Rao went on to hold visiting appointments in both the United States (at Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania) and in Britain (at the School of Oriental and African Studies).
He was a frequent participant in academic conferences and travelled widely in order to do so.
Recognition of his work came in various forms, including receipt of the G. S. Ghurye Award in 1979, the S. C. Roy Memorial Gold Medal of The Asiatic Society in 1982, and the publication of at least one gedenkschrift.
[2][3] Rao died on 12 December 1985, at which point he was, according to Andre Beteille, "at the height of his professional career".
[2] Following his death, a memorial scholarship[4] and an academic award were named for him.