Tagaduru Ramachandra Rao (1898 – c. 1989) was a veteran freedom fighter and social activist from

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...

(erstwhile

Mysore state Mysore State, colloquially Old Mysore, was a state within the Dominion of India and the later Republic of India from 1947 until 1956. The state was formed by renaming the Kingdom of Mysore, and Bangalore replaced Mysore as the state's capital. ...

), noted as the founder of Swarajya Mandir and Satyagraha Ashram at Tagadur village in

Mysore district Mysore district, officially Mysuru district is an administrative district located in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Mysore division.Chamarajanagar district, Chamarajanagar District wa ...

in 1921.

Biography

Ramachandra Rao was born in a

Halenadu Karnataka Brahmin Halenadu Karnataka Brahmins (HKBs) are a sect of Kannada speaking Smartha Brahmins and follow Advaita Vedanta propounded by Adi Shankaracharya. HKBs are essentially Rig Vedic The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "kn ...

family in a place called Tagaduru which is in

Nanjangud Nanjangud, officially known as Nanjanagudu, is a town in the Mysuru district of Indian state of Karnataka. Nanjangud lies on the banks of the river Kapila (also called Kabini), 23 km from the city of Mysore. Nanjangud is famous for the S ...

Taluk of

Mysore Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...

district. His ancestors were very affluent

zamindar A zamindar ( Hindustani: Devanagari: , ; Persian: , ) in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semiautonomous ruler of a province. The term itself came into use during the reign of Mughals and later the British had begun using it as a ...

s, but by the time Ramachandra Rao became a young boy, the family property was reduced considerably. Ramachandra Rao was a follower of

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

, deeply influenced by Satyagraha movement. He was called "Father of Political Unrest" in princely Mysore. Ramachandra Rao was arrested for opposing the visit of the

Simon Commission The Indian Statutory Commission also known as Simon Commission, was a group of seven Members of Parliament under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon. The commission arrived in India in 1928 to study constitutional reform in Britain's largest a ...

to India in 1928 and became the first political prisoner in Mysore State. He was popularly known as Mysore Gandhi. Ramachandra Rao founded the Khaddar Sahakara Sangha in 1925. Because of his influence and efforts

made his visit to Mysore State in 1932 while, he visited Tagadur and a village nearby-Badanavalu village in

Taluk of

district. Apart from freedom movement, Ramachandra Rao took part in other social and national movements. Some of the movements initiated by him are as follows. * Cow protection movement in Mysore state * Anti untouchability movement - made many temples to open their doors to

Dalits Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming ...

* Anti conversion drive in Mysore state against the conversion by missionaries. * Instrumental in admitting many lower caste people into schools Ramachandra Rao has written many articles and books. His autobiography "Nanna alilu seve" gives an account of journey of his life. Although he could have become minister in the Mysore state after the freedom of India he was not attracted by power. He opted for a quiet life with his children and grand children. He lived in Mysore till his death. There is a circle in Vidyaranyapuram in

which is named after him. In 1983Ramachandra Rao was conferred with the

Jamnalal Bajaj Award Jamnalal Bajaj Award is an Indian award, for promoting Gandhian values, community service and social development. Established in 1978, by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation of Bajaj Group, it is given annually in four categories, and usually presented ...

for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development. GV Iyer made documentary on Tagaduru Ramachandra Rao during 1980's along with the family members.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Tagaduru Ramachandra Indian independence activists from Karnataka People from Mysore district Gandhians Indian National Congress politicians from Andhra Pradesh 1898 births 1980s deaths