By iastoppers.com
In the heart of southwestern India, Aluru Venkata Rao dreamt of uniting Kannada voices under one banner
Inspired by the 1905 Bengal Partition protests, Rao recognized the power of linguistic unity
His journey to Hampi unveiled Karnataka's rich history, waiting to be celebrated
He gained fame for leading the Karnataka Ekikarana movement, advocating for a Kannada-speaking state of Mysore, Bombay Presidency, and Nizam's Hyderabad regions
With passion, he founded the Kannada Sangha and started the Jaya Karnataka magazine, spreading Kannada's glorious past
Influenced by Lokmanya Tilak and Gokhale, Rao championed Karnataka's cause, even facing arrest for his beliefs
Despite Kannada speakers scattered across five regions, Rao's vision saw them converge into the state of Karnataka in 1956
Revered as the ‘Kannada Kalapurohita’ (High priest of the Kannada family), Rao left an indelible mark, uniting Kannada hearts and history