Venkata Ranga Rao

Sir Sri Venkata Svetachalapathi Venkatesh Srinivasa Ranga Rao Bahadur (8 September 1862 – 1931) was an Indian landlord, maharaja, polygar,and zamindar of Bobbili in Madras Presidency; List of zamindari estates in Madras Presidency;from 1881 to 1921. His grandson and successor Raja Sir Sri RAMAKRISHNA SVETA CHALAPATI Ranga Rao Bahadur, K.C.I.E. served as the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency from 1932 to 1936.

Early life
The Hon’ble Maharaja Sri Sir VENKATA SVETA CHALAPATI Ranga Rao Bahadur, G.C.I.E., C.B.E., 11th Raja of Bobbili 1887/1921, born 28 August 1862 at Venkatagiri, third son of Sri Raja Velugoti Sarvagna Kumara Yachendra Naidu Bahadur of Venkatagiri, educated by English and Indian tutors in history, economy and Sanskrit; installed on the gaddi on 30 November 1881; Member of the Legislative Council 1898/-; he constructed the Raj Mahal palace in Bobbili in 1888; during his reign he brought about a number of reforms, he raised the Middle School of Bobbili to a high school and also established schools for the poor and for the physically and mentally handicapped; he toured Europe in 1893, with his youngest brother, Venugopala Ranga Rao, and was granted audiences with the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales and HM Queen Victoria, in whose honour, he constructed the Victoria Town Hall (1894) in Bobbili; title of Raja recognized as hereditary in 1888, Maharaja [cr.1899];

Marriage
Venkata Ranga Rao married 1stly in 1878, Rani Laxmi Venkata Ramanamma, died 1880, married 2ndly, 1881, Rani (name unknown), sister of the first wife, died in childbirth 1883, married 3rdly, 1888, Rani (name unknown), and had issue

Reign
Venkata Ranga Rao brought about a number of reforms during his reign as Raja of Bobbili. He raised the Middle School of Bobbili to a high school. He also established a poor schools and those for the physically and mentally handicapped.

In 1883, while Venkata Ranga Rao was on pilgrimage to Kasi, his second wife died in childbirth. This incident followed by the death of his second son in 1887 had a traumatic effect on him. In 1888, the Raja married for a third time. A third son, Ramakrishna Ranga Rao, was born in 1892.

The Raja constructed the Rao Aramane palace in Bobbili in 1888. At that time, there arose a succession dispute between the heirs to the estate of Hosur. Venkata Ranga Rao mediated between the sons of the late zamindar and helped in resolving the dispute.

In 1893, Venkata Ranga Rao made a tour of Europe along with his youngest brother Venugopala Ranga Rao. Landing at Marseilles on 14 April 1893, the Raja had audiences with the Duke of York, the Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria. The gratified Raja displayed his loyalty to the British crown by constructing the Victoria Market in 1887 and the Victoria Town Hall in 1894 in honour of the Queen.

In 1902, Venkata Ranga Rao was chosen to represent the Presidency of Madras at the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in London.

Honors
In 1895, VENKATA SVETA CHALAPATI Ranga Rao Bahadur was knighted in Ootacamund with the KCIE at a public ceremony presided over by Lord Wenlock, the then Governor of Madras. He was promoted to a GCIE in 1911.