Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu
Encyclopedia
Sir Dr. Rao Bahaddoor Sri Raghupati Venkataratnam Nayudu (1862–1939) was an India
n social reformer who hailed from a Telaga
Naidu
family from Machilipatnam
in Andhra Pradesh
in India. His father Appayya Naidu worked as a subedar in telaga regiment 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, and has been described as "the most
powerful orator of his day".
He worked for the eradication of untouchability
and upliftment of Harijan
s, 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.
He promoted widow remarriages and encouraged women's education.
He stood for inter-caste marriages which, in his opinion, would lessen the rigidity of the caste system
.
He was an ardent Brahmo
and promoted the Brahmo movement in Andhra. The Brahmo Samaj
honored him with the title of "Brahmarshi
".
All the above social reforms have led to him being described as the second great social reformer of Andhra, the first being Veeresalingam.
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. In 1925 he became the first elected vice chancellor of Madras University, holding that position until 1928. He was conferred a knighthood by the British government in 1924.
He was born in Machilipatnam
in 1862 and died in 1939 at Madras.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n social reformer who hailed from a Telaga
Telaga
Telaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
Naidu
Naidu
Naidu is a title used by various social groups of the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states of India. It is also used in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and Chattisgarh...
family from Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam is a city and a special grade municipality in the Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south east of state capital, Hyderabad.-History:...
in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
in India. His father Appayya Naidu worked as a subedar in telaga regiment 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, and has been described as "the most
powerful orator of his day".
Social Reforms
He founded the Social Purity Association in 1891 to train people as honest citizens.He worked for the eradication of untouchability
Untouchability
Untouchability is the social practice of ostracizing a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by social custom or legal mandate. The excluded group could be one that did not accept the norms of the excluding group and historically included foreigners, nomadic tribes, law-breakers...
and upliftment of Harijan
Harijan
Harijan was a term used by Gandhi for Dalits. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable', and called them Harijans, which means children of God...
s, and founded an orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
and a hostel
Hostel
Hostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
for Harijan boys and girls in Kakinada
Kakinada
Kakinada is a city and a municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad. It is also the headquarters of East Godavari district. It is nicknamed "Fertilizer City" , "Pensioner's Paradise" and "Second Madras"...
.
He strived for the abolition of the "Devadasi
Devadasi
In Hinduism, the devadasi tradition is a religious tradition in which girls are "married" and dedicated to a deity or to a temple and includes performance aspects such as those that take place in the temple as well as in the courtly and mujuvani [telegu] or home context. Dance and music were...
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.
He promoted widow remarriages and encouraged women's education.
He stood for inter-caste marriages which, in his opinion, would lessen the rigidity of the caste system
Caste system in India
The Indian caste system is a system of social stratification and social restriction in India in which communities are defined by thousands of endogamous hereditary groups called Jātis....
.
He was an ardent Brahmo
Brahmo
A Brahmo is either an adherent of Brahmoism to the exclusion of all other religions, or a person with at least one Brahmo parent or guardian and who has never denied his faith...
and promoted the Brahmo movement in Andhra. The Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
honored him with the title of "Brahmarshi
Brahmarshi
In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi is a member of the highest class of Rishis , especially those credited with the composition of the hymns collected in the Rigveda....
".
All the above social reforms have led to him being described as the second great social reformer of Andhra, the first being Veeresalingam.
Educational Achievements
After passing MatriculationMatriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Hyderabad, he took his B.A., degree from Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
and MA. and L.T. degrees from Madras University.
Joining the teaching line, he worked as the Principal of the Mehboob College, Secunderabad
Secunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...
between 1889 and 1904, and then of the Pitapuram Raja College, Kakinada between 1905 and 1919. In 1925 he became the first elected vice chancellor of Madras University, holding that position until 1928. He was conferred a knighthood by the British government in 1924.
He was born in Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam is a city and a special grade municipality in the Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south east of state capital, Hyderabad.-History:...
in 1862 and died in 1939 at Madras.