Dharma Rao was born in Annvarapu lanka, Kollipara Mandal, Andhra Pradesh, one of ten children in an agricultural household.
[citation needed] He studied his primary education at Chilumur in Sri Rama Rural Gurukul then attended Hindu College (Guntur) between 1952 and 1954.
[citation needed] Dharma Rao married A. Nirmalananda Kumari and had four daughters: A. Prabhavati; Nagalla Padmavati; Narravula Sailaja and Koritala Devaki Devi.
Dharma Rao established a charity organization GRETNALTES (Greater Tenali Leprosy Treatment and Education Scheme Society).
He prepared a report stating there were more than 3.5 million people who had lost employment and 6,900 villagers suffering through no access to drinking water, raising alarm among the politicians.
[citation needed] Dharma Rao's health deteriorated and he died while undergoing treatment at Medwin Hospitals in Hyderabad on 7 May 2003.