Meka Rangaiah Appa Rao shortly M. R. Appa Rao (21 March 1915 – 31 January 2003) was Vice Chancellor of Andhra University, Member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Minister in Government of Andhra Pradesh, Member of Rajya Sabha.Appa Rao M. R., Luminaries of 20th Century, Part I, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 18.
Early life He was the son of Meka Venkatadri Appa Rao, a Zamindar (landlord), and was born in a Velama family in Nuzvid, Krishna district. His father was the Raja of Vuyyur, Nuzvid and an Indian freedom activist having held thousands of acres of land under his control. He married Sita Devi, Princess of Pithapuram. He was sometimes referred to as the Zamindar of Vuyyuru, as he stayed in the Vuyyuru estates in Nuzvid Zamindari.
Career
Academic Rao was Chairman of Andhra Mahasabha in 1943 and translated and published the "Gita Govinda" in Telugu language.
He held the position of Vice Chancellor of Andhra University for two terms between 13 December 1974 and 12 December 1980.Successive Vice Chancellors of Andhra University.
He has written Prajaswamika Socialism Pranalikalu (1980) and Bharateeya Chitrakala (1987) in Telugu language and Land Development Banks in Andhra Pradesh (1981) and Round the World (1981) in English.List of Publications of Andhra University.
Political Rao has entered politics and was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1952 Madras State legislative assembly election from Nuzvid constituency.Statistical Report on General Election, 1951 to the Legislative Assembly of Madras. He was elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Nuzvid constituency in 1955 (then Andhra State),Key Highlights of General Election, 1955 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh 1962,Key Highlights of General Election, 1962 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh. 1967Key Highlights of General Election, 1967 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh. and 1972Key Highlights of General Election, 1972 to the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh. as a member of Indian National Congress. He held the portfolio of Minister of Cultural Affairs in the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
He was member of Rajya Sabha in Indian Parliament from 20 March 1981 to 2 April 1982.
Death and honours He died on 31 January 2003.
The University college of Acharya Nagarjuna University at Nuzvid was named after him as Dr. M. R. Appa Row Campus.
Awards He was recipient of "Kala Prapoorna" from Andhra University in 1953.Venkatadri Appa Rao, Meka (1893–1974), Luminaries of 20th Century, Part II, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 782.
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