R. Venkataraman was born on 4th December, 1910, in Rajamadam, Tamil Nadu. He did his schooling in Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Pattukottai. Later, he did his under graduation in National College, Tiruchirappalli.
Venkataraman obtained his master’s degree in economics from Loyola College, Madras. He later qualified in law from the Law College, Madras. A lawyer by profession, he had practised law in the Madras High Court, and in the Supreme Court. He was enrolled as a law practitioner in the Madras High Court in the year 1935, and was appointed to the Apex Court in 1951.
He took part in the Indian independence movement and actively participated in the Quit India agitation. He was jailed by the British government during the period between 1942 and 1944.
After his release he continued to practise law. In the same year, Venkataraman took up the Organization of the labour section of the Tamil Nadu Provincial Congress Committee.
He played a crucial role in the parliamentary team that redesigned India’s Provincial parliament.
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