Given his simplicity and humility, it was difficult for many to believe that Mr. Ray had been a student of the elite Presidency College, Kolkata; Delhi School of Economics and London School of Economics. It is said that he inherited his courage of conviction from his father Mr. Ranajit, who was also of the Indian Civil Services.
Since this is the first in the series of lectures, I will recall in brief Mr. Ray’s major achievements. First, and perhaps the foremost is his pioneering role in the development of women’s help groups in Andhra Pradesh, which led the SHG movement to become the most impressive mass movement in this area.