E Raghavendra Rao, the man who taught Indians the concept of civil defence 80 years ago

NAGPUR: As MHA's Wednesday mock drill for civil defence preparedness becomes a buzzword across India, very few know that it all started with a Nagpur man way back in 1941. That year, as World War-II raged, a debate in the UK Parliament on July 22 led to a question being asked on what was the govt's plan to associate its colony – India – more "closely with the war effort". Lord H Snell replied that in India they will create a new portfolio called ‘Civil Defence' and a Nagpur resident, E Raghavendra Rao, was named its chief.While Rao, a barrister trained in England, passed away a year later in 1942, he had by then already laid a strong foundation for Civil Defence in India, something which Wednesday's mock drill is a testimony to.Born in 1889, Rao was a well-known public figure with his career reaching its peak in 1936, when he was appointed Governor of Central Provinces (CP), which had Nagpur as capital. In 1937, under the new constitution, he was appointed chief minister of CP & Berar.While Rao's grandfather hailed from what is now Andhra Pradesh, the family settled in Nagpur and built a thriving business. Born in an affluent family in 1889, Rao completed his education in Nagpur, then at Allahabad (Prayagraj) and finally London.After taking over as the first chief of the civil defence portfolio, Rao's challenge was to introduce the alien concept to the people. While talking about this in 1941 on All India Radio (AIR), Rao said "What is ‘civil defence' for which we must prepare? It covers all those preparations to meet the threat of air raids, repair damage they cause, which are not the concern of the armed forces. It is a passive defence, as distinguished from the active defence of the Army, Navy and Air Force."What MHA's Wednesday mock drill will showcase to the world, Rao had laid the ground rules over 80 years ago. Explaining civil defence further, Rao said "It includes arrangements for warning the public of an air raid, reporting fall of bombs, rescuing people from wrecked buildings, tending to the wounded, providing shelter and food for those who have been rendered homeless by enemy action."The entire last year of his life, Rao dedicated it to strengthening the base for civil defence. This contribution was acknowledged in the Council of States, as noted in a British govt document dated September 29, 1942. The Council was informed that Rao "was in charge of the portfolio of civil defence and in spite (sic) of his weak health, attended all meetings of the Council of States, and did his work to the satisfaction of all. His untimely death has cut short a brilliant career. His loss is all the greater at this period of India's history". The fact that India's only civil defence college is located in Nagpur, is probably the best tribute to Rao.