2012 is a very special year for our family as it is the birth centenary year of two of our illustrious family members – Sri Damerla Venkataramayya (Dr. D. Venkatram) and Late Sri Mallimadugula Venkataramaiah.

Descending from a common lineage, both are named after their grandfather Sri Digumarthi Venkataramayya – a man of great virtues. Apart from their name and common lineage, they share a common date of birth, having been born in Berhampur in a gap of few hours. While they were first cousins, they shared a very close friendly bond.

We are taking this opportunity in this centenary year to share their life sketches in brief and salute our beloved stalwarts. We also invite you to share your memorable experiences with these two great personalities."


With Best Wishes

Bangariah
Hyderabad

SRI MALLIMADUGULA VENKATA RAMAIAH –A life Sketch

Sri Mallimadugula Venkata Ramaiah was born at Berhampur on the 13th of June, 2012 to Sri M. Bangaraiah Panthulugaru and Smt. Lalithamba. He did his early schooling in Visakhapatnam and later in Khallikota College, Berhampur. He passed his GDA (CA) in 1934 from Madras.

He married Smt.Seshamamba in 1945 and they were blessed with a son and two daughters.
After completing his studies, he joined Defence Accounts and worked at Gun Carriage Factory (Jabalpur), Refugee Camp (Katni), moved to the AG’s Office at Nagpur before being selected to UPSC. He then joined ESI Corporation and retired as Regional Director in 1970. He joined Andhra Mahila Sabha in 1971 at the request of Smt. Durgabai Deshmukh. He worked relentlessly for all–round development of the organization as the Secretay of the AMS Trust Board for over 25 years, before retiring from active service in 1997.

The Mallimadugulas, including women, actively participated in the freedom struggle and were closely associated with the top Congress leaders at that time. An ardent patriot and veteran freedom fighter, Sri Venkata Ramaiah served as the Mahatma’s personal secretary at the age of 15 when the latter toured Andhra and Orissa. He participated in the Salt Satyagraha Movement at the age of 17 and courted imprisonment. He also participated in the Quit India Movement. He was honoured as a Swatantra Senani by the State.

He was a man of firm convictions and principles. He led a simple life wearing only Khadi till his last. He will always be remembered for his Gandhian values of simplicity, humility, patience, steadfastness of mind and, above all, for his uncompromising honesty.

He left this world on 13th Febraury, 2000 but is always remembered for his warmth and love. A man clad in Khadi symbolizing faith and courage, with a face full of wisdom and kindness, taking every step with dignity and firmness, and a heart filled with compassion and love – that was Mallimadugula Venkata Ramaiah.

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DAMERLA VENKATA RAMAYYA – A Life Sketch

Damerla Venkata Ramayya – known as Dr.D.V.Rama Rao to the medical fraternity, Venkataram to his wife and Madurai Daddy, Doctor Uncle, Doctor Thathayya to his grandchildren was born in Berhampore in 1912 in the Ganjam district of Orissa. He is the youngest son of Damerla Durgaprasada Rao and Damerla Braharambica. He lost his father when he was five years old.

Like all children, he was extremely mischievous and gave his mother several anxious moments!!

He completed his high school studies from the Kallakota College in Berhampore, Intermediate from the AVN College at Vishakapatnam, MBBS from the Andhra Medical College,Visakhapatnam and Midwiferyand Gynecology from the Medical College at Madras.
In 1942 he married Savithri, the second daughter of Varaha GiriVenkata Giri and moved to Ambasamudram in the Tirunalveli district of Tamil Naduto work in the Harvey Mills as a doctor.

Harvey Mills/Madura Coats was to remain as his sole employer for the next 3 decades. He was extremely popular with the workers and staff of the mills and over the years built up a reputation of being a doctorwith a healing touch.

The world around him was changing rapidly. India got its independence in 1947. His father-in-law Shri V.V.Giri was in the forefront of the freedom struggle and subsequent to independence occupied many positions of power and eventually became the President of India. However, for the young doctor and his wife in Ambasamudram, the priority was bringing up their children and in some sense the political turmoil of those times left the family untouched. He was extremely diligent about ensuring that his family remained financially secure since he had seen his mother go through immense financial difficulty while bringing him and his two siblings up. His dream was to build his own house – which he accomplished in 1970 and “Sri Vinaya” became an indelible part of the lives of all his near and dear.

In the late fifties he moved to Madurai and became the Chief Medical Officer for the Madura Coats. Over the next decade his children married and then his grand children were born and he showered on each of them love and affection with the provision that he was never to be called ‘Tathayya” because he was not really that old (even now he claims that his heart is young and it is only his knees that have failed him!!).