K. Rama Rao

Kotamaraju Rama Rao
Rao on a 1997 stamp of India
Born9 November 1896
Chirala in present-day Bapatla district, Andhra Pradesh
Died3 March 1961 (aged 64)
NationalityIndian
Known forNational Herald

Kotamaraju Rama Rao (9 November 1896 – 3 March 1961)[1] was an Indian journalist, editor, and freedom fighter.[2][3] He was the first editor of National Herald, the English-language newspaper established by Jawaharlal Nehru.[4] He was elected to the first Rajya Sabha as a Congress nominee from the undivided state of Madras in 1952.[4][5] He was the first-ever advisor on 'Plan Publicity' to the Nehru government in 1956 and also served as a member of the Press Council of India and Vice-Chairman of Working Journalists Union.[1]

Rama Rao worked in Lala Lajpat Rai's publication 'The People' and over 25 newspapers in various cities of pre-independence India, including Lahore and Karachi.[4] He was jailed in August 1942 for six months by the British government for criticizing the torture of Satyagrahis in Lucknow camp jail.[4] National Herald was banned in 1942 by the British during the Quit India movement and was revived in 1945.[6][7] Rama Rao was the editor of it from 1938 to 1942, and from 1945 to 1946. He died on 3 March 1961.[1]

Mahatma Gandhi called him a "fighting-editor" when he was working with him in Sevagram ashram. Atal Bihari Vajpayee called him the "Dronacharya of Indian Journalism".[4] India Post issued a stamp in 1997 to celebrate his birth centenary. His autobiography was titled The Pen As My Sword.[1] A statue of Rama Rao was installed at Bapatla in July 2019.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Former Rajya Sabha member and freedom fighter Kotamaraju Rama Rao's statue to be unveiled on July 29". The New Indian Express. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. ^ Rastogi, Vinay K. (October–December 2008). "K. Rama Rao" (PDF). Media Mimansa. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  3. ^ Rajya Sabha Members Biographical Sketches 1952-2019 (PDF). Rajya Sabha Secretariat. p. 416.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Today is 125th birth anniversary of eminent nationalist, Journalist and freedom-fighter Kotamaraju Rama Rao". News On AIR. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  5. ^ Ramagundam, Rahul (2022). The Life and Times of George Fernandes. Penguin Random House India. p. 256. ISBN 978-0670092888.
  6. ^ Rohmetra, Amogh (4 August 2022). "National Herald — 80-yr journey of paper at centre of ED-Congress row started with freedom battle". The Print. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  7. ^ YV Ramakotaiah (8 March 2015). "The Great Indian Editor". The Hans India. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
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