P. Venkataramana Raju
’Rao Bahadur’ P Venkataramana Raju (ISE) B.E.Hons, F.I.E. (1894-1975), also known as Rajugaru, was a person who was among the pre-eminent Engineers of his time who contributed to building infrastructure in the early days of a developing India, he made contributions to the fields of Civil & Hydraulics Engineering and the development of Engineering Education.
Family background and early childhood
He was born in Madras in 1894. His father Shri B.Puttiah Raju was well established in Madras Business circles and was known for Jewellery and Bullion trading including handling the Mint for the Government of the Madras Presidency. The family lived in a bungalow in the Triplicane area of Madras.
Education
He excelled in his final exams from the Hindu High School Triplicane, secured admission on merit into The College of Engineering Guindy, Madras (initially located at Chepauk campus). He was awarded the University Gold Medal in the Civil Engineering discipline. On account of his brilliant academic record, he qualified for the Indian Service of Engineers and joined the ISE as Assistant Executive Engineer PWD (rather than Junior Engineer as was the normal practise).
Career with the Indian Service of Engineers (1919-50)
The PWD provided P Venkataramana Raju the avenue to be involved in numerous Civil Engineering Projects which took him to remote areas of the Madras Presidency and upto Orissa. He observed during his tours of Europe in 1938- the Water Management systems, modern methods of road making, soil mechanics laboratories, construction of high dams and irrigation works. He conducted special examinations of weak bridges along trunk roads in Madras state (1940-41) and was also involved in construction of inland waterways connected with the Dowleshwaram and Prakasam Barrage Project. His expertise in High Dams, Hydraulics and Pressure Grouting techniques resulted in several technical lectures, presentations and papers.
Later Years
P Venkataramana Raju was posted as ARP Special Engineer to develop Madras Airport from 1942-45 in time for the requirements of the Defence of India during World War II, he completed the project in record time and he was promoted to the position of Superintending Engineer, he was then awarded the Rao Bahadur by the Government of India in recognition of his service, Madras Airport remained a military aiport until 1952 when it was handed over for civilian use. He was a Member of the International Association for Hydraulic Research and also of The Indian Roads Congress. He represented India at International Roads Congress at Hague (1938); He represented the Madras Govt. as their official delegate to Indian Roads Congress, Bombay (1939), Madras (1945), Jaipur (1946) and Trivandrum (1947). After retiring from the ISE, he took over as the Chief Engineer - Simpsons Group and concurrent with his term there he gave lectures in Holland under the Madras University and Maharaja of Travancore-Curzon Endowment scheme. Later he took on the position of Dean of Engineering studies at Annamalai University and he was Chairman, Board of Examiners as well as member of the Academic Senate, Syndicate and Academic Council, at this time he was also an active member of The Association of Principals and Technical Institutions. He was a Grand Council member of the Masonic Lodge of Southern India.
References
- 1985 "Eminent Indians Who was Who 1900-1980" Publisher :Durga Das Pvt. Ltd., 1985.New Delhi, Language: English, Dewey Number: 920/.054. Page 262
- 1938 VIIIth World Road Congress - The Hague 1938 - Proceedings of the Congress.published reference http://irc.org.in/ENU/knowledge/archive/Annual Sessions/List
- 1954 Masonic LodgeDistrict Grand Conclave of Southern India published reference https://sites.google.com/site/dgconclavesi/trivandrum-conclave-history
- 1966 Published 1st edition of Sri Muktarishivamshodbhava Sri Soma Vamsha Arya Kshatriya Purana mentioning the 32 Gothras and Vamshavalli, and subsequent editions with authentication by Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharyamahasamsthanam Sharada Peetham Sringeri ref 9111/76 camp Bengaluru date 10.11.1976 & research by Vidwan S R Krishna Shastri Nivriddha Samskrita Adhyapakuru Arya Vidya Shala High School, Bengaluru - Published by Sri B N Srinivasa Raju, Grandhakartha Panaganti Gopala Raju
- 1972 Published 1st edition of Sri Soma Vamsha Puranam Rendo Bhagam Rendo Adhyayam- Published by Sri B N SrinivasaRaju, Grandhakartha Panaganti Gopala Raju
- 1975 Avadi Township, Avadi Municipal Office, Madras 54, Death Extract Year 1975 Month July Page 8 Annual No.50 Monthly No.1