Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu

Dewan Bahadur Sir Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu[1] (1 October 1862 – 26 May 1939)[2] was an Indian social reformer who hailed from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh in India.[3] His father Appayya Nayadu worked as a subedar in Madras Army. Their forefathers served as commanders in Madras Army and East Indian Company Army since its inception i.e. late 17th Century. He was a disciple of Veeresalingam,[4] and has been described as "the most powerful orator of his day".[5]

Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu

Social Reforms

Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu was born on 1 October 1862 in Machilipatnam in a famous Telaga Naidu family.[6] As his father, Raghupathi Appayyanaidu worked as Subedar in the army, he lived in Chandrapur. This helped him gain knowledge of Hindi, Urdu, Persian languages. He continued his education in Nizam high school in Hyderabad when his father was transferred there. He later graduated from Madras Christian College. He continued further education to complete M.A. and L.T. from University of Madras.

He founded the Social Purity Association in 1891 to train people as honest citizens.[7]

He worked for the eradication of untouchability and upliftment of Harijans,[8] and founded an orphanage and a hostel for Harijan boys and girls in Kakinada.

He strived for the abolition of the "Devadasi system" (the system in which women were devoted to the temples and who in the course of time were treated like prostitutes) in Andhra, and succeeded to a considerable extent.[9]

He promoted widow remarriages and encouraged women's education.[10]

He was an ardent Brahmo[11] and promoted the Brahmo movement in Andhra. The Brahmo Samaj honored him with the title of "Brahmarshi".[12]

All the above social reforms have led to him being described as the second great social reformer of Andhra, the first being Veeresalingam.[8]

He was one of the trio of Brahmo Samaj. The other two being Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu and Desiraju Peda Bapayya.

Educational Achievements

After passing Matriculation at Hyderabad, he took his B.A., degree from Madras Christian College and MA. and L.T. degrees from Madras University.

Joining the teaching line, he worked as the Principal of the Mehboob College, Secunderabad between 1889 and 1904, and then of the Pitapuram Raja College, Kakinada between 1905 and 1919.[13] In 1925 he became the first elected vice chancellor of Madras University,[14] holding that position until 1928.[15] He was conferred a knighthood by the British government in 1924.[16][17]

Author

His thoughts and writings were published in 1924 authored by him and V. Ramkrishna Rao - The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur Sir R. Venkata Ratnam, Volume 3 by Sir R Venkata Ratnam, V. Ramakrishna Rao[1][18]

References
  1. Kumar, Raj (2004). Essays on Social Reform Movements edited by Raj Kumar. pp. 310–11. ISBN 9788171417926.
  2. Chetti, Sri A. S.; Sarma, G. V. L. N. (1975). Great Indian Social Reformers and Philanthropists. Sri A.S. Chetti Sanmana Sangham. p. 67. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  3. Rao, P. Raghunatha (1983). History of modern Andhra. Sterling Publishers. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-86590-112-4.
  4. Rāyẏa, Niśītha Rañjana (1984). Public associations in India. Institute of Historical Studies. p. 347. OCLC 13671846.
  5. Rādhākr̥ṣṇaśarma, Callā (1978). Ramblings in Telugu literature. Lakshminarayana Granthamala. p. 85. OCLC 8215741.
  6. Rao, P. Raghunatha (1983). History of modern Andhra. Sterling Publishers. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-86590-112-4
  7. Weidman, Amanda J. (2006). Singing the classical, voicing the modern: the postcolonial politics of music in South India. Duke University Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-8223-3620-4.
  8. Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi (2002). Education and the disprivileged: nineteenth and twentieth century India. Orient Blackswan. p. 95. ISBN 978-81-250-2192-6.
  9. Subbamma, Mallādi (1994). Women's movement and associations: regional perspective, 1860-1993. Booklinks. p. 14. ISBN 978-81-85194-30-1.
  10. Itihas. Government of Andhra Pradesh. 12: 24. 1984. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. Anjaneyulu, D. (1976). Kandukuri Veeresalingam. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. p. 151. OCLC 3849181.
  12. Andhra Pradesh year book. Data News Features. 1986. p. 294.
  13. "Fulfilment is his reward". The Hindu. 16 December 2002. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  14. "Tributes paid to educationist". The Hindu. 2 October 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  15. Social welfare in India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 1960. p. 347.
  16. Kumar, A. Prasanna (1978). Dr. B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya: a political study. Andhra University Press. p. 13. OCLC 5414006.
  17. The London Gazette, 29 August 1924
  18. The Message and Ministrations of Dewan Bahadur Sir R. Venkata Ratnam, Volume 3 by Sir R Venkata Ratnam. Vest. 1924.
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