E. Raghavendra Rao
{{Short description|Indian politician, independence activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dr. E. Raghavendra Rao
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1889|8|4}}
| birth_place = Kamptee, Nagpur, British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1942|6|15|1889|8|4}}
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation = Lawyer, Politician, Freedom Fighter
| party = Swaraj Party
Swatantra Congress Party
Indian National Congress
| office1 = Chief Minister of Central Provinces and Berar
| term_start1 = 1928
| term_end1 = 1936
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| office2 = Minister of Education, Central Provinces and Berar
| term_start2 = 1926
| term_end2 = 1936
| office3 = Members of the Central Legislative Assembly of India
| term_start3 = 1921
| term_end3 = 1926
| office4 = Acting governor of Central Provinces
| term_start4 = May 1936
| term_end4 = September 1936
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 =
| profession = Lawyer, Politician, Freedom Fighter
}}
Dr. E. Raghavendra Rao (4 August 1889 – 15 June 1942) was an Indian lawyer, politician, and freedom fighter.{{cite news |title=Vice President calls for a fact-based re-evaluation of Indian history |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1781847®=3&lang=1 |publisher=Press Information Bureau |date=15 October 2021}}{{cite news |title=सीएम ने स्वतंत्रता सेनानी डॉ. ई.राघवेन्द्र राव काे किया नमन |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/chhatisgarh/raipur/news/chhattisgarh-news-cm-felicitates-freedom-fighter-dr-e-raghavendra-rao-072005-4776994.html |publisher=Dainik Bhaskar |date=15 June 2019 |language=hi}} He served as a member of the Central Legislative Assembly from 1921 to 1926, held the position of minister of education for the Central Provinces and Berar from 1926 to 1936, was the chief minister from 1928 to 1936, and acted as Governor of Central Provinces in the British administration, during the governor's absence from May to September 1936. He was known for his involvement in the Indian independence movement.{{Cite web |title=Unsung Heroes of India: E. Raghavendra Rao|url=https://cmsadmin.amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?12072 |website=Amrit Mahotsav |date=19 December 2024}}
Biography
Raghavendra Rao was born on 4 August 1889 in Kamptee, Nagpur. His family later relocated to Raipur-Bilaspur. He completed his education in Nagpur and pursued legal studies in England, where he became a barrister. He began his legal practice in Bilaspur in 1914.{{cite news |last1=Rajak |first1=Kamlesh |title=स्वतंत्रता संग्राम सेनानी ई राघवेन्द्र राव ने असहयोग आंदोलन में बिलासपुर से सक्रीय भूमिका निभाई थी |url=https://www.patrika.com/bilaspur-news/freedom-fighter-e-raghavendra-rao-had-played-an-active-role-in-the-non-8424958 |publisher=Patrika.com |date=10 August 2023 |language=hi}}
He was became involved in local politics and was elected as the president of the Bilaspur District Council in 1916. In 1917, he founded the Bilaspur Home Rule League. He participated in the May 1920 session of the Bilaspur District Congress Committee, where he opposed the British government's oppressive policies.
During the 1920s, he engaged in the Non-Cooperation Movement and resigned from his legal practice. He was elected as the president of the Mahakoshal Provincial Congress Committee and traveled extensively to promote the movement. He was arrested in 1922 during a Congress meeting in Raipur.
In 1921, Raghavendra Rao won a seat in the Central Legislative Assembly but resigned to align with the Congress's principles. He joined the Swaraj Party and was elected to the Central Provinces Legislative Council in 1923. In 1926, he established the Swatantra Congress Party. He served as the minister of education for Central Provinces and Berar state. He later held the position of chief minister from 1928 to 1936. He also served as the Home Minister of the state.{{cite book |author1=Nāḍiga Kr̥ṣṇamūrti |title=Indian Journalism Origin, Growth and Development of Indian Journalism from Asoka to Nehru |date=1966 |page=210 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_KkLAAAAMAAJ&q=E.+Raghavendra+Rao+Home+Minister}}{{cite book |author1=Keshav Baliram Hedgewar |author1-link=Keshav Baliram Hedgewar |title=How Others Look at the R.S.S. |date=1989 |publisher=Deendayal Research Institute |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Iu4_AAAAMAAJ&q=E.+Raghavendra+Rao+Home+Minister}}
In May 1936, he acted as the governor of the state during the governor's leave, serving until September 1936. He was re-elected to the Legislative Council in 1937 and appointed to the viceroy's Executive Council in 1941. Rao died on 15 June 1942 at 52.
References
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Category:Indian independence activists from Madhya Pradesh
Category:Members of the Central Legislative Assembly of India
Category:Madhya Pradesh politicians
Category:Central Provinces and Berar
Category:Chief ministers of Indian states
Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Madhya Pradesh