From 1991 until 1996, this member of the Indian National Congress Party served as his country's tenth Prime Minister. He had previously held office as Minister of Home Affairs and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
After receiving his bachelor's degree from Osmania University, he earned a law degree from Hislop College, Nagpur University. He became involved in politics after joining the Indian Independence Movement.
He attained fluency in seventeen different languages and translated several literary works from one Indian tongue to another.
A native of Karimnagar, Hyderabad State, India, he was adopted at the age of three and raised by a family of farmers. His marriage to Satyamma Rao resulted in eight children, including Politician sons P.V. Rangarao and P.V. Rajeswara Rao.
Rao rose to political prominence following the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
