Veteran media personality and business tycoon Ch. Ramoji Rao, who passed away on Saturday, leaves behind a legacy of unparalleled contributions across various fields such as media, hospitality, finance, food, and retail. Rao's journey from humble beginnings to becoming the founder of Eenadu, the largest circulated Telugu daily, is legendary and inspirational.
Born on November 16, 1936, in Krishna district of coastal Andhra Pradesh, Ramoji Rao hailed from a middle-class farming family. He began his entrepreneurial journey by establishing Margadarsi Chit Fund in 1962, which serves customers in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and other states. In 1969, Rao ventured into the media sector with the launch of 'Annadata', a magazine for farmers.
In 1974, Ramoji Rao founded Eenadu in Visakhapatnam, revolutionizing the newspaper industry in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Eenadu's use of simple Telugu, increased local news coverage, and special editions for each district made it extremely popular. Rao’s insistence on punctuality ensured the newspaper reached readers before sunrise. Eenadu's campaign to restore democracy, which contributed to TDP founder N. T. Rama Rao's return to power in 1984, stands as a significant milestone in Rao's life.
Rao's impact extended beyond journalism. The funds collected through the Eenadu relief fund following natural calamities have been used to build permanent houses and schools in several states. Many Telugu words coined by Eenadu with the advent of the internet have become part of the Telugu lexicon.
In television, Rao launched ETV, one of the first satellite entertainment channels in Telugu, ending the monopoly of Doordarshan. ETV quickly became a household name, and its bouquet of channels soon expanded to include ETV news in Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Hindi, and other languages. The music show 'Padutha Teeyaga', anchored by the late S. P. Balasubrahmanyam on ETV for almost two decades, introduced thousands of budding singers.
Ramoji Rao also founded the world's largest film city, Ramoji Film City, recognized by Guinness World Records. Thousands of films, including S. S. Rajamouli's blockbuster 'Bahubali' and many other Indian language films, have been shot there. Rao's unique style of low-budget filmmaking on social themes earned him widespread acclaim. Notable film personalities, including Oscar-winning musician M. M. Keeravani and actor Jr. NTR, have been introduced or found success through Ramoji Rao's productions.
The Dolphin group of hotels, another venture of Rao's, contributes to the hospitality industry in the region. Ramoji Rao's contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 2016. He also received several other awards and honorary doctorates from various universities. He served as the chairman of the Editors Guild of India, highlighting his influence and respect in the field of journalism.
Ramoji Rao's legacy is reflected in the numerous businesses he founded, providing jobs to thousands and impacting millions of lives in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and beyond. His visionary work in media, entertainment, and business will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.
