| Dr. Madiraju Ranga Rao | |
| Relatives: | Sri Narayana Rao (father) |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Genre: | Classical Literature Indian Poetics Modern Poetry, Novel and Criticism Studies in Sanskrit Literature |
| Occupation: | Telugu Poet and Writer |
| Birth Date: | 6 August 1935 |
| Birth Place: | Pandithapuram, Yellandu, Khammam |
| Citizenship: | India |
Madiraju Ranga Rao (born 1935) is a scholar of Telugu Literature, associated with Classical Literature, Indian Poetics, Modern Poetry, Novel & Criticism and Studies in Sanskrit Literature.
Madiraju Ranga Rao was a student of Telugu Literature with qualifications in M.A. Telugu (Osmania University 1962), Ph.D (Osmania University 1966)and M.A. Sanskrit (Osmania University 1969). His Doctoral Thesis is "Concept and Practice of Poetry of Kavitrayamu".
Madiraju Ranga Rao is one of the foremost literary writers in Modern Telugu Poetry.
Professor Madiraju Ranga Rao taught Telugu and Sanskrit Literature at Kakatiya University (1968–95) and Osmania University (1964–68), Andhra Pradesh, India. During his tenure, he has undertaken research supervision of 12 M. Phil and 10 Ph. D. research scholars.
He was a member of Editorial Committee of Critical Edition of Andhra Maha Bhagavatham (Chief Editor, Acharya Raya Prolu Subba Rao) and Member of the Editorial Board of Critical Edition of Andhra Maha Bharathamu sponsored by the UGC (Chief Editor, Acharya Khandavalli Laxmi Ranjanam).
Ranga Rao has been the Principal Investigator of two major research projects of University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi. The two projects are "Concept of Democracy and National Integration in Free-Verse" and "National, International and Human Facets in Post-Independence Telugu Free-Verse". During 2004–06, he was also Senior Fellow, Department of Culture, Government of India
Ranga Rao's research interests include Classical Literature, Indian Poetics, Modern Poetry, Novel and Criticism & Studies in Sanskrit Literature. He has made a significant contribution in the field of Modern Telugu Poetry and Research & Literary Criticism. Ranga Rao's prominence in Telugu Literature came with his distinctive poetry "Sveccha Kavithvam".
Since 1952, Ranga Rao has been writing extensively in various journals including Swatantra, Navatha, Bharathi, Sravanthi, Jayanthi, Vangmayi, Musi, Andhra Prabha, Andhra Bhoomi etc. He published close to 46 books on Sveccha Kavithvam and 14 books on Research & Literary Criticism.
Ranga Rao won the Best Teacher award in 1992 for teaching and research studies. In the year 1993, he won the Best Modern Poetry award from Telugu University, Hyderabad.
Ranga Rao is the founder and editor of Rasadhuni Sahithi Parishat since 1970
A. Research & Literary Criticism
B. Poetry: Sveccha Kavithvam