Gaddar went underground in the 1980s and became a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War. He was part of its cultural wing and performed for crowds. A bullet remained in his spine after an assassination attempt in 1997.[3]
With the resurgence of Telangana movement, Gadar expressed his support for the cause of a separate Telangana state, which intended to uplift the lower castes, particularly dalits and backward castes. He said that he was strongly aligned with those who are for a Telangana[a what? clarification needed] of social justice where scheduled tribes and scheduled castes have political representation on par with the OCs and BCs of the state.[citation needed] He expressed his solidarity with Devender Goud's NTPP (Nava Telangana Praja Party) despite being shot at by the police during Goud's term as AP home minister.[6][7][8]
Illness and death
Suffering from severe heart disease, Gaddar was admitted to a Hyderabad hospital on 20 July 2023 where he underwent bypass surgery on 3 August 2023. While recovering from surgery,[9] he died from lung and urinary problems on 6 August 2023 at age 74.[10][11][12]
^Bureau, NewsTAP (31 January 2024). "Gaddar's birth anniversary on January 31 to be celebrated as state function". www.newstap.in. Retrieved 17 June 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^Reddy, R. Ravikanth (6 August 2023). "Telangana folk singer Gaddar passes away". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
^"Rebel balladeer Gaddar backs Congress". ap7am.com/. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
^Swamy, Rohini (4 December 2018). "In Telangana, Naxal poet Gaddar embraces the ballot & old foes to fight 'fundamentalists'". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
^"Ghadr (Sikh political organization)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
^"Fight forces opposing separate Telangana, says Gadar". The Hindu. 18 January 2008. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Telangana minus Hyderabad unimaginable: Gadar". The Hindu. 20 January 2008. Archived from the original on 23 January 2008.
^"Smaller States viable, say leaders". The Hindu. 5 February 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008.
^Reddy, U Sudhakar (6 August 2023). "Renowned Telangana folk singer Gummadi Vittal Rao, popularly known as 'Gaddar', passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
^"Telangana: Poet activist Gaddar passes away at 77". The Siasat Daily. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
^"Telangana Poet Gaddar, Known For His Revolutionary Songs, Dies At 77". NDTV.
^"Famed Folk Singer Gaddar Passes Away at Apollo Hospital". www.telegraphindia.com. 6 August 2023.
^Krishnamoorthy, Suresh (23 March 2015). "Maa Bhoomi will forever be alive in people's minds". The Hindu.
^"Telangana Formation Day 2021: Folk Songs that Ignited Passion During Statehood Movement". News18. 2 June 2021.
^"Orey Rikshaw completes 25 years; Lesser-known facts about the R Narayana Murthy starrer". The Times of India. 9 November 2020.
^"2011 Nandi Awards winners list". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2023.