graduate from the prestigious BITS Pilani. For a brief period, he worked as a clerk in the Indian Railways. Yet, the comforts of a salaried job could not quell the anger brewing inside him when he witnessed the stark poverty bonded labor, and the cruel Vetti (forced labor) system prevalent in the Telangana region under the feudal landlords (Doralu).
The 1970s were a fertile ground for the Naxalite movement. Inspired by the ideologies of Karl Marx, Mao Zedong
Gummadi Vittal Rao (1949–2023), popularly known as Gaddar, was a renowned Indian poet, singer, and communist revolutionary from Telangana. He was a central figure in the Telangana movement and the Naxalite movement, using folk songs and street performances to resist oppression.
Legacy: His moniker is an homage to the pre-independence Gadar movement. He was often called Praja Yoddha (Warrior of the People).
Assassination Attempt: In the 1990s, he survived an assassination attempt but lived the rest of his life with a bullet lodged in his spine.
Gaddar Film Awards: To honor his legacy, the Telangana government instituted the Telangana Gaddar Film Awards in 2025. In March 2026, stars like Naga Chaitanya and Kamal Haasan were recognized at these awards.
Recent Controversy: As of April 2026, his name has resurfaced in political debates, notably with Prime Minister Amit Shah mentioning him while criticizing Rahul Gandhi's past associations. 2. "Gaddar" (The Traitor) in Politics
In Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi, Gaddar translates to "traitor" or "betrayer".
In the annals of Indian political history, the term "Gaddar" evokes a response that transcends mere nomenclature. For millions, particularly in the regions of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the word does not just refer to a person but to an ideology, a spirit of rebellion, and the raw, unfiltered voice of the marginalized. Known reverentially as Gaddar (a name he adopted inspired by the historic Ghadar Party of Punjabi revolutionaries), his original legal name was Gummadi Vittal Rao.
To write about Gaddar is to chronicle the evolution of left-wing cultural activism, the fiery demand for a separate Telangana state, and the relentless fight against feudal oppression, caste discrimination, and economic exploitation.
Gaddar's defiance came at a brutal cost. On a rainy night in April 1997, in the city of Hyderabad, Gaddar was shot four times at point-blank range by unknown assailants. One bullet lodged near his spine, paralyzing him for years. The assassination attempt, widely believed to be a state-sponsored encounter disguised as a gang war, was meant to silence the voice of Telangana forever.
But it failed. The attack turned Gaddar from a regional folk singer into a living martyr.
During his long years of recovery (he remained wheelchair-bound for nearly six years), Gaddar did not stop. He composed songs from his hospital bed, his voice raspy but unbroken. His subsequent albums—Malle Malle (When the Jasmine Bloom) and Amar Jhansi—became requiems for fallen comrades and anthems for the movement.