R. Venkata Rao
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Early life
He was born in Coombaconum in the Thanjavur Maratha Kingdom to Gundopanth Kumbhakoni in a Thanjavur Marathi Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family.
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Public life
Venkata Rao served as the Head Sheristadar to the Chief Commissioner of Mysore 1834–38 and as Assistant Chief Commissioner of Mysore 1840–42. In 1842, he was appointed Diwan of Hyderabad and served till 1843, when he returned to Bangalore due to ill-health.
Diwan of Travancore
In 1819, Venkata Rao joined the Travancore state service as an assistant to Colonel McDowall, the British resident. He impressed the Queen-regent of Travancore by his abilities, and was soon appointed Diwan Peishkar or Governor of one of the divisions of the Travancore kingdom. During his tenure as Diwan Peishkar, Venkata Rao repaired and refurbished the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum and modified the dress codes of the sepoys.
In 1821, the Diwan, Reddy Row, accepted a jagir of two villages from the queen; Venkata Rao and his ally, the immediately preceding Diwan Raman Menon Dalawa, managed to oust and replace Row in the scandal.
On taking office, Venkata Rao immediately waived taxes. He set up his base at Quilon and organised a number of irrigation works. The Kadinangulam backwaters were created during his tenure.
Honours
Venkata Rao was given the title "Rai Raaya Rai" in 1838 in recognition of his services to the Crown.