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Maharani Vidyavati Devi with Rabindranath Tagorewas perhaps one of the first towns to have a protected water supply system such as this, given the additional fact that it was not by a river and depended on ponds for this purpose. PVG Raju's mother, Maharani Vidyavati organised a woman's club meeting where the Mahila Sangam could receive Mahatma Gandhi. For this, she gave one lakh of rupees from her own purse. The development and focus on education for women and young girls so early on in Vizianagaram and the presence of strong women in his life such as his great aunt, Maharani Appala Kondayamma, who took great interest in public welfare served as an influence for PVG Raju. When the British came down hard on the freedom movement in Vizianagaram and lathi-charged the demonstrators on the main road of the town, several were left injured. It was PVG Raju's grandmother, Maharani Lalita Kumari Devi, also known as Ammaji Sarkar, whose natal home was in Kasmanda, Uttar Pradesh, who went out and ensured they were moved into the hospital. 45