Chalasani Venkata Rathnam

Chalasani Venkataratnam was a Communist leader in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Early life
He was the youngest of three sons of Chalasani Kotayya and Arigapudi Nagaratnamma. His father was from Bhatlapenumarru and his mother from Veeravalli in Krishna district of AP. He was born in Veeravalli near Vuyyuru. His parents migrated to Patamata and he grew up there. His paternal grandmother was from Patamata. He was born in 1926. He was named after his maternal grandfather Arigapudi Venkata Rathnam. At home he was called Thathabbai.

Career
Chalasani Venkata Ratnam was known as a communist leader, who was supporting the communist unions at Vijayawada and had supported Unions in the Automobile Industry. He had contested for MLA position representing Communist Party of India and lost the election to Indian National Congress Party candidate. He was considered as a selfless leader. He used to handle the youth representation of communist party. In the year 1972, Chalasani Venkata Ratnam was fatally stabbed 47 times by Vangaveeti Radha Krishna and his gang members at Bandar Lock that connects Krishna Lanka to Governerpet. Vangaveeti Radha Krishna was a youth, who had no job to work (later he was known as "Bus Stand Radha" at that time). Venkata Ratnam provided a job to him to work near the Private Bus Stand that used to help customers who were using services of the private buses operating from Vijayawada to different cities. The private bus operators used to pay rupees 5 per customer to these helping gang that was controlled by Venkata Ratnam. Vangaveeti Radha grouped some gang members and started acting independent. Chalasani Venkata Ratnam beat Radha and his gang members and threw them out of job from the Private Bus Stand. Vagaveeti Radha Krishna and his gang planned for murdering Chalasani Venkata Rantnam to gain control of the services at the Private Bus Stand. That was the first time in Vijayawada that a political leader was murdered by a small-time rowdy. Vijayawada city discipline and fabric of life started collapsing with the arrival of Vangaveeti Radha Krishna as he started expanding his base from the private bus stand. With the death of Venkata Ratnam, Radha started to rule the city (started collecting commission from the small-time businessmen) of Vijayawada for the next few years. After about two years Vangaveeti Radha Krishna and two of his associates were hacked to death with axes by the Communist Union members.

Death
In 1972, he was brutally stabbed to death by members of Radha's gang and died on the spot.