Sir K. V. Reddi Naidu
1875 – 1942
Lawyer and former physics professor who argued the party's case in London, served in the first Justice ministries and later became both acting Governor and Premier of Madras.
Sir Kurma Venkata Reddi Naidu (1875–1942), known as K. V. Reddi Naidu, studied at Madras Christian College and Madras Law College and taught physics at the Government Arts College, Rajahmundry, before practising law in Rajahmundry and Eluru.
After years in local and district boards he joined the Justice Party. He was part of the delegation that argued for communal representation before the Joint Select Committee in 1919 and became its spokesman after T. M. Nair's death. He served as Minister of Development and Minister of Industries in the first two Justice ministries from 1920 to 1923. His 1924 evidence to the Muddiman Committee, describing himself as a Minister of Agriculture without irrigation, is a classic account of the limits of dyarchy.
He later represented India at the League of Nations (1928) and served as India's Agent in South Africa (1929–32). He acted as Governor of Madras between June and October 1936 and was Premier from April to July 1937, making him the only person to hold both posts.
Key contributions
- Spokesman of the 1919 Justice delegation to the Joint Select Committee
- Minister of Development and Industries, 1920–1923
- Testimony to the Muddiman Committee on the failings of dyarchy, 1924
- Acting Governor (1936) and Premier (1937) of Madras