BS VenkataRao’s orginal name was Batthula Aashayya. Venkata Rao had the opportunity of exposure to modern education because his father worked as a domestic help/ housekeeper for a British Officer. Subsequently, after school education, Venkata Rao achieved command over English, Urdu, Persian and Marathi languages along with Telugu which was his mother tongue.
He worked as a sculptor in Pune for a short time before joining as an Officer in Public Works Department of the Nizam government. Having personally seen and suffered several hardships rooted in untouchability and caste discrimination, he strived to end evils of caste system. He played an active role in the activities of Dalit movement spearheaded by Bhagya Reddy Varma.
He started Adi Dravida Sangham in 1922 and worked relentlessly to build new consciousness and unity among Dalit youth for eradication of the age-old evil practices like Devadasi, Jogini and Basivi in Telangana.
Besides, he also started Adi Hindu Mahasabha in 1927 with the aim to spread Dalit reform activities. He built libraries and temples for Dalits in Ghas Mandi (Adayya Nagar) in Secunderabad under the aegis of Adi Hindu Mahasabha. Similarly, he also built houses for Dalits in Ghas Mandi and changed its name to Aadayya Nagar.
With the influence of Ambedkar’s writings and activities inspiring Dalit
movement in India, Venkata Rao also established Ambedkar Youth League
to build caste eradication movement in Hyderabad State. It instilled new
inspiration among Dalit youth and helped build movement against caste
system.