Kin of Alluri aide seek freedom from poverty

Visakhapatnam: Gam Bodi Dora (70), the grandson of Gam Gantam Dora, the loyal soldier and general of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju’s tribal army that fought the mighty British army with traditional weapons, is leading a miserable life in a small hut, unable to meet his medical expenses.Gam Bodi Dora was raised by Mallu Dora, another key person in Alluri’s army. Bodi Dora was felicitated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the centenary celebrations of Alluri Sitarama Raju in 2022 at Bhimavaram of West Godavari district. Modi promised to help the families of freedom fighters who have been living with difficulties and facing financial problems. But authorities have not taken care of the Bodi Dora family till date. “He is almost bedridden and not in a position to walk. We have written letters to the officials of tribal department requesting them to extend a helping hand to Bodi Dora. We urge state and central govts to help him,” president of Alluri Yuvajana Sangham, Padala Veerabhadra Rao, said. Tribal cultural research and training mission executive director G Chinna Babu told TOI that he would ensure medical treatment to Bodi Dora and also meet the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) project officer and officials concerned on Wednesday to take proper measures to help Bodi Dora. Bodi Dora is staying in a thatched house along with his only daughter Dara Malleswari and son-in-law at Lanka Veedhi in Battapanukulu panchayat in Koyyuru mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Bodi Dora’s cousins are engaged in farming activities. He has been suffering from multiple health ailments after the death of his wife Acchiyamma in 2022. At present, Malleswari is taking care of her father who is confined to home. Bodi Dora’s grandfather Gam Gantam Dora was one of the generals of Alluri Sitarama Raju, who led the Rampa Rebellion and Manyam Uprising with tribals of East Godavari and Visakhapatnam regions during the 1920s against the British forces with traditional weapons like bows, arrows and spears. Bodi Dora’s grandfather was killed in the battle with British Army in 1924 and another commander Mallu Dora was arrested and put behind bars in Andaman Islands. Mallu Dora was released from Andaman prison after Independence and he raised his friend Gantam Dora’s family. People treated Gantam Dora’s family members as kin of Mallu Dora, who was elected as a Lok Sabha member from Visakhapatnam reserved constituency in the 1950s.