N. G. Ranga

N. G. Ranga

N G Ranga Statue at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Tenali
In office
1957–1962
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Chittoor
In office
1962–1967
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Srikakulam
In office
1962–1967
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Guntur
In office
1980–1984
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Guntur
In office
1984–1989
Member of the Indian Parliament
for Guntur
In office
1989–1991
Personal details
Born (1900-07-11)11 July 1900
Nidubrolu, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died 9 June 1995(1995-06-09) (aged 94)
Nationality  Indian
Spouse(s) Bharathi Devi
Children No
Alma mater Oxford Brookes University
Occupation Social, political activist
Religion Hinduism

Gogineni Ranga nayukulu, better known as N. G. Ranga (7 November 1900 9 June 1995), was an Indian freedom fighter, parliamentarian, and kisan (farmer) leader. He was an exponent of the peasant philosophy, and considered the father of the Indian Peasant Movement after Swami Sahajanand Saraswati.[1]

Early life

Ranga was born in Nidubrolu village in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. He went to school in his native village, and graduated from the Andhra-Christian College, Guntur. He received a B.Litt. in Economics from the University of Oxford in 1926. On his return to India, he took up teaching as Professor of Economics at Pachaiyappa's College, Madras (Chennai).

Political career

Ranga joined the freedom movement inspired by Gandhi's clarion call in 1930. He led the ryot agitation in 1933. Three years later, he launched the Kisan Congress party. He held historic discussions with Gandhiji on the demand for a rythu-coolie state. He wrote a book, Bapu Blesses regarding his discussions with Gandhi..

Ranga was one of the founders of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers. He represented India at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (Copenhagen) in 1946, the International Labour Organisation (San Francisco) in 1948, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (Ottawa) in 1952, the International Peasant Union (New York) in 1954 and the Asian Congress for World Government (Tokyo) in 1955.

He quit the Congress Party and founded the Bharat Krushikar Lok Party and the Swatantra Party, along with Rajaji who was a trenchant critic of the cooperative farming idea. Ranga became the founder-president of the Swatantra Party and held that post for a decade. In the general elections held in 1962, the party won 25 seats and emerged as a strong Opposition. He rejoined the Congress (I) in 1972.

Ranga served the Indian Parliament for six decades from 1930 to 1991.He died on 8 June 1995 4.30 pm in his native place Ponnur in Guntur district Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao condoned the death of Prof. Ranga, the Prime Minister said that in the passing away of Prof Ranga, the country has lost an outstanding Parliamentarian and a champion of public causes and rural peasantry. Prof. Ranga served as a Member of Parliament for a record number of 60 years and found a place in the Guinness book of world records.The Andhra Pradesh government declared a 3-day state mourning.[2]

Honours

References

  1. Parliamentary career: http://rajyasabha.nic.in/photo/princets/p16.html
  2. The Hindustan Times "Prof Ranga passes away" (9 June 1995) New Delhi
  3. http://www.angrau.ac.in/
  4. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/KCR-Names-Agriculture-Varsity-after-Jayashankar/2014/08/07/article2368219.ece
  5. Hindustan Times, 9 June 1995
  6. Indian Postage Stamp of N.G.Ranga

External links

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