Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy

Sir Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy (10 December 1880 – 24 February 1951), also popularly known as Sir C. R. Reddy, was an educationist and political thinker, essayist and economist, poet and literary critic. He was a prominent member of the Justice Party and an ardent champion of the non-Brahmin movement, joining the movement to unite the non-Brahmin communities. He wrote his works in Telugu and English; these reveal his deep love for Indian classics and his learning in these texts, as well as the modernity of his outlook.

Reddy was the educationalist who played a major role in shaping the educational policy in India. He was also the recipient of a British Knighthood in honour of his service to the country. He was the founder of Andhra University and also served as its first Vice-Chancellor from 1926 to 1931 and in a further second term from 1936 to 1949.

Early life

Reddy was born to late Sri Subrahmanya Reddy and late Smt. Narayanamma in Kattamanchi, a suburb of Chittoor city. He was the second son of Subrahmanya Reddy, who had built up a lucrative legal practice as a pleader in Chittoor and was known for his high sense of principles and right conduct. C. R. Reddy was named after his grandfather, who was a poet. At Madras Christian College, he was the senior of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, whom C. R. Reddy shared a close friendship with. In 1949, Reddy became the Pro-chancellor of Mysore University. He died in Madras on 24 February 1951.

Iyengar, in his book "Essays and Addresses", describes Reddy as a great educationist, a first-class teacher, humanist, a bold thinker and a reformer. Reddy's lectures on "University reforms" delivered in Madras under the presidency of Dr S. Subramania Iyer, S. Srinivasa Iyengar and T. V. Seshagiri Iyer had set the tone for university reforms in India. Following Reddy's death, the Maharaja of Mysore Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar recalled, "[Reddy] served Mysore in various capacities every one of which was characterised by conspicuous ability, uncommon zeal and indefatigable energy."

Works Arthashastra Vijnana Chandrika seris Bilhaniyamu Musalamma Maranamu