Ammembala Balappa (23 February 1922 – 15 May 2014) was an Indian freedom fighter and socialist leader who is known for participating in the Quit India Movement in 1942.
With the help of some of his friends, he planted a crude bomb that burnt down the office of the District Court Complex at Light House Hill Road in Bavutagudde of Mangalore.
He was arrested and jailed in Vellore Central Prison, where he shared a ward with P. V. Narasimha Rao (who later became Prime Minister of India).
He learnt to speak and read the Hindi language from PV Narasimha Rao and got in touch with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan.
[citation needed] On 15 August 1947[broken anchor] Balappa hoisted tricolour flag at Sultan bateri watch tower in Mangalore.
[2] Balappa founded Bantwal Society Service Co-operative Bank in 1980, to provide financial assistance to the rural folks.