Sir Panaganti Ramarayaningar (9 July 1866 – 16 December 1928), was a zamindar of Kalahasti, and a Justice Party leader, who served as the Chief Minister of Madras from 11 July 1921 to 3 December 1926.
Early Life
He was born on 9 July 1866, in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, India. In 1886, he completed his matriculation from the Hindu High School, Triplicane. He graduated from Presidency College in 1893 with a degree in Sanskrit and Advanced Chemistry. In 1899, he finished his BL and M.A. He became a Presidency College fellow in 1919.
Career
He started his public service career as a member of the North Arcot District Board. In 1912, he became a member of the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi, where the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge of Penshurst, took notice of his debate skills.
In 1914, C Natesa Mudaliar founded the Madras Dravidian Association. Ramarayaningar was the first president of the association. In Coimbatore on 19 July 1917, four non-Brahmin associations gathered to form the South Indian Liberal Federation under Ramarayaningar’s leadership. Later, the party came to be known as the Justice Party.
He was titled Dewan Bahadur in 1918. In the same year, he became a member of the Imperial War Council.
In 1921, Ramarayaningar was sent to England to lobby on behalf of the Justice Party with Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu and Koka Appa Rao Naidu.
Ramarayaningar was also involved in the All-India Non-Brahmin movement. He was a very close friend of Shahu Maharaj. On 26 December 1924, he attended the All-India Non-Brahmin Conference in Belgaum, and on 25 May 1925, he presided over the Second All-India Non-Brahmin Conference in Madras.
In 1919, the Government of India Act provided for the first elections in the Madras Presidency. In the province, the Justice Party won the election unanimously. Subbarayalu Reddiar became the first Chief Minister of Madras. Subbarayalu Reddiar appointed Ramarayaningar as Minister of Local Self-Government. After six months, Subbarayalu Reddiar resigned due to illness, and Ramarayaningar became chief minister.
Ramarayaningar succeeded him. In 1923, his party was re-elected with a comfortable majority. The same year, he got the Raja of Panagal title. The Justice Party lost in 1926, and the Raja became the leader of the opposition. That year, he was knighted.
Major Work
He implemented many reforms. There was a reservation in Government jobs, so Madras was on its way to inclusivity. There was a new Hindu Religious Endowment Board that handled temples and mosques. For the Indian Medicine School, the Raja gave his property, Hyde Park Gardens, Kilpauk. There’s now a Kilpauk Medical College there.
Death
He died on 16 December 1928, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
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