# Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga

Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao (4 July 1947 – 26 December 1988) was an Indian politician from Andhra Pradesh, known for his prominent role in the state's politics during the 1980s. A member of the Congress Party, he represented the Vijayawada East assembly constituency. Ranga focused on social justice, advocating for land distribution to the landless and the welfare of marginalized communities. He also campaigned against police brutality, positioning himself as a champion of the underprivileged. His activism and confrontational style made him a key figure in Andhra Pradesh's political landscape.
Ranga rose to political prominence after the murder of his elder brother, Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, in 1974, and became a significant figure in Vijayawada's political scene. His career was marked by intense and often violent rivalries, particularly with the Devineni family and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). His efforts to mobilize the Kapu community and his stance against police excesses earned him widespread support.
On 26 December 1988, Ranga was assassinated while on a hunger strike, leading to unprecedented riots and political unrest in the region. His death at the age of 41 marked a pivotal moment in Andhra Pradesh's socio-political history, leaving a lasting impact on the state's politics and society. Ranga's legacy persists, with statues and memorials in his honour, reflecting his continued influence in the region.

## Early life

Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao was born on 4 July 1947 in Katuru, near Vuyyuru, in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, to Vangaveeti Seetharamaya and Vangaveeti Savithramma. He was the youngest of five brothers. His elder brothers were Vangaveeti Sobhana Chalapathi Rao, who served as an MLA for Vuyyuru in 1989; and Vangaveeti Radhakrishna Rao Sr., popularly known as Robinhood Radha, a prominent political figure in Vijayawada. After Radha's murder in 1974, Ranga entered politics to seek justice and continue his brother's legacy.

## Career

Ranga gained political prominence following the murder of his elder brother, Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, in 1974. Ranga's initial activities were tied to a rivalry over dominance in the transport sector.

### Political career

Ranga began his political career by contesting the 1981 municipal elections, with the Congress Party withdrawing its candidate to support him. His victory established him as a key figure in Vijayawada politics.
Ranga became deeply involved in the region's intense political rivalry, particularly with the Devineni family, led by Devineni Rajasekhar(Nehru), a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader. This rivalry often led to violent clashes and fueled tensions within the region.
Ranga contested the Vijayawada East assembly seat in 1985 on a Congress ticket and won, defeating TDP-backed rivals. His fiery speeches, aggression, and ability to mobilize the underprivileged further cemented his status as a political leader. Meanwhile, Nehru became a TDP MLA and later a minister. Both Ranga and Nehru were associated with the gang violence that marked the political landscape of Vijayawada during the 1980s, a period dominated by the leadership of Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao.
Ranga's feud with the Devineni family escalated further after the murder of Rajasekhar's brother, Gandhi, for which Ranga was imprisoned. In 1988, Nehru's another brother, Murali, was killed, and Ranga's followers were accused.
Ranga also campaigned against police excesses and became a prominent leader of the Kapu community. In July 1988, while imprisoned on several charges, Ranga was endorsed as the leader of the Kapu movement at the Kapunadu meeting, which reportedly attracted nearly five lakh participants. Following his release, he launched the Jana Chaitanya Yatra, a statewide tour to critique the TDP government under N. T. Rama Rao.

## Social advocacy

Ranga focused much of his political work on issues of social justice. He campaigned against police violence and advocated for the distribution of land pattas to the residents of Giripuram, a marginalized community in Vijayawada. His activism included an indefinite fast to press for these demands, despite threats to his safety.

## Assassination

On 26 December 1988, Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao was assassinated in Vijayawada while on an indefinite hunger strike advocating for land distribution. The attack was reportedly carried out by a group of assailants disguised as devotees performing bhajans, who used smoke bombs to disrupt the camp before fatally attacking him. His death at the age of 41 triggered widespread riots across Krishna, Guntur, and the Godavari districts, highlighting the tense political climate and the extent of his influence in the region.

## Aftermath

Following Ranga's assassination, widespread riots erupted across Coastal Andhra, particularly in Vijayawada and Guntur. The violence predominantly targeted properties associated with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supporters, mostly from the Kamma community. The riots led to 42 deaths, extensive property damage amounting to ₹200–300 crore (equivalent to ₹800–1200 crore in 2024) in Vijayawada alone, and a curfew was enforced in the city for over 40 days. The Chief Minister ordered the surrender of Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru), while the state’s Home Minister Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and the Director General of Police (DGP) resigned. A total of 44 individuals were charged with involvement in Ranga’s murder, but in 2002, the 33 who had not died in the meantime were all acquitted. One of the accused, Chalasani Venkateswara Rao (Pandu), was murdered in 2010.

## Personal life

Mohana Ranga was married to Chennupati Ratna Kumari; they had a son Vangaveeti Radha Krishna Jr., named after Ranga's brother Vangaveeti Radha Krishna Sr., and a daughter, Vangaveeti Asha Kiran.
Ranga's widow Ratna Kumari was elected MLA in 1989; in her second term, she switched from the Congress Party to the TDP. Radha Krishna Jr also entered politics after his father's death. He was a Congress Party MLA from 2004 to 2009.

## Legacy

Ranga remains an iconic figure in Coastal Andhra especially among the marginalized sections and his Kapu community, particularly in Krishna, Guntur, and the Godavari districts. Statues and memorials in his honour are found across the region.
Even decades after his assassination, Ranga's legacy continues to be a significant factor in Andhra Pradesh politics. Political parties frequently invoke his name, underscoring his enduring influence in the region.

## In popular culture

* Chaitanya Ratham, a 1987 film based on the life of Mohana Ranga starring Bhanu Chander and Sarath Babu in lead roles and produced by Radha Mitra Mandali Movies
* Sahasame Naa Oopiri, a 1989 film directed by Vijaya Nirmala and starring Krishna in the lead role was based on the murder of Mohana Ranga
* Vangaveeti, 2016 biographical film on Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, directed by Ram Gopal Varma