Chandra Rajeswara Rao

Chandra Rajeshwara Rao (June 6, 1914 – April 9, 1994) was an Indian freedom fighter. He was one of the leaders of the Telangana Rebellion (1946–1951). He also worked as Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary for 28 years before giving up the job in 1992 for health reasons.

Life
Rao came from an affluent peasant family. He was born on June 6, 1914 in Mangalapuram village, Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh State, India. He received his medical education at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi and at a medical college in Vishakha-patnam. He joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1931. Rao was vice-chairman of the All-India Kisan Sabha (Peasants’ League) in 1954 and 1955. In December 1964 he was elected general secretary of the National Council of the CPI. He was awarded the Order of Lenin in 1974.

His son, Chandra Chandrasekhar, and grandson, Chandra Jaideep are involved in politics in Andhra Pradesh.