1876, he started a journal called Viveka Vardhini and published articles about women's issues of that aera. The magazine was initially printed in Chennai (then Madras), but with his writings gaining popularity, he established his own press at Rajahmundry. Remarriage of widows was not appreciated in the society during those days, and he opposed this practice by quoting verses from the Hindu Dharma Sastra to prove his point. His opponents used to organise special meetings and debates to counter his arguments, and even resorted to physical violence against him when they failed to stop him. Undeterred, Veeresalingam started a Remarriage Association and sent his students all over Andhra Pradesh to find young single men willing to marry widows. He arranged the first widow remarriage on 11 December 1881. For his reformist activities, Kandukuri gained attention all over the country. The Government, in appreciation of his work, conferred on him the title of Rao Bahadur in 1893. Later he established a home for widows. Politics Kandukuri Veeresalingam was one of the attendees of the first Indian National Congress (INC) meeting in 1885. Personal life Kandukuri Veeresalingam was married to Bapamma Rajyalakshmi in 1861. At the time of marriage, he was 14 years old and she was 9. Death Veeresalingam died on 27 May 1919 at the age of 71. His statue has been unveiled on the Beach Road in Vishakhapatnam. In his memory, the Indian Postal service issued a 25-paisa postage stamp in 1974. References External links Sweeyacharitramu, Part-1, An autobiography of Kandukuri Veeresalingam on archive.org 1848 births 1919 deaths Brahmos Hindu revivalists Indian social reformers Telugu writers Writers from Andhra Pradesh People from Rajahmundry 20th-century Indian educational theorists 19th-century Indian educational theorists Activists from Andhra Pradesh Indian women's rights activists