Sir Venkata Svetachalapathi Ranga Rao Bahadur GCIE

September 8, 1862 (age 58)

When Venkata Ranga Rao was nine years old, he along with the other younger sons of the family were given away in adoption to the royal houses of Bobbili, Pittapur and Jetprole. The royal family belonged to the Velama community.Venkata Ranga Rao was adopted by Rani Lakshmi Chellayama of Bobbili. He was tutored by J. Marsh apart from other Indian tutors. He was provided with extensive tutoring in history, economy and Sanskrit. Venkata Ranga Rao brought about a number of reforms during his reign as Raja of Bobbili. He raised the Middle School of Bobbili to a high school. He also established a poor schools and those for the physically and mentally handicapped. In 1888, the Raja married for a third time. A third son, Ramakrishna Ranga Rao, was born in 1892. The Raja constructed the "Raj Mahal" palace in Bobbili in 1888. At that time, there arose a succession dispute between the heirs to the estate of Venkatagiri. Venkata Ranga Rao mediated between the sons of the late Raja and helped in resolving the dispute. Landing at Marseilles on April 14, 1893, the Raja had audiences with the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria. The gratified Raja displayed his loyalty to the British crown by constructing the Victoria Market in 1887 and the Victoria Town Hall in 1894 in honour of the Queen. In 1902, Venkata Ranga Rao was chosen to represent the Presidency of Madras at the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in London.

Sir Venkata Svetachalapathi Ranga Rao Bahadur GCIE

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Background

Venkata Ranga Rao was born at Venkatagiri on November 29, 1862. He was the fourth son of Sarvagnya Krishna Rao Bahadur, the Raja of Venkatagiri.

Career

When Venkata Ranga Rao was nine years old, he along with the other younger sons of the family were given away in adoption to the royal houses of Bobbili, Pittapur and Jetprole. The royal family belonged to the Velama community.Venkata Ranga Rao was adopted by Rani Lakshmi Chellayama of Bobbili. He was tutored by J. Marsh apart from other Indian tutors.

He was provided with extensive tutoring in history, economy and Sanskrit.

Venkata Ranga Rao brought about a number of reforms during his reign as Raja of Bobbili. He raised the Middle School of Bobbili to a high school.

He also established a poor schools and those for the physically and mentally handicapped. In 1888, the Raja married for a third time.

A third son, Ramakrishna Ranga Rao, was born in 1892.

The Raja constructed the "Raj Mahal" palace in Bobbili in 1888. At that time, there arose a succession dispute between the heirs to the estate of Venkatagiri. Venkata Ranga Rao mediated between the sons of the late Raja and helped in resolving the dispute.

Landing at Marseilles on April 14, 1893, the Raja had audiences with the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria.

The gratified Raja displayed his loyalty to the British crown by constructing the Victoria Market in 1887 and the Victoria Town Hall in 1894 in honour of the Queen. In 1902, Venkata Ranga Rao was chosen to represent the Presidency of Madras at the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in London.

Achievements

In 1895, Venkata Ranga Rao was knighted in Ootacamund with the KCIE at a public cermeony presided over by Lord Wenlock, the then Governor of Madras. He was promoted to a GCIE in 1911.

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