By Nandiraju Radha Krishna, Sr. Journalist
Ravela Somaiya, a true socialist, and considered as Ram Manohar Lohia’s successor on Telugu land. Both Lohia’s Socialism and MN Roy’s Humanity Movement are like two eyes to him, and rationalism is his third eye. Without a job or in business, and with no true socialist party, Ravela (who turned 90 on July 24) remained as a socialist for the rest of his life.
Somaiah belongs to Tullur of Guntur district. Primary education was done in Tullur. As there was no high school there, he studied in the nearby Tadikonda High School. During his intermediate days, he was introduced to the Socialist Party.
Then he lost interest in studies as he read party literature more than subject books. He met Ram Manohar Lohia who had come to Guntur. Later, after completing his degree, he stopped his studies and devoted whole life to the activities and ideology of the Socialist Party.
Apart from Lohia, Socialist Party leaders such as Georgi Fernandes, Madhulimaya, Madhu Dandavate, Jayaprakash Narayana, Rabire, SM Joshi and others were close to Somaiah.
Following the call of the All-India Socialist Party with the demand to fulfill the aspirations of the people after independence, in 1960, prominent socialist leaders Pallavolu Sambasiva Rao in Chirala and Vetapalem participated in the ‘Indian Satyagraha’ and were arrested. He was in Warangal Jail for two months.
In 1961, Somaiah’s married to Aruna, who was studying class 10, at that time. The wedding was performed in a communist manner. They exchanged garlands to symbolizing marriage. Aruna never asked her husband to do any job, to do business or earn money. After marriage she continued her studies and did MA Economics, worked as a lecturer and retired as Vice Principal of Tenali VSR College.
Somaiah is one of the closest associates of the great socialist revolutionary Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, not only among the Telugu speaking people, but all over India. He is a rare intellectual who corresponded on various issues with the humanist philosopher, Ellen Roy, wife of MN Roy, the founder of Communist Party of India.
When commercial publishing houses were reluctant to publish some valuable socialist literature, Somaiah came forward to establish “Lohia Vigyan Samiti” to publish them. The compilation and publication of translations of various articles under the editorship of Somaiya on the occasion of the centenary of the Champaran movement was an unprecedented event.
In 2002, Somaiah was elected as the convener of the Telugu states in the Socialist Front formed by Madhu Dandavate in Pune. The front logo with photos of prominent leaders of the socialist tradition was unveiled. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s photo was placed in that logo with Somaiya’s persistence.
Apart from all these, Somaiah, with the help of his son Ravela Manohar, started a website from USA called “lohiatoday (dot) com” collecting Gandhi’s writings, Lohia, Roy Ambedkar along with many important books; magazines etc. have been kept for the benefit of aspiring readers.
It is learnt that someone made a biopic on Lohia – “Ambassador of Socialism”. I heard that the producers of the film have interviewed Somaiah and Aruna, but their conversation records are not available.
All those who think about society meet him at least once. Every social worker loves to interact with him. Many friends who travel to Hyderabad for personal work visit Somaiah’s home. His life companion Aruna is not an ordinary woman. I know her since my student days in 1965. She is a voracious reader fluent in English and Telugu and proficient in Hindi.
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