Freedom fighter and atheist leader Kodali Kamalamma, died at her native village Inkollu in Prakasam district on Friday.

Her body, wrapped in the Tricolour, was brought to the Atheist Centre, Vijayawada, in the evening. Later, as per her wish, her eyes were donated to the Swetcha Gora Eye Bank in city and body was handed over to Pinnamaneni Siddhartha Medical College at Gannavaram.

The centenarian played a major role in 1930 salt satyagraha along with Durgabai Deshmukh and spent three years in jail. She created a commotion in the prison by hoisting the Indian National Flag which she had managed to make on her own and hoisted it atop a tree. This was in response to Gandhiji’s slogan of ‘Purna Swaraj’.

In 1930s, she came in contact with social reformer Gora in the city and influenced by him, she started Gora Nastika Mitra Mandali at Inkollu.

“Kamalamma was an exceptionally bold woman,” recalls G. Vijayam of the Atheist Centre, Vijayawada.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities>Vijayawada / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – July 12th, 2014