Paturi Rajagopala Naidu

Paturi Rajagopala Naidu , better known as Rajanna (7 November 1900–21 october 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

Raja gopala Naidu was born in Diguvamagham village in Chittoor 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

LokSabha	Period	Constituency	Party
6th LokSabha	1977-1980	Chittoor	Swatantra Party
7th Lok Sabha	1980-1984	Chittoor	Swatantra Party

Rajagopala naidu joined the freedom movement inspired by Gandhi's clarion call in 1930. He led the ryot agitation in 1933. Three years later, he along with N.G.Ranga 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..

Rajagopala Naidu quit the Congress Party and founded the Bharat Krishikar Lok Party and the Swatantra Party, along with N.G.Ranga who was a trenchant critic of the cooperative farming idea. Ranga became the founder-president of the Swatantra Party, while Rajagopla Naidu became as secretary 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. Rajagopla Naidu rejoined the Congress (I) in 1972 along with N.G.Ranga