R. Raghunatha Rao
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Rai Raghunatha Rao | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of R. Raghunatha Rao | |
| Diwan of Indore | |
| In office 1875–1881 | |
| Monarch | Tukojirao Holkar II |
| Preceded by | Sir T. Madhava Rao |
| Succeeded by | Shahamat Ali |
| In office 1886–1888 | |
| Monarch | Shivajirao Holkar |
| Preceded by | Nana Moroji Trilokekar |
| Succeeded by | Balkrishna Atmaram Gupte |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 February 1831 |
| Died | 3 May 1912 (age 81) |
| Party | Indian National Congress (founder) |
| Relations | R. Venkata Rao (father), R. Ranga Rao (uncle), Raja Sir T. Madhava Rao (cousin), T. Rama Rao (cousin) Sir T. Ananda Rao (nephew) |
| Alma mater | Presidency College, Madras |
| Occupation | Civil servant, Administrator |
Diwan Bahadur Rai Raghunatha Rao CSI (7 February 1831 – 3 May 1912) was an Indian civil servant, administrator, politician and Indian independence activist who served as the Diwan of Indore from 1875 to 1880, and again from 1886 to 1888. He was a member of the Rao family, a founder of the Indian National Congress and the Madras Mahajana Sabha, and an influential member of the Mylapore set.
Raghunatha Rao was born in a prominent Marathi Deshastha Brahmin family in February 1831 in Kumbakonam.[1] He was the son of R. Venkata Rao former Diwan of Travancore and a cousin of Sir T. Madhava Rao who later served as Diwan of Travancore, Indore and Baroda. Raghunatha Rao had his early schooling in Bangalore Fort and did his proficient's course at Government High School, Madras (now Presidency College, Madras). Rao studied law in private and obtained a pleader's diploma in 1856 but did not practise. Instead, he entered the Madras Provincial Civil Service.
Madras Civil Service
Raghunatha Rao started his career as a translator in the office of the District Collector and rose to become Sheristadar and eventually Deputy Collector of Madras District. He was placed on special duty in the Tungabhadra Project for sometime but was later transferred to Trichinopoly and then, Coimbatore districts.
In 1873, Raghunatha Rao met Tukojirao Holkar II, the Raja of Indore. Two years later, the Holkar requested Rao to serve the state as Special Settlement Officer. Later that same year, Rao replaced his cousin Sir T. Madhava Rao as Diwan of Indore.
