CM Revanth Reddy pays tribute to Gaddar on death anniversary
Synopsis
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy paid tribute to revolutionary folk poet and singer Gaddar (Gummadi Vithal) on his death anniversary, calling him a symbol of social justice, equality, and the voice of the oppressed whose spirit will inspire generations.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy paid tribute to Gaddar (Gummadi Vithal) on his death anniversary on 6 August 2026 .
Gaddar was described as having made his music the voice of the people and his art a tool for social awakening.
The tribute highlighted Gaddar's lifelong dedication to the rights of oppressed communities, social justice, and equality.
Revanth Reddy said Gaddar's voice, literature, and fighting spirit will continue to inspire generations across changing times.
The tribute reflects a broader Telangana political tradition of invoking Gaddar's legacy to signal commitment to social-justice values.
A voice that sang for the silenced never truly goes quiet. On the death anniversary of Gaddar (Gummadi Vithal), Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy paid a solemn tribute to the revolutionary folk poet and singer on Thursday, 6 August 2026, remembering him as a towering figure who turned song into a weapon for social awakening.
The Chief Minister's Office posted the tribute in Telugu, describing Gaddar as one who made his music 'praja gonthuka' — the voice of the people — and his art an instrument of social consciousness. Revanth Reddy noted that Gaddar dedicated his life to the rights of oppressed communities, social justice, and equality.
The man who made folk music a movement
Gaddar, born Gummadi Vithal, was Telangana's most celebrated revolutionary folk artist. For decades, he used the burrakatha tradition and original compositions to articulate the struggles of Dalit and Adivasi communities, landless labourers, and the rural poor. His songs became anthems of resistance during the Naxalite movement and later during the long agitation for a separate Telangana state.
His art was never merely performative. Gaddar survived an assassination attempt and continued to perform and organise, his presence on a stage carrying the weight of lived struggle. He remained a polarising but deeply beloved figure across generations of Telugu-speaking audiences.
Why Revanth Reddy's tribute lands where it does
The Chief Minister stated that even as times and generations change, 'Gaddar galaam' — Gaddar's voice — will continue to echo in the hearts of the people. His songs, literature, and spirit of resistance, the tribute noted, will inspire generations to come.
Political leaders in Telangana have long invoked Gaddar's legacy to signal alignment with the state's social-justice tradition. For the Congress-led government under Revanth Reddy, honouring Gaddar on his death anniversary is also a statement of cultural continuity — a reminder that the administration sees itself as heir to the egalitarian aspirations the singer embodied.
Gaddar's ideas, his commitment to the people, and his work for social change remain permanently etched in memory, the CMO's post concluded — a sentiment that cuts across party lines in a state where his songs still play at protests, weddings, and memorials alike.
The people's poet may be gone, but in Telangana, his chorus has no last verse.
Point of View
Making him a figure whose memory carries significant symbolic capital. By invoking Gaddar's commitment to the oppressed, the CMO signals continuity with the egalitarian aspirations that animated the Telangana statehood movement itself. Whether the tribute translates into concrete cultural policy or remains rhetorical positioning is the question that follows every such anniversary.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Gaddar, the Telugu folk singer?
Gaddar, born Gummadi Vithal , was a celebrated Telugu revolutionary folk poet and singer who used music to champion the rights of Dalit, Adivasi, and other marginalised communities. He was closely associated with the Naxalite movement and later the Telangana statehood agitation.
When did Gaddar die?
Gaddar passed away in 2023 . His death anniversary is observed annually, with political and cultural figures paying tributes to his legacy.
What did CM Revanth Reddy say about Gaddar?
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called Gaddar a great soul who made his song the voice of the people and his art a weapon for social consciousness, and said Gaddar's voice would continue to echo in the hearts of people across generations.
Why is Gaddar important to Telangana's history?
Gaddar's music became an anthem of resistance for the Telangana statehood movement and for the rights of oppressed communities. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential cultural figures in the region's modern political history.
What is the Telangana CMO's tribute to Gaddar about?
The Telangana Chief Minister's Office posted a tribute on 6 August 2026 honouring Gaddar on his death anniversary, highlighting his contributions to social justice, equality, and the rights of marginalised groups.
