 He died on 20 October 1990, at National Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad due to cardio-respiratory failure

He did most of his schooling in his native place Bapatla, and then graduated from the Loyola College, Madras and completed his law degree from the ILS Law College, Pune.At the age of 16, Rao conducted boycott of schools when late Motilal Nehru died.He was a social and political worker and took active part in the Salt Satyagraha movement and Quit India Movement of 1942.