Kudmul Ranga Rao

Kudmul Ranga Rao was a Social reformer born on 29th June 1859 in Kudmul, a village in Dakshina Kannada. He was born in a middle class Gowda Saraswat Brahman community. His father, Devappayya, worked as a clerk under a landlord and his mother gauri, a housewife. He has worked for empowerment of the socially backward classes and fought against untochability.
Career
Ranga Rao completed his primary education in Kasaragod. He began working as a teacher in Mangalore. He completed his matriculation through correspondence course. Later he cleared the pleadership examination, that certified him to argue for clients in court. Following this, he began his career as a lawyer in Mangalore. He was better known as “the poor man’s lawyer”. ‘Education is the source of progress’ was his tenet. Ranga Rao set up schools in Kankanadi, Bannanje, Moolki, Boloor, Udupi, Nejaru, Attavara, Baabugudda, Dhaddalkaad for the downtrodden. To persuade the kids to attend schools, he arranged mid day meals and 2 paise per day to the parents to develop an interest and motivate the families to get their progeny to schools. He also set up schools and institutes like Urwa/Chilimbi Primary school, Kankanady Primary school, Boloor Primary School, Shedigudde Primary School, Shedigudde Industrial Training Center, Womans Hostel, The Depressed classes mission- Kodiyalbail for the upliftment of the downtrodden poor people. By the contact of BrahmaSamaj, Ranga Rao fought against untouchability, superstitions, caste system, child marriage, devadasi system and encourage widow remarriage and freedom for women (stree swatantra). By marrying off his widow daughter, he set an example for widow remarriage and Intercaste marrige in India. Through The Depressed Classes Mission he started to give information and training to the children of depressed class people about Handicrafts, Home Industries, Dairy farming, Honey Farming, Horticulture and silk farming to make them independent.