Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

K. V. Ranga Reddy

Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy was a Telangana leader from Chevella taluk near Hyderabad. He chaired the first meeting of the Andhra Jana Sangham in 1922, was a minister in Hyderabad State from 1952 and signed the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1956. He became Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh under D. Sanjivayya, and in 1969 he backed the students' demand for a separate Telangana. The Rangareddi district was named after him.

Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy, usually called K. V. Ranga Reddy, was a Telangana leader whose public life ran from the Telugu awakening of the 1920s to the Telangana agitation of 1969.12 He was a minister in Hyderabad State and in Andhra Pradesh, and Deputy Chief Minister from 1960 to 1962.34 The Rangareddi district around Hyderabad is named after him.5

The census handbook of Rangareddi district calls him a leading freedom fighter and says he came from Pedamangalaram in Chevella taluk.5 Much of his later career is told in G. Venkataramarao’s Telugu history Telangana Charitra (2014).6

The Andhra Jana Sangham and the Mahasabha

In November 1921 Telugu members in Hyderabad founded the Andhra Jana Sangham, as told on Reform, freedom & people’s movements.7 Its first meeting, on 14 February 1922, was chaired by Konda Venkat Ranga Reddy.1 That meeting chose Madapati Hanumantha Rao as secretary.1

Sarojini Regani writes that until 1941 the Andhra Mahasabha was led by moderates, among them B. Ramakrishna Rao, K. V. Ranga Reddy and M. Narsing Rao.8 In 1947 the Hyderabad State Congress was split into groups, and Regani names one group as led by B. Ramakrishna Rao, K. V. Ranga Reddy, Chenna Reddy and others.9

Minister in Hyderabad State, 1952–1956

After the elections of 1952, Burgula Ramakrishna Rao formed a ministry, and Ranga Reddy joined it as a cabinet minister.10 Venkataramarao writes that he insisted on having the whole revenue department.11 He was first given part of it, including excise.11 A list of portfolios printed by Venkataramarao shows him as revenue minister, in charge of excise, forests, customs and revenue.3

Venkataramarao writes that, under pressure from Marri Chenna Reddy, Ranga Reddy turned against the Chief Minister.12 For six months he was also president of the state Congress while remaining a minister.10

Venkataramarao calls him the leader of those in Telangana who wanted a separate Telangana State.13 In November 1955 he did not attend a meeting at Kurnool on the union of Telangana and Andhra.14 J. V. Narasinga Rao told the Andhra Chief Minister by telegram that Ranga Reddy was unwell.14 Even so, on 20 February 1956 he was one of the four Hyderabad leaders who signed the Gentlemen’s Agreement.15

Minister and Deputy Chief Minister in Andhra Pradesh, 1956–1962

Venkataramarao calls Ranga Reddy the leader of the Telangana Reddys in 1956.6 When the Congress chose the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, he advised his followers to stay neutral, and he was too ill to attend the meeting.613 He then became one of the Telangana ministers in Neelam Sanjiva Reddy’s government.13

The state’s Telugu magazine of November 1956 lists him as revenue minister in the first Council of Ministers.16 In August 1958 he was the minister in charge of home affairs, that is police and prohibition.17 In January 1960 D. Sanjivayya became Chief Minister and made Ranga Reddy Deputy Chief Minister.4 In the election of 1962, Venkataramarao writes, Ranga Reddy lost his seat while he was still Deputy Chief Minister.18

The agitation of 1969

When the Telangana agitation broke out in 1969, Ranga Reddy sided with the students.2 P. Raghunadha Rao writes that the former Deputy Chief Minister declared that the wrongs done to Telangana could not be put right without a separate state.2 In April 1969 he was among the state leaders who met the Prime Minister.19 The full story is on The Telangana and Jai Andhra agitations.2

The district named after him

The Rangareddi district was formed on 15 August 1978, from the countryside of Hyderabad district.20 Its census handbook says it was named after K. V. Ranga Reddy.5 The census handbook of Hyderabad district for 2001 names “late” K. V. Ranga Reddy among the politicians who rose to the highest posts in the state.21

Footnotes

  1. Sarojini Regani, Highlights of the Freedom Movement in Andhra Pradesh (1956), p. 178 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. P. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (Telugu, revised edition 1997), p. 282 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 285 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  4. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 307 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  5. Jaya Rao, District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (1987), PDF p. 24 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 301 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. Sarojini Regani, Highlights of the Freedom Movement in Andhra Pradesh (1956), pp. 177–178 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  8. Regani, Highlights (1956), p. 181 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  9. Regani, Highlights (1956), p. 199 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  10. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 263 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  11. G. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 260 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  12. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 261 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  13. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 302 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  14. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 279 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  15. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 294 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  16. Andhra Pradesh (Telugu monthly of the Andhra Pradesh Information and Public Relations Department), Vol. 1, No. 1 (November–December 1956), p. 77 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  17. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Debates, Vol. XVII, No. 1 (11 August 1958), “Personnel of the Government of Andhra Pradesh”, p. i (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  18. Venkataramarao, Telangana Charitra (2014), p. 309 (in Telugu) (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  19. Lok Sabha Debates, 25 July 1969, written answer to Starred Question 128, cols. 33–34 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  20. S. S. Jaya Rao, Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (1987), PDF p. 20 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  21. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Hyderabad District (2006), p. 25 (PDF p. 54) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

References

Sources (8)
  1. Sarojini Regani, Highlights of the Freedom Movement in Andhra Pradesh (opens in a new tab), Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1956, pp. 177–178, 181, 199. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  2. G. Venkataramarao; C. Narayana Reddy (chief ed.) and J. Chennayya (ed.), Telangana Charitra (తెలంగాణ చరిత్ర) (opens in a new tab), Andhra Saraswata Parishat, Hyderabad, 2014, pp. 260–261, 263, 279, 285, 294, 301–302, 307, 309. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Telugu. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  3. Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ (Andhra Pradesh), Vol. 1, No. 1, November-December 1956 (opens in a new tab), Information and Public Relations Department, Andhra Pradesh (printed at Ajanta Printers), 1956, pp. 77. [Public domain in India]
  4. Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Debates, Official Report, Vol. XVII, No. 1: 11th August 1958 (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, 1958, i. [Public domain in India]
  5. P. Raghunadha Rao, Adhunika Andhrapradesh Charitra (ఆధునిక ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ చరిత్ర), Telugu version of History of Modern Andhra Pradesh (opens in a new tab), Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1997, pp. 282. Cite-only; paraphrased. In Telugu. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  6. Lok Sabha, Written answers on the Telangana agitation and talks with its leaders (Lok Sabha debates, 25 July 1969) (opens in a new tab), Lok Sabha Secretariat, 1969, cols. 33–34. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  7. S. S. Jaya Rao (Census of India 1981), Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Rangareddi District (opens in a new tab), Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, 1987, PDF pp. 20, 24. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  8. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Hyderabad District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, pp. 25. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

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