N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel (1928–1999) was Bishop of Krishna Godavari of the

Church of South India The Church of South India (CSI) is a united Protestant Church in India. It is the result of union of a number of mainline Protestant denominations in South India after independence. The Church of South India is the successor of a number of Pr ...

Early years

Ananda Rao Samuel was born on 29 December 1928Union Theological Seminary (New York, N.Y.) The Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York New York : Alumni Office, 1970. Electronic reproduction. New York, N.Y. : Columbia University Libraries, 2007. JPEG use copy available via the World Wide Web. Master copy stored locally on DVDs#: ldpd_6122000_000 01,02,03,04,05,06. Columbia University Libraries Electronic Books. 2006. p.409.

/ref> in the port town of Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh into a Dalit Anglican family and studied at the local Noble College during 1944 to 1949 earning the degrees of BA and MA. His parents were Namala Jemima and Namala Thomas Gnanaprakasam.M. Abel, ''Dynamic Spirituality (A commemorative volume in honour of N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel)'', Pravaham, Kavanoor, 2001.

Theological life

The Church Missionary Society (CMS) brought about the Gospel in Machilipatnam. With the formation of the

(CSI) in 1947, the CMS got merged into the CSI. From 1950, Ananda Rao pursued a graduate degree in divinity (BD) at the United Theological College,

Bengaluru Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

as a candidate of the Church of South India, Diocese of Krishna-Godavari. Soon after returning from

in 1953, he was ordained on 14 June 1953 and made a Presbyter in Machilipatnam during the Bishopric of Yeddy Muthyalu. Later in 1959 he was made Presbyter in Vijayawada during the Bishopric of A. B. Elliott. In 1955, he was sent to the Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York where he earned an S.T.M. in Pastoral Counselling.

Professorship

During the academic years 1949–1950 and 1954–1955, Ananda Rao lectured English Literature at the Andhra-Christian College, Guntur. After Ananda Rao returned from the Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York in 1956, he began tutoring at the Andhra Union Theological Seminary, Dornakal. After his chaplaincy stint at Vellore, Ananda Rao taught Pastoral Counselling at his ''alma mater'', the United Theological College,

.CCA News, Volume 34, No. 3, September 1999, Hong Kong, China. p.20

Contribution

Ananda Rao played a key role in priesthood for women. As Bishop and Moderator of the Church of South India, he brought about the topic for discussion and debate at synodical platforms. In 1980, the CSI passed a resolution granting ordination for theologically-trained women. The formation of the Joint Council of the Church of South India, Church of North India and the Mar Thoma is attributed to Ananda Rao. In Andhra Pradesh, Lutherans and Baptists could not join the

due to

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leadership. However, Ananda Rao had been instrumental in trying to negotiate for their inclusion. Ananda Rao participated in the Fifth Assembly of the World Council of Churches held from 23 November – 10 December 1975 in Nairobi In 1993, he founded ''Pravaham'' in Vellore District. Subsequent to his laying down the office of bishop, Ananda Rao was made Senior Chaplain at the Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore. Later after his death in 1999, Sundar Clarke released a book on his writings on 18 January 2001 in Vellore District.

Bishopric

After the retirement of A. B. Elliott as bishop in Krishna-Godavari, N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel was elected unanimously as his successor in 1961 and consecrated in the Cathedral in Eluru on 12 December 1961.Rajaiah David Paul, ''Ecumenism in Action: A Historical Survey of the Church of South India'', CLS, Chennai, 1972. p.86.

/ref> He was also elected as the Moderator of the Church of South India at a later stage, succeeding Isaac Richard Harrison Gnanadasan.K. M. George, ''Church of South India: life in union, 1947–1997'', Jointly published by Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Christava Sahitya Samithi, Tiruvalla, 1999.

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Honours

India's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) in West Bengal conferred upon Ananda Rao Samuel an honorary doctorate in 1989.Senate of Serampore College (University), List of the Recipients of the degree of doctor of divinity (honoris causa).

Death

After teaching Christian Ministry at the United Theological College,

, Ananda Rao began living in Chennai and died on 30 May 1999 in KGF.