E Raghavendra Rao
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A brief biography
Abhishek Choudhari, May 7, 2025: The Times of India
Nagpur: As India readies to hold drills for civil defence preparedness, few know that it was started way back in 1941 by a Nagpur man. That year on July 22, as World War-II raged, a debate in the UK Parliament led to a question: What was the govt’s plan to associate its colony, India, more “closely with the war effort”? In reply it was said that a new portfolio would be created in India called ‘Civil Defence’ with E Raghavendra Rao, a Nagpur resident, as its chief.
Rao, a barrister trained in England, passed away a year later. But by then he had already laid a strong foundation for civil defence in India, something which Wednesday’s drill is a testimony to.
Born in 1889, Rao was a well-known public figure with his career reaching its peak in 1936, when he was appointed Governor of Central Provinces, which had Nagpur as capital. In 1937, under the new constitution, he was appointed the chief minister of Central Provinces and Berar.
While Rao’s grandfather hailed from what is now Andhra Pradesh, the family settled in Nagpur and built a thriving business. Born in an affluent family, Rao completed his education in Nagpur, then at Allahabad (Prayagraj) and finally London.
Rao’s challenge as the first chief of civil defence was to introduce the alien concept to people. Talking about it on the All India Radio, Rao said, “What is civil defence for which we must prepare? It covers all those preparations to meet the threat of air raids, repair damage they cause, which are not the concern of the armed forces. It is a passive defence, as distinguished from the active defence of the Army, Navy and Air Force.”
He further explained, “It includes arrangements for warning the public of an air raid, reporting fall of bombs, rescuing people from wrecked buildings, tending to the wounded, providing shelter and food for those who have been rendered homeless by enemy action.”
The last year of Rao’s life was entirely dedicated to strengthening the base for civil defence. The contribution was acknowledged in the Council of States, as noted in a British govt document dated Sept 29, 1942: Rao “was in charge of the portfolio of civil defence and in spite (sic) of his weak health, attended all meetings of the Council of States, and did his work to the satisfaction of all. His untimely death has cut short a brilliant career.
His loss is all the greater at this period of India’s history.” The fact that India’s only civil defence college is located in Nagpur, is perhaps the best tribute to E Raghavendra Rao.
