Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu

Dewan Bahadur Sir '''Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu was an Indian social reformer and educationist who hailed from present-day Andhra Pradesh. He was described as "the most powerful orator of his day". He worked for the eradication of untouchability and upliftment of Dalits. He strived for the reformation of the Devadasi system in Andhra, and succeeded to a considerable extent.

Venkataratnam Naidu worked as the Principal of the Mehboob College, Secunderabad, and later the PR Government College, Kakinada. In 1925, he became the first elected Vice Chancellor of Madras University and in that capacity was responsible for creating several new departments of research and teaching. The Andhra and the Madras Universities conferred on him the honorary degrees of D.Litt. and LL.D. Raghupati Venkaiah Naidu, a film pioneer regarded as the "father of Telugu cinema" was the younger brother of Venkataratnam.

Venkataratnam Naidu's ancestors served as Subedars in Madras Army and East Indian Company Army since its inception i.e. late 17th century. He was conferred a knighthood by the British government in 1924. Naidu founded the Social Purity Association in 1891 to train people as honest citizens. He worked for the eradication of untouchability and upliftment of Harijans, and founded an orphanage and a hostel for Harijan boys and girls in Kakinada. He promoted widow remarriages and encouraged women's education. The Brahmo Samaj honored him with the title of "Brahmarshi". All the above social reforms have led to him being described as the second great social reformer of Andhra, the first being Veeresalingam. Writer Chalam was his disciple.