| Samatam Kistaya | |
|---|---|
| Last Maire de Yanaon | |
| Maire de Yanaon | |
| In office April 1954 – 13 June 1954 |
|
| Preceded by | Madimchetty Satianandam |
| Succeeded by | Maddimsetti Satianandam |
| Constituency | Yanaon (Inde française) |
| Conseiller Municipal | |
| In office June 1951 – 13 June 1954 |
|
| Constituency | Pydicondala, Yanaon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1870s Yanaon, Inde française |
| Died | 13 June 1954 Yanaon, Inde française (Coup d'État de Yanaon) |
| Nationality | French |
| Residence | Yanaon, Inde française |
| Religion | Hindu |
| He was murdered during Coup d'État de Yanaon | |
Contents |
Monsieur Samatam Krishnayya (Samatam Kistaya) was born in Yanam in and around 1875.
He was poet, historian and ayurvedic doctor too. He wrote many books in Telugu. He was staunch pro-French politician in his days.
During 1954, Monsieur Maddimsetti fled from Yanam to join pro-merger group, which brought anger in its people that led to pillage of his home. Then a 78 year old, Monsieur Samatam Krouschnaya was became the Mayor of Yanam (interim) who was the lone pro-French leader to fight against pro-merger leaders.
He died during the Coup d'État de Yanaon on Sunday, 13 June 1954 at the age of 78 years. It was declared that he was killed by Indian Military while seizing Yanam. But it is still a mystery about the actual causes and real persons behind his death. Had he been alive when the coup ended, Yanaon still would exist as French colony.
On the day of the coup, he fought a lone battle to maintain French Sovereinty in Yanam against all the pro-merger groups. When he was trying to jump from a wall (at Pydikondala house) and take shelter, he was shot by Maddimchetty Satianandam who had a pistol which had been given to him by one of his close friends. It was known that Maddimchetty thought that because of Monsieur Samatam that only his house had been pillaged. The 78 year old, Acting Mayor Monsieur Samatam collapsed mortally wounded, but even as he was dying he did not stop shouting Vive la France. It was declared that Monsieur Samatam was killed by shots fired by the Indian Military which brought tears to many people in Yanam. Had Monsieur Samatam survived that day, it is thought that the Coup d'État de Yanaon would have been a complete failure. The death of Monsieur Samatam is still considered by the French even now as a political conspiracy perpetrated by the Indian side. For locals of Yanam, it is still a mystery, who was the real murderer of their beloved leader.
A popular view is that, it was only personal interests that drove the leaders to help in the merger of Yanam rather than that of the cause of Indian nationalism.
The French Government identified him as a patriot of France and even commemorated him with a statue which exists in Paris even today. They used to garland his statue in the remembrance of his lone sacrificial fight on the day of Coup d'État de Yanaon to defend France.
| Preceded by ? |
Membre du Conseil Municipal de Yanaon June 1951–13 June 1954 |
Succeeded by defunct (Coup d'État de Yanaon) |
| Preceded by Maddimsetti Satianandam |
Maire de Yanaon (Acting) April 1954–13 June 1954 |
Succeeded by Maddimsetti Satianandam (Coup d'État de Yanaon) |