SRI RAJA-LAKSHMI FOUNDATION

Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation is a Charitable Trust that promotes Arts, Sciences, Literature, Medicine, Journalism, Humanities and other intellectual pursuits and to honour distinguished persons in these fields. Established in 1979 in Chennai by P.V. Ramaniah Raja, a businessman, the Foundation instituted the ''Raja-Lakshmi Award.'' The Raja-Lakshmi Award carries a prize amount of Rs.1,00,000/-, a Citation and a Plaque.  The Awardee also receives the Dr. K.V. Rao & Dr. Jyoti Rao Award of US $ 2000, in association with the Telugu Fine Arts Society [TFAS], New Jersey, USA.

The Foundation also instituted awards such as the Raja-Lakshmi Literary Award (1987-1999) and "Recognise the Teacher" Award. Special awards (Raja-Lakshmi Visishta Puraskar) have also been announced on a one-off basis. Presently the Awards being given are 'Raja-Lakshmi Award' and the 'Lakshmi-Raja Vaidika Puraskar'. '''Lakshmi-Raja Vaidika Puraskar''' was instituted in the year 1994 coinciding with the 60th birthday of Smt. Mahalakshmi Raja, founder trustee of the Foundation. The Award honours Vedic scholars, and consists of a Citation, a plaque and a cash prize of Rs.25,000/-.

These Awards are announced on August 15th (birthday of Late Smt. Mahalakshmi Raja) every year and  presented at a function on November 19th (birthday of Sri Ramaniah Raja) in the same year.

The Foundation has also instituted the '''Ratna Rao Memorial Prize''' which is awarded annually to the best student in M.Sc. Chemistry at the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai.

The Foundation also has been holding annual lectures on the 11th of March since the year 2000 in memory of Late Smt. Mahalakshmi Raja.

        Raja-Lakshmi Award

Award Information
Category	Fine Arts, Music, Science, Journalism Medicine, Social Service
Instituted	1979
First Awarded	1979
Last Awarded	2008
Total Awarded	30
Cash Award	Indian Rs.One Lakh
First Awardee(s)	Sri Sri
Last Awardee(s)	Koneru Humpy

P.V.Ramaniah Raja

Managing Trustee