A civil rights leader who prepared several reports on human rights violations

By Harsh Thakor*

Renowned civil rights leader, senior lawyer, and former president of the Human Rights Forum, Gorrepati Madhava Rao (67), passed away recently in Nizamabad while undergoing medical treatment. Until his final breath, he fought relentlessly against oppression, embodying the spirit of the civil rights movement and its enduring legacy.

Madhava Rao, an accomplished lawyer and a fearless advocate for justice, suffered a stroke on Friday and was admitted to a private hospital in Nizamabad, where he passed away the following morning. His mortal remains will be donated to the Government Medical College, Nizamabad, on Sunday, while his eyes have been donated to the Lions Club.

Early Life and Education

Born on March 4, 1957, Madhava Rao's family moved from Repalle in Guntur district to Baswapur in Kotagiri mandal of Nizamabad district in 1957, shortly after his birth. Influenced by Jampala Chandrasekhar Prasad, founder of the Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU), Madhava Rao was drawn to the Leftist movement during his college days.

He graduated from City College, Hyderabad, and later earned a law degree from Osmania University. While at university, he became an active participant in the PDSU movement, marking the beginning of his political and social activism.

Legal Career and Advocacy

In 1992, Madhava Rao returned to Nizamabad and began practicing law at the Nizamabad District Court. Known for his bold and principled stance, he exposed alleged encounters involving Naxalites and their sympathizers. He worked closely with civil liberties leaders, including the late Balagopal, and fought tirelessly for the rights of marginalized communities.

Madhava Rao represented families of victims in numerous cases of alleged police encounters, securing compensation in several instances. He was also noted for his role in the Aurangabad Conspiracy Case and defended hundreds of revolutionary activists, securing bail, case dismissals, and the release of many innocent individuals.

In 2005, he argued on behalf of five members of the Revolutionary Writers Association (Virasam) and a former CPI (Maoist) State Committee member who were arrested on fabricated charges under Sections 120(B), 121(A), and 122 of the IPC. Madhava Rao demonstrated that there was no evidence against the accused, leading to their acquittal in 2010.

Contributions and Legacy

Madhava Rao was also a translator, rendering articles on the Chinese Communist Party into Telugu. His contributions to human rights advocacy were lauded by the Coordination Committee of the Human Rights Forum (AP and Telangana), led by S. Jeevan Kumar, Vasanth Lakshmi, V. S. Krishna, and A. Chandrashekhar.

The committee praised his relentless dedication to the civil rights movement and his role in preparing reports on human rights violations. Revolutionary writer N. Venugopal saluted Madhava Rao’s lifelong commitment to liberation, while many Virasam activists mourned his loss.

Madhava Rao’s life and work remain an inspiration, reminding us of the enduring fight for justice and equality.

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*Freelance journalist

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