Kala Venkata Rao

Kala Venkata Rao Biography

Kala Venkata Rao was an Indian politician from Andhra Pradesh. He along with Alapati Venkataramaiah, Mr Mantena Venkat Raju, Mr Kalluri Chandramouli and his mentor Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy were called the Pancha Pandavas. He was also an Indian independence activist whom Neelam Sanjiva Reddy addressed as "Dronacharya" of the movement. He has served as revenue minister Madras Presidency and Andhra Pradesh, and later served as Minister of Finance in Andhra Pradesh. He was affiliated to Indian National Congress in his political career.

Kala Venkata Rao was born on 7 July 1900 in Mukkamala, British India. His birth place now belongs to East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh state, and he was born to Kala Lakshminarayana and Kala Lakshmi Somidevi. He spent his early days in his village Mukkamala where he had his primary education. His high school studies was done at Pulletikurru, followed by intermediate at Vizianagaram and graduation from Machilipuram. While doing his graduation at Noble College, Machilipatnam, he joined non-cooperation movement to boycott studies. Thus he discontinued his graduation studies. His father-in-law was also a great patriot and philanthropist. His wife’s name is Rajeswaramma.

As a freedom fighter he was associated since non-cooperation movement. He also joined Indian National Congress and stayed with the party till his end. He served as a cabinet minister of both Omandur Ramaswamy Reddiar and Kumaraswamy Raja, and also a member of Indian Constituent Assembly elected from Madras Presidency. Rao died on 28 March 1959 in Hyderabad from cardiac arrest. He was just recovering from influenza when death took him away. He was fully active in his political career till his death.

Published: November 25, 2018

Updated: November 25, 2018