Freedom fighter N.P. Raghava Pothuval’s niece N.P. Sarala recalls her uncle’s life beside his photographs. | Shoranur The house where freedom fighter N.P. Raghava Pothuval, popularly known as Raghavji, lived and worked for Gandhian ideals now stands neglected at Shoranur in Palakkad, Kerala. So does the office from where he promoted self-reliance.Raghavji was among the 78 followers who accompanied Mahatma Gandhi on the historic Dandi March in 1930. A close disciple of Gandhi, he devoted his life to his ideals.His niece N.P. Sarala remembers him as a man who remained committed to Gandhian values until the end. “He kept his commitment to Gandhiji and his ideals until the end. Self-reliance and service remained central to his life,” she recalls.Born in 1906, Raghavji studied at schools at Kavassery and Shoranur before joining Visva-Bharati, founded by Rabindranath Tagore. He went to the Sabarmati Ashram in 1927 and decided to return home only after India gained independence. The abandoned house of freedom fighter N.P. Raghava Pothuval (Raghavji) at Paruthipra, Shoranur. | Shoranur He joined Gandhi’s march to Dandi to oppose the British salt law. After Gandhi was arrested at Karadi, Raghavji and the other volunteers continued the protest. “Raghavji was later arrested at Dharasana and taken to Mambalam Jail in Chennai, where Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was among his fellow prisoners,” Sarala recalls.After Independence, Raghavji worked to promote Gandhi’s vision of self-reliant villages. He turned his 3.5-acre ancestral property on the banks of the Bharathapuzha at Paruthipra into an ashram-like centre. A handloom centre there trained people in spinning and other village industries.The centre also promoted sesame cultivation, gingelly oil production, honey farming and soap making. Raghavji continued the work until his death in December 1992.The words ‘Swayam Prakashitha Giri Sadanam', meaning a dwelling that shines by itself, remain on the walls of his home. The words reflect the self-reliant life he sought to build.His contribution was recognised nationally. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi invited him to Dandi and felicitated him. Freedom fighter Raghavji’s niece N.P. Sarala displays the wristwatch gifted to him by Mahatma Gandhi. | Shoranur Gandhi memorabiliaRaghavji also preserved letters written by Gandhi and other memorabilia. Many were lost over the years. “He had very few possessions. Some gifts and an old wristwatch were among the things he kept. He was deeply saddened by the loss of many of the letters and other memorabilia,” Sarala says.Raghavji’s house in Shoranur lies in ruins | Video Credit: Prasad K. Shoranur Social activist Prasad K. Shoranur sees the neglect of Raghavji’s home as a sign of the fading Gandhian legacy. He founded the Gandhi Seva Vedi in 2014, on Raghavji’s 22nd death anniversary, to keep his memory alive.Raghavji had donated his house and office to the Sarvodaya Sangham to promote Gandhian ideals. The premises, once a centre of Gandhian activity, now stand largely abandoned, with little upkeep and few visitors.Mr. Prasad has documented Raghavji’s life through a blog. He has demanded that a major road leading to Raghavji’s ancestral area in Shoranur municipality should be named after him.For those who remember Raghavji, preserving his memory also means preserving the values he lived by: self-reliance, service and simple living. Published - August 15, 2026 03:54 pm IST
Artist V.S.N.N. Achari showing miniature statue of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju on the occasion of Independence Day. | Siva Naga Narasimhachari paid tributes to great freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju in an innovative manner on the eve of 80th Independence Day. He created a miniature statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju and its height is only 16 mm and width is 6mm only. He used graphite as the material for making the miniature statue.He expressed happiness for government putting Alluri Sitarama Raju’s name for Bhogapuram international airport which would begin its operations on August 17, 2026. “I request the government to add biography of Mr.Sitarama Raju in the textbooks. It will make them to know his sacrifice while fighting against the then British government,” Mr. Narasimhachari added. Published - August 15, 2026 12:58 am IST
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