Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju
Encyclopedia
Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapati Raju, "The Raja Saheb of Vizianagaram" D.Litt. (b. 1 May 1924 - d. 14 November 1995) was an Indian parliamentarian and philanthropist. He was the eldest son of Maharaja Alak Narayana Gajapathi
and Maharani Vidyavathi Devi of the princely state
of Vizianagram in Andhra Pradesh
.
Pusapati
Vijayarama Gajapati Raju was born at the Phool Baugh Palace in Vizianagaram. He studied at St. Aloysius Convent School in Visakhapatnam
in 1933, the Central College, Bangalore
, 1940/1942 and in 1942, he joined the Presidency College, Madras.
Raju was the hereditary trustee of the Simhachalam
temple and over 100 other temples in his former estate. He purchased the Korukonda
Palace and the 1000 acres (4 km²) of land surrounding it and donated it to the Government of India
for the establishment of the Sainik School
in 1961-1962. It is one of the 20 Sainik Schools established in India and the only one in Andhra Pradesh. He founded the "Maharaja Alak Narayan Society of Arts and Science" (MANSAS) in 1958, in memory of his father, for the promotion of education.
He was elected as a member of the Madras and Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assemblies during 1952-1956 and 1956-1957 respectively. He again became a member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly between 1960 and 1971 and served as a Minister in the State Council of Ministers and held various important portfolios. He was elected to the second and fifth Lok Sabha from Visakhapatnam
parliamentary constituency in 1957-1960 and 1971-1977 respectively. He was also elected to the sixth and seventh Lok Sabha from Bobbili
parliamentary constituency in 1977-1980 and 1980-1984 respectively.
PVG Raju served as the president of the Andhra Cricket Association
for a number of years.
Rajus
The Raju are a Telugu caste inhabiting Andhra Pradesh, India.-Etymology:Raju is a Telugu variation of the Sanskrit word Raj and Raja meaning king, prince or lord...
and Maharani Vidyavathi Devi of the princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Vizianagram in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
.
Pusapati
Pusapati
Pusapati or Poosapati was the ruling clan of the Kalinga Vizianagaram . They were Kshatriyas of the Suryavanshi sect.-History:...
Vijayarama Gajapati Raju was born at the Phool Baugh Palace in Vizianagaram. He studied at St. Aloysius Convent School in Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
in 1933, the Central College, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, 1940/1942 and in 1942, he joined the Presidency College, Madras.
Raju was the hereditary trustee of the Simhachalam
Simhachalam
Simhadri or Simhachalam temple is a Hindu temple located near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, South India. It is dedicated to the incarnation of Vishnu known as Narasimha...
temple and over 100 other temples in his former estate. He purchased the Korukonda
Korukonda
Korukonda is a Village and Panchayat in the Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh, South India.*The old palace of the brother of Sri. P.V.G. Raju, Rajah Saheb of Vizianagaram, is situated in this village. The palace land has been converted into the Sainik School, which was developed to provide...
Palace and the 1000 acres (4 km²) of land surrounding it and donated it to the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
for the establishment of the Sainik School
Sainik School, Korukonda
Sainik School, Korukonda, India, informally began on 10 September 1961. The school was formally founded by its first principal, Commander T De Almeida, on 18 January 1962, when the first batch of 205 students had joined.- Overview :...
in 1961-1962. It is one of the 20 Sainik Schools established in India and the only one in Andhra Pradesh. He founded the "Maharaja Alak Narayan Society of Arts and Science" (MANSAS) in 1958, in memory of his father, for the promotion of education.
He was elected as a member of the Madras and Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assemblies during 1952-1956 and 1956-1957 respectively. He again became a member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly between 1960 and 1971 and served as a Minister in the State Council of Ministers and held various important portfolios. He was elected to the second and fifth Lok Sabha from Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam is a major sea port on the south east coast of India. With a population of approximately 1.7 million, it is the second largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the third largest city on the east coast of India after Kolkata and Chennai. According to the history, the city was...
parliamentary constituency in 1957-1960 and 1971-1977 respectively. He was also elected to the sixth and seventh Lok Sabha from Bobbili
Bobbili
Bobbili is a town, mandal headquarters and a Municipality in Vizianagaram district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.-Geography:Bobbili is located at . It has an average elevation of 103 metres .-History:...
parliamentary constituency in 1977-1980 and 1980-1984 respectively.
PVG Raju served as the president of the Andhra Cricket Association
Andhra Pradesh cricket team
The Andhra cricket team is an Indian domestic cricket team representing the coastal areas of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is, one of two teams representing the people of Andhra Pradesh, the other team being the Hyderabad cricket team, which represents the Talangana Telangana.It has...
for a number of years.
See also
- Bobbili Lok Sabha ConstituencyBobbili (Lok Sabha constituency)Bobbili was a Lok Sabha constituency in north-eastern Andhra Pradesh till 2008.-Members of Parliament: Lok SabhaDurationName of M.P.Party AffiliationFourth1967-71K. Narayana RaoIndian National CongressFifth1971-77K. Narayana RaoIndian National Congress...
- Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha ConstituencyVisakhapatnam (Lok Sabha constituency)Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh state in southern India.-Assembly segments:...