Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu | |
|---|---|
 Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu in 1940-41 | |
| 1st Premier of Madras Presidency | |
| In office 1 April 1937 – 14 July 1937 | |
| Governor | John Erskine, Lord Erskine |
| Preceded by | Raja of Bobbili (as First Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Chakravarti Rajagopalachari |
| Governor of Madras Presidency (Acting) | |
| In office 18 June 1936 – 1 October 1936 | |
| Premier | Raja of Bobbili, P. T. Rajan |
| Member of Viceroy's Executive Council | |
| In office 1934–1937 | |
| Governors‑General | Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon, Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow |
| Agent to the Union of South Africa | |
| In office 1929–1932 | |
| Monarch | George V of the United Kingdom |
| Governors‑General | E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon |
| Preceded by | V. S. Srinivasa Sastri |
| Succeeded by | Kunwar Maharaj Singh |
| Minister of Development | |
| In office 1920–1923 | |
| Premier | A. Subbarayalu Reddiar, Raja of Panagal |
| Governor | Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 May 1875 Rajahmundry, Godavari District, Madras Presidency |
| Died | 10 September 1942 (aged 67) Madras, Madras Presidency |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Justice Party |
| Spouse | Lakshmi Kanthamma |
| Children | KV Gopala Swamy Naidu, KV Raja Gopal Swamy Naidu, KV Madana Gopala Swamy Naidu, Kamala, Vimala |
| Profession | Politician |
Rao Bahadur Sir Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu KCSI (1875–1942), also known as K. V. Reddi Naidu, was an Indian politician, lawyer, diplomat, and academic. He served as the Premier of Madras Presidency and was one of only two Indians to hold the position of Governor of Madras Presidency, making him the only individual in history to have served as both Premier and Governor.[1][2] As a prominent leader of the Justice Party, Naidu was known for his efforts to promote social equality, the abolition of untouchability, and social reforms. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first women's college in the Andhra region, located in Eluru.[3]
Born into a prominent Kapu family from the Godavari district,[4] Naidu pursued his education at Madras Christian College and Madras Law College. Before his legal career, he served as a Professor of Physics at the Government Arts College, Rajahmundry. He was called to the bar in 1900 and practiced law in Rajahmundry and Eluru. His political career began with his involvement in local and district boards between 1901 and 1919, after which he joined the Justice Party. Naidu played a key role in T. M. Nair's delegation to the United Kingdom in 1918. He later served in the cabinets of A. Subbarayalu Reddiar and the Raja of Panagal as Minister of Development and Minister of Industries from 1920 to 1923.[2]
Naidu also held several diplomatic positions, including representing India at the League of Nations in Geneva in 1928 and serving as India's Agent to the Union of South Africa from 1929 to 1932.[2] He was also a member of the Indian delegation at the Second Round Table Conference in Cape Town in 1932.[5][6] After returning to India, Naidu served as a Law Member of the Council of State from 1933 to 1934 and as a member of the Governor's Executive Council of Madras from 1934 to 1937.[2] Between June and October 1936, he acted as the Governor of Madras Presidency. In April 1937, Naidu was appointed Premier of Madras Presidency, a role he held until July 1937.[7]
In addition to his political and diplomatic contributions, Naidu held academic leadership roles, including serving as the Governor and ex-officio Chancellor of Andhra University and later as the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University in 1940. He died on 10 September 1942; the Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu Prize is awarded annually at Annamalai University in his honour.[2]
- ^ Muthiah, S. (2008). Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India. Palaniappa Brothers. p. 336. ISBN 978-81-8379-468-8.
- ^ a b c d e Randor Guy (1–15 July 2009). "Justice Party policies owed much to him". Madras Musings. Vol. XIX. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ "భారతీయ కవితా కోకిల (ప్రపంచ తెలుగు మహాసభలు)". Andhra Bhoomi (in Telugu). 15 December 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ Satyanarayana, A. (2005). Dalits and Upper Castes: Essays in Social History. Kanishka Publishers, Distributors. p. 7. ISBN 978-81-7391-703-5.
- ^ Shridevi, S. (1976). Luminaries of Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi. p. 98.
- ^ Nicholls, George Heaton (1961). South Africa in My Time. Allen & Unwin. p. 303.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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