Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao Explained

Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao
Birth Date:21 March 1915
Birth Place:Nuzvid, Krishna district
Office:Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
Term:20 March 1981 - 2 April 1982
Constituency:Andhra Pradesh
Office1:Member of Legislative Assembly
Andhra Pradesh
Term1:1956 - 1978
Predecessor1:Andhra Pradesh Assembly Created
Successor1:Paladugu Venkata Rao
Constituency1:Nuzvid
Office2:Member of Legislative Assembly
Andhra state
Term2:1953 - 1956
Predecessor2:Andhra State Assembly Created
Successor2:Andhra Pradesh Assembly Created
Constituency2:Nuzvid
Office3:Member of Legislative Assembly
Madras State
Term3:1952 - 1953
Predecessor3:First Election
Successor3:Andhra State Assembly Created
Constituency3:Nuzvid
Party:Indian National Congress
Spouse:Princess Sita Devi of Pithapuram
(m. 1935 - div. 1943)

Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao shortly M. R. Appa Rao (21 March 1915 – 31 January 2003) was Vice Chancellor of Andhra University, Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Minister in Government of Andhra Pradesh, Member of Rajya Sabha.[1]

Early life

He was the son of Meka Venkatadri Appa Rao, a Zamindar (landlord), and was born in a Velama family in Nuzvid, Krishna district. His father was the Raja of Vuyyur, Nuzvid and an Indian freedom activist having held thousands of acres of land under his control. He married Sita Devi, the maharani of Baroda. He was sometimes referred to as the Zamindar of Vuyyuru, as he stayed in the Vuyyuru estates in Nuzvid Zamindari.[2] Later, Prince Pratap Sinh Gaekwad married her, after she converted to Islam.

Career

Academic

Rao was Chairman of Andhra Mahasabha in 1943 and translated and published the "Gita Govinda" in Telugu language.

He held the position of Vice Chancellor of Andhra University for two terms between 13 December 1974 and 12 December 1980.[3]

He has written Prajaswamika Socialism Pranalikalu (1980) and Bharateeya Chitrakala (1987) in Telugu language and Land Development Banks in Andhra Pradesh (1981) and Round the World (1981) in English.[4]

Political

Rao has entered politics and was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1952 Madras State legislative assembly election from Nuzvid constituency.[5] He was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Nuzvid constituency in 1955 (then Andhra State),[6] 1962,[7] 1967[8] and 1972[9] as a member of Indian National Congress. He held the portfolio of Minister of Cultural Affairs in the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

He was member of Rajya Sabha in Indian Parliament from 20 March 1981 to 2 April 1982.[10]

Death and honours

He died on 31 January 2003.

The University college of Acharya Nagarjuna University at Nuzvid was named after him as Dr. M. R. Appa Row Campus.[11]

Awards

He was recipient of "Kala Prapoorna" from Andhra University in 1953.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Appa Rao M. R., Luminaries of 20th Century, Part I, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 18.
  2. Web site: 2023-04-05 . Meet Sita Devi, Who Converted To Islam, To Marry The Last Maharaja Of Baroda . 2024-05-04 . News18 . en.
  3. http://www.andhrauniversity.info/sucvclist.html Successive Vice Chancellors of Andhra University.
  4. http://www.andhrauniversity.info/public.html List of Publications of Andhra University.
  5. http://eci.nic.in//eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1951/STATISTICALREPORTS_51_MADRAS.pdf Statistical Report on General Election, 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of Madras.
  6. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1955/StatRep_AP_1955.pdf Key Highlights of General Election, 1955 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh
  7. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1962/StatRep_AP_1962.pdf Key Highlights of General Election, 1962 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.
  8. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1967/Statistical_Report_Andhra_Pradesh_1967.pdf Key Highlights of General Election, 1967 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.
  9. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1972/Statittical_Report_Andhra_Pradesh_1972.pdf Key Highlights of General Election, 1972 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.
  10. Web site: Alphabetical List Of Former Members Of Rajya Sabha Since 1952 . 164.100.47.5 . 1 December 2016.
  11. Web site: Dr. M.R. Appa Row Campus College, NUZVID | Admissions to 2017–2018 Academic Year . Indiastudychannel.com . 13 January 2009 . 1 December 2016.
  12. Venkatadri Appa Rao, Meka (1893–1974), Luminaries of 20th Century, Part II, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 782.