Ananda Rao Samuel was born on 29 December 1928[1] in the port town of Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh into a Dalit Anglican family and studied at the local Noble College during 1944 to 1949 earning the degrees of BA and MA.
From 1950,[1] Ananda Rao pursued a graduate degree in divinity (BD) at the United Theological College, Bengaluru as a candidate of the Church of South India, Diocese of Krishna-Godavari.
[4] Ananda Rao participated in the Fifth Assembly of the World Council of Churches held from 23 November – 10 December 1975 in Nairobi[5] In 1993, he founded Pravaham in Vellore District.
[6] Subsequent to his laying down the office of bishop, Ananda Rao was made Senior Chaplain[4] at the Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore.
[11] After teaching Christian Ministry at the United Theological College, Bengaluru, Ananda Rao began living in Chennai and died on 30 May 1999 in KGF.