Shri V.K.R.V. Rao

Shri V.K.R.V. Rao had great reverence for Shri Nathji.  Shri Nathji had called for the application forms from Delhi University through Sri Krishen Khanna who was living in Delhi those days. HH Pran Nath filled in the application forms and these were posted to Delhi. However, just because the application forms reached Delhi one day late, he was refused admission.  This came as a very great shock to Shri Nathji, and he immediately went down to Delhi to meet the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Shri V.K.R. Rao. Shri Nathji met the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Shri V.K.R.Rao, at his residence and spoke to him on spiritual themes. He also mentioned Pran Nath’s case and then left.

However, the University remained adamant in refusing the admission because of the application being one day late and there was nothing that the Vice Chancellor could do in the matter, despite his great reverence for Shri Nathji. 

When HH Priya Nathji passed his exams, Shri Nathji, painstakingly made handwritten copies of the boys’ mark sheets and school certificates, and got them attested, and posted to Delhi University. He wrote to Delhi University to accept the mark-sheets and academic records of the boys in lieu of the application forms, in case it took time to obtain the forms. When there was no reply from Delhi University for a long time, Shri Nathji went down to Delhi himself for the second time and tried to see the Vice Chancellor of the Delhi University, Dr. V.K.R. Rao at his residence. (bellow is the photograph of the Vice Chancellors Lodge, were Shri Nathji went to Meet Dr. Rao.)  Unfortunately the Vice Chancellor was ill at the time and so Shri Nathji could not get to see him. Later however Both HH Pran NAthji and HH Priya Nathji took admition in Allahabad University. 
V. K. R. V. Rao (Vijayendra Kasturi Ranga Varadaraja Rao), (1908–1991) was a prominent Indian economist, politician, professor and educator. He was born on July 8, 1908 at Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu to Kasturirangachar and Bharati Bai.

He had his early schooling in Tindivanam and Madras (Chennai). He was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan. He served as a Union Minister for the Education in 1971, elected as member for Bellary in 1967 and 1971. He was awarded a Ph.D. in 1937 from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. The title of his doctoral thesis was "The national income of British India, 1931-1932"

Rao received many awards that include: Cobdon Club Medal in Political Economy (1927), Lord Minto Scholarship (1927-29), Dakshina Fellowship (1927-29), Madan Memorial Lecture in Indian Currency, Bombay (1931), Sir Mangaldas Nathubhai Traveling Fellowship, Bombay University (1932-35), Carton Studentship in Social Sciences, Great Britain (1934-36), Sir Thomas Greshan Research Studentship, Caius College, Cambridge (1934-36) Adam Smith Prize, Cambridge and Dadabhai Nauroji Memorial Prize (1934). Academic Honours include Honorary D.Litt. from Delhi, Jabalpore, Indore, Andhra and Nagpur Universities, Hon D.C.L. from Oxford University, Honorary Professorship of Osmania, Andhra Universities, Hon. Fellowship of Conville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Rao established three noted institutions in Social Science research in India: Delhi School of Economics, Institute of Economic Growth and the Institute for Social and Economic Change. He was also instrumental in establishing the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Agro-economic Centres and Population Research Centres. He created an autonomous public body in the form of the Indian Council of Social Science Research. This was established under the Societies Registration Act (1860) on 30 July 1969 at Delhi. All the 3 institutions founded by him, even today maintain very close intra-institutional relationship. Another organization that owes its present prominence to Rao’s vision is the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. He was the third president of Delhi Karnataka Sangha.

He was awarded Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1974.

 In the international sphere he was one of the central forces behind the institution of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the IDA.

He served as Planning Adviser Food Department (1945-46), Food and Economic Adviser, Government of India at Washington (1946-47); Director, Delhi School of Economics, Delhi (1948-57); Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi (1957-60); Director, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi (1960-63); Member, Planning Commission (1963-66); Union Cabinet Minister for Transport and Shipping (1967-69); Union Cabinet Minister for Education & Youth Services (1969-71); Director, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore (1972-77); National Professor, Government of India (1985-1990).

Notable among the learned bodies and conferences with which he was associated are: Corresponding Member, Institute de Science Economique, Paris; Correspondent, Royal Economic Society, London; Hon. Member, Japan Economic Research Centre, Delhi Karnataka Sangha, Tokyo; Member, Governing Body, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth; Member, Governing Body, International Economic Association; Member, Governing Body, International Institute for Educational Planning; President, Indian Agricultural Economic Conference; etc. etc. He was member of several Commissions and Committees, prominent among which being Member-Secretary, Bombay Economic Industrial Survey Committee; Chairman, U.N Sub-Commission for Economic Development (which led to the establishment of the soft loan window of the World Bank, the IDA; Member, Taxation Enquiry Commission, Member, National Income Committee; Member, Planning Advisory Board, Government of India; Chairman, U.N Sub-Committee on Experts on Levels of Living; etc.

Meerut

Shri Nathji had a long association with Meerut. He used to pass this city on his numerous trips between Delhi and Mussoorie. In 1956 after leaving Delhi Shri Nathji stayed at the Wheelers Club in Meerut. Shri Nathji liked the place so much that he decided to continue staying there for a month at least. Mateshwari and the boys were enjoying the beautiful surroundings, the well-kept lawns, the tidy club buildings, the dining hall and large ballroom, room etc. Everything had a British flavour to it, and was spic and span.

Next year it was also decided to spend the winter vacations at Meerut. Shri Nathji and his family came to Meerut without ensuring in advance that rooms would be available at the Wheler Club. When they enquired from the management, they were told that not a single room was available and none would be available for a few weeks in the future. It was apparent that they would have to find a place to stay for a few weeks till the rooms at Wheeler Club became available. As they came out of Wheeler Club, Shri Nathji met a certain gentlemen who was at the gate and asked him about the hotels in Meerut.

The man was an Army Officer, Colonel Rai, by name. He tried to answer Shri Nathji's queries as best as he could and then asked him what the problem was. “Sir, if I may be permitted to invite you to my house I shall feel greatly honoured! It was a very difficult proposition for Shri Nathji. He did not know the man at all, and he was with Mateshwari and the boys. How could all of them become the guests of a man they did not even know? But when Shri Nathji saw the sincerity of the Colonel, he was overwhelmed and agreed to stay at the man’s house. Then once the rooms at Weller Club were available, Shri Nathji shifted there.

The birthday of Shri Babaji Maharaj was celebrated by Shri Nathji at Meerut in 1957. A hall was booked at the Allahabad Bank premises where the Manager had developed a great respect for Shri Nathji. Meerut was one place were Maha Mateswariji’s health also greatly improved.

Meerut is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an ancient city with settlements dating back to the Indus Valley civilization having been found in and around the area. The city lies 70 km northeast of the national capital New Delhi.

The city derived its name from Maya Rashtra, the capital of the kingdom of Mandodari's father and Ravana's father-in-law, Mayasura. This name mutated to Mairashtra, Mai-dant-ka-khera, Mairaath and eventually Meerut. It was also the Easternmost settlement of the Indus valley civilisation. Meerut had been a centre of Buddhism in the period of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The Ashoka Pillar, at Delhi, near Delhi University, was carried to Delhi from Meerut, by Firuz Shah Tughluq (r. 1351–1388) In the middle ages the city witnessed many invasion and plunders by raiders like Mahmud Ghazni, Mohammad Ghori, Timur, etc. During the rule of Mughals,  Emperor, Akbar had a mint for copper coins here. After the Mugals,  Meerut was ruled by Jats & then Marathas. Finally the British took meerut from Marathas. Meerut is famously associated with the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company.

Today Meerut continues to be an important cantonment town. It is also a major center for industry. The city is one of the largest producers of sports goods, and the largest producer of musical instruments in India as well as this is the largest producers of bicycle rickshaw in world. The city is also an education hub in western Uttar Pradesh.
The most important landmark and tourist destination of the city is the  St. John's Church, completed in 1822, it is one of the oldest Churches of North India.The church was dedicated in 1824 by the famous Bishop Heber. St. John's is beautiful and unusual because the nave is flanked by such wide aisles that the floor plan is nearly square. It is amazing to see that this heritage building still stands , so well preserved.

Allhabad Bank, Meerut where Babaji Maharaj's Birthday was celebrated.

Shri Nathji was staying with His family at Wheeler Club in Meerut in 1957 for the winter months. The birthday of Shri Babaji Maharaj was celebrated by Shri Nathji at Meerut that year. A hall was booked at the Allahabad Bank premises where the Manager had developed a great respect for Shri Nathji.

This is the photograph of the building of Allhabad Bank in Meerut. It is located at the Mall Road Meerut Cantonment. It was build in the year 1908.This heritage building is still used by the bank and is maintained in its original condition.