As Civil Service Day was celebrated on April 21, it seems only fitting to recall the contribution of J. Venkatanarayana Naidu, the Corporation of Madras’ much-celebrated commissioner, who helped significantly to shape the city as we know it today.
Naidu, a well-respected public servant, was titled Rao Sahib in 1920 and Diwan Bahadur in 1923. He was appointed to the helm at Ripon Buildings as the commissioner of Madras Corporation in 1925.
The rise to power, however, was not smooth. With stiff opposition to his appointment, Naidu was forced to prove his mettle as an administrator, every step of the way. By enforcing decisive reforms in curbing corruption, improving the health department, and enhancing revenues, Naidu made history.
So much so that The Hindu , in a report dated May 8, 1928, stated that Naidu was the first commissioner of the Corporation of Madras to remain in office for a full term of three years.
It was said that up until then, all his predecessors had vacated their seat long before the end of their statutory term.
For an institution that was fast losing public confidence, Naidu infused in the civic body a sense of dynamism that was much needed.
After retiring as the commissioner of Madras Corporation, Naidu served as secretary to the government in the law and education departments, among others.
Interestingly, the city continues to bear his name with Venkatanarayana Road in T. Nagar being christened after him.
City historian V. Sriram says, “It was in the 1920s the area of T. Nagar developed. Naidu contributed significantly to the formation of the neighbourhood. He was also a man passionate about the arts. He also served as the president of the Indian Fine Arts Society for some years.”
The city as it were has been especially generous in memorialising its civil servants. Conron Smith, Thiruvalayangudi Vijayaraghavacharya, and Pulla Reddy are some of the government workers who have roads named after them.
