Snehalata Reddy Biography 
Snehalata Reddy was a stage actor, Kannada film actress and social activist of 1970s. But she is better known as one of first martyrs of Emergency. She was married to T. Pattabhirama Reddy, a noted writer, poet and film personality associated with Telugu and Kannada parallel cinema. A multiple national award winner – Pattabhirama was also a social activist and the couple associated together for the movements of denial of human rights in the 1970s. Snehalata was close friend of George Fernandes and was arrested for being touch with him. Later she was tortured in jail in the silence of nights eventually led to her death soon after her release for parole. She was also the co-founder of the amateur theater troupe - Madras Players in the 1960s.
Snehalata Reddy was born in 1932. She was associated with theatre as a stage actress before her foray to films. A co-founder of Madras Players in the 1960s, she staged many plays like Ibsen's Peer Gynt, Twelfth Night and Tennessee William's Night of the Iguana. She has also acted, produced and directed a few plays under this troupe. She got married to Pattabhi Rama Reddy and also acted in a few of his award winning movies. She acted in 1970 National award winning film – Samskara, produced and directed by her husband. The movie received National Film Award for Best Feature Film for 1970. Her second film Sone Kansari was released posthumously in 1977.
She was associated with her husband for anti-emergency movement in the mid-1970s, soon after impose of Emergency Period by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. They were greatly influenced by Dr. Lohia. She was arrested on May 2, 1976 for being a part of Baroda dynamite case though her name was not in the charge sheet. George Fernandes was one among the accused and Snehalata was a close friend of Fernandes. She was tortured and was confined to live inhuman conditions, including bad water and food in prison at Bangalore. Her health deteriorated and was released on parole on 15 January 1977. However she died 5 days later due to chronic asthma and lung infection. Later in 2003 Pattabhi Rama Reddy presented a play - In the Hour of God, dedicated to his wife.
She was born to Indian Christian parents, second-generation converts. But after British colonial rule, she revered the changes and wore Indian dress. She fought against castes and colour and inspired others to value people and to treasure knowledge and experience. She argued for non-violence while George Fernandes and others defended selective violence. As a feminist she also believed in equal rights of men and women. While at prison she went on hunger strike to provide better food to prisoners. Also she inspired her co-prisoners and somewhat stopped the horrible beatings the women prisoners used to get. Madhu Dandavate later wrote in his memoir that he could hear the screams of Snehalata from her cell in silence of night!!!!!
Published: N/A
Updated: February 05, 2016
