VISAKHAPATNAM/VIZIANAGARAM:Former minister and MP Pusapati Anand Gajapathi Raju passed away in a corporate hospital in Visakhapatnam on Saturday following a cardiac arrest. He is the elder brother of Union civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, both direct descendants of the royal family of the erstwhile princely state of Vizianagaram.
Anand Gajapathi Raju reportedly complained of chest pain after having his dinner at his residence in Visakhapatnam on Friday night, but ignored it as gastric problem. Later on Saturday morning, the pain aggravated and the family members shifted him to a corporate hospital in the city where he breathed his last at 8.30 am while undergoing treatment.
Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who was in the city on Saturday to attend a private programme, rushed to the hospital soon after learning about his brother’s demise. Later, the body was shifted to the Vizianagaram Fort and the last rites was performed on the bank of Peddacheruvu where the funerals of members of the royal family are traditionally organised.
Major parts of Vizianagaram town including PW Market remained shut as a mark of respect to their beloved ‘Raja Vaaru’.
Born on July 17 in 1950 in Madras, Anand Gajapathi Raju was the eldest son of Maharaja Sahib Late P Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju, a philanthropist and renowned Parliamentarian.
Anand Gajapathi Raju had succeeded his father as the heir following the latter’s death in November 1995. He got elected as MLA from Bheemili in 1983 and later went on to become minister with health and education portfolios.
He was also elected twice to Lok Sabha from Bobbili constituency in 1985 and 1991. However, he took retirement from active politics in 1996 stating that it was losing values and constantly failing to deliver justice to the poor.
A learned scholar with two PhDs-in economics from Andhra University and in education from the US-Anand Gajapathi Raju was known for his patronage to education institutions, research, philanthropy and also cricket.
He pursued his studies in several reputed educational institutions in India and US. Appreciating his services to the cause of education, an honorary doctorate was conferred on him by the Inter American University of Humanistic Studies in Florida, USA. In 2009, he was awarded with another doctorate in economics from Andhra University in recognition to his contribution to economic policies.
The Pusapati scion was also the hereditary trustee of more than 100 temples dotting the North Coastal Andhra region and other parts of Andhra Pradesh including Sri Varaha Lakshmi Nrusimha Swamy Devasthanam of Simhachalam, Srikurmam temple in Srikakulam and Kotipalli in East Godavari, all part of the erstwhile princely state of Vizianagaram.
As the hereditary trustee, he got the previledge of being the first person to have darshan of Lord Varaha Lakshmi Nrusimha Swamy during Chandanotsavam, Kalyanotsavam and other temple rituals. He was also serving as the chairman of MANSAS Trust which is running top educational institutions in the region.Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, deputy chief minister N Chinna Rajappa and several others from various walks of life expressed shock over the demise of Anand and paid their condolences.