Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu

Rao Bahadur Sir Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu KCSI (1875–1942), also known as K. V. Reddi Naidu, was an Indian politician, lawyer, diplomat, and academic. He served as the Premier of Madras Presidency and was one of only two Indians to hold the position of Governor of Madras Presidency, making him the only individual in history to have served as both Premier and Governor. As a prominent leader of the Justice Party, Naidu was known for his efforts to promote social equality, the abolition of untouchability, and social reforms. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first women's college in the Andhra region, located in Eluru.

Born into a prominent Kapu family from the Godavari district, Naidu pursued his education at Madras Christian College and Madras Law College. Before his legal career, he served as a professor of physics at the Government Arts College, Rajahmundry. He was called to the bar in 1900 and practiced law in Rajahmundry and Eluru. His political career began with his involvement in local and district boards between 1901 and 1919, after which he joined the Justice Party. Naidu played a key role in T. M. Nair's delegation to the United Kingdom in 1918. He later served in the cabinets of A. Subbarayalu Reddiar and the Raja of Panagal as Minister of Development and Minister of Industries from 1920 to 1923. After returning to India, Naidu served as a Law Member of the Council of State from 1933 to 1934 and as a member of the Governor's Executive Council of Madras from 1934 to 1937. in Godavari district and belonged to a Telaga Kapu family. His father, Kurma Bapanna Naidu, won a name for himself as a Police Inspector. His mother, Venkata Ratnamma was reputed to be a pious and simple lady. One of his paternal ancestors, Sambhanna Naidu, served as a military officer on the side of the English against the Dutch in the late eighteenth century, and earned the title of Kumandan (Commandant) which became a family appellation.

Early political career Naidu served on local and district boards in Rajahmundry and Eluru between 1901 and 1919. He was a member of the Justice Party right from its inception. He was a part of the Justice Party delegation to England along with Dr. T. M. Nair and Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar in July 1918. In 1919, he led the non-Brahmin deputation to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms. Naidu was an active partyman and when the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms were passed in 1919, Naidu formulated a set of activities that the Justice Party should follow.

Minister in Justice Party Cabinet In December 1920, when the Justice Party was elected to power in Madras Presidency, Naidu won a seat in the Madras Legislative Council and served as the Minister of Development. He also served as the Minister of Industries in the government of the Raja of Panagal from 1921 to 1923, when he was dropped in favour of T. N. Sivagnanam Pillai. He remained neutral when a vote of no-confidence was passed against the government of the Raja of Panagal.

In 1924, when the Muddiman Committee came to India to assess the implementation and progress of dyarchy, K. V. Reddi Naidu explained its progress thus:

I was a Minister of Development without the forests. I was a Minister of Agriculture minus Irrigation. As a Minister of Agriculture I had nothing to do with the Madras Agriculturists Loan Act or the Madras Land Improvement Loans Act. The efficacy and efficiency of a Minister of Agriculture without having anything to do with irrigation, agricultural loans, land improvement loans and famine relief, may better be imagined than described. Then again, I was Minister of Industries without factories, boilers, electricity and water power, mines or labor, all of which are reserved subjects.

In 1928, Naidu was a member of the Indian delegation to the League of Nations, Geneva.

Agent to South Africa

In January 1929, Naidu succeeded V. S. Srinivasa Sastri as British India's Agent to the Union of South Africa. In January 1930, he came under severe criticism from the South African Indian Congress (SAIC) for not having done enough to protect the interests of the Indians migrants. Naidu's term came to an end on 3 August 1932 and he was succeeded by Kunwar Maharaj Singh.

Prime Minister of Madras Presidency

Naidu was the Prime Minister of Madras Presidency from 1 April 1937 to 14 July 1937. The 1937 assembly elections were held and the results declared in February 1937. Despite being the majority party in the assembly and the council, the Indian National Congress was hesitant to form a Government because of the veto powers given to the governor. The Governor of Madras, Lord Erskine, decided to form an interim provisional Government with non-members and opposition members of the Legislative Assembly. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri was first offered the Prime Ministership of the interim government but he refused to accept it.

Then Erskine formed an interim government with Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu as prime minister on 1 April 1937. However the ministry was short lived as the Congress was persuaded to form the government. On 14 July, Naidu resigned and Rajaji became prime minister. Naidu remains the shortest-serving prime minister of the Presidency era and (factoring in the Presidency's successor states of Madras and Tamil Nadu), remained the shortest-serving ever until V. N. Janaki overtook his record in 1988 - almost five decades later.

Council of ministers in K. V. Reddi Naidu's interim provisional cabinet (1 April - 14 July 1937): MinisterPortfolioKurma Venkata Reddi NaiduPrime Minister, Public, Revenue and LegalA. T. PanneerselvamHome and FinanceM. A. Muthiah ChettiarLocal self-governmentP. Kalifulla Sahib BahadurPublic WorksM. C. RajahDevelopmentR. M. PalatEducation and Public health

Academia

Sir Kurma Venkatareddi Naidu (1875–1942) was an Indian politician, lawyer, diplomat, and academic who played an important role in the Madras Presidency during British rule. Born in Rajahmundry, he studied at Madras Christian College and later became a lawyer after working as a physics professor.

Naidu was a leading member of the Justice Party and worked to promote social equality and reforms, including efforts to reduce discrimination and untouchability. He served in several important government positions, including Minister of Development, Agent to South Africa, Acting Governor of Madras, and Premier of Madras Presidency in 1937.

In addition to his political career, Naidu contributed to higher education as Chancellor of Andhra University and Vice-Chancellor of Annamalai University. He died in 1942 and is remembered for his public service, leadership, and commitment to social reform.

Fun Facts:

He was the only person to serve as both Governor and Premier of Madras Presidency. Before becoming a lawyer, he worked as a physics professor. He represented India at the League of Nations in Geneva in 1928. He helped promote social equality and supported opening temples to all people. A university prize, the Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu Prize, is awarded

Personal life Naidu lived in Madras in a palatial mansion on Boag Road, T. Nagar. The house later came under the ownership of film star Sivaji Ganesan. In April 1942, Venu Gopalaswamy was appointed the Registrar of Andhra University which he held till his retirement in February 1964. Nalla Reddi Naidu, son of one of Venkatareddi Naidu's cousins, served as the first Member of Parliament of Rajahmundry from 1952 to 1957.