A Legendary Kotwal – Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy

Raja Bahadur Pasham Venkatarama Reddy occupies a unique place in the history of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. As a civil servant and social worker he pioneered qualities that made him a phenomenon in his lifetime and thereafter his name became synonymous with the movement for modernization, particularly for the people of Telangana. His personal life became an inspiring model for talented rural youth.

Born in a sturdy peasant family of modest means on 22 August 1869 in Rayanipeta village of Wanaparthy district (former Mahabubnagar), he lost his parents at a tender age and was raised by his grandmother. She could offer only traditional education, but later his maternal uncle Sai Reddy (William Wahab), a district police officer, mentored him. Through relentless effort Venkatarama Reddy mastered Urdu and gained a working knowledge of English. After his uncle’s passing, he secured a post as a police Sub-Inspector in the Nizam’s State through a family friend.

Starting as a Police Amin, he quickly proved his devotion and competence. When the Nizam sought a skilled officer for the Surf-e-khas, the Director General of Police recommended Reddy. Later, when Imadat Jung became Kotwal (Commissioner of Police) of Hyderabad, he identified Venkatarama Reddy as the leader who could deliver radical reforms. Within a short span, Reddy earned the goodwill of all sections of people.

He was an expert at forestalling communal disorders. Across 53 years of service he prevented communal incidents in every jurisdiction he oversaw. His strength lay in his demonstrably impartial character—he never allowed grievances to fester and possessed a remarkable sense of anticipation. Thanks to the unique structure of Hyderabad State, the Kotwal’s office ranked just below that of the Prime Minister, and after Imadat Jung’s death, Venkatarama Reddy became the obvious choice, becoming the first Hindu to hold the position.

Managing the Kotwal’s office with exceptional efficiency, he helped both poor and rich citizens feel safe. He projected an image of fearless fairness, offering direct accessibility to anyone seeking justice and often dispensing instant resolutions that spared people long legal battles. During his long tenure he orchestrated complex security arrangements for visiting dignitaries, mediated disputes such as those between Mahatma Gandhi and the State, and even coordinated an open-top convoy for Prince Edward—earning wide admiration.

Recognizing his service, the Nizam conferred upon him the title “Raja Bahadur,” and the British government followed with the Order of the British Empire (OBE). His spotless record during turbulent times became a shining example within the civil services.

Architect of Educational Renaissance

Coming from a rural background, he was acutely aware of the barriers faced by non-urban youth. Many could not continue their studies in Hyderabad due to a lack of boarding and lodging. In 1918 he founded the Reddy Hostel for boys—open to all communities—raising ₹3 lakhs personally. This pioneering institution has empowered thousands of rural students to build their careers. As founder-secretary he became the architect of an educational renaissance for rural Telangana.

He later served as the first President of the Girls High School in Narayanaguda, championed Telugu-medium education for girls, and opened a residential hostel for them in 1933. Treating the girls as his foster children, he frequently inspected the hostels to ensure quality.

After retiring from the police force he served in the State Legislature, driving laws against exploitation of child domestic labour (Patwarda), child marriage, and for enabling widow remarriage. As a champion of cooperatives, he invited an economics professor from Santiniketan to survey rural backwardness and launched a pilot cooperative development project in Medak district. He encouraged bright students to pursue higher studies abroad, denounced untouchability at every forum, and supported Harijan leaders in their advancement.

He also ran orphanages, leper homes, elders’ shelters, and raised funds for numerous humanitarian causes. Recognizing the need for women’s emancipation, he helped establish Hyderabad’s Cosmopolitan Club and founded the Anis-ul-gurba orphanage for Muslim boys. Altogether he guided twenty-two institutions as honorary president.

An Enduring Legacy

The initiatives Raja Bahadur launched through the 1920s and 1930s—girls’ schools, women’s clubs, cooperative pilots—were rare for their time and required vision and courage. When authorities refused to recognize the Telugu-medium Girls High School, he secured affiliation from the Karve Institute in Pune, and today a women’s college bears his name. Many causes he cherished have since become common practice.

His bronze statue near YMCA Cross Roads in Hyderabad and the Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy State Police Academy stand as monuments to his ideals. Even after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana retained the academy’s name, underscoring the timeless relevance of his contributions. His life continues to remind us of the long journey ahead in realizing the ideals of an able police administrator and pioneering social reformer.