Narla Venkateswara Rao

Narla Venkateshwara Rao or V. R. Narla (1 December 1908 – 13 March 1985) is a Telugu language writer, journalist and politician from Andhra Pradesh in India. He was Rajya Sabha member twice from 3 April 1958 to 2 April 1970, and wrote a satakam in Telugu along with several other books.

Narla Venkateswara Rao started as a journalist and ascended the pinnacle of fame as a humanist. It was great evolution worthy of emulation by future generations.

Born in a middle class agricultural family, with limited means, Narla had to struggle hard in the early years of his illustrious life to achieve his ambition of social mobility upwards. His ancestors migrated from the Andhra area of former Madras Presidency to central India in what is now Madhya Pradesh and settled in Katni. They were contractors for the supply of foodgrains to the army. Later Narla returned to Andhra and resumed his studies to become a graduate. The raging national movement for independence inspired him and made him plunge into it.

There are two phases in Narla's life.

The first part is preoccupation with journalism, blossoming out of his childhood flair for writing. It did not take long for him to earn recognition as a force to be reckoned with in Telugu journalism. His influence as an opinion maker arising out of the impact of his writings was tremendous. He was then editor of Andhra Prabha, the Telugu publication of Ramnath Goenka's Indian Express Group of newspapers. During Second World War as well as in the post- independence period, the readers of the paper would first savour his opinions on various matters before turning to the news columns. The daily newspaper published from Madras (today's Chennai) had such a stature that it lifted the status of Telugu journalism.

Narla introduced to Telugu readers Suryadevara Sanjiv Dev ( of Tummapudi village in Guntur district) by serialising his memoirs in the newspaper to the delight of art lovers. Narla was a relentless fighter against injustice in society and politics. He faced the wrath of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh including Tanguturi Prakasam, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy and P.V. Narasimharao on many occasions. Brahmananda Reddy wanted to check Andhra Jyothi daily during 1969 by introducing a bill in State Assembly to curb the freedom of the press. Journalists fought back and won against the Chief Minister. He had to withdraw the bill. Narla stood firm in the vanguard of the struggle.

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