People & Public Movements

Public Service

Tribal rights, environmental justice, education support and the memory of those who fought for society.

Theme: People & Public Movements

Tribal rights and environmental justice

Dr. Nalamasa Krishna’s activism has reached well beyond the Telangana statehood movement. He has worked on tribal land rights, particularly the protection of Podu lands and the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

He has also taken part in movements on water resources, environmental protection and the preservation of Telangana’s natural resources, including campaigns against uranium mining in the Amrabad region.

Education and social responsibility

Despite his professional responsibilities, he has stayed connected to the educational needs of rural and economically disadvantaged communities. He has supported poor students through financial assistance, scholarships, educational materials and encouragement for sporting achievements.

He has also personally funded the installation of more than 60 statues of prominent historical and revolutionary personalities in villages across the region, so that younger generations are inspired by their ideals and sacrifices.

Last updated 10 November 2026

Initiatives

Telangana Praja Front

Telangana Praja Front

2009 – 2019

Led a federation of more than 200 people’s organisations as Secretary and later President.

Educational support for underprivileged students

Rural and economically disadvantaged communities

Financial assistance, scholarships, educational materials and encouragement for sporting achievements for students from poor and rural families.

Statues of historical and revolutionary personalities

Villages of Telangana

Personally funded the installation of more than 60 statues in villages, so younger generations are inspired by their ideals and sacrifices.

Tribal land rights and the Forest Rights Act

Work for the protection of Podu lands and the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

Campaign against uranium mining in Amrabad

Amrabad, Nallamala

Part of the movement to protect Telangana’s water and natural resources from uranium mining in the Amrabad region.

Foundation programmes

Statues of great personalities

On the ground

His writing on these issues

Article · 31 Dec 2015

Non-tribal rights are part of domination

A Telugu column on the 1/70 Act and the land protections of Scheduled Areas, written as state general secretary of the Telangana Praja Front.

Justice & Constitutional Rights

Movements in the news

Movements and milestones

  1. Early life

    Born in Komararam village

    Born into an economically disadvantaged family in Komararam village, Illandu Mandal, in the erstwhile Khammam district.

    Illandu, Khammam

  2. Childhood

    Shaped by rural struggles and revolutionary ideals

    The hardships of farmers and labourers, the ideals of Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Subhas Chandra Bose, and the songs of Gaddar shaped his outlook.

  3. Youth

    A Bhagat Singh statue for Komararam

    With his village youth group he put up a statue of Bhagat Singh in Komararam, about 24 years before he shared a photograph of it in 2023. It was the first of many statues he would later help bring to villages.

    Komararam

  4. Student years

    Children’s associations and student rights

    Took part in children’s associations and initiatives for students’ educational rights and social equality.

  5. Student activism

    Joins the Progressive Democratic Students Union

    As a member of the PDSU, he became active in student movements on educational rights and social equality.

  6. Early 2000s

    Into the Telangana statehood movement

    After the Telangana Rashtra Samithi was formed in 2001, he became increasingly involved in the movement, studying regional disparities in resources, jobs and water-sharing.

  7. 2004

    Working with the movement’s leaders

    Developed associations with prominent leaders of the Telangana movement.

  8. 2005

    Telangana Jagarana Sena

    Took part in establishing and expanding the Telangana Jagarana Sena, building grassroots organisational structures.

  9. 2009–2019

    Leading the Telangana Praja Front

    Led the Telangana Praja Front, a federation of more than 200 organisations established in 2009: its state general secretary by 2014, president in 2016–17, and later state vice-president.

  10. During the Telangana movement

    State committee member, Telangana Joint Action Committee

    Served on the state committee of the Telangana Aikya Karyacharana Committee.

  11. During the Telangana movement

    Million March, Chalo Assembly, Sagara Haram

    Took part in the movement’s major programmes, including the Million March, Chalo Assembly, Sagara Haram and Vanta Varpu.

  12. 14 February 2017

    Keynote against uranium mining in Nallamala

    As president of the Telangana Praja Front, he gave the keynote at a Hyderabad round table that demanded the withdrawal of permits for uranium mining in the Nallamala forest.

    Hyderabad

  13. Research and writing

    Osmania Velugulo

    After nearly a decade of research, wrote Osmania Velugulo, a history of the Telangana student movement and the people who shaped it, up to 2013.

  14. Social initiatives

    Education support and more than 60 statues

    Supported underprivileged students with scholarships, financial help and materials, and personally funded more than 60 statues of historical and revolutionary personalities in villages.

  15. 2026

    The Dr. Nalamasa Krishna Foundation begins its programmes

    Chaired by Smt. Nalamasa Sandhya, the foundation ran a school general knowledge competition, a state-level cricket tournament, Bahujana Bathukamma celebrations and statue work in villages.