During the 127th installment of his popular ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a heartfelt tribute to Komaram Bheem, the legendary revolutionary from Hyderabad. Modi lauded Bheem’s extraordinary bravery and his unwavering fight against the oppressive rule of the Nizam in the early 20th century.
The Prime Minister emphasized Komaram Bheem’s invaluable contributions to tribal society and his deeply patriotic journey, encouraging young people across the nation to learn more about his life and achievements. Modi highlighted that in the initial decades of the 1900s, hopes for freedom were dim, and British exploitation had reached unprecedented levels across India. For the patriots of Hyderabad, the situation was even grimmer, as they endured the brutal tyranny of the Nizam’s regime.
Under this harsh rule, the poor, the marginalized, and particularly the tribal communities suffered immense cruelty. Their lands were forcibly taken, and exorbitant taxes were levied. Any act of dissent was met with barbaric punishments, including the severing of hands.
Amidst these dire circumstances, a courageous young man, barely twenty years old, rose up to challenge the pervasive injustice. At a time when speaking out against the Nizam was deemed a grave offense, this young man fearlessly confronted an officer named Siddiqui. Siddiqui had been dispatched by the Nizam to seize farmers’ harvests, but in a powerful act of defiance against this oppression, the young revolutionary killed him. He then skillfully evaded capture and made his way to Assam. That remarkable young man, as Prime Minister Modi recounted, was Komaram Bheem.
Modi noted that Komaram Bheem’s birth anniversary was celebrated just recently on October 22nd. Despite living for only about 40 years, his life created an enduring legacy within the tribal community and ignited a powerful new spirit of resistance against the Nizam’s authority. Known for his exceptional strategic brilliance, Bheem became a formidable adversary to the Nizam. Tragically, he was martyred in 1940 by the Nizam’s forces. The Prime Minister passionately urged the youth to explore and understand the profound life and enduring legacy of this tribal hero.