Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu
Encyclopedia
Rao Bahadur
Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (Telugu
:కూర్మా వేంకటరెడ్డి నాయుడు) KCSI
(b. 1875 - d. 1942) was an India
n lawyer, professor, politician and Justice Party
leader
who served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from April 1, 1937 to July 14, 1937. He was the last Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from the Justice Party.
Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu hailed from the Eluru
, Godavari district of Madras Presidency
. He graduated from Rajahmundry
Arts College, the Madras Christian College
, Madras Law College and Madras University and served as the Professor of Physics at Rajahmundry Arts College.
Reddy Naidu joined the Justice Party
in 1919-1920 and was a part of T. M. Nair
's delegation to the United Kingdom. Later, when a Justice Party government was formed in Madras, Reddy Naidu served under A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
and the Raja of Panagal as Minister of Development. In 1923, the Raja of Panagal replaced Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development with T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai
.
Reddy Naidu served as India's agent to the Republic of South Africa from 1929 to 1932 and acted as the Governor of Madras from June 18, 1936 to October 1, 1936. He was selected as Chief Minister on April 1, 1937 and served in this capacity till July 14, 1937. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University
in 1940. Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu died in 1942.
in Madras Presidency
and belongs to a prominent Telaga Naidu
Family, who served as Commander-in-Chief in Indian Army. His mother tongue was Telugu
. He seems to have had a varied education, attending the Government Arts College in Rajahmundry
, the Madras Christian College
, the Madras Law College and the Madras University. Before joining the Bar
in 1900, he was a Professor of Physics
at the Government Arts College , Rajahmundry . After serving on various local and district boards between 1901 and 1919, he entered the national political arena in 1919 - 1920.
Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu hailed from the Eluru district of Madras Presidency
. He graduated from Rajahmundry
Arts College, the Madras Christian College
, Madras Law College and Madras University and served as the Professor of Physics at Rajahmundry Arts College.
Reddy Naidu joined the Justice Party
in 1919-1920 and was a part of T. M. Nair
's delegation to the United Kingdom. Later, when a Justice Party government was formed in Madras, Reddy Naidu served under A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
and the Raja of Panagal as Minister of Development. In 1923, the Raja of Panagal replaced Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development with T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai.
Reddy Naidu served as India's agent to the Republic of South Africa from 1929 to 1932 and acted as the Governor of Madras from June 18, 1936 to October 1, 1936. He was selected as Chief Minister on April 1, 1937 and served in this capacity till July 14, 1937. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University
in 1940. Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu died in 1942.
right from its inception. He was a member of the delegation to England along with Dr. T. M. Nair
and Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar
in July 1918. In 1919, he led the non-Brahmin deputation to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. Reddy Naidu was an active partyman and when the Montagu Chelmsford Reforms were passed in 1919, Reddy Naidu formulated a set of activities that the Justice Party should follow.
In December 1920, when the Justice Party was elected to power in Madras Presidency, Naidu won a set in the Madras Legislative Council
and served as the Minister of Development. He also served as the Minister of Industries in the government of the Raja of Panagal from 1921 to 1923, when he was dropped in favor of T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai
. He remained neutral when a vote of no-confidence was passed against the government of the Raja of Panagal.
In 1924, when the Muddiman Committee came to India to assess the implementation and progress of dyarchy, K. V. Reddy Naidu explained its progress thus:
In 1928, Reddy Naidu was a member of the Indian delegation to the League of Nations
, Geneva
.
(SAIC) for not having done enough to protect the interests of the Indians migrants. In February 1930, the first reading of the TALT (Amendment) Bill was passed. The South African Indian Congress was severely opposed to the Bill and Reddy Naidu spoke at a meeting of the SAIC in October 1930 expressing his outrage. He was a member of the delegation which participated in the Second Round Table Conference with the representatives of the South African Government on January 4, 1932. Reddy Naidu's term came to an end on August 3, 1932 and he was succeeded by Kunwar Maharaj Singh.
were held and the results declared in February 1937. Despite being the majority party in the Assembly and the Council, the Indian National Congress
was hesitant to form a Government because of the veto powers given to the governor. The Governor of Madras, Lord Erskine
, decided to form an interim provisional Government with non-members and opposition members of the Legislative Assembly. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri was first offered the Chief Ministership of the interim government but he refused to accept it. Then Erskine formed an interim government with Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu as Chief Minister on 1 April 1937. However the ministry was short lived as the Congress was persuaded to form the government. On 14 July, Naidu resigned and Rajaji became Chief Minister.
Council of ministers in K. V. Reddy Naidu's interim provisional cabinet (1 April - 14 July 1937):
He was also the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University
from 1940. Annamalai University offers a prize every year in his name as The Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu Prize.
Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur was a title of honour issued in British India to individuals who had performed great service to the nation....
Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu (Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
:కూర్మా వేంకటరెడ్డి నాయుడు) KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(b. 1875 - d. 1942) was an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n lawyer, professor, politician and Justice Party
Justice Party
Justice Party is the name of several different political parties around the world:*Indian Justice Party*Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party...
leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
who served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from April 1, 1937 to July 14, 1937. He was the last Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from the Justice Party.
Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu hailed from the Eluru
Eluru
Eluru is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of West Godavari district and has a population of 5,15,343 approximately. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and about east of state...
, Godavari district of Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. He graduated from Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
Arts College, the Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
, Madras Law College and Madras University and served as the Professor of Physics at Rajahmundry Arts College.
Reddy Naidu joined the Justice Party
Justice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
in 1919-1920 and was a part of T. M. Nair
T. M. Nair
Taravath Madhavan Nair was an Indian politician and political activist of the Self-Respect Movement from the Madras Presidency. He founded the Justice Party along with Theagaroya Chetty and C. Natesa Mudaliar.- Early life :...
's delegation to the United Kingdom. Later, when a Justice Party government was formed in Madras, Reddy Naidu served under A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
Diwan Bahadur Agaram Subbarayalu Reddiar was a landlord, Justice Party leader and Chief Minister or Premier of Madras Presidency from December 17, 1920 to July 11, 1921....
and the Raja of Panagal as Minister of Development. In 1923, the Raja of Panagal replaced Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development with T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai
T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai
Diwan Bahadur Sir Tinnevely Nelliappa Sivagnanam Pillai was an Indian lawyer, civil servant and politician from the Madras Presidency. He belonged to the Justice Party...
.
Reddy Naidu served as India's agent to the Republic of South Africa from 1929 to 1932 and acted as the Governor of Madras from June 18, 1936 to October 1, 1936. He was selected as Chief Minister on April 1, 1937 and served in this capacity till July 14, 1937. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University
Annamalai University
Annamalai University is a Public University located in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The university offers courses of higher education in arts, sciences and engineering.The university also provides around 380 courses under distance mode...
in 1940. Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu died in 1942.
Early life
Reddy Naidu was a native of EluruEluru
Eluru is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of West Godavari district and has a population of 5,15,343 approximately. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and about east of state...
in Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
and belongs to a prominent Telaga Naidu
Telaga
Telaga is a community of Andhra and concentrated primarily in the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh. The Telagas are one of the ancient Warrior Clans and Feudal Landlords of India who had links to all the major Ruling Dynasties of South India like Chalukya,Chola,Kakateeya and Vijayanagar...
Family, who served as Commander-in-Chief in Indian Army. His mother tongue was Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
. He seems to have had a varied education, attending the Government Arts College in Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
, the Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
, the Madras Law College and the Madras University. Before joining the Bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1900, he was a Professor of Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
at the Government Arts College , Rajahmundry . After serving on various local and district boards between 1901 and 1919, he entered the national political arena in 1919 - 1920.
Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu hailed from the Eluru district of Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
. He graduated from Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
Arts College, the Madras Christian College
Madras Christian College
The Madras Christian College, commonly known as MCC, is a liberal arts and sciences college in Madras , India. Founded in 1837, MCC is one of Asia's oldest extant colleges. Currently, the college is affiliated to the University of Madras, but functions as an autonomous institution from its campus...
, Madras Law College and Madras University and served as the Professor of Physics at Rajahmundry Arts College.
Reddy Naidu joined the Justice Party
Justice Party (India)
The Justice Party , officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency...
in 1919-1920 and was a part of T. M. Nair
T. M. Nair
Taravath Madhavan Nair was an Indian politician and political activist of the Self-Respect Movement from the Madras Presidency. He founded the Justice Party along with Theagaroya Chetty and C. Natesa Mudaliar.- Early life :...
's delegation to the United Kingdom. Later, when a Justice Party government was formed in Madras, Reddy Naidu served under A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
A. Subbarayalu Reddiar
Diwan Bahadur Agaram Subbarayalu Reddiar was a landlord, Justice Party leader and Chief Minister or Premier of Madras Presidency from December 17, 1920 to July 11, 1921....
and the Raja of Panagal as Minister of Development. In 1923, the Raja of Panagal replaced Reddy Naidu as Minister of Development with T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai.
Reddy Naidu served as India's agent to the Republic of South Africa from 1929 to 1932 and acted as the Governor of Madras from June 18, 1936 to October 1, 1936. He was selected as Chief Minister on April 1, 1937 and served in this capacity till July 14, 1937. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University
Annamalai University
Annamalai University is a Public University located in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The university offers courses of higher education in arts, sciences and engineering.The university also provides around 380 courses under distance mode...
in 1940. Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu died in 1942.
Early Political Career
Naidu was a member of the Justice PartyJustice Party
Justice Party is the name of several different political parties around the world:*Indian Justice Party*Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party *Justice Party...
right from its inception. He was a member of the delegation to England along with Dr. T. M. Nair
T. M. Nair
Taravath Madhavan Nair was an Indian politician and political activist of the Self-Respect Movement from the Madras Presidency. He founded the Justice Party along with Theagaroya Chetty and C. Natesa Mudaliar.- Early life :...
and Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar
Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar
Diwan Bahadur Sir Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar, KCSI was an Indian lawyer, politician and statesman who served as a senior leader of the Justice Party and in various administrative and bureaucratic posts in pre-independence and independent India.Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar was born on October 14, 1887 in...
in July 1918. In 1919, he led the non-Brahmin deputation to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. Reddy Naidu was an active partyman and when the Montagu Chelmsford Reforms were passed in 1919, Reddy Naidu formulated a set of activities that the Justice Party should follow.
In December 1920, when the Justice Party was elected to power in Madras Presidency, Naidu won a set in the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
and served as the Minister of Development. He also served as the Minister of Industries in the government of the Raja of Panagal from 1921 to 1923, when he was dropped in favor of T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai
T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai
Diwan Bahadur Sir Tinnevely Nelliappa Sivagnanam Pillai was an Indian lawyer, civil servant and politician from the Madras Presidency. He belonged to the Justice Party...
. He remained neutral when a vote of no-confidence was passed against the government of the Raja of Panagal.
In 1924, when the Muddiman Committee came to India to assess the implementation and progress of dyarchy, K. V. Reddy Naidu explained its progress thus:
In 1928, Reddy Naidu was a member of the Indian delegation to the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
Agent in South Africa
In January 1929, Naidu succeeded V. S. Srinivasa Sastri as British India's agent to the Republic of South Africa. In January 1930, he came under severe criticism from the South African Indian CongressSouth African Indian Congress
The South African Indian Congress was an organization founded in 1924 in Natal , South Africa. The congress is famous for its strong participation by Mahatma Gandhi and other prominent South African Indian figures during the time. Umar Hajee Ahmed Jhaveri was elected the first president of the...
(SAIC) for not having done enough to protect the interests of the Indians migrants. In February 1930, the first reading of the TALT (Amendment) Bill was passed. The South African Indian Congress was severely opposed to the Bill and Reddy Naidu spoke at a meeting of the SAIC in October 1930 expressing his outrage. He was a member of the delegation which participated in the Second Round Table Conference with the representatives of the South African Government on January 4, 1932. Reddy Naidu's term came to an end on August 3, 1932 and he was succeeded by Kunwar Maharaj Singh.
Acting Governor of Madras
On leaving South Africa , he took up various positions in the Indian Government. He became a member of the Council of State from 1933–1934, and a member of the Governor's Executive Council, Madras , 1934 -1937. In between, he was Acting Governor of Madras from June-October 1936,Tenure as Chief Minister of Madras Presidency
Naidu was the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from April 1, 1937 to July 14, 1937. The 1937 assembly electionsMadras Presidency legislative assembly election, 1937
The First legislative assembly election for the Madras Presidency was held in February 1937. The Indian National Congress obtained a majority by winning 159 of 215 seats in the Legislative Assembly. This was the first electoral victory for the Congress in the presidency since elections were first...
were held and the results declared in February 1937. Despite being the majority party in the Assembly and the Council, the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
was hesitant to form a Government because of the veto powers given to the governor. The Governor of Madras, Lord Erskine
John Erskine, Lord Erskine
John Francis Ashley Erskine, Lord Erskine GCSI, GCIE was a British soldier, Conservative Party politician and administrator who served as Member of Parliament for Weston-super-Mare and Brighton...
, decided to form an interim provisional Government with non-members and opposition members of the Legislative Assembly. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri was first offered the Chief Ministership of the interim government but he refused to accept it. Then Erskine formed an interim government with Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu as Chief Minister on 1 April 1937. However the ministry was short lived as the Congress was persuaded to form the government. On 14 July, Naidu resigned and Rajaji became Chief Minister.
Council of ministers in K. V. Reddy Naidu's interim provisional cabinet (1 April - 14 July 1937):
| Minister | Portfolio |
|---|---|
| Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu | Chief Minister, Public, Revenue and Legal |
| A. T. Panneerselvam | Home and Finace |
| M. A. Muthiah Chettiar M. A. Muthiah Chettiar Rajah Sir Muttaiya Annamalai Muthiah Chettiar was a banker, educationist, philanthropist and a short time politician from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He was the first Mayor of Chennai. His father Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar was also a famous educationist and along with him he found the... |
Local self government |
| P. Kalifulla Sahib Bahadur P. Kalifulla P. Kalifullah or P. Khalifulla , was a politician of the Madras Presidency, British India. He served as the minister for public works in the short lived ministry of Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu during April-July 1937. He was a Tamil Muslim belonging to the Rowther community. His father, Pitchai... |
Public Works |
| M. C. Rajah M. C. Rajah Rao Bahadur Mylai Chinna Thambi Pillai Rajah was a Dalit politician, social and political activist from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.... |
Development |
| R. M. Palat R. M. Palat Ramunni Menon Palat was an Indian lawyer, landholder and politician from the Madras Presidency, belonging to the Justice Party. He had a BCL degree from the University of Oxford. He was briefly the Minister for Public Health for the presidency, in Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu's interim provisional... |
Education and Public health |
He was also the Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University
Annamalai University
Annamalai University is a Public University located in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The university offers courses of higher education in arts, sciences and engineering.The university also provides around 380 courses under distance mode...
from 1940. Annamalai University offers a prize every year in his name as The Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu Prize.