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C. R. Krishnaswamy Rao


President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting the Padma Vibhushan to Krishnaswamy Rao in 2006

Office 15th Cabinet Secretary of India





Term start 30 April 1981
Term end 8 February 1985
Predecessor S S Grewal
Successor P. K. Kaul





Born 1927-02-02
Born Madras, British India[1]
Died Template:Death date and age[2]
Place of death Madras, Tamil Nadu, India




Spouse Lalitha


Alma mater Presidency College, Chennai



Colathur Rama Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib (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 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 the latter's formative years.

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 the 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 with 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] Template:Cquote

Notes

  1. India International Centre Quarterly, Volume 34{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. India International Centre(2007)
  2. 2.0 2.1 NATIONAL / ANDHRA PRADESH : C.R. Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib passes away. The Hindu(2013-02-13). Retrieved 2013-02-14.
  3. Cabinet Secretaries. 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{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Pearl Press(1937)
  6. Feature Writing{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.(12 September 2012). ISBN 9788120345799
  7. India International Centre Quarterly, Volume 34{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. India International Centre(2007)
  8. The Civil List of the Indian Administrative Service, Volume 28{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. The Ministry(1983)
  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). Retrieved 21 June 2012.

Template:Padma Vibhushan Awards