One of the prominent leaders of the handloom movement, K.S. Pragada Kotayya, fought against the oppressive policies of the British government. He is a gem that the Padmashali community can proudly cherish. In April 1951, he led a historic 75-day satyagraha with 10,000 handloom workers in front of the Madras Legislative Assembly. Due to Kotayya’s relentless efforts, the central government responded by sending Union Minister Harikrishna Mehta to address the issues faced by handloom workers. After studying the problems, the government formulated a welfare policy, resulting in several benefits for handloom workers. Under his leadership, nearly 800 cooperative societies were established in the Andhra region.
Born on July 26, 1915, in the village of Nidubrollu, within the present-day Ponneru Municipality of Guntur district, Sri Kotayya was the son of Sri Pragada Kotayya and Smt. Kotamma. He completed his SSLC (School Final) education and was fluent in English. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly from Chiral in 1952, 1957, and 1967, and served as an MLC in 1974. In 1990, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha, where he served until his untimely death at the age of 81 due to illness. Throughout his life, Kotayya focused his efforts on the handloom industry, tirelessly working for its improvement. There is no doubt that due to the significant contributions of leaders like Acharya Konda Lakshman Bapuji, Sri Machani Somappa, Sri Pragada Kotayya, and Sri Guntaka Narasayya Pantulu, the Padmashali community today stands as a vibrant and empowered community.
Kotayya played an essential role in the establishment of the APEX Society, alongside Sri Konda and others. He relentlessly pushed the government to address the neglect of the handloom sector, using his voice in Parliament to make his case heard. His efforts in the handloom sector were recognized and appreciated widely.
Kotayya’s service as the founding president of the Nidubrollu Handloom Society is unforgettable. His wife, Smt. Indiradevi, represented the society for 25 years as its president. In 1976, Kotayya made remarkable contributions to the merger of Efex societies across Andhra, Rayalaseema, and Telangana regions, which ultimately led to the establishment of APCO Fabrics. After Kotayya’s passing, the National Textiles Institute in Venkatagiri was renamed in his honor, a fitting tribute to his legacy in the handloom industry.
Sadly, after his death, the movement that he led has not continued at the same scale, leaving a significant gap in the leadership of the handloom community. Kotayya is survived by six daughters and one son.
