Navaratna Rama Rao

Navaratna Rama Rao (May 27, 1877 – 1960) was an Indian writer based in Mysore. The title “Navaratna”, which means Nine Gems, was conferred by the then revered seer of Uttaradi Mutt for the scholarly services rendered to the orthodox Madhwa Brahmin Society by the nine scholar-brothers in that family (around the early 17th century), who were held in high esteem as precious gems for their mastery in several shastras.

Career

Born in 1877, he descended from Deshastha Brahmins where he attended Central College of Bangalore along with C. Rajagopalachari (who would become a lifelong friend),^[1] and was greatly influenced by Scottish teacher John Guthrie Tait. He received his law degree in Madras and subsequently practiced in Salem, Tamil Nadu. He retired in 1951 and his memoirs were published by Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, who was a close friend.^[2] Rama Rao passed the Mysore Civil Services Examination to join the State Administration in the Princely Mysore where he served in various high positions starting his career as "Amildar" and retiring as the Director of Industries and Commerce of the State. His out standing services as one of the upright officers of exceptional ability brought the Princely State of Mysore ruled then by HH Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV, Maharaja of Mysore, the reputation of being the model state in the country. He attended the first Round Table Conference in London in 1930 as Advisor to the then Diwan, Sir Mirza Ismail.

As a visionary planner, he was responsible for establishing Silk Industry in Mysore and subsequently the Central Silk Board of India on which he served as Vice-Chairman. His achievements during his career substantial. In recognition of his public service, he was conferred the title “RAJASEVAPRASAKTA” by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Sri Jayachamaraja Wodeyar.

He was friends with Bharata Ratna, V. T. Krishnamachari, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, D. V. Gundappa and M. S. Subbulakshmi.

As a member of Legislative Assembly representing the Government while in service and as an elected member of Legislative council by the State Chamber of Commerce and Industries, he was responsible for many people-friendly decisions taken by the Government. Bharata Ratna C. Rajagopalachari used to stay in the house of Mr.Rama rao at Basavanagudi, whenever he visited Bangalore.

Literary life

Though an undisputed authority on Shakespeare and Western literature, he was well versed in Kannada, Sanskrit and French. Rajaji’s Ramayana and Mahabharata, the two cornerstones of Indian literature in the English language, were extensively revised by Rama Rao, as C. Rajagopalachari himself acknowledges in the preface. All these are chronicled in his famous memoir Kelavu Nenapugalu and Masti’s book Navaratna Rama Rao.

Rama Rao’s literary work included his translation of Masti’s Kannada novel Chenna Basava Nayaka to English, translation of Niccolò Machiavelli’s book The Prince to Kannada, his Sanna Kathegalu and his chronicled life-sketches of the dynasty of Mysore Rulers besides several articles he wrote to the then Madras Times journal on Shakespeare’s works and contemporary national politics when he was studying law at Madras.

In 2015, a memoir, The Vanished Raj was published by his two grandchildren, Navaratna Rajaram and Rajeshwari Rao.^[2]

References