->Xavier89874 at 17:26, 9 January 2022

2022-01-09T17:26:01Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = N. G. Ranga
| image = NG Ranga 2001 stamp of India.jpg
| caption = N. G. Ranga on postage stamp - 2001
| footnotes =
| signature =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1900|11|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nidubrolu]], [[Guntur district]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]] (now [[Andhra Pradesh]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|6|9|1900|11|7|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| spouse = Bharathi Devi
| children = No
| alma_mater = [[Oxford University]]
| occupation = Social, political activist
| website =
| term_start1 = 1952
| term_end1 = 1957
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| constituency_MP1 = Madras (Rajya Sabha)
| parliament1 = Indian
| term_start2 = 1957
| term_end2 = 1962
| constituency_MP2 = [[Tenali (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tenali (Lok Sabha)]]
| parliament2 = Indian
| term_start3 = 1962
| term_end3 = 1967
| constituency_MP3 = [[Chittoor (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chittoor (Lok Sabha)]]
| parliament4 = Indian
| term_start4 = 1967
| term_end4 = 1971
| constituency_MP4 = [[Srikakulam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Srikakulam (Lok Sabha)]]
| parliament5 = Indian
| term_start5 = 1977
| term_end5 = 1980
| constituency_MP5 = Andhra Pradesh (Rajya Sabha)
| term_start6 = 1980
| term_end6 = 1984
| constituency_MP6 = [[Guntur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Guntur (Lok Sabha)]]
| parliament = Indian
| term_start7 = 1984
| term_end7 = 1989
| constituency_MP7 = [[Guntur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Guntur (Lok Sabha)]]
| parliament8 = Indian
| term_start8 = 1989
| term_end8 = 1991
| constituency_MP8 = [[Guntur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Guntur (Lok Sabha)]]
| other party =
}}
'''Gogineni Ranga Nayukulu''' (7 November 1900 – 9 June 1995),<ref>{{Cite news|date=10 June 2020|title=Ongole: NG Ranga remembered on his 25th death anniversary|work=The Hans India|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/ongole-ng-ranga-remembered-on-his-25th-death-anniversary-627209|access-date=13 June 2021}}</ref> also known as '''N. G. Ranga''', was an Indian freedom fighter, [[classical liberal]], parliamentarian and farmer leader. He was the founding president of the [[Swatantra Party]], and an exponent of the peasant philosophy.<ref name=":3">[https://web.archive.org/web/20030918085604/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/photo/princets/p16.html Prof. N. G. Ranga]. rajyasabha.nic.in</ref> He received the [[Padma Vibhushan]] from the president of India for his contributions to the Peasant Movement. N.G. Ranga served in the Indian Parliament for six decades, from 1930 to 1991.

==Early life==

Ranga was born in [[Nidubrolu]] village in [[Guntur district]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="Ranga 1968 p.3 ">{{cite book | last=Ranga | first=N.G. | title=Fight for freedom: autobiography of N.G. Ranga | publisher=S. Chand | year=1968 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Ai1AAAAIAAJ | access-date=2019-07-18 | page=3}}</ref><ref name="Parliament of India, Lok Sabha 1900">{{cite web | title=Members Bioprofile | website=Parliament of India, Lok Sabha | date=1900-11-07 | url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1326.htm | access-date=2019-07-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718085332/http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/1326.htm | archive-date=18 July 2019 | url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Parliament of India, Lok Sabha 1900"/> On his return to India, he took up teaching as Professor of Economics at [[Pachaiyappa's College]], Madras ([[Chennai]]).<ref name="Parliament of India, Lok Sabha 1900"/><ref>Land, Water, Language and Politics in Andhra: Regional Evolution in India By Brian Stoddart
</ref>

In Oxford, he came across the works of [[H. G. Wells]], [[Sydney Webb]], [[Bertrand Russell]], and [[John Stuart Mill]]. Initially attracted to [[guild socialism]] in Europe, the progress of the USSR would turn him into a Marxist. Later in the 1930s, the Stalinist oppression of peasants and forced collectivization drove Ranga away from the Marxist fold.<ref name="Parliament of India, Lok Sabha 1900" />

Ranga met [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in Madras and was so impressed that he jumped with heart and soul in the non-violent battle of [[civil disobedience movement]] in 1929. It was in 1930 that the academic economist Ranga became part of the mainstream politics with his entry in the central assembly. He went on to oppose the [[Simon Commission]] report and participated in the first [[Round Table Conferences (India)|Round Table Conference]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://acharyangranga.com/maiden-speech-of-prof-n-g-ranga/|title=Maiden speech of N.G.Ranga in centrel Legislative assembly on 11th July 1930|date=11 July 1990|publisher=Kisan congress AP|location=Hyderabad|pages=1–9}}</ref>

Based on methodology of the British Labour's Party’s political school, he went on to establish similar schools in Andhra to turn peasants into politically-conscious citizens. Andhra Farmers’ School, first among the others, was opened in 1934 at his native place Nidubrolu.<ref name="Ranga 1968 p.3" />

== Freedom movement ==
Ranga joined the freedom movement inspired by [[Mahatma Gandhi|Gandhi]]'s clarion call in 1930. He led the [[ryot]] agitation in 1933. He wrote a book, ''Bapu Blesses'' regarding his discussions with Gandhi.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=A list of books by N.G. Ranga from The Open University, UK|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/n-g-ranga|website=The Open University|access-date=23 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223220530/http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/n-g-ranga|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the course of [[Indian freedom struggle]], he led the historical Ryot Agitation of Andhra in 1933. His pro-peasantry advocacy was visible in his support to the farmers’ agitation against the [[zamindar]]i oppression at Venkatagiri. He successfully managed to convince Gandhi to lend support to the movement, despite opposition from other members of the Congress. Gradually the peasant movement intensified and spread across the rest of India. All these radical developments on the peasant front culminated in the formation of the [[All India Kisan Sabha]] (AIKS) at the [[Lucknow]] session of the [[Indian National Congress]] in April 1936 with [[Sahajanand Saraswati|Sahajanda Saraswati]] elected as its first president and Ranga as a general secretary. The Kisan Manifesto, which was released in August 1936, demanded the abolition of the zamindari system and the cancellation of rural debts.<ref name="Ranga 1968 p.3" />
He continuously organized farmers of the region and besides associating himself along with his wife, Bharathi Devi, to the Individual [[Satyagraha]] (1940) and [[Quit India Movement]] (1942), he played a decisive role in connecting so many peasants with national liberation movement.<ref>{{Cite book|last=R.V.|first=Swaminadhan|url=https://acharyangranga.com/prof-rangas-achievements/|title=Prof. Ranga Achevments|publisher=A.P .congress comitte|year=1985|location=Hyderabad|pages=31–32}}</ref>

He was elected as a member [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]] in 1946 and became the member in Provisional Parliament of India (continuing until after the first elections under the new constitution in 1952).<ref name=":2" />

== Contributions to literature ==
Ranga wrote a book, ''Bapu Blesses'' regarding his discussions with Gandhi. Ranga’s academic publications were mostly concerned with the condition of peasants and labourers in the countryside. Known as the Rythu Ranga and Coolie Ranga, he fought against both the colonial and socialist Indian state to ensure dignity for farmers.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

He wrote many other books like Credo of World Peasantry, Economic Organization of Indian Villages and Indian Adult Education Movement which are illustrative of a brilliant erudite ability and diverse interests.<ref name=":0" />

=== Publications ===
He published 65 books in English,<ref name=":0" /> including:<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Prof. Ranga Achevments|publisher=A.P. Congress|location=Hyderabad|pages=40–41}}</ref>
* Credo of World Peasants
* Agony and Solace - 2 volumes
* Distinguished Acquaintances - 2 volumes (1976)
* Colonial and Coloured Peoples' Freedom Front (1957)
* Fight for Freedom (Autobiography 1967)
* Gandhian Plan
* History of Kisan Movement
* Revolutionary Peasant (1954)
* Bapu Blesses (containing the discussions and talks with Mahatma Gandhi) (1969)
* Quintessence of Non-alignment Movement (1983)
* India in the U.N. Rangass participation (1983)
* Protection of the self-employed Peasants and Tribes (1984)
* Tribes of Nilgiris, Self-Employment Sector (1959)
* Aerial-eye View of USSR and Yugoslavia (1956) - published by the Parliament

He also published 15 books in Telugu including

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

== Political career ==
In 1951, in a closely contested election of president of the [[Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee]], Ranga was defeated by [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]]. Due to ideological differences, Ranga along with [[Tanguturi Prakasam]], resigned from Congress and organised [[Hyderabad State Praja Party]], which was further split into [[Krishikar Lok Party]] (KLP) for peasants under the leadership of Ranga as the president. KLP contested the [[1951–52 Indian general election|1951 Lok Sabha elections]], winning one seat. KLP also contested the [[1952 Madras Legislative Assembly election]] and won 15 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Madras, 1951|url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/4100-madras-1951/|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Election Commission of India|language=en-IN}}</ref> In the [[1955 Andhra State Legislative Assembly election]], Congress, Praja Party{{Vague|reason=Is this the Hyderabad State Praja Party or something else?|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}} and KLP formed an alliance and KLP won 22 seats. After the election, on the request of Nehru, he merged KLP in Congress party. He was elected in the [[1957 Indian general election|1957 general election]] from Tenali Lok Sabha constituency as a congressional candidate.<ref name=":2" />

=== Swatantra Party ===
Ranga’s differences with [[Jawaharlal Nehru|Nehru]] were visible from the beginning. As part of the [[J. C. Kumarappa|Kumarappa]] Committee on land reforms, he didn’t support land ceiling measures. Ranga was also opposed to the whole socialist apparatus of the [[Five-Year Plans of India|Five-Year Plans]] and [[Planning Commission (India)|Planning Commission]]. He refused to join Nehru’s cabinet when offered the 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 came as the final straw. The socialists in Congress proposed cooperative farming in the emulation of 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.<ref name="Ranga 1968 p.3" />

As a Swatantrite parliamentarian, Ranga’s advocacy of liberty was most visible during the debates over the proposed [[List of amendments of the Constitution of India|17th amendment]] in 1964. The amendment would empower state governments to acquire land of ordinary farmers without paying any compensation. Ranga’s rousing speech in the Parliament against the bill led to its defeat. Ranga’s concern for farmers’ welfare was recognized by Nehru, “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 that – “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."<ref name="Ranga 1968 p.3" />

== Later years ==
The dissident parties, the [[Congress (O)]], [[Jan Sangh]] and the [[Samyukta Socialist Party]] formed an alliance with [[Swatantra Party]] called the National Democratic Front and fought against Indian National Congress led by [[Indira Gandhi]] in the [[1971 Indian general election|1971 Indian general elections.]] After facing a massive defeat of his Swatantra party in the elections, Ranga rejoined Indian National Congress and supported Indira Gandhi, for his aim of peasants upliftment.<ref name="Ranga 1968 p.3" />

He worked as a Member of congress working committee (CWC 1975–85), and Deputy Leader of Congress Parliamentary Party (1980–1991).<ref name="Parliament of India, Lok Sabha 1900" />

== Death ==
Ranga died on 9 June, 1995.<ref name="vzbmg 2002">{{Cite news|date=25 November 2002|title=Empowering peasants was his mission|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/empowering-peasants-was-his-mission/article28387070.ece|access-date=1 October 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Prime Minister [[P. V. Narasimha Rao]] condoled the death of Prof. Ranga. He said that in the passing away of Prof Ranga, the country had lost an outstanding Parliamentarian and a champion of public causes and of the rural peasantry. The Andhra Pradesh government declared a 3-day state mourning.<ref name="ht">"Prof Ranga passes away". ''The Hindustan Times''. 9 June 1995.</ref>{{Verify source|date=October 2021}}

==Honours==
* Agricultural University of Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad (presently in Telangana) was named in his honour and memory as [[Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University]], which later was shifted to [[Lam, Guntur district|Lam]], Guntur, from 8 August 2014.<ref>[http://www.angrau.ac.in/ ACHARYA N.G.RANGA Agricultural University] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180607225912/https://www.angrau.ac.in/ |date=7 June 2018 }}. Angrau.ac.in. Retrieved on 2018-11-21.</ref><ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/KCR-Names-Agriculture-Varsity-after-Jayashankar/2014/08/07/article2368219.ece KCR Names Agriculture Varsity after Jayashankar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071200/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/KCR-Names-Agriculture-Varsity-after-Jayashankar/2014/08/07/article2368219.ece |date=4 March 2016 }}. The New Indian Express (2014-08-07). Retrieved on 2018-11-21.</ref>
* His name found a place in the [[Guinness Book of World Records]] as a Parliamentarian with fifty years of service.<ref name=ht/>{{Copy edit inline|date=October 2021}} He was elected to Rajya Sabha from Madras State in 1952 and Andhra Pradesh in 1977. He represented [[Tenali (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tenali]], [[Chittoor (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chittoor]], [[Srikakulam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Srikakulam]] and [[Guntur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Guntur]] constituencies in Lok Sabha at various times from 1957 to 1991.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Parliament of India, Lok Sabha 1900" />
*Indian parliamentarians felicitated him on completion of 50 years of his Parliamentary career and on completion of 60 years of his first speech in Central Legislative Assembly on 11 July 1930.<ref name=":1" />
*Recipient of Nehru Award for Literacy Campaign, Rajaji Ratna Award and Kushak Ratna Award.<ref name=":2" />
*The statue of Ranga at Gate No. 4 of [[Parliament House, New Delhi|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]].<ref name=":3" />
* The N.G. Ranga Farmer Award for Diversified Agriculture was instituted by the [[Indian Council of Agricultural Research]] in 2001.<ref>[http://www.icar.org.in/ICAR-Awards/2015/N-G-Rang-%20-2015.pdf N.G. Ranga Award: Rules] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413002750/http://www.icar.org.in/ICAR-Awards/2015/N-G-Rang-%20-2015.pdf |date=13 April 2018 }}. icar.org.in</ref>
*He has been honoured with the titles of [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1991 by the president of India for his contributions to public service.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padma Awards {{!}} Interactive Dashboard|url=http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Year=1991-1991&Award=Padma%20Vibhushan|access-date=2021-08-10|website=www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in|language=en}}</ref>
* A commemorative [[postage stamp]] was released by the [[government of India]] in 2001.<ref>[http://www.indianpost.com/viewstamp.php/Print%20Size/1.9%20X%203.2/N.%20G.%20RANGA Indian Postage Stamp of N.G.Ranga] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121120322/http://www.indianpost.com/viewstamp.php/Print%20Size/1.9%20X%203.2/N.%20G.%20RANGA |date=21 November 2018 }}. Indianpost.com. Retrieved on 2018-11-21.</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commons category|N. G. Ranga}}
*http://loksabha.nic.in/
*http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/alphabeticallist_all_terms.aspx/

{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranga, N. G.}}
[[Category:Telugu politicians]]
[[Category:2nd Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:3rd Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:4th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:7th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:8th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:9th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in public affairs]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of Oxford Brookes University]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]]
[[Category:Swatantra Party politicians]]
[[Category:People from Guntur district]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Members of Central Legislative Assembly of India]]
[[Category:Pro tem Speakers of the Lok Sabha]]
[[Category:Gandhians]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian economists]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford]]
[[Category:Scientists from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Farmers' rights activists]]
[[Category:1900 births]]

N. G. Ranga - Revision history

->Xavier89874 at 17:26, 9 January 2022