Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao

Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office 20 March 1981 - 2 April 1982
Constituency	Andhra Pradesh
Member of Legislative Assembly Andhra Pradesh
In office 1956 - 1978
Preceded by	Andhra Pradesh Assembly Created
Succeeded by	Paladugu Venkata Rao
Constituency	Nuzvid
Member of Legislative Assembly Andhra state
In office 1953 - 1956
Preceded by	Andhra State Assembly Created
Succeeded by	Andhra Pradesh Assembly Created
Constituency	Nuzvid
Member of Legislative Assembly Madras State
In office 1952 - 1953
Preceded by	First Election
Succeeded by	Andhra State Assembly Created
Constituency	Nuzvid
Personal details
Born	21 March 1915 Nuzvid, Krishna district
Died	31 January 2003(2003-01-31) (aged 87)
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)	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.^[2]

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]

References

1. Appa Rao M. R., Luminaries of 20th Century, Part I, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 18.
2. "Meet Sita Devi, Who Converted To Islam, To Marry The Last Maharaja Of Baroda". News18. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
3. Successive Vice Chancellors of Andhra University. Archived 25 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine
4. List of Publications of Andhra University. Archived 30 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
5. Statistical Report on General Election, 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of Madras.
6. Key Highlights of General Election, 1955 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh
7. Key Highlights of General Election, 1962 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.
8. Key Highlights of General Election, 1967 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.
9. Key Highlights of General Election, 1972 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh.
10. "Alphabetical List Of Former Members Of Rajya Sabha Since 1952". 164.100.47.5. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
11. "Dr. M.R. Appa Row Campus College, NUZVID | Admissions to 2017–2018 Academic Year". Indiastudychannel.com. 13 January 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
12. Venkatadri Appa Rao, Meka (1893–1974), Luminaries of 20th Century, Part II, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 782.