N. G. Ranga

Acharya Gogineni Ranga Nayukulu (7 November 1900 – 9 June 1995),

Based on methodology of the British Labour Party's political school, he went on to establish similar schools in Andhra to turn peasants into politically conscious citizens. The first Andhra Farmers’ School was opened in 1934 at his native village Nidubrolu.[3]

Freedom movement

Ranga joined the freedom movement inspired by Gandhi's clarion call in 1930. He led the ryot agitation in 1933. He wrote a book, Bapu Blesses, about his discussions with Gandhi.^[7]

In the course of the

Ranga continuously organized farmers of the region. Along with his wife, Bharathi Devi, he associated himself with the Satyagraha (1940) and the Quit India Movement (1942), and also played a decisive role in connecting peasants with the national liberation movement.^[8] He was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly in 1946 and became a member of the Provisional Parliament of India until after the first elections under the new constitution in 1952.^[9]

Contributions to literature

Ranga wrote multiple books, one of them being Bapu Blesses, regarding his discussions with Gandhi. Ranga's academic publications were mostly written about the conditions of peasants and laborers in the countryside. Known as Rythu Ranga and Coolie Ranga, he fought against both the colonial and socialist Indian state to ensure dignity for farmers.^{[citation needed]} He wrote other books on diverse subjects like the credo of world peasantry, economic organization of Indian villages, and the Indian adult education movement.^[7]

Publications

Ranga published 65 books in English,^[7] including:^[9]

• Credo of World Peasants
• Agony and Solace - 2 volumes
• Gandhian Plan
• History of Kisan Movement
• Revolutionary Peasant (1954)
• Colonial and Coloured Peoples' Freedom Front (1957)
• Aerial-eye View of USSR and Yugoslavia (1956) - published by Parliament
• Tribes of Nilgiris, Self-Employment Sector (1959)
• Fight for Freedom (Autobiography 1967)
• Bapu Blesses (containing the discussions and talks with Mahatma Gandhi) (1969)
• Distinguished Acquaintances - 2 volumes (1976)
• Quintessence of Non-alignment Movement (1983)
• India in the U.N. Ranga's participation (1983)
• Protection of the Self-Employed Peasants and Tribes (1984)

He also published 15 books in Telugu, including:

• Modern Political Institutions - 2 volumes (1933)
• Harijans Nayak (1934)
• Smrities of Bharati Devi (1973)

Political career

In 1951, in a closely contested presidential election of the

Ranga's differences with Nehru were visible from the beginning. As part of the Kumarappa Committee on land reforms, he did not support land ceiling measures. Ranga was also opposed to the whole socialist apparatus of the Five-Year Plans and Planning Commission. He refused to join Nehru's cabinet when offered a ministerial berth. In response to Nehru's advocacy of cooperative farming, Ranga mobilized lakhs of peasants in Machilipatnam to oppose the abolition of property rights by the state. The 1959 Nagpur Resolution of INC was the final straw. The socialists in Congress proposed cooperative farming to emulate Mao's collectivization drive. The threat to property rights in an increasingly socialist India galvanized a disparate set of anti-Congress leaders to come together and form the Swatantra Party. Ranga became the party's first president.^[3]

As a Swatantrite parliamentarian, Ranga's advocacy of liberty was most visible during the debates over the proposed 17th amendment in 1964. The amendment would empower state governments to acquire land from ordinary farmers without paying for it. Ranga's rousing speech in Parliament against the bill led to its defeat. Ranga's concern for farmers’ welfare was recognized by Nehru, who said, "As long as Rangaji is in Parliament, the Indian peasants could sleep without any worry." On the question of his opposition to Nehru, Ranga clarified: "It was for the freedom of the peasants and in defense of dharma. I’ve visualized the resulting implications of his anti-farmer policies. Knowing fully well that opposing Pandit Nehru can be politically dangerous to me, I performed my duty in defense of my convictions."^[3]

Later years

The dissident parties, the

Ranga worked as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC 1975–85), and Deputy Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party (1980–1991).[4]

Global policy

He was one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a

Ranga died on 9 June 1995.[14] Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao said that when Ranga died, the country lost an outstanding parliamentarian who was a champion of public causes and rural peasants. The Andhra Pradesh government declared a 3-day state mourning period.^{[15][verification needed]}

Honors

• Agricultural University of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad (now in Telangana) was named in his honor and memory as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, which later was shifted to Lam, Guntur from August 2014.^[16][17]
• Ranga was in the
  Guntur constituencies in Lok Sabha at various times from 1957 to 1991.^[6][4]
• Indian parliamentarians congratulating him on 50 years of his parliamentary career and the 60-year anniversary of his first speech in Central Legislative Assembly on 11 July 1930.[6]
• Recipient of Nehru Award for Literacy Campaign, Rajaji Ratna Award and Kushak Ratna Award.^[9]
• The statue of Ranga at Gate No. 4 of Parliament House was unveiled by the then Vice-president Krishan Kant on 27 July 1998. The statue was donated by the government of Andhra Pradesh.^[2]
• The N. G. Ranga Farmer Award for Diversified Agriculture was instituted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in 2001.^[18]
• Padma Vibhushan in 1991 for his contributions to public service.^[19]
• A commemorative postage stamp was released by the government of India in 2001.^[20]

References

External links

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