C. R. Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib

Colathur Rama Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib IAS, PV (2 February 1927 – 12 February 2013[2]) was an Indian civil servant who served as 15th Cabinet Secretary of India from 1981-1985. He also served as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Charan Singh.[3] when Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India. He was awarded the second highest civilian honor of India, Padma Vibhushan in 2006, besides the Great Maratha Award in 2009.[4] His maternal grandfather was R. Ramachandra Rao, Collector of Nellore, who helped Srinivasa Ramanujan during latter's formative years.

His Excellency

Colathur Rama Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib

IAS, PV
President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Shri Colathur Rama Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib in 2006
15th Cabinet Secretary of India
In office
30 April 1981 – 8 February 1985
Prime MinisterIndira Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Preceded bySarla Grewal
Succeeded byP. K. Kaul
Personal details
Born(1927-02-02)2 February 1927
Madras, British India[1]
Died12 February 2013(2013-02-12) (aged 86)[2]
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Spouse(s)Lalitha
Alma materPresidency College, Chennai
AwardsPadma Vibhushan (2006),
Great Maratha Award (2009)
Signature

Life

Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib was born in a prominent Deshastha Madhva Brahmin family on 2 February 1927 in Madras, British India.[5] The family is connected to Arni Jagir family, Rao Sahib belongs to the junior branch of the Colathur family. Rao Sahib became a family title when the Sultanate of Bijapur conferred it on his ancestor Vedaji Bhaskar Rao Pant. His maternal grandfather was R. Ramachandra Rao, Collector of Nellore, who helped Srinivasa Ramanujan during latter's formative years. [6] Rao Sahib attended P.S. Higher Secondary School before receiving Bachelor of Science in physics from the Presidency College, Chennai.[7] Rao Sahib joined Indian Administrative Service on 1 February 1950.[8]

Accolades

He was also a great visionary. Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam credits him of propelling the idea of Integrated Guided Missile Programme of India during the 1980s, when there was tremendous criticism from the Armed forces that, not a single missile had been successfully developed so far.[9][10]

That was the time, Shri Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib made a remark which is still ringing in my mind. He said "Hon'ble Minister sir, I heard all the discussion. But I would like to convey one thing. The time has come, we have to take a decision, exploring new path with courage. We should not be mixed-up with the past. Presently, we are seeing a committed passionat leadership for the missile programme. I consider that all the missiles should be developed, simultaneously in an integrated way." ..... The total orders to the production agency for Prithvi, Agni, Akash missiles and the BrahMos first of its kind supersonic cruise missile are valued over 93 lakh crore. Such is the power of single vision of our political and bureaucratic leadership.

— Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam

Notes
  1. India International Centre Quarterly, Volume 34. India International Centre. 2007. p. 189. C.R. KRISHNASWAMY RAO SAHIB was born in Chennai in 1927, joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1950 and became a member of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
  2. Special Correspondent (13 February 2013). "NATIONAL / ANDHRA PRADESH : C.R. Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib passes away". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  3. "Cabinet Secretaries". Archived from the original on 10 March 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. "Less scope for young bureaucrats to contribute to policy-making". The Hindu. 9 May 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  5. The Who's who in Madras: ... A Pictorial Who's who of Distinguished Personages, Princes, Zemindars and Noblemen in the Madras Presidency, Issue 9. Pearl Press. 1937. p. 246. Rao Sahib; Belongs to the Desastha Madhwa Community.
  6. N. Meera Raghavendra Rao (12 September 2012). Feature Writing. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd. p. 137. ISBN 9788120345799. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  7. India International Centre Quarterly, Volume 34. India International Centre. 2007. p. 189.
  8. The Civil List of the Indian Administrative Service, Volume 28. The Ministry. 1983. p. 2.
  9. "APJ Abdul Kalam credits Indira Gandhi for Agni-V missile success story". The Times of India. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  10. "Address to the Civil Service Officers 7th Civil Service Day". Abdul Kalam. 21 April 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
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