(On his 63rd death anniversary – June 16)
By Nandiraju Radhakrishna, Senior Journalist
Khasa Subbarao, a prominent newspaper editor, was an inspirational figure of the era, which played a pivotal role in the freedom struggle. He is known as “Khasa” and praised for his brave journalism, moral clarity, and intellectual honesty. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921.
Khasa was born on January 23, 1896 to Ramabayamma and Sundarara Rao in a middle-class Yajnavalkya Brahmin family in Kavali town of Nellore district. Khasa completed his high school education in Nellore and graduated with philosophy as main subject from Madras Presidency College.
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was their teacher in Madras College. He was influenced by the teachings of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who was his teache in Madras College. He also did his degree in Law but not took up the legal profession.
Considering that the Andhras living in Madras Presidency were discriminated, Tanguturi Prakasham Panthulu promoted a magazine called, “Swarajya” and he acted its Managing Director and Editor of that magazine, while K M Phanikkar used to act as in-charge editor.
In 1924, Khasa came to Madras and began his career in journalism as a sub-editor of the English daily “Swarajya”. Since then, Khasa had an inseparable association with the newspaper. Along with Khasa, S.N. Varadachari, Kolavennu Ramakoteswara Rao, M. Chalapathy Rao etc. acted as sub-editors. And he remained with the magazine until its closure after twelve years.
Swarajya magazine helped Khasa to excel as a journalist. He was not only a great editor but also a great humanitarian. He considered other people’s problems as his problems. The stories he wrote with fearlessness and clarity were especially appreciated by the people. Along with Rajaji, many political leaders have fallen victim to him.
He participated in the independence movement and in 1930; Khasa was arrested and sentenced to 6 months rigorous imprisonment for participating in the Salt Satyagraha. He travelled widely to explain the objectives of Satyagraha to the people. It is an unprecedented moment in the history. In 1931, when he took part in the boycott of foreign goods movement in the Madras China Bazaar, he was beaten by the police and bled profusely and fainted. Between 1942-44 he participated in the Quit India movement and spent 20 months in jail.
After closure of Swarajya Patrika Khasa joined Indian Express and worked as a joint editor and editor of Indian Express. He was the first editor of Andhra Prabha. With no hesitation, he boldly made it clear that he would resign, when Ramnath Goenka did not accept the publication of the editorial. He resigned from the post in protest the injustice done to his co-worker in the Indian Express.
Having an independent spirit, he could not fit in other magazines and started his own magazine. In February 1946 he started his own “Swatantra” Telugu and English weekly with the help of his friend Uppaluri Kalidas. These two strong political newspapers were published for ten years.
Although there was no tradition of rewarding the works in the early days, Bha.Raa.Go, who was an aspiring writer at that time, corrected the request in a letter and started the tradition of rewarding the works. The magazine was closed due to financial crisis. The journal ran for ten years and earned a reputation as a vocal champion of public issues. But closed due to financial difficulties, then Khasa started Swarajya in July 1956 with the blessings of C Rajagopalachari and managed to run a weekly for three years.
Owing to age, he handed over the weekly magazine to T Sadasivam and continued as editor for life. Khasa maintained his own column “Sidelights” until his last. He wrote till the last day and passed away on June 16, 1961.Khasa’s last column appeared in the magazine on June 17 the day after his death.
Jawaharlal Nehru regularly railed against corruption, nepotism, socialism and foreign policy autocracy in his column on the Congress Party. When the Speaker of the Lok Sabha warned that legal action would be taken against him, Khasa pointedly replied, “We are waiting for that action”, but the Speaker backed down.
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