R. Venkata Rao

Rai Raya
Rai Venkata Rao
Rai Raya Rai Venkata Rao
Diwan of Travancore
	In office; 1821–1829
Preceded by	Reddy Row
Succeeded by	Thanjavur Subha Rao
	In office; 1838–1839
Monarch	Swathi Thirunal
Preceded by	R. Ranga Rao
Succeeded by	Thanjavur Subha Rao
Personal details
Born	T. Venkata Rao
Died	1843

Rai Raya Rai Venkata Rao (born T. Venkata Rao, also spelt Venkatta Row; died 1843), was an Indian administrator and statesman who served as Diwan of Travancore 1821–1829 and 1838–39. He was the father of R. Raghunatha Rao, brother of R. Ranga Rao and paternal uncle of Sir T. Madhava Rao.

Early life

He was born in Coombaconum in the Thanjavur Maratha Kingdom to Gundopanth Kumbhakoni in a Thanjavur Marathi Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family.^[1]^[2]

Public life

Venkata Rao served as the Head Sheristadar to the Chief Commissioner of Mysore 1834–38 and as Assistant Chief Commissioner of Mysore 1840–42. In 1842, he was appointed Diwan of Hyderabad and served till 1843, when he returned to Bangalore due to ill-health.

Diwan of Travancore

In 1819, Venkata Rao joined the Travancore state service as an assistant to Colonel McDowall, the British resident. He impressed the Queen-regent of Travancore by his abilities, and was soon appointed Diwan Peishkar or Governor of one of the divisions of the Travancore kingdom. During his tenure as Diwan Peishkar, Venkata Rao repaired and refurbished the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum and modified the dress codes of the sepoys.

In 1821, the Diwan, Reddy Row, accepted a jagir of two villages from the queen; Venkata Rao and his ally, the immediately preceding Diwan Raman Menon Dalawa, managed to oust and replace Row in the scandal.

On taking office, Venkata Rao immediately waived taxes. He set up his base at Quilon and organised a number of irrigation works. The Kadinangulam backwaters were created during his tenure.

Honours

Venkata Rao was given the title "Rai Raaya Rai" in 1838 in recognition of his services to the Crown.

References

^ Robin Jeffrey (1976). The Decline of Nayar Dominance: Society and Politics in Travancore, 1847-1908. Holmes & Meier Publishers. p. 6. ISBN 9780841901841.
^ Journal of the Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library Volumes 18-20. Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library. 1965. p. 54. He comes of the illustrious family" Reddy Royars well-known in Kumbakonam - an ancient Marata Madhwa family who migrated from Bijapur District. The late Sri Narahari Rao, was the great grand-father of Sri Ramachandra Rao. Sri Venkat Rao one of the members of the family was the Diwan of Travancore and Messrs . Ragunathaswami Rao and Ranganatha Rao were among the founders and Managing Committee members of the well - known "Town High School" and the "Native High School" at Kumbakonam.

Sources

"A comprehensive website on the life and music of Swati Thirunal". Retrieved 25 May 2024.

Preceded by Reddy Row	Diwan of Travancore 1821 - 1829	Succeeded by Thanjavur Subha Rao
Preceded by R. Ranga Rao	Diwan of Travancore 1838 - 1839	Succeeded by Thanjavur Subha Rao

[1] Robin Jeffrey (1976). The Decline of Nayar Dominance: Society and Politics in Travancore, 1847-1908. Holmes & Meier Publishers. p. 6. ISBN 9780841901841.

[2] Journal of the Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library Volumes 18-20. Tanjore Maharaja Serfoji's Sarasvati Mahal Library. 1965. p. 54. He comes of the illustrious family" Reddy Royars well-known in Kumbakonam - an ancient Marata Madhwa family who migrated from Bijapur District. The late Sri Narahari Rao, was the great grand-father of Sri Ramachandra Rao. Sri Venkat Rao one of the members of the family was the Diwan of Travancore and Messrs . Ragunathaswami Rao and Ranganatha Rao were among the founders and Managing Committee members of the well - known "Town High School" and the "Native High School" at Kumbakonam.

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