- Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao
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Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao
మండలి వెంకట కృష్ణారావు
MP Constituency Machilipatnam Personal details Born August 4, 1926
Kaikalur taluq, Andhra PradeshDied September 27, 1997 Political party Indian National Congress Spouse(s) Prabhavathi Devi Children 2 sons,2 daughters Religion Hindu As of August 20, 2009 Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao (Telugu: మండలి వెంకట కృష్ణారావు) (August 4, 1926 - September 27, 1997) shortly M. V. Krishna Rao was politician and minister in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Contents
Brief life sketch
Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao, popularly known as Mandali, was born on the 4th of August, 1926 in Pallevada village in Kaikaluru taluk of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. His Father Venkatramaiah was a school teacher in Bhavadevarapalle in Divi taluk of Krishna district. Sri Mandali had his elementary education at Pallevada and Bhavadevarapalle, high school education at Avanigadda and collegiate education in Hindu College, Machiliatnam.
His political career started quite early in his life. During the Quit India Movement, he served as the President of the Avanigadda branch of the National Students Union.When the Congress party was banned in the aftermath of the great movement, he organised the party effectively in rural areas as the Secretary of Divi Taluk Congress Committee and participated in its underground activities.In 1945,he was chosen as the organising Secretary of the District Students Congress. He represented the then Madras State in the Asian Students Conference held at Delhi in 1948. During 1948-52, he worked as the President of the district youth congress. He was the secretary of the Krishna District Congress Committee during 1953-56 and the Joint Secretary of the APCC during 1956-58. He also functioned as the convener for the constructive work committee and the Bhoodan Yagna Committee of the Pradesh Congress Committee.He was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Machilipatnam constituency in 1957 and served the Parliament during 1957-62. He was groomed in politics and into the Congress Party by his mentor, the late Sri Devabhaktuni Kotiswara Rao (Congress Kotiswara Rao) of Vemulapalli village.
He served as the Vice-Chairmen of the Zilla Parishad,Krishna between 1963 and 1969.In 1970,he was unanimonsly elected as the President,Avanigadda Panchayat Samithi.He functioned as the general Secretary of the APCC between 1969 and 1972.In the General Elections of 1972,he was returned unopposed to the State Assembly for the Avanigadda constituency of Krishna District.
Sri P.V.Narasimha Rao inducted him into the State Cabinet in 1972 and was given charge of Social Welfare and Fisheries portfolio till 1973 when the Presidents rule was imposed.He again joined Sri Vengal Rao's Cabinet as the Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs.He led the State delegation to the World Hindi Conference held at Nagpur in 1975 and went to Mauritius in 1976 to take part in the World Hindi Conference.He organised the first ever World Telugu Conference in 1975 with encouragement and support of the then Chief Minister,Sri Jalagam Vengal Rao and brought together all Telugus from all over the world.Even today,the Telugus abroad remember him with love and affection.
His services to the people and Divi area after the killer tidal wave struck and destroyed in 1977 November,needs to be written in letters of gold.It was his single-handed efforts which brought scores of Voluntary Organisations to the area to provide immediate relief for the first time the relief organisations undertook to rehabilitate the devastated area.
The AP Voluntary Organisations and Social Workers Organisations,in recognition of his excellent service in the cyclone and tidal wave effected areas presented him the Prabhakarji Memorial Award for the Best Social worker,1978.
In 1982,he Joined Sri Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy's Cabinet as the Minister for Co-operation.In 1983,he visited Malaysia on the special invitation of Malaysia Andhra Sangham to participate in the Ugadi Celebrations and was awarded the title of "Telugu Data".In 1984,he visited the U.K. and the U.S.A and renewed his acquaintances with the Telugus there.He was honoured as the "Telugu Velugu" by the Madras Telugu Cultural Academy in 1985.He was again honoured as the "Suthradhari" at the third world conference in 1990 at Mauritius.
An individual noted for Gandhian Ideals,his concern for the poor,downtrodden and oppressed could be compared to a galaxy of patriots that thronged India.His love for the country was proverbial but his love for Divi Seema region could be called almost an obsession.He was indeed the "Diviseema Gandhi".The state lost a noble soul on the 27th September 1997,and the nation a devoted worker with great concern for the poor and the downtrodden.
Man of Action
Sri Mandali is a man of spirit and action. he always places service and values before a position or status.Whether as a student leader,a legislator,a member of the Parliament,as a minister or a party worker and organiser,he strove to serve the common man,the needy,the landless,the under previleged citizen.Many are the steps he pilotted and initiated.He organized several training camps,was instrumental in distribution of banjar lands to landless farmers and took an active part in providing relief to sufferers.
A man is known, not by his words but by his actions. Sri Krishna Rao's sense and sensibility are revealed through his many significant actions in insignificant matters. As a Minister, he saw the possibility of becoming inaccessible to the public.So,he decided to travel by the busses.
When he took over as a Minister the first time,he was profusely garlanded.He immediately enquired about the cost of a garland. Thirty rupees! All for a moments vanity, and self importance of the one who garlands. He made a decision not to accept a garland again and he stuck to it.
Gandhi Kshetram
Sri Krishna Rao brings imagination to dedicated work.This is amply evident from the Gandhi Kshetram he set up in his native village Avanigadda to mark the centenary of the Mahatma's birthday. Gandhi Kshetram to which he denoted his land and copious services is an integrated project.It is an umbrella to a variety of developmental activities covering the welfare of all sections of people functioning under the aegis of several sister organisations.A fitting tribute to the memory of Gandhiji.
World Telugu Conference
Sri Mandali conducted first ever World Telugu Conference in 1975,coming in the wake of distrurbing regional movements that shook the foundations of the integration of the state of Andhra Pradesh.The Conference had been a success beyond all expectations and brought a sense of oneness among all the Telugu speaking people of the world.As the Founder Chairman of the International Telugu Institute, an off-sprong of the conference,he further strengthened the bonds of fraternity.
Killer Cyclone
In November 1977 a killer cyclone and an enormous tidal wave lashed the coastal Andhra. The Divi seema area that he so carefully nurtured over long decades was the worst hit. Sri Krishna Rao jumped into relief activity without loss of a moment.In waist deep water,braving the inclement weather he went into adjoining villages. He requested the then Chief Minister Sri Vengala Rao to relieve him of his responsibilities as a Minister so that he might devote himself to bring succir to the suffering people. Sri Vengala Rao,instead,made him minister for Rehabilitation. In a very short time, Sri Krishna Rao reconstructed the entire area, managing help from every possible source.In this process he brought out the significant potential of voluntary organisations for social service and organised a concerted federation of such organisations.
Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao Bridge
The Road Bridge between Puligadda-Penumudi over Krishna river was named after him. It was opened for public on May 28, 2006 by the Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.[1] It was constructed at a cost of Rs. 71 crores. Several agitations were launched in the past demanding the construction of the bridge.
The bridge will reduce the distances between deltaic regions of Krishna and Guntur districts. The distance between Avanigadda and Repalle would be reduced by 156 km, while the distance between Avanigadda and Tenali would come down by 114 km. Similarly, Narsapur of West Godavari and Repalli would come closer by 112 km and the Machilipatnam and Repalli would be closer by 101 km.
Sri Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao Fisheries Polytechnic
The Fisheries Polytechnic was established during September-2007 under esteemes Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University at Bhavadevarapalli.The Polytechnic was named after with the Grate leader late Sri Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao garu.The main objective of this college is to develop the field level technicians to support the aquaculture industry,Technical support to the small and marginal farmers for the sustainable aquaculture.
Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao International Telugu Centre,Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University,Hyderabad
Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University is one of the few language based Universities in the Country. It was founded with the objective of serving the cause of the Telugu people both within country and abroad. The University through one of its wings "International Telugu Centre" has been serving Telugu people living outside Andhra Pradesh and in other countries in literarily and cultural aspects.This Centre was appropriately named after Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao who did exemplary services for Telugu language and Culture in fact he was the person who established International Telugu Institute in the year 1975 which was subsequently merged into Telugu University and has been functioning as one of its Centres.
Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao Cultural Award
Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao Cultural Award was instituted in 2007 and for the first time presented to Malaysian Telugu Association founder general secretary Madini Soma Naidu. The annual award to mark his 81st birth anniversary, carries a citation and cash of Rs. 20,000. It is instituted by the International Telugu Centre (ITC) of Telugu University in association with SK Foundation, a Visakhapatnam-based cultural organisation.[2]
Family
He married Smt. Prabhavathi Devi. Mandali Buddha Prasad (Former Minister), Satyaprasad, Annapurna and Revathi are their four children. Dr. P. Chandra Sekhar, Dr. M. S. V. B. Koteswara rao are their Son-in-laws Vijayalakshmi and Vani sree are their Daughter-in-laws
References
- Manava Manikyam(by Dr. Gandham Subba rao)
- Telugu jathi Sphurthipradhatha(by Buddiga Subbarayan,published by Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University)
- Man with Mission Mandali Venkata Krishna Rao(by Govindaraju Ramakrishna Rao,published by Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University)
- 20th Century Luminaries, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005.
Categories:- Telugu people
- Indian politicians
- 2nd Lok Sabha members
- 1926 births
- 1997 deaths
- Tamil Nadu ministers
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