M S Acharya: The Story of a Forgotten Hero

After the formation of the integrated state of Andhra Pradesh, many aspects related to Telangana were subjected to neglect and discrimination. Many individuals who had made extraordinary sacrifices for Telangana were gradually forgotten—some known but ignored, others completely lost from memory. After the creation of Andhra Pradesh, the history, literature, culture, and arts of the coastal Andhra region suddenly overshadowed Telangana. As a result, many martyrs and great personalities of Telangana did not reach the next generation. Due to communist revolutionary ideologies, even figures such as Suravaram Pratap Reddy from Telangana did not fully reach the people of Telangana themselves. With the Telangana statehood movement, the identity of Telangana awakened across all fields, and a process of re-evaluation began. People started remembering the great personalities of their region beyond ideological boundaries. Among the many who had been forgotten in this way was M S Acharya.

Beyond Professional Titles: A Lesson in Warmth

The service and sacrifice he rendered are now slowly returning to Telangana’s collective memory. His son has inherited his legacy. Acharya Madabhushi Sridhar, who made his own mark in journalism, is his son. M.S. Acharya endured many hardships and faced the oppressive rule of the Nizam, yet made remarkable contributions to journalism. For the awakening of Telangana society, he ran the newspapers Janadharma and Warangal Vani. When I joined the daily newspaper Udayam, along with Pasham Yadagiri and Devulapalli Amar, Sridhar was also there. Compared to Yadagiri and Amar, Sridhar appeared somewhat different in terms of political beliefs. But that never became an obstacle to learning from him. His warmth and closeness taught me many things, and continue to teach me even today. It was Sridhar who introduced me to Varavara Rao. I accompanied him to report on the hearing of the Secunderabad Conspiracy Case. While introducing me to V.V., Sridhar said, “He is my colleague.” In fact, he could have introduced me as a trainee reporter or our junior.

But instead, he called me his colleague. That itself reflected his culture and character. Where did that culture come from? It came from his father, M.S. Acharya. Acharya never spoke about the services he rendered to journalism or the struggle he waged against the repression of the Nizam government. There was no exaggeration in his personality. This quality exists deeply in the spirit of Telangana itself. Because of this, the greatness of many people and the work they did never came fully into the public domain. The same happened with M.S. Acharya—very little about him became known to the outside world.

Focus on the Legacy of the Father and Son

From being a newspaper delivery boy to rising to the position of a daily newspaper editor, the life of M.S. Acharya has been documented in a book written by Madabhushi Sridhar. Reading it reveals the true greatness of Acharya. Based in Warangal, he participated in the anti-Nizam struggle as a journalist. Acharya’s career in journalism began as a reporter for Andhra Patrika. He worked as a reporter there for nearly 32 years. During that period, he played a key role in the struggle against the Nizam. Later, he ran the newspapers Warangal Vani and Janadharma. Even while working for Andhra Patrika, he used to insert and distribute pamphlets opposing the Nizam through the newspapers. Because of his activities against the Nizam, he came under the watch of the Razakars. To escape from them, he frequently had to change houses.

The Realization of Ideals: Acharya’s Definition of Journalism

In 1958, Acharya founded the newspaper Janadharma. He wrote fearless and honest news reports. Because of this, he had to face many difficulties. Earlier, for a news report he wrote in the Kakatiya newspaper where he had worked, he even received threats from a Member of Parliament of that time. “Warangal’s progressive spirit must be understood. Warangal should remain at the forefront on the path of development. The enduring values that have come down through time must be preserved. Acharya defined these fundamental principles as the goals of journalism. The deep dedication within him, the suppressed intensity, the pain behind it, the selfreliance suited to that pain, and the foundations of that self-reliance— namely, the progress of the thousands of people who inspired him—take many forms when they assume the shape of words. In the realization of ideals, the journalist within him achieves victory. The realization of ideals itself is his journalism.” These words of Madabhushi Sridhar are absolutely true.

who spoke the truth

During his journalistic career, he brought many writers into the limelight. He inspired numerous activists. Without concern for ideological labels, he fulfilled his duty as a journalist who spoke the truth. Despite facing many hardships, he never compromised and continued to work toward the realization of his ideals. The same qualities can be seen in his friend and contemporary K.L.Reddy. Acharya stands as a mirror reflecting the integrity of journalists of that generation. He remains an ideal for journalists of today.

How Janadharma and Warangal Vani Fueled the Quest for Telangana

During the first phase of the Telangana statehood movement, Janadharma and Warangal Vani also performed their responsibility. In the 1968–69 movement, they gave voice to the cause. They exposed the injustice done to Telangana in matters such as surplus funds and employment opportunities. They highlighted other anti-Telangana developments as well. Acharya maintained close relations with many contemporary writers and artists. At his Shashtipoorthi (sixtieth birthday) celebration, several eminent personalities attended, including Kaloji and his wife, Biruduraju Ramraju, and Pervaram Jagannatham.

Revolutionary leader Devulapalli Venkateswara Rao used to visit Acharya in those days. Literary stalwarts like Kovela Sampathkumaracharya praised the literary service rendered by Janadharma. He said that the people of Warangal and the region had strongly felt the absence of a suitable and effective newspaper to express their opinions, and to fill this gap, the weekly Janadharma was established in 1958. Hiralal Moria also praised Acharya’s contributions in many ways. Under Acharya’s editorship, Janadharma and Warangal Vani became the voice of the people of Telangana. Not only in the history of journalism but also in the history of Telangana, it is the responsibility of the present generation of writers and journalists to give him the place he truly deserves.

(Kasula Pratap Reddy, Senior Journalist (On the occasion of the unveiling of the statue of M.S. Acharya at the Journalists’ Colony in Gopanapalli on 7th March 2026.)

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