Rai Raya Rai Venkata Rao (born T. Venkata Rao, also spelt Venkatta Row; died 1843), was an Indian administrator and statesman who served as Diwan of
Travancore 18211829 and 183839. He was the father of
R. Raghunatha Rao, brother of
R. Ranga Rao and paternal uncle of
Sir T. Madhava Rao.
Early life
He was born in
Coombaconum in the
Thanjavur Maratha Kingdom
The Thanjavur Maratha kingdom ruled by the Bhonsle dynasty, Bhonsle dynasty was a principality of Tamil Nadu between the 17th and 19th centuries. Their native language was Thanjavur Marathi dialect, Thanjavur Marathi. Vyankoji Bhosale was the ...
to Gundopanth Kumbhakoni in a
Thanjavur Marathi Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family.
Public life
Venkata Rao served as the Head Sheristadar to the Chief Commissioner of Mysore 183438 and as Assistant Chief Commissioner of Mysore 184042. In 1842, he was appointed Diwan of Hyderabad and served till 1843, when he returned to
Bangalore
Bengaluru, also known as Bangalore (List of renamed places in India#Karnataka, its official name until 1 November 2014), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the southern States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kar ...
due to ill-health.
Diwan of Travancore
In 1819, Venkata Rao joined the Travancore state service as an assistant to Colonel McDowall, the
British resident. He impressed the Queen-regent of Travancore by his abilities, and was soon appointed ''Diwan Peishkar'' or Governor of one of the divisions of the Travancore kingdom. During his tenure as ''Diwan Peishkar'', Venkata Rao repaired and refurbished the
Padmanabhaswamy Temple in
Trivandrum and modified the dress codes of the
sepoy
''Sepoy'' () is a term related to ''sipahi'', denoting professional Indian infantrymen, traditionally armed with a musket, in the armies of the Mughal Empire and the Maratha.
In the 18th century, the French East India Company and its Euro ...
s.
In 1821, the Diwan,
Reddy Row, accepted a
jagir of two villages from the queen; Venkata Rao and his ally, the immediately preceding Diwan
Raman Menon Dalawa, managed to oust and replace Row in the scandal.
On taking office, Venkata Rao immediately waived taxes. He set up his base at
Quilon and organised a number of irrigation works. The Kadinangulam backwaters were created during his tenure.
Honours
Venkata Rao was given the title "Rai Raaya Rai" in 1838 in recognition of his services to the Crown.
References
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, R. Venkata
1843 deaths
Diwans of Travancore
People from Thanjavur district
Year of birth missing